Wines To Go Buy This Week

Oregon Chardonnay is not a calling card. Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris rank above Chardonnay in terms of wines produced in this state, but nonetheless Oregon Chardonnay does offer diverse expressions and none quite like the Dancin label from Southern Oregon’s Medford region.

Shafer Vineyards in Napa’s Stags Leap District has always been known for Cabernet, to no surprise, as this is stalwart Cabernet country. But they also have championed one of Napa’s most under appreciated grapes, Syrah.

The Santa Lucia Mountain Range in Monterey County separates the Salinas Valley from the Pacific Ocean and Carmel. This is the home of the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) AVA and “The Bench” – a literal shelf of land from the foothills, which extends out towards the Salinas Valley, then dramatically drops off.

Sonoma has carved out its own reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon in spite of the shadow that Napa casts across its border. Surprising to many is that Cabernet in Sonoma was planted as far back as the mid 1880s. Fortunately given the quality of Sonoma fruit, there are a diversity of wines at various price points. Comprised of 97% Cabernet and 3% Petite Sirah the 2014 Olema Cabernet is that wine made of quality fruit that allows a lower cost while maintaining Cabernet’s caliber. Farmed from mostly Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley grapes, with a small amount of Knight's Valley in the mix, the grapes were crushed, then stainless steel fermented, allowing for the vibrant fruit to remain intact.

Napa’s Frank Family Vineyards is better known for Cabernet Sauvignon than Pinot Noir, which might be exactly why this Pinot stands out. The grapes are sourced form Carneros, both from their own Lewis Vineyard and other Carneros sites, and were harvested between September and October. Grape clusters were de-stemmed, and the berries were cold soaked for four days in stainless steel open top fermenters, with daily punch downs.

Beckstoffer is a name synonymous with exceptional Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit is always highly sought-out and few producers are lucky enough to get some. Cliff Lede makes terrific Cabernet and so they know intrinsically how to treat highly prized To Kalon fruit. And this is clearly evidenced in their 2014 Cabernet.

A rosé by any other name is merely a pink wine. R osé is not an easy thing to make in spite of the abundance of them that clutter store shelves. Frankly, most of them are generic and tedious. But hailing from Paso Robles, a location known for big extracted wines, come a lithe yet deftly bold rosé .

Oregon is known for Pinot Noir. The Van Duzer Corridor it is the only break in Oregon’s Coastal Range that borders the western side of the Willamette Valley. This gap allows Pacific Ocean air to flow eastward into the Willamette, moderating the summer heat.

For 25 years Landmark Vineyards has produced what has become a signature wine, the Overlook Chardonnay, yet it is their entry level Chardonnay, not their higher end ones. That speaks well of the quality that Landmark produces. From Sonoma’s Russian River Valley this Chardonnay is pulled from 24...

Santa Barbara has earned a just reputation as a solid Pinot Noir producer. There are many notable well-known Pinot’s here, but what is happening under the radar in the County is also just as impressive. Millennial Wines, a very small producer based in Lompoc, has turned out a stellar Pinot Noir that can rival some of the bigger producers.