Color is a very pretty very pale gold. The nose is rich with classic Viognier tropical fruit. Meyer Lemon, guava, and fried plantains come out on the palate. The balance between citrus and tropics will make it welcome on many tables. Drink with baked chicken with peaches. Recommended. 88 points.
The color is a very pale straw. On the nose, lightly grilled pineapple and cut grass waft up. The palate is redolent with fresh peach, backed by grilled pineapple. Hints of sweet Key Lime linger on the finish. This is a fresh and fruity bottle of wine. Drink with lemon
The color is very light, just the palest straw. Gooseberry drives the nose, with cut grass a distant second. On the palate, gooseberry leads as well. White grapefruit and citrus blossoms come through on the mid-palate, and grapefruit zest lingers. This is a bright, zippy, clean glass of wine. Pair
A blend of stone and citrus fruits show on the nose. On the palate, minerality shines through, blending with white peach and Meyer lemon. This is a well-crafted bottle of wine at a great price. Drink with simply poached white fish. Recommended. 88 points. DBH WHO: J Vineyards & Winery
The nose shows tremendous florals, honeysuckle and magnolia. Fruits on the palate are soft ad tropical, with guava, mango, and fried plantain. There is enough Meyer Lemon to give an zippy background, but not enough to distract from the exotic fruits. This is a truly lovely wine, soft and exotic,
Blackberries, brambles, herbs, and hints of tarragon flow up on the nose. The palate also leads with blackberries, backed by coffee, unsweetened chocolate, and herbs. Tannins are rigid. This is a dark, chunky, slightly disjointed wine. Drink with lamb. Recommended. 86 points. DBH WHO: Bravdo WHAT: Merlot WHEN: 2013 DESIGNATION:
Aromas of dark chocolate covered cherries and freshly-ground espresso explode from the glass. Black fruit leads on the palate, blackberry and black raspberry, with sweeter cherry making an appearance on the mid-palate. Leafy herbs, coffee, and unsweetened chocolate run through the fruit. Tannins are rigid in this still-young wine. This
The nose shows very ripe, even a little stewed, cherries. Candied cherries and strawberries, with black pepper and vanilla, come through on the palate. This is a soft, round, crowd-pleasing wine that will satisfy the neophytes. Recommended. 85 points. DBH WHO: Prophecy Wines WHAT: Pinot Noir WHEN: 2015 WHERE: California HOW MUCH: