BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
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84<br />
Alma Sol 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon<br />
(Paso Robles). Although this Cabernet is<br />
ripe, it’s harsh in the mouth, with a tart scour. Drink it<br />
with rich fare, like burgers. —S.H.<br />
abv: 13.7% Price: $26<br />
84<br />
Joullian 2007 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon<br />
(Carmel Valley). A bit rustic in the<br />
mouth, with candy-sweet cherry and blackberry flavors.<br />
Drink now. —S.H.<br />
abv: 13.5% Price: $34<br />
84<br />
Valley of the Moon 2009 Cuveé le la Luna<br />
Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County). A<br />
good Cabernet, rough and tannic, with blackberry and<br />
blueberry fruit flavors that finish a bit sweet and syrupy.<br />
—S.H.<br />
abv: 14.5% Price: $30<br />
83<br />
Discoveries Vineyards 2010 Cabernet<br />
Sauvignon (California). A simple wine that’s<br />
offered at a fair price, this has sweet, candied cherry and<br />
blackberry flavors. —S.H.<br />
abv: 13.5% Price: $10<br />
83<br />
Manifesto! 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon<br />
(North Coast). Pungent notes of cranberry<br />
and pruny oak mark this wine, with tannins that are a bit<br />
tough and slightly out of balance. —V.B.<br />
abv: 14.4% Price: $20<br />
82<br />
Lange Twins 2009 Estate grown Cabernet<br />
Sauvignon (Lodi). Like liquid toasted<br />
cinnamon, this Cabernet Sauvignon is texturally harsh.<br />
—V.B.<br />
abv: 13.9% Price: $15<br />
81<br />
Lange Twins 2008 Reserve Cabernet<br />
Sauvignon (Lodi). A huge, harsh Cabernet<br />
without much in the way of varietal character. —V.B.<br />
abv: 14.1% Price: $30<br />
GRENACHE<br />
94<br />
Beckmen 2009 Purisima Mountain Vineyard<br />
Grenache (Santa Ynez Valley). Beckmen<br />
is one of Santa Barbara’s premier Rhône-style producers,<br />
and one of the few wineries that understands<br />
how to get Grenache right. This one, which has been<br />
blended with a little Syrah is just wonderful. It’s not only<br />
delicious in fruits and spices, but it’s balanced, with superb<br />
acidity and a bracing coating of tannin. Editors’<br />
Choice. —S.H.<br />
abv: 15.5% Price: $45<br />
90<br />
Andrew Murray 2009 Terra Bella Vineyard<br />
Grenache (Paso Robles). Although<br />
the alcohol level on this Grenache is high, the wine is<br />
delicious. It shows cherry, cola, bacon and sandalwood<br />
flavors, wrapped into firm tannins that call for rich lamb<br />
and beef dishes. The alcohol is an integral part of the<br />
wine, bringing spicy heat and sweetness. —S.H.<br />
abv: 15.8% Price: $30<br />
85<br />
Lorenzi Estate <strong>Wine</strong>s 2009 Reserve Grenache<br />
(Paso Robles). This is light in color<br />
and strikes the right strawberry tones. It’s big and tannic,<br />
with weight and warmth on the finish. —V.B.<br />
abv: 15.9% Price: $28<br />
85<br />
Santa Barbara <strong>Wine</strong>ry 2009 Lafond Vineyard<br />
Grenache (Sta. Rita Hills). A simple<br />
wine with tart cherry and oak flavors, and alcohol<br />
warmth. Drink now with salty, spicy meats. —S.H.<br />
abv: 15.3% Price: $26<br />
82<br />
Curtis 2009 Grenache (Santa Barbara<br />
County). This is a simple and soft wine. It has<br />
semi-sweet flavors of cola and cherry. —S.H.<br />
abv: 14.7% Price: $25<br />
MALBEC<br />
94<br />
Mt. Brave 2008 Malbec (Mount Veeder).<br />
For full review see page 4.<br />
abv: 14.5% Price: $60<br />
92<br />
St. Supéry 2009 Dollarhide Malbec (Napa<br />
Valley). For full review see page 7.<br />
abv: 14.3% Price: $50<br />
91<br />
Steven Kent 2008 Ghielmetti Vineyard<br />
Malbec (Livermore Valley). Malbec on its<br />
own doesn’t always express much in California but this<br />
wine has a huge personality and a lot of varietal character,<br />
with its heady aromatics of blueberry pie and baking<br />
spice. Medium in body, it remains spicy across the<br />
palate. The finish is long lasting, with a note of dried<br />
plum. —V.B.<br />
abv: 14.1% Price: $50<br />
88<br />
Rancho Sisquoc 2009 Flood Family Vineyards<br />
Malbec (Santa Barbara County). A<br />
dark, brooding, tannic young wine that actually smells<br />
like the grilled steak it should accompany. Blackberry<br />
and earth flavors surface on the palate, made brisk with<br />
acidity. —S.H.<br />
abv: 13.8% Price: $30<br />
MERLOT<br />
98<br />
Mt. Brave 2008 Merlot (Mount Veeder).<br />
For full review see page 3. Editors’ Choice.<br />
abv: 15.2% Price: $60<br />
95<br />
La Jota Vineyard 2009 Merlot (Howell<br />
Mountain). For full review see page 4. Cellar<br />
Selection.<br />
abv: 14.8% Price: $55<br />
92<br />
Kendall-Jackson 2009 Grand Reserve<br />
Merlot (Sonoma County). For full review<br />
see page 7.<br />
abv: 14.5% Price: $26<br />
92<br />
Matanzas Creek 2009 Merlot (Bennett<br />
Valley). A wonderful wine at a great price. This<br />
is complex and delicious in blackberry and black currant<br />
flavors, with a savory minerality on the finish. As it<br />
starts off with tough tannins, allow it to decant. Editors’<br />
Choice. —S.H.<br />
abv: 14.8% Price: $26<br />
90<br />
Shafer 2009 Merlot (Napa Valley). Shafer’s<br />
Merlot is very vintage driven, and this<br />
2009 shows exceptionally ripe, sweet cherry and<br />
blueberry-pie flavors, enriched by 75% new French oak<br />
that brings toasty, spicy vanilla notes. It’s flashy, opulent<br />
and delicious, but a bit forward and warm. Drink now.<br />
—S.H.<br />
abv: 15.1% Price: $48<br />
88<br />
Envy 2008 Reserve Estate Merlot (Calistoga).<br />
Tough and gritty in tannins, this showcases<br />
sweet cherry, cola and spice flavors, with a nice<br />
earthiness. Not an ager, it needs the richest foods you<br />
can pair it with, like steak or game served in rich sauces.<br />
—S.H.<br />
abv: 14.5% Price: $38<br />
88<br />
Wattle Creek 2009 Merlot (Yorkville Highlands).<br />
There are lots of fresh, deeply flavored<br />
blackberries, blueberries and black currants in this<br />
wine. It’s tough and gritty in tannins now, but it should<br />
benefit from a few years in the cellar. —S.H.<br />
abv: 14.6% Price: $30<br />
87<br />
Lyeth 2010 L de Lyeth Merlot (Sonoma<br />
County). With a softly tannic mouthfeel and<br />
appealing cherry, mocha and spice flavors, this is a nice<br />
Merlot to drink now. Gets better in the glass as it airs<br />
and warms. This should pair well with lamb. —S.H.<br />
abv: 13.5% Price: $13<br />
87<br />
Rancho Sisquoc 2009 Flood Family Vineyards<br />
Merlot (Santa Barbara County).<br />
This is arguably the winery’s best Merlot ever. While it<br />
is not an ager, it is a lovely food wine that’s dry, with crisp<br />
acidity. It expresses subtle flavors of cherry, red currant,<br />
tobacco and sandalwood flavors. —S.H.<br />
abv: 14.2% Price: $20<br />
87<br />
Ridge 2009 Estate Monte Bello Vineyard<br />
Merlot (Santa Cruz Mountains). A tough,<br />
gritty, tannic Merlot that’s dry and full bodied, with a<br />
solid core of blackberries, minerals and herbs. It’s a<br />
bit rough now, and not likely to age over the long haul,<br />
but it does show class. This mellows in the glass as it<br />
breathes. Drink now–2015. —S.H.<br />
abv: 14.2% Price: $40<br />
86<br />
Frog’s Leap 2009 Merlot (Rutherford).<br />
Tannic and dry, this has cherry-berry flavors that<br />
finish with a touch of tobacco and spice. Ready to drink<br />
now. —S.H.<br />
abv: 13.2% Price: $34<br />
85<br />
Grayson 2010 Lot 6 Merlot (California). A<br />
good everyday Merlot that’s dry and softly tannic,<br />
with pleasant cherry, cola and spice flavors. Best<br />
Buy. —S.H.<br />
abv: 13.9% Price: $10<br />
85<br />
Markham 2009 Merlot (Napa Valley).<br />
Shows the soft, supple side of Merlot, with<br />
smooth tannins framing earthy flavors of sour-cherry<br />
candy, herbs and cedar. Ready to drink now. —S.H.<br />
abv: 14.2% Price: $23<br />
85<br />
Rexford 2009 Merlot (Santa Cruz Mountains).<br />
A fine, everyday Merlot, soft and ap-<br />
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