November 13, 2026
winespeed-by-karen-macneil

RIDGE Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Santa Cruz Mountains, CA

It’s impossible to quantify the importance of Ridge Vineyards. No other California winery has made as many great wines for as long as Ridge has—more than The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Wine Spectrum

BIG TABLE FARM “Pelos Sanberg Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2024

"Pelos Sanberg Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2024

Willamette Valley, OR

Vibrant. Stunning. Deep. Those were the first three words I wrote after tasting this fantastic artisanal Pinot Noir made by Big Table Farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The flavors—The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

97 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Big Table Wine

LANG & REED “North Coast” Cabernet Franc 2022

“North Coast” Cabernet Franc 2022

North Coast, CA

The Skupny family, proprietors of Lang & Reed, have been making Cabernet Franc in California for longer than any one else I know. Track record counts, especially with a variety like Cabernet Franc that requires The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Lang & Reed

NICOLAS FEUILLATTE Réserve Exclusive Brut NV

Réserve Exclusive Brut NV

Champagne, France

For World Champagne Day (today), I thought you might like to know my “house” Champagne. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

93 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at wine.com

TABLE WINE 2025

table wine

California

table wine (spelled all in lower case) is a terrific new wine by Clos du Val, known for its age-worthy, expensive Cabernets from the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. A $6 a glass, table wine is just right The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

93 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Clos du Val

CHÂTEAU CANTEMERLE Haut-Médoc Grand Cru Classé

Haut-Médoc Grand Cru Classé 2020

Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France

A friend recently told me he drinks so much California wine that he’s forgotten what Bordeaux tastes like. Here’s the fix for that— a delicious Bordeaux that’s just $8 a glass.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

93 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at wine.com

DRAGONETTE Pinot Noir 2023

Pinot Noir 2023

Sta Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, CA

Deeply earthy, Dragonette’s Pinot Noir is more savory than fruity, with fascinating notes of espresso, leather, iron, and peat (the Pinot equivalent of single malt Scotch?), plus a touch ofThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed 

Available at wine.com

JOLIE-LAIDE “The Fool”

"The Fool" Gamay Noir 2025

Sonoma County, CA

Apparently in the old days, famous Parisian chefs drank Gamay by the bucketful. That would have been Beaujolais, of course, but I’m pretty sure they would have loved this vivid, fresh, spicy Gamay from Sonoma. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

93 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Jolie-Laide

MICHEL MAGNIEN “Argillières” Chambolle-Musigny

"Argillières" Chambolle-Musigny 2023

Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy, France

For me, the one flavor that distinguishes Burgundy from Pinot Noirs that grow elsewhere in the world is right here in this exquisitely supple Chambolle-Musigny from Michel Magnien. It is this: The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

96 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at wine.com

LANDMARK VINEYARDS Pinot Noir

“Grand Detour” Pinot Noir 2023

Sonoma Coast, CA

Deeply earthy and bold, yet full of energy, lightness, and freshness, Landmark’s “Grand Detour” Pinot Noir is like someone singing bass and soprano at the same time. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Landmark Wine