Top 10 wines in the US press

2012 Lechuza Garnacha, Carinena, Spain

Michael Dresser, writing for The Baltimore Sun, described this Spanish Garnacha as “lush and charming”, suitable for pairing with a hearty beef of lamb stew.

He said: “Is there any red wine that provides more uninhibited fun in its youth than a Spanish Garnacha? This lush, charming red wine is just bursting with flavors of blueberry, blackberry, game, herbs and smoked meat. Behind the chunky fruit is fine complexity and penetration. It’s a great value.”

Price: $13

2011 Brancaia Ilatraia Rosso, Tuscany, Italy

This “rich and smooth” Tuscan red was recommended by Irene Virbila of the LA Times, calling it a special bottle to bring out for a dinner with wine-loving friends. Pair it with roast duck, a game bird or even a roasted pig’s head, she said.

“Let’s celebrate every bit of cold weather we can muster this winter”, Silfven said. “Time to light the fire, roast a big hunk of meat and break out a big red. This one comes from Maremma, near the Tuscan Coast, and it’s a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc aged in French oak. Ilatraia has a wonderful presence, silky and smooth with flavors of currant, wild herbs and spice. The tannins are there, but tamed, and the finish is long and satisfying.”

Price: $36 to $46

Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Exuding aromas of “ripe crushed black fruit”  followed by “vanillin from oak, creme caramel and minerals”, this Chilean Cabernet won over Gil Lempert-Schwarz, writing for the Las Vegas Review Journal.

He said: “It immediately coats the palate with incredibly powerful black fruit characteristics, followed by tons of cherry and cassis juices, and then ripe firm tannin structure with some degree of alcohol as it comes out a little “hot”. It has an excellent mid-palate with loads of fruit and crushed loganberry and finishes very powerfully with chunks of cherry liqueur and creme de cassis. Great wine that certainly has aging potential based on the fine complexity that it shows, completely transcending what could normally be expected of a Chilean wine in this price category.”

Price: $7.99

Atalon Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2013

Owned by Jackson Family Wines, the Atalon winery is based in California’s Calistoga region and produces wines that draw from various parts of the Napa Valley.

Of its Sauvignon Blanc, Sandra Silfven, writing for Detroit News, said: “While the lively aromas broadcast grapefruit, herbs and lemongrass, the palate counters with a charming stream of tropical fruit and minerality that balances the acidity. It’s a lovely wine for lovers of dry whites — flavors are so intense, acids so sturdy topped off with that kiss of richness. Ninety-four percent of the juice was fermented in stainless steel, the rest in neutral oak barrels to soften and broaden the palate.”

Price: $21

Atalon Pauline’s Cuvee Napa Valley 2012

Pauline’s Cuvee is a “turbo-charged” blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec for good measure, writes Silfven.

She said: “I love the cranberry-herbaceous notes of Cab Franc, which come roaring through. Love the plum and brown spices of the Merlot. Love the smooth tannins. It’s a heady wine to smell: intense dark berries, black pepper, dark plums, sweet cinnamon and clove. In the mouth, flavors are still tight and framed by sturdy acidity and soft tannins. This turbo-charged beauty needs cellaring time, but you can still enjoy it now. “Pauline” is the mother of Barbara Banke, Jess Jackson’s widow and chairwoman/proprietor of Jackson Family Wines.”

Price: $30

Marietta “Old Vine Red,” Lot Number 62 California Red Wine

This “racy Zinfandel meets spicy Petite Sirah” was Peg Melnik’s wine of the week writing in the Press Democrat.

She said: “This is an approachable, juicy red that is well-crafted enough to turn the heads of experienced wine drinkers. It has great structure, bright fruit, and a supple texture. This red blend is a steal for the quality.”

Price: $14

Banshee Pinot Noir 2012, Sonoma County, California, US

Dave McIntyre, writing for the Washington Post, highlighted an “affordable and high quality” wine produced by one of California’s newest negociants, Banshee, which takes surplus juice from top-name wineries to produce its wine.

“Because these labels typically have a non-disclosure agreement with the wineries they buy from, they have an “I’d tell you, but I’d have to kill you” mystique. Don’t worry”, he said.

Price: $25

Las Perdices Viognier 2014, Mendoza, Argentina

McIntyre also recommended this Argentine Viognier noting: “Las Perdices is a good-value label, including its popular Malbec. This features Viognier’s typical flowery fruit flavors, with a hint of sweetness. The wine won’t captivate fans of Virginia or California viognier, but it is a good representation of the grape. Drink this by itself or with spicy foods.”

Price: $13

Groth, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2013

“With all the big red wines that come from Napa Valley, it’s easy to forget that the area can also produce excellent whites”, said Rebecca Murphy of this Napa Valley Sauvignon.

Writing in the Dallas News, she said: “We have the folks at Groth Vineyards and Winery to thank for a serious, rich and satisfying Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit is a combination of cooler-climate grapefruit, lime fruit with vibrant acidity and warmer-climate plush melon and Meyer lemon fruit. Part of the wine was fermented in neutral barrels and aged on its lees to impart creaminess and roundness in the body, and part in stainless steel for freshness. The result is a complex wine ready to charm on its own or to stand up to seared scallops or a creamy risotto.”

Price: $16.73 to $23

Menage a Trois Chardonnay 2013, California

Finally Dennis Sodomka, writing for the Augusta Chronicle, chose this Napa Chardonnay as his wine of the week made by the Folie a Deux Winery in Napa Valley, which is owned by Trinchero Family Estates. The name for the winery comes from a psychiatric term that means a “fantasy or delusion shared by two people”, which Sodmka said was appropriate given that it was founded by two psychiatrists in 1981.

Of this Napa white he said: “This is a crisp Chardonnay with powerful aromas of lemon, lime and pear. Tropical fruit flavors dominate the taste. It is a crisp, full-bodied wine with a touch of creaminess that leaves a pleasant aftertaste”, adding: “The wine was fermented with a special French yeast and induced a partial malolactic fermentation to enhance the creaminess of the wine. The blend then spent some time in French and American oak to make it even more complex. The result is a wonderful wine at a very nice price.”

Price: $9 to $12