As a good ol’ wino I’ve been fortunate to spend quality time in vineyards around the world.  What I’ve found is that except for a few varieties….overall the USA has the best wines in the world…here are some of my favorites….ENJOY!!

• The Prisoner.  2017, The Prisoner Wine Company, Napa Valley CA, 93 point - This famous blend combines Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Charbono from throughout the Napa Valley, combining the grapes into a robust, flavorful explosion of soft, richly rounded fruit and body. It's undeniably appealing. 

• Justin Isosceles.  2016, Justin Wines, Paso Robles CA, 93 point Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot blend. Full bodied and luxuriant with ripe black fruit, mostly cherry and black currant with mixed ripe berries and barrel spice on entry. The mid-palate features continued fruit with subtle savory elements of autumn leaf, leather, and cedar with rounded, plush tannins that extend into a long finish featuring black cherry and camphor notes.

• Papillon. 2016, Orin Swift Cellars, St Helena CA, 92 point, . **My Favorite!!** Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sira blend.  Paying respect to the Bordeaux varietals that made the Napa Valley what it is today, Papillon is our take on the classic five-varietal blend. Rich, lush and decadent, we strive to make the wine big and brawny but also nuanced and delicate.

• Cakebread. 2018, Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley CA, 90 point Chardonnay. This wine has a pretty, floral nose with fresh citrus, orange blossom and white peach, but the real treat is in the mouth. The viscosity coats the palate; it is weighty on the tongue yet well- balanced with acidity. The finish is clean with a nice zing and lingering minerality intertwined with pear and apple lemon.

• Cloudy Bay. 2019, Cloudy Bay Cellars, Marlborough New Zealand, 93 point Sauvignon Blanc. The lone foreigner on my list….no one produces Sauv Blanbs like the Kiwis!  The 2019 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc is immediately expressive in the glass, with notes of bright, ripe citrus, kaffir lime, passion fruit and white peach. The palate is vibrant and mouthwatering, with concentrated, juicy tropical notes melding with zesty citrus, stone fruits and subtle notes of orchard blossom. The palate is underpinned by a lively grapefruit acidity, carrying the intense fruit characters through to an impressively long finish.