12 Picks Fall 2020
Reds:
2018 Alma de Cattleya Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
Star anise, five-spice and sandalwood support a richer core of fresh red cherry, red berry, blood orange and pink peppercorn. More…
2016 Idle Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Peaceland Vineyard, Fountain Grove, Sonoma County
Notes of licorice root, date, leather and peppercorn underscore the wine’s deeper core of plum-blueberry fruit. More...
2016 Muddy Arch Proprietary Red Wine, California
Crisp, youthfully restrained mix of red raspberry, pomegranate, cranberry sauce, white and pink peppercorn, rosemary and bay leaf on the nose; mineral-laced and slightly citric-edged on the palate. More…
2016 Peirano Zinfandel Estate “Heritage”, Lodi
Texturally rich yet attractively soft-edged on the palate, with notes of toffee, smoked game and dried herbs that join its fruity-peppery aromatic mix. More…
2010 Russian Hill Syrah “Top Block”, Russian River Valley
Medium-bodied, palate-coating, sleek, yet still quite gutsy, with fruity-peppery flavors, a, long-lasting replica of the aromas. More…
2018 Seabold Pinot Noir Eden Rift Vineyard, San Benito County
Attractively oaky and quietly gripping on the palate, where sour cherry, red plum, cranberry sauce and strawberry jam flavors marry others of hazelnut nougat, crushed dry rose, sandalwood and cinnamon “red hots”. More…
Whites:
2019 Andis “Painted Fields” Cuvee Blanc, Sierra Foorthills
Soft-edged and just a hint off-dry in the mouth, with green plum, lychee, applesauce, bosc pear, white rose, nut husk and white pepper. More…
2018 Brick & Mortar Chardonnay, Anderson Valley
Brightness and gentility are hallmarks on the palate, where a subtly toasty-nutty undercurrent creates support for forthcoming, lingering flavors centered on lemon, apple, white peach and pineapple. More…
2018 Heritance Sauvignon Blanc Taub Family Vineyard, Napa Valley
Plush on the palate, with dried golden fig, golden mulberry, green melon, gooseberry, white peach pit and vanilla wafer. More…
2019 Kathryn Kennedy Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast
Forthcoming aromas of gooseberry, preserved lemon, lemon curd, Mandarine orange, lemon grass, honeysuckle and flint fan-out in lockstep with flint-edged mineral counterpoints on the palate. More…
2018 Sinor la Vallee Pinot Gris, San Luis Obispo County
An opulent melange of white peach, nectarine, kumquat, Green Gage plum and lychee, with accents of mace and white pepper on the nose; aromas are beautifully mirrored on the palate. More…
2019 Whitehall Lane Rosé of Syrah, North Coast
Scents of watermelon, pomegranate, pink rose, pink peppercorn, coriander seed and blood orange; bright and gently floral in the glass. More…