CAMPO VIEJO

Gran Reserva 2017

Rioja, Spain

Ah, Spain. Where else can you get a fantastic red wine that’s nearly ten years old for $20 (just $4 a glass)? The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

93 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Gary's Buy Rite

SHYPOKE

Chenin Blanc 2024

Calistoga, Napa Valley, CA

Chenin Blanc is quietly (thankfully) making a comeback in California, and some of the best are being made by top winemakers like Peter Heitz (famous for his majestic Napa Valley Cabernets at Turnbull winery). The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / Winespeed

Available at Shypoke

MARTHA STOUMEN

“Benchlands” Red Blend 2023

Mendocino County, CA

Here’s a delicious vibrant red that’s super juicy, fresh, light-bodied and bright—the kind of red that’s effortless to drink and goes with everything. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

93 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Martha Stoumen

MINUS TIDE

“Vine View Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino

Spiciness, black pepperiness, and wild sage are all delicious characteristics in Cabernet Sauvignon, and this Cab from Minus Tide is loaded with them. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Minus Tide Wines

ELEMENTAL Pinot Noir 2022

Pinot Noir 2022

California

This is the first time (in ten years) that our Wine to Know has cost just $10. And amazingly, it’s a Pinot Noir—generally one of the hardest and most expensive varieties to farm and make into good wine. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

90 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Bogle Winery

KOPKE

Colheita Port 2007

Douro, Portugal

Port boggles the mind. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Merchant of Wine

TRUCHARD

Merlot 2022

Carneros, Napa Valley, CA

In Bordeaux, Merlot is prized for its soft core—a plushness right in the middle of the flavor that gives wines like St-Emilions and Pomerols their richness. Merlot in California can be like that too. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed  

Available at Truchard Vineyards

RÉSONANCE

Pinot Noir 2023

(Willamette Valley, OR)

I’ve always loved this winery’s name—Résonance. To resonate is to deeply connect with something. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

97 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at wine.com
AIA Vermentino

AIA VECCHIA

Vermentino 2024

(Bolgheri, Tuscany, IT)

Sometimes you just need a really good white wine under $20. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

92 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at wine.com
SCRIBE skin fermented the captains verses 2023

SCRIBE

Skin Fermented Chardonnay Xlll “The Captain’s Verses” 2023

Sonoma Valley, California

In a recent tasting of more than 70 northern California Chardonnays, this one from Scribe was the mostThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

96 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Scribe Winery
John Duval Entity Shiraz 2021

JOHN DUVAL WINES

 “Entity” Shiraz 2021

Barossa, South Australia, Australia

When I first met John Duval he was the head winemaker at Penfolds and making Grange, Australia’s best known wine. That was quite a while ago, before his “retirement” when he quietly created John Duval Wines. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at KL Wines
Boxler BRAND

ALBERT BOXLER

ALBERT BOXLER “Brand” Pinot Gris 2019

Alsace, France

I meant it when, earlier this fall, I said that this wine (100 points) will blow your mind.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

100 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Radio Coteau Wingtin

RADIO-COTEAU

RADIO-COTEAU “Wingtine” Chardonnay 2023

Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County

I’ve always thought of great Chardonnay as a winter white—mouthfilling, rich, and rightThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

97 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Radio-Coteau
Anaba Wines

ANABA

“Felix Hunter Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2022

Sonoma Coast, CA

One of the biggest misconceptions about California Pinot Noir is that it’s categoricallyThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Anaba Wines
Durand Cornas

DOMAINE DURAND

“Confidence” Cornas 2019

Cornas, Northern Rhône Valley, FR

A roast of beef, a leg of lamb, the Christmas turkey…to drink this Cornas with meat isThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

97 points KM

Available at Plum Market
Clos Fourte

CHÂTEAU CLOS FOURTET

2020

St. Émilion, Bordeaux, France

At some point this fall, you just might need a really special gift. Something thatThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

98 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com
Boxler BRAND

ALBERT BOXLER

“Brand” Pinot Gris 2019

Alsace, France

This 100-point wine is the best Pinot Gris I’ve ever tasted. Luxurious and languorous,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

100 points KMKaren MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Vine & Cellar
Weingut Loimer Sekt

LOIMER

Extra Brut Reserve Sekt

Niederösterreich, Austria

I love it when a sparkling wine is laser tight—when it’s like an athlete whose everyThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Solano Cellars
J Lohr Gesture

J LOHR

"Gesture" GSM

Adelaida District, Paso Robles, CA

I’m a fall cook, and that changes everything when it comes to wine. Slowly braised roastsThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Available at J Lohr
Hey French

The brash, bring-it-on name of this Italian white wine makes lots of people smile. And the name canThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points KM

Available at Wine.com
Chimney Rock Lineup

CHIMNEY ROCK

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, CA

This Cabernet is Chimney Rock’s 40th vintage in the Stags Leap District—the tinyThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points KM

Available at Chimney Rock Winery
Cremant Savoie Scaled

ANDRÉ & MICHEL QUENARD

Crémant de Savoie Brut Nature

Chignin, Savoie, FR

I admit to tasting this wine well before I grabbed the bottle out The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com

KUENTZ-BAS

KUENTZ-BAS

Alsace, FR

Pinot Noir from Alsace? It’s a thing. And it’s going to be a bigger The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

91 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Saratoga Wine Exchange
TABLAS CREEK

TABLAS CREEK

Vermentino 2024

Adelaida District, Paso Robles, CA

Pure tasting and very fresh, Tablas Creek’s Vermentino has a wonderful “aliveness” on the palate.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Tablas Creek Winery
BTF Wild Bee

BIG TABLE FARM

“Wild Bee” Chardonnay 2023

Willamette Valley, OR

Big Table Farm, a winery and working farm, makes some of the best artisanal ChardonnaysThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Big Table Farm
Chateau DEpire

CHÂTEAU D’ÉPIRÉ

Savennières 2023

Savennières, Loire Valley, France

Drinking this Loire white from the village of Savennières, an image flashed across my mind—an image The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Kermit Lynch
Faury Ribaudes

LIONEL FAURY

“Les Ribaudes” Saint-Joseph 2022

Saint-Joseph, Rhône Valley, France

In some places, the “voice of the land” is loud and the “heartbeat,” strong.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com
Loriot Pagel

LORIOT-PAGEL

Brut Nature non-vintage Champagne

Champagne, France

Once a wine is in your mouth, the flavors have a flow as one sensory impression flows into the next.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil/WineSpeed

Available at Acme Fine Wines
Tenuta Regaleali

TENUTA REGALEALI

Grillo “Cavallo delle Fate” 2024

Sicily, Italy

I love the indigenous Sicilian white grape Grillo. It’s bright, lively, snappy,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

96 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com
Le Fief Noir

LE FIEF NOIR

“Somnambule” Anjou Rouge 2022

Anjou, Loire Valley, France

OMG is this red good! The flavors are firing on all cylinders: raspberries,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at North Berkeley Imports
Stephen Ross

STEPHEN ROSS

“Spanish Springs Vineyard” Albariño 2024

San Luis Obispo, CA

Every now and then a producer comes along who can coax out all kinds of thingsThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Stephen Ross Wine
Malherbe

CHÂTEAU MALHERBE

Red Wine 2022

Côtes de Provence, France

Such is the popularity of Provençal rosé, that it’s easy to forget (or not realize)  that Provence makes some The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points KM

Available at Total Wine & More
Planeta

PLANETA

Frappato 2023

Vittoria, Sicily, Italy

Don’t be fooled by the striking magenta color of the ancient Italian red grape Frappato.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com
Racines

RACINES

Grand Reserve Sparkling Chardonnay

Sta. Rita Hills

This is one of the best California sparkling wines I’ve ever tasted.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

97 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Racines Wine
Regaleali Bianco

REGALEALI

Bianco 2024

Sicily, IT

Sicily is one of the most beautiful and intriguing islands in the Mediterranean,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

93 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com
Symington

SYMINGTON

“Casa de Rodas” Alvarinho 2023

Monção & Melgaço, Minho, Portugal

For more than a century, northern Portugal’s white wines (especially Vinho Verdes)The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

90 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Vintage and Fine Wines
Vesselle

DOMAINE JEAN VESSELLE

Rosé de Saignée Brut NV

Bouzy, Champagne, FR

If ever there was a Champagne that exuded the beauty of Summer, The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com
Morgan Pizza Party

MORGAN

“Twelve Clones” Pinot Noir 2022

Santa Lucia Highlands, Central Coast, CA

Morgan has been making well-priced wines on the Central Coast of CaliforniaThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Morgan Winery
Big Table Farm

BIG TABLE FARM

Pinot Noir 2023

Willamette Valley, OR

Big Table Farm, one of the top small wine producers in Oregon, has a way of making elegant,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Big Table Farm
Marques de Caceres

MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES

Gran Reserva Rioja 2015

Rioja, SP

Great Riojas have a deep earthiness that can seem almost primordial.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Total Wine & More
Lapostolle rose

LAPOSTOLLE

Le Rosé 2024

Colchagua Valley, Chile

Here’s the first really good rosé we’ve tasted this year—and it’s an irresistible deal The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

93 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com

IRON HORSE

Classic Vintage Brut 2020

Green Valley of Russian River Valley, CA

Iron Horse has been making California sparkling wine since 1976,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Iron Horse Vineyards
Barroul lynch

BARRUOL LYNCH

“Tiercerolles” Crozes Hermitage 2021

Crozes Hermitage, Rhône Valley, FR

Compared to polished, aristocratic Bordeaux and sensual Burgundy,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Kermit Lynch
The Cigar

YALUMBA

“The Cigar” Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia

Big, impressive Cabernets like this almost always cost twice as much as this does,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com
Surrau

SURRAU

Isola dei Nuraghi 2021

Isola dei Nuraghi, Sardinia, IT

One of the tip-offs to a really good wine is to look on the back label and see who imports it.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

92 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Yianni's Wine
Alfred Gratien Rose

ALFRED GRATIEN

Brut Rosé Champagne non-vintage

Champagne, France

Alfred Gratien’s dry Brut rosé is Springtime in a glass.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Saratoga Wine Exchange
Gagliole

GAGLIOLE

“Gallule” Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2018

Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

Chianti Classico wines that are designated “Gran Selezione” are the region’s “Grand Crus.” The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

97 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com
Scions of Sinai

SCIONS OF SINAI

"Granietsteen” Chenin Blanc 2023

Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa

What Burgundy is to Chardonnay (the best place in the world for the grape),The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Culture Wine Co.
Saint Joseph

DOMAINE JOLIVET

“Clef de Sol” Saint-Joseph Blanc 2023

Saint-Joseph, Rhône Valley, FR

Among the great wines few wine drinkers will ever enjoy: the top white Burgundies,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Kermit Lynch

LIONEL FAURY

“Les Ribaudes” Saint-Joseph Blanc 2021

Saint-Joseph, Rhône Valley, France

This fantastic, super fresh white from one of the northern Rhône’s top producers is so vivid,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine.com