California Dreaming - Published in March 2013

Bold Cabernet Sauvignon and luscious Chardonnays, with 34 rated 90 points or higher

March 2013 Featured Collections

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points

Williams Selyem 2010 Allen Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $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)

points

Williams Selyem 2010 Drake Estate Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)

Price $65

Winemaker Bob Cabral’s three 2010 Chardonnays are possibly the greatest he’s ever made. This bottling shows fabulous complexity and sheer deliciousness, offering intricate notes of butterscotch, tropical fruit, pear tart, golden apricot, vanilla cream, buttered toast and exotic spice, with perhaps just a trace of honey. Its brilliant acidity and a tangy minerality… — S.H. (3/1/2013)

points

Williams Selyem 2010 Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)

Price $50

The acidity really makes this Chardonnay come alive, providing vitality, a quality that’s boosted by an undercurrent of minerals. It’s so rich in tropical fruit, orange, nectarine and pear flavors, and so generously oaked, which brings a sweet, satisfying note of buttered toast, that all you want to do is drink it now, preferably with steamed lobster and melted butter. — S.H. (3/1/2013)

points

Trefethen 2007 Halo Cabernet Sauvignon (Oak Knoll)

Cellar Selection

Price $175

A bit difficult to approach now, this has tight tannins that lock down the wine with -astringency. Blended with a little Petit Verdot and Malbec, it slowly reveals massive layers of blackberries, cassis liqueur and dark chocolate, remaining stubbornly tight throughout. Many people will drink it soon with beef, and that’s fine, especially with a good decant, but it… — S.H. (3/1/2013)

points

Turnbull 2009 Estate Grown Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville)

Price $100

This best-of-barrels blend shows the powerful tannins and dryness that mark all of Turnbull’s 2009 Cabernets. It’s a huge wine, powerful and concentrated in blackberries, black currants and sweet dark chocolate, with notes of spices on the long, dry finish. Drink it now, with the best beef entrée you can find. It should slowly develop bottle-age characteristics… — S.H. (3/1/2013)

points

Antonio Patric 2009 Coombsville Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

Online Exclusive

Price $65

This is very dry, with flavors of blackberries, cherries, currants and chocolate, plus complex notes of herbs, spices and minerals. The tannins are a wonder—dusty and interesting. Really good to drink now, yet it should change gradually in the bottle over the next 10 years. — S.H. (3/1/2013)

points

Arger-Martucci 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Atlas Peak)

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $40

A dramatic Cabernet that shows Atlas Peak intensity and age-worthiness, this is bone dry, with hard tannins and zesty acidity. The core of blackberries, black currants and minerals is so delicious now, you can hardly keep from drinking it, but it will develop cellar complexity with 6–8 years of aging, and possibly far more. — S.H. (3/1/2013)

points

Turnbull 2009 Leopoldina Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville)

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $75

To call this Cabernet massive is an understatement. This is packed with blackberry and black currant flavors, complexed with dark licorice and dark chocolate notes, with a swirl of cinnamon spice on the finish. It’s so powerful and delicious, you’ll be tempted to drink it now, but don’t. The tannins are very strong; the wine is very dry; and it will easily reward… — S.H. (3/1/2013)

2007 Trump Brut SP Reserve

Rich and luscious scents of baked apple, dried pineapple, honeyed…

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