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Central Valley Wines

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Rosenblum 2003 Rominger Vineyard Syrah (Yolo County)

Editors' Choice

Price $26

Intense and tannic, yet well-managed and ageworthy. White pepper and plum on the nose, with masses of well-ripened tannins and rich fruit alongside. From a hillside vineyard planted to French clones that yielded only 1.5 tons per acre, we can only hope wines like this represent the future of California Syrah. — W.E. (9/1/2005)

Cameron Hughes 2009 Lot 240 Albariño (Clarksburg)

Best Buy
Online Exclusive

Price $11

The kind of light drinking, balanced, crisp, clean white wine one could drink all day, made by the Cameron Hughes folks from Clarksburg-grown grapes, another testament to the appellation's ability to do nice things with Mediterranean whites. Juicy with sweet peach, lime and apple and a nose full of honeysuckle, it finishes easy. — V.B. (9/1/2011)

Westbrook Wine Farm 2006 Uber Rhenish Dry Riesling (Madera)

Editors' Choice

Price $17

Here’s a real success in a variety that’s always struggling for acceptance. If more Rieslings were like this, more Americans would drink it. Very dry, as the name states, and crisp, it has complex, subtle flavors of citrus fruits, apricots and pine needles. Try as an alternative to Sauvignon Blanc. — S.H. (9/1/2007)

Topanga 2003 Celadon Esperanza Vineyard Grenache (Clarksburg)

Price $20

A lovely, fresh and focused white wine that offers a classy blend of melon, peach, apple, apricot, herb and mineral flavors. These are layered in a complex, yet easy-to-drink manner. Smooth yet firm, it’s got great balance and a good finish. — J.M. (10/1/2005)

Casey Flat Ranch 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (Capay Valley)

Price $23

An invitingly rich, golden, inaugural Sauvignon Blanc from Casey Flat in the Capay Valley, a small growing region nudged between Napa and Sacramento that shows off its mountain tannins and concentration. Blended with 7% Viognier, the wine has pear and pineapple aplenty, and a lingering finish. — V.B. (9/1/2011)

Celadon TV 2002 Esperanza Vineyard Grenache (Clarksburg)

Price $20

A lovely, fresh and focused white wine that offers a classy blend of melon, peach, apple, apricot, herb and mineral flavors. These are layered in a complex, yet easy-to-drink manner. Smooth yet firm, it’s got great balance and a good finish. — J.C. (10/1/2004)

Heringer 2009 Late-Harvest Chardonnay (Clarksburg)

Best Buy

Price $13

In nose, this dark-golden late-harvest Chardonnay smells almost like a traditional French cider, a sentiment that carries through in the flavor, though this wine takes on much richer, sweeter tones. — V.B. (11/1/2011)

Dancing Coyote 2006 Petite Sirah (Clarksburg)

Best Buy

Price $13

Fans of inky black, tannicly thick and powerfully flavored Petite Sirahs will be dancing in the wine aisles over this one, from a smallish Delta appellation. It’s bone dry, with intense black currant, chocolate, fig and smoky vanilla flavors, and should develop nuances for many years. — S.H. (11/15/2008)

Most Reviewed Sub Regions [All]

Capay Valley Clarksburg Dunnigan Hills Madera River Junction Yolo County

2009 Merry Edwards Flax Vineyard

A distinguished Pinot Noir, notable for its pure, refined structure…

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