Highlights: Charbono both ways from Shypoke Winery in Calistoga, Napa
There are just 75 acres of Charbono left on the planet, say Shypoke Winery. This isn’t strictly true, if you
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California
País, Mission, Criolla Chica: the Beaujolais of the Americas?
Much like the Gamay of Beaujolais, twenty years ago País was seen as fit for only commonplace, lowly table wine.
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Highlights: Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Napa Valley
This is brilliant. Napa is often knocked for its excess: Cabernet Sauvignon wines made from grapes picked too late, spoofed
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Highlights: I Brand & Family Cabernet Franc Bayly Ranch 2017 Paicenes, California
Website: https://www.ibrandwinery.com/ I don’t know much about winemaker Ian Brand’s project in California, but I saw this wine, bought it,
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Highlights: The Ojai Vineyard Syrah 2017 Santa Barbara County, California
Syrah from a cool-ish climate in California. It’s a variety you’d think would be thriving in California, but it hasn’t
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Three from Merry Edwards
Merry Edwards began her winemaking career in the 1970s at Mount Eden Estate, and has also worked at Matanzas Creek.
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The wines of Daou, Paso Robles: tilting at the top with Cabernet
Brothers George and Daniel Daou come from Lebanon. The first rocket from the civil war in the 1970s landed in
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Highlights: Whitcraft Winery Grenache Stolpman Vineyard 2018 Ballard Canyon, California
This is a distinctive and beautiful Californian Grenache, made pretty naturally. Whole bunches are lightly trodden by foot, and then
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Kinero Cellars and Royal Nonesuch Farm: the wines of Anthony Yount, California
Anthony Yount makes wine in Paso Robles. His day job is with Denner Vineyards, but since 2008 he has also
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TOR: high-end Cabernet from Napa
Tor Kenward spent 27 years with Beringer. When he retired in 2001, he set up his own winery, TOR Wines,
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