Editors' Choice
Editors' Choice wines are those that offer excellent quality at a price above our Best Buy range, or a wine at any price with unique qualities that merit special attention.
Lancaster 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $65
Lancaster burst on the scene with enormous buzz, perhaps before they had really earned it. Steadily but surely, they’ve built up the wine, and the ’04 is the best ever. It’s a gorgeous Cab, softly complex, rich in cassis, cherry, spice and oak flavors anchored with warm, earthy tannins. In fact, the earthiness stands it in good contrast to Napa Valley, making it…
— S.H.
(12/1/2007)
Redmon 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena)
- Editors' Choice
- Online Exclusive
- $65
Monumentally detailed, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is impressive for its sheer volumetrics. Offers masses of blackberries, black currants, cherries and cassis. Huge, dramatic, yet impeccably balanced and dry. Feels firm and ultrarefined in tannic structure, with graceful acidity offering a perfect counterpoint to the fruity richness. Just beautiful, and ageable…
— S.H.
(4/1/2010)
Failla 2008 Estate Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast)
- Editors' Choice
- $42
From the wildest, most remote and exotic stretch of the Sonoma Coast: you can taste the salt of the sea in this wine, as you can in a Manzanilla Sherry. It gives a tang to the lemondrop, pear and honeysuckle flavors, with their lick of cold granite. So pure and vibrant, so savory, so compelling. Grows more fascinating with every minute in the glass.
— S.H.
(6/1/2010)
K Vintners 2009 The Hidden Syrah (Wahluke Slope)
- Editors' Choice
- $70
From Northridge Vineyard grapes, this mix of four clones spent more than two years in barrel. Tremendous depth and complexity are apparent on the nose, and there is no let-down on the palate. It’s a seriously powerful wine, with muscle and magic. It opens generously into beautifully integrated layers of ripe fruit, confection, candied rind, cacao and a finishing…
— P.G.
(12/31/2012)
Williams Selyem 2010 Allen Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $50
This wine shows real first-growth quality in its intensity and concentration, with orange nectar, golden mango, pear, peach pie, buttercream, vanilla, buttered toast and spice flavors. The balance is exquisite, and the way the acids dance along the palate make the wine clean and lively.
— S.H.
(3/1/2013)
Williams Selyem 2006 Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $75
Accomplishes the impossible, stunning the palate with the most delicious flavors imaginable, yet with the structural integrity to age. Those flavors intoxicate with cherry pie, black raspberry tart, tangerine zest and mocha, finished with exotic spicebox and sweet, charred new oak smokiness, all enveloped in sheer silkiness and ultrarefined tannins. Drink now–2018.
— S.H.
(3/1/2009)
Semper 2007 Gold Ridge Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $85
An extraordinary wine. It’s the essence of Russian River Pinot, squared, a big, concentrated, dramatic wine that never loses sight of elegance. Offers a tapestry of cherry pie with the crust, red currant, cherry liqueur and smoky sandalwood flavors that finish with intricate Indian spices. Drink now–2013.
— S.H.
(4/1/2010)
Joseph Swan Vineyards 2007 Trenton Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $52
An awesome Pinot Noir—it’s hard to find words to describe its beauty. It’s bone dry and rich in stimulating acidity, and the cherry and raspberry fruit flavors have an earthy, mushroomy quality that grounds the wine and gives it a real sense of terroir. Shows the fleshy attractions of the amazing ’07 vintage, with an undisputed capacity to age. Now–2017, at least.
— S.H.
(8/1/2011)
advertisement
What We're Tasting
2010 Mira Stanly Ranch
Winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez left Robert Mondavi to do his own thing, and…
Facebook Activity
advertisement
Twitter Activity