The Secret Society of Wine Experts Louis Calli brings you the experts' secrets to navigating the wine store.
Wow. Light and racy. From 130-year-old vines, this exhibits chai tea and dusty berries with great hints of rhubarb on the nose. Fantastic finish of red fruits and chalky earth. Really impressed by this Lodi interpretation of the fourth most-read more-
Gorgeous. Spicy on the nose with big heavy dark fruits and a hint of oak. The word for this wine is lush (although Parker has flayed that word into overuse). Maybe also rich. Finish lingers for minutes with layers of-read more-
1. Jayson Woodbridge and Bill Harlan will join forces to create a wine so boutique and so exclusive that only one bottle is produced from the over 2000 acres of premium Cab devoted to its production. It will cost 8-read more-
Ahhh rose: A wonderful wine driven to exile in many domestic markets due to its striking visual similarity to the much sweeter White Zinfandel wines. That being said, it’s probably true that even if white zin were actually white, Rose-read more-
The Sylvia Plath of California Cabernet, lots of brooding dark fruit on the nose. Slightly gamey and brash. Lots of self-loathing. WHO: Swanson Vineyards WHAT: Cabernet Sauvignon WHERE: Oakville AVA, Napa, California WHEN: 2005 HOW MUCH: $75
Like the long kiss goodnight. It's sleek, sexy and deep. Big spice and cola with just enough toasty oak on the nose to remind you who it is. It's huge in the mouth. Smoke and anise. All the good things.-read more-
Versatile. Quick but deep. Bright fruit and great acidity make for a tremendously well-balanced wine. Drink with a steak or solo. Awesome. WHO Bennett Lane Winery WHAT Cabernet Sauvignon WHERE California, Napa Valley WHEN 2006 HOW MUCH $95 (media sample)