Top 10 wines in the US press

Both Dave McIntyre and Sandra Silfven recommend Napa Valley Cabernets, McIntyre’s pick “shows delicious fruit and elegance, balanced throughout” while Silfven’s is “rich, smooth, powerful and approachable.”

McIntyre featured six Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, he wrote in the Washington Post that a classic Napa Cab Sav “should feature flavours of blackberries and currants and — increasingly rare — a minty quality that tastes cool, for lack of a better word.”

He added: “Too many today taste only of wood, tannin and alcohol; in other words, hot flavours. Unfortunately, Napa Valley Cabernet of any quality will not be cheap. The cost of vineyard land averages $180,000 per acre and climbs as high as $300,000, according to the Napa Valley Vintners trade association. No wines made on such land can be priced inexpensively.”

In the Detroit News Silfven wrote that her choice is “a soft beauty that charms the nose and palate with its dark cherry, plum, blackberry personality.”

Click through the following pages to find out which wines these and other US wine writers have recommended over the last week.

2012 Kendermanns Special Edition Riesling

Will Lyons, in the Wall Street Journal, recommended this wine writing: “Served slightly chilled, this wine from the Pfalz is sublime and modish. Pale gold, it has aromatics of lime and some tropical fruit. A first sip reveals a stunning, lemony quench with a crisp, dry finish that will go well with seafood and salads.”

2011 Bridlewood Central Coast Blend 175

In the Miami Herald, Fred Tasker picked out this red wine blend, he wrote: “On California’s Central Coast, Bridlewood Estate Winery takes the unusual step of combining three reds with a white-wine grape, Viognier, noted for its aromas and flavours of peaches and vanilla and its seeming sweetness even when it’s dry.”

In describing the wine he added: “Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Viognier; dark hue, hint of oak, crisp and fruity, with flavours of black raspberries and black coffee.”

2010 Famille Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Les Sinards”

Bill St John, writing in the Chicago Tribune, picked out this wine, writing: “A fine-grained Châteauneuf with much spice and dark cherry character, finishing quietly but with ‘cut.’”

2011 Patricia Green Sauvignon Blanc

Robert Scheer aka the Indianapolis Star‘s wine dude described this wine as “interesting” and that it “tasted very French, with much more acidity than American versions.”

He added: “I thought it was delicious, and it reminded me of lemons, peaches, mineral water, and herbs like lemongrass and chamomile. Grade A-minus.”

Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon NapaValley 2010

This is the wine recommended by Sandra Silfven in the Detroit News, she wrote: “This is a soft beauty that charms the nose and palate with its dark cherry, plum, blackberry personality infused with brown cooking spices — cinnamon and clove — from the French oak barrels.

“Almost half the barrels are new – which might be overpowering for some wines but not this fruit.”

Silfven added: “It’s made off famous Napa real estate — Bosche Vineyard in Rutherford, mountain fruit from Potelle Vineyard and Veeder Peak, Stage Coach and Round Pond vineyards. No wonder this baby is so rich, smooth, powerful and approachable.”

Louis M. Martini, Sonoma County, Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Rebecca Murphy was another US wine writer who this week recommended a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Murphy wrote in the Dallas Morning News: “With so many wines available these days, it’s easy to forget about the reliable wines that have been around for a while. A perfect example is this Cabernet Sauvignon from Louis M. Martini. It has plenty of plush black cherry, blueberry and blackberry fruit with hints of toast and vanilla. It’s round and plump in the mouth, with enough savoury acidity to keep your mouth watering. It finishes with burnished tannins. Keep it around for your favourite burger or red meat from the grill.

She added: “The Napa Valley winery will celebrate its 80th anniversary in September. It was established by Louis M. Martini; today the wines are made by his grandson Michael. The winery was sold to Gallo several years ago, a move that provided more resources for the family and for the winery. At the time of the sale, Michael said the change gave him the freedom to make wines in his style and more tools to do it with.”

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis 2010

This is one of the six Cabernets recommended by Dave McIntyre in the Washington Post, he wrote: “This is the entry-level Cabernet from the winery founded by Warren Winiarski in 1970. Blended from grapes grown throughout Napa Valley, it shows classic flavours of black fruit, mint and earth. Lovely.”

Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

McIntyre also picked out this wine, writing: “From a pioneering winery that has never surrendered to trends toward greater ripeness and alcohol levels, this wine shows delicious fruit and elegance, balanced throughout with acidity and earthiness on the long finish. ”

2011 Scarpetta Pinot Grigio, Friuli-Venezia-Giuilia

Mark Tarbell in the Arizona Republic, recommended this as a “summer wine”, he wrote: “This region of Italy is wonderful for whites and anything that is pork-related. With mountains to the north and the Adriatic Sea to the south, it’s the perfect garden for food-friendly and warm-weather wines.”

He added: “This wine has wonderful mineral and citrus tones with green apple, good acidity and a hauntingly light impression of richness that is subtle on the finish. 90 points.”

2010 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay ‘Santa Rita Hills’

And finally this wine was recommended by S. Irene Virbila in the LA Times. She wrote: “This California Chardonnay is lean and focused, yet complex and long in the finish. This is a terrific entry-level Chardonnay at a great price for the quality. Pair it with scallops, spot prawns, smoked trout.”