Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo is an approachable yet sophisticated wine that offers remarkable quality for its price. Typically priced between $10 and $14 per bottle, it delivers balanced flavors and refined structure, making it an excellent choice for both everyday meals and casual entertaining. For a wine under $15, it’s a standout example of how affordability and quality can coexist.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
There’s a sparkling wine for every occasion—whether you’re celebrating big, hosting a cozy dinner, or simply treating yourself after a long week. With so many options on the shelf, it helps to have a few reliable bottles in mind across a range of budgets. Here are three standouts, from approachable to luxe, each with its own personality.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Decoy by Duckhorn’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon offers remarkable structure and polish for a wine in its price point, showcasing the distinct terroir of Sonoma County. The region’s rolling hills, warm days, and cooling Pacific breezes nurture slow-ripening grapes that develop balanced acidity and full phenolic ripeness. The varied soils—from volcanic ash to gravelly loam—lend nuance and character to the final blend.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
The Santa Rita 120 Reserva Especial Chardonnay from Chile’s Central Valley is a well-crafted, approachable white wine that offers surprising elegance for the price. It opens with aromas of ripe pear, pineapple, and citrus peel, layered with a subtle touch of vanilla and light oak. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a soft, rounded texture that finishes with notes of melon and green apple. There’s just enough creaminess to give it structure, without overwhelming its fresh character.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
by Steve Adelman
The Ravenswood Old Vine—sourced from century‑old Lodi vineyards—is a bold, charismatic Zinfandel that balances fruit intensity with oak elegance. On the nose, rich aromas of black plum, dark berries, mocha and cigar box spill forth. The palate is full-bodied and luscious—think jammy blackberry, prune, and spice—coated in smooth, silky tannins and finished with toasty coconut-vanilla and clove whispers from its oak aging .
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
The 2014 vintage of Erath’s Oregon Pinot Noir is a graceful expression of the Willamette Valley, showcasing the elegance and restraint that has made the region world-renowned for Pinot Noir. In the glass, it reveals a translucent ruby hue and opens with aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, and dried rose petals, underpinned by hints of forest floor and subtle baking spice.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
The 2023 Barbera from Bodegas Santo Tomás (Avg $36) exemplifies the winery’s commitment to producing premium wines that showcase the unique characteristics of Baja California’s Valle de Santo Tomás. Under the guidance of winemaker Cristina Pino, this vintage continues to build upon the legacy of the estate’s monovarietal “white label” wines, which represent their premium efforts just below the ultra-premium “Único” label.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
The 2022 Caymus California Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to the Wagner family’s dedication to crafting wines that marry opulence with elegance. Sourced from diverse regions across California, this wine showcases the state’s versatility and the Wagners’ expertise in selecting ideal vineyard sites.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
