Category: Wines under $20
2002 Yangarra Estate “Old Vine” Grenache, McLaren Vale, Australia
Yangarra is Aboriginal for “from the earth” and was chosen as the name of the vineyard because of the magic
2002 Three Saints Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, California
Three Saints Vineyard is a small production vineyard that I really don’t know much about. They make a Pinot, a
2001 Villa Toscano “Fox Creek Vineyard” Zinfandel, Shenandoah Valley, California
A week or so ago, I had a friend come visit me from the Sierra Foothills in Amador county. Knowing
2001 Handley Pinot Noir, Mendocino County
Quaint is perhaps the best adjective to describe Handley Cellars, a small family run operation south of Mendocino in the
2003 Palama Salento Rosato Metiusco, Puglia, Italy
The winery at Azienda Vinicola Palama has been around since 1936, and is still in the Palama family. While proprietor
2001 Joseph Swan “Cuvee de Trois” Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Vineyards are often the stuff of dreams, the long sought after goals of some, or simply an inevitable plan for
2002 Jacques & Francois Lurton “Les Fumees Blanches” Fume Blanc, Vin de Pays d’Oc, France
Jacques and Francois Lurton preside over a modern-day wine dynasty that breaks the mold of their predecessors. The sons of
2001 Gulfi Estate Vineyards Rosso “Nerojbleo” Nero D’ Avola, Sicily
As some readers know, I’m a pretty big fan of Italian wines, especially those of Tuscany and Piedmont. I’ve recently
2001 Westerly “Estate” Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley California
It’s unfortunate how sometimes the best way to describe something you like is a word or phrase that doesn’t normally
2002 Qupe “Bien Nacido Cuvee” White Meritage, Central Coast
After a recent review of a nice Edna Valley wine, let’s move south and west along the central coast to
2000 Domaine Alfred Pinot Noir, Chamisal Vineyard, Edna Valley
Edna Valley has been quietly establishing itself over the last decade as a place that can turn out fantastic wines,
2001 Borie de Maurel “Esprit d’ Automne” red blend, Minervois, France
I first encountered this wine in the “values” section of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. It happened to be stocked by
1995 Ovello Barbaresco Riserva, Piemonte, Italy
This is the secret forgotten wine. The frozen man of wine, stuck in a glacier and thawed out in someones
2003 Marquis-Philips “Holly’s Blend,” Verdelho, McLaren Vale, Australia
Whenever the tasting group I’m a member of does a blind tasting, the person who hosts always throws in a
2000 Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River
Spring seems definitely to have sprung here in San Francisco, and cold, foggy Summer is right around the corner. So
2002 Three Thieves California Cabernet, Napa
The wine industry in California is undergoing a slow revolution. First it was synthetic corks, then screwcaps, now tetra-paks; varietals
2000 Scott Harvey Cabernet, Napa
I guess you could say I’m a big fan of Scott Harvey. I’ve gushed over his Syrah many times here.
2001 Suhr Luchtel “Mosaique” Red Table Wine, Napa
Surh Luchtel. Say it quickly and it sounds like “stealth.” Or sort of. Anyway it’s close enough for me to
1999 St. Supery Merlot, Napa
On occasion I come across a bottle in the cellar and I have no memory of where it came from.
