With a climate that ranges vastly from coast to coast, distinct grape varieties can thrive in the various American wine regions – making this year’s Top 100 list one of our most interesting. From California to Virginia, our list covers the best offerings from the 4th largest wine-producing region in the world.
This list of the Top 100 wines from the United States was created in the same way our recent Top 100 Best Buys (wines for $15 or less), Top 100 Cellar Selections (cellar-worthy and highly rated collectibles) and The Enthusiast 100 (weekend wines, restaurant purchases and special occasion wines) lists were created.
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- 94
- $42
Adams Bench 2007 the V Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))
This is right down the center of the house style—plenty of new oak, deeply fruited, dark and smoky, with high alcohol and a strong, smoky bourbon barrel flavor. It’s a classic steakhouse wine. Some high-toned fruit puts it all in focus. For those who love big, tannic, oaky Cabs, this one delivers. — P.G. (11/1/2011) — 94 -
- 95
- $60
W.H. Smith 2009 Bill and Joan's Special Selection Maritime Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)
A gorgeous evocation of Pinot Noir. Pours pale in color and translucent, suggesting it’s not a heavy fruit bomb, and indeed it is not. Feels as light as a cloud, yet with intense flavors of red stone fruits, bacon and spices, and that feral, wild forest quality you get from the best Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs. Bone dry, but so sweet in fruit and cedar, with wonderful acidity. Superb now, after decanting, and should develop over the next 6–8 years. — S.H. (12/31/2011) — 95 -
- 95
- $65
Tyler 2008 Bien Nacido Vineyard N Block Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley)
An extraordinary wine, dry, crisp in acidity and wonderfully silky in the mouth. The flavors are deep and complex, changing with every second as the wine breathes. Raspberries, wild clove and cinnamon spices, cola, dried herbs, things that taste earthy and minerally and woodsy. Insanely complex and dynamic, this Pinot should age for up to eight years. — S.H. (7/1/2011) — 95 -
- 95
- $55
Two Sisters 2008 Courtney's Vineyard Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)
Chardonnay doesn’t get much riper or richer than this. Dazzles with pear jam, pineapple custard, crème brûlée, buttered toast and cinnamon spice flavors, and a firm grounding of minerals. Calls for the richest possible foods, like lobster. Drink now. — S.H. (3/1/2011) — 95 -
- 95
- $32
Trisaetum 2010 Estates Reserve Riesling (Ribbon Ridge)
A two-barrel selection consisting of the favorite sweeter barrel from each of the two estate vineyards. Intense, bright and focused, with candied lemon/lime fruit flavors. The power and concentration of the wine is remarkable. — P.G. (10/1/2011) — 95 -
- 95
- $56
Testarossa 2009 Doctor's Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands)
So delicious, so dazzlingly seductive, it’s impossible not to fall in love with this wine. It detonates on the palate with an explosion of cherries and raspberries, and wonderfully smoky, buttery complexities from oak. Drily crisp and finely structured in smooth, dense tannins, it offers great pleasure now, and should develop over the next 6–8 years. Production was low, but it’s worth a search. — S.H. (5/1/2011) — 95 -
- 95
- $65
Terra Valentine 2007 Wurtele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Spring Mountain)
A well-made wine, showing lots of terroir in the mineral-infused blackberry, black currant, chocolate and anise flavors. The tannins are structurally superb, while the finish is dry and complex. A very fine wine that should gather momentum for at least a decade. — S.H. (6/1/2011) — 95 -
- 95
- $42
Talley 2008 Rincon Vineyard Chardonnay (Arroyo Grande Valley)
A great Rincon Chardonnay, Talley’s best ever. So rich and dramatically layered in pineapple tart, Meyer lemon custard, Key lime pie, golden apricot, mango and vanilla oak flavors, yet so briskly acidic and bright, with a firm minerality, like a lick of cold steel. Only 460 cases produced, but worth a special search. — S.H. (4/1/2011) — 95 -
- 95
- $95
Sinatra Family 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
Representing a breathtaking advancement over the ’07, Sinatra’s 2008 Cab is simply delicious. It’s fleshy and fat in texture, with a glyceriney richness that makes it almost oily and that, when combined with caramelized oak, turns into nougat. The blackberry, cherry and cassis fruit flavors rise to the occasion. This is truly a stunningly good Cabernet. — S.H. (3/1/2011) — 95 -
- 95
- $45
Scaggs Vineyard 2008 Montage G-S-M (Mount Veeder)
An extraordinarily decadent Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah blend, currently among the best in California. Hard to describe how delicious the raspberry, blackberry, chocolate, orange, granola, sandalwood and spice flavors are. There’s a rich, velvety, liqueur-like texture, and while the wine tastes fantastically sweet, it finishes dry, a marvelous achievement. Production was a mere 315 cases. — S.H. (4/1/2011) — 95