Fine Wine > Red > Still > $20-50 > California

Cellar/Tasting Notes
Opaque ruby. Pungent aromas of dried cherry, cassis, licorice and botanical herbs, with subtle vanilla and cracked pepper accents that build with air. Sappy, palate-staining dark fruit flavors gain sweetness with air while retaining a spicy edge. Shows very good energy and clarity on the finish,..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
Producer's notes: "This wine comes from the organically certified Le Bon Climat vineyard, planted in 1998. It is entirely from a central, elevated mesa, planted to the Dijon clone 667. This Pinot was 2 years in barrel, 100% new, heavily toasted Francois Freres, and bottled unfiltered. The wine is..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
An impressive wine from this tiny 5 acre vineyard in Napa. A classic blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grown on vines planted in 1999, it shows luscious flavors of ripe dark berries with a hint of earth and spice that are elevated by a mineral heft. Only 110 cases made.

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"… big, sweet bouquet of chocolatecovered cofee beans, berry fruit, smoke and earth. Round, seductive, juicy and easy-going, it possesses

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"... Firm tannins frame an expressive core of dark red cherries, flowers and sweet herbs. The inner perfume of Zinfandel resonates on the finish... it is quite beautiful..."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
Medium-dark to dark ruby. Drop-dead gorgeous aromas of cherry, herbs, and spice box spill from the glass. On the palate, full bodied with an explosion of red cherry fruit. Suave tannins build through the long finish. A remarkable wine combining both power and elegance.

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"I was totally struck by the 2009 Grenache L’Ange Rouge, a wine that captivates all the senses. I hope readers can appreciate just how rare it is to encounter a Central Coast Grenache with this much sheer finesse. The purity of the fruit is simply striking. The 2009 clocks in at 15.8% alcohol, none..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Bright saline notes frame expressive fruit in the 2010 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. A beautifully layered wine, the 2010 impresses for its length, finesse and balance. I very much like the sense of precision and cut here. Sweet floral notes meld into red berries and spices in this striking, delineated..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Mocha, chocolate, spices, plums and black cherries seem to literally jump from the glass. Merlot plays a pretty important role in the 2010, which gives the wine much of its roundness and early accessibility. Round, expressive and racy, the 2010 Ranch is a terrific effort from Snowden..."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
Readers looking for super-concentrated, extroverted, exuberant, powerhouse wines from California-s Central Coast need look no further than the Herman Story estate. For those who love the wild side of Rhone varietals pushed to the limit (but not over), these are highly recommended. Moreover, prices..