Top 10 wines in the US press

2010 Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc ‘North Coast’

This wine was chosen as “wine of the week” by Irene Virbila in the LA Times. She wrote: “Move over, Cabernet Sauvignon, and make way for peppery, delicious Cabernet Franc. The 2010 from Lang & Reed has it all: a gorgeous red-violet colour, beautiful texture, a taste of cherries, forest and smoke. This one, an assemblage of four vineyards from Lake County to Napa Valley, is refined and subtle, with ripe tannins and a lovely finish.

She added that the wine will go with, “Charcuterie, duck, barbecued meats, roasted root vegetables”.

J. Christopher Dundee Hills Cuvée Pinot Noir 2011

This was one of the wines recommended by Dave McIntyre in the Washington Post, he wrote: “There’s an impressive intensity to this wine. It is beautifully perfumed, with high-toned red-fruit aromas and flavours plus a hint of grapefruit zest. It has a verve and focus that many New World wines lack. Alcohol by volume: 13%.”

St. Innocent Chardonnay Freedom Hill 2011

McIntyre also picked this wine, writing, “Oregon is best known for its Pinot Noir, but its Chardonnays have consistently improved in quality over the past few years as vintners figure out which sites are best for Chardonnay and which clones of the grape work best.”

He added: “This delicious Chardonnay has been featured recently in several Washington area restaurants. ABV: 13%.”

Castello Banfi, Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2011

This is the “wine of the week” chosen by Rebecca Murphy in the Dallas Morning News. She wrote: “Castello Banfi is the showplace winery created by the Mariani family in an 11th-century castle on a Tuscan hilltop. In addition to wine production, Castello Banfi houses two restaurants, a glass museum and a small luxury inn. It’s the birthplace of this winsome red, which offers flavours of black cherries and plums underscored with a trace of anise, vanilla and earthy mineral notes. In the mouth, the fruit is approachable and plush, with lively acidity and ripe tannins. Enjoy it with pasta with Bolognese sauce or a grilled lamb chop.”

2012 Kinero Alice Paso Robles Grenache Blanc ($22, 13.6%)

This is the wine that Jon Bonné described as “a masterful balance of texture and tension”. Writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, Bonné added: “Anthony Yount continues to set a standard for this grape – and not just for California – from western Paso Robles, where he also makes the Denner wines. Full of chervil, pear blossom and a bitter-almond aspect, with impressively full fruit: nectarine, quince and Key lime.”

2011 Lucia Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah ($45, 14.1% alcohol)

Bonné also picked out this wine, writing: “For all the attention that Santa Lucia gets with Pinot, I’ve long thought that Syrah might be its big win. This latest from the Pisonis, the region’s first family, certainly reinforces my hunch – especially as Garys’ is a spot beloved by the Pinot-tastic. Intensely savoury, with the blue fruit almost incidental to an impressive dose of texture and tannin. Violets, fine-ground pepper, cardamom, an appealing touch of new wood. California Syrah at its best.”

Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir Marlborough 2012, $22

This wine was picked out by Sandra Silfven in the Detroit News. She wrote: “Icon is the pinnacle for Nobilo, one of New Zealand’s iconic growers. This new release is smooth, powerful, packed with fruit, balanced. Lift the glass to your nose and inhale the intense cherry, blackberry, dark plum, dark chocolate aromas. In the mouth, it’s a symphony of melted chocolate and dark cherry. Tannins are smooth. While the Sauvignon Blancs may take a degree of wine sophistication to understand and appreciate, this Pinot’s appeal has no bounds.”

2012 Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc

Michael Dresser in the Baltimore Sun, described this wine as “far more complex than most whites in this price range [$21]”.

He added: “Matanzas Creek has long been one of California’s leaders in Sauvignon Blanc, and the 2012 reaffirms that distinction. Not grassy and cutting like some of this varietal, this full-bodied dry white wine offers bold flavours of figs, herbs, green apple, gooseberries, vanilla, almond and mint. Serve with: Lobster, seafood stews, swordfish.”

2009 Steltzner Vineyards ‘Martini Clone’

In the Chicago Tribune, Bill St John wrote about a tasting of around 20 Stags Leap Cabernets. He wrote: “The Cabernet of Stags Leap is unique. You want to close your eyes when you put a Stags Leap Cabernet in your mouth. It’s less a wine than an experience — the same that occurs when you taste a great Syrah from the Rhone, that sensual caress of both power and elegance.

“I know that may sound a bit dramatic or excessive for a mere wine, but Stags Leap cabernet, in its better showings, is quite a sensual pleasure.”

In describing this wine he added: “‘Best buy’ among a dear bunch; bright fruit, more red than black; less complex than the norm, but also much less pricey. $55”

2010 Inama Vigneti di Foscarino Soave Classico

And finally this wine is “highly recommended” by Fred Tasker in the Miami Herald, he wrote: “Let’s raise a glass to a friendly old wine that once soared, then faltered and now has risen once more. It’s called soave. The wine called soave is soft, dry and light-bodied, with delicate flavours of apples, lemons, pears and peaches and a hint of minerals. In fact, dictionaries translate the Italian word ‘soave’ as ‘soft’ or ‘delicate.’ By law it must be 70% from the crisp, white Garganega grape, with the remaining 30% from Trebbiano, Chardonnay and others.

He added: “Pale yellow colour, medium body, aromas of white flowers, flavours of ripe pears and lemons, tart finish; $24.”