Top 10 wines in the US press

2012 Chappellet Mountain Cuvée, California, US

“Not all American red blends are cheap, cleverly marketed mixes of grapes that couldn’t make it on their own”, writes Lettie Teague in the Wall Street Journal.This week she picked out a selection of the best midprice alternatives to the “head-swimming array of single varietals”, including this Napa Mountain Cuvée.

She said: “The Chappellet family has long been famous for its Pritchard Hill Cabernet. For a fraction of that Napa wine’s three-figure price, the Mountain Cuvée, a six-grape blend from vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, offers a taste of Chappellet style: a highly polished, well-structured, well-balanced wine.”

Price: $27

2011 DeLille Cellars D2, Columbia Valley, Washington State, US

Teague also recommended this Merlot-dominant, Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc sourced from some of Washington State’s oldest vineyards.

She said: “Named for Bordeaux’s famed wine route, it is marked by aromas of dark red fruits and fairly soft tannins. The first vintage, 1992, produced 700 cases; today’s annual total is almost 10 times that.”

Price: $40

Josh Cellars Legacy Red Wine 2012, California, US

Produced by a former sommelier and wine industry executive, this red blend was recommended by Sandra Silfven, writing in Detroit News.

She said: “You can tell a sommelier had his hands on this wine and its description. Vintner Joseph Carr nails it: “aromas of blueberry pie, raspberries, sage, rosemary and cigar box.” Flavors are currant, plum, dark chocolate and a dash of spice. It’s a blend of Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah. It’s dry, packed with spice and dark berries, nicely infused with oak and framed in sturdy acidity and supple tannins. It’s sourced from the Central Coast, Lodi, Sonoma and Napa and is aged 10 months in French oak.”

Price: $14.99

Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California, US

Dave McIntyre, writing in the Washington Post, selected two Napa Cabernet Sauvignons that have “never strayed toward the newer, powerhouse style”.

He said: “Smith-Madrone is high up on Spring Mountain, just west of Saint Helena, with steep, picturesque vineyards overlooking the valley. The 2011 vintage was uneven throughout Napa Valley, but Smith-Madrone produced a top-notch, elegant cabernet that features Bordeaux-like characteristics of blackberry fruit with that graphite/pencil character wine lovers will recognize, plus lip-smacking, refreshing acidity. And if you can restrain from gulping the bottle, it’s even better the second night.”

Price: $50

Frog’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, US

Of this organic Cabernet produce in Rutherford, the heart of the Napa Valley, McIntyre said: “Winemaker John Williams is an advocate of organic viticulture and dry farming, meaning no drip irrigation. He says that irrigation encourages the vines to seek water close to the ground’s surface rather than digging deep to find nutrients that give the wine structure and the ability to age. His estate wines — Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet — are all classically structured and powerful without being overpowering.”

Price: $52

Maggio Petite Sirah 2012, Lodi, California, US

Chris and Sherry Hardie, of Wisconsin’s La Crosse Tribune, recommended this Petit Sirah from Maggio, part of the Oak Ridge winery – a co-operative of California growers.

They said: “Petite Sirah acreage peaked in the mid-1970s when it was used as a jug wine blend, but interest in the varietal has more than 850 labels on the market today. This offering from Lodi delivers exceptional value and flavor, with the bouquet of ripe summer berries layered in spice and a lingering finish.”

Sherry: “Smooth with bright cherry and strawberry fruit flavors and a touch of floral rose on the finish.”

Chris: “Deep flavors of cherry, plum and vanilla with very balanced tannins.”

Price: $10 to $13

Mönchhof by Robert Eymael, Riesling Qualitätswein 2013, Mosel, Germany

This Mosel Riesling is “ripe for spicy foods” said Rebecca Murphy, who picked it as her wine of the week writing in the Dallas Morning News. 

She said: “Generally speaking, Mosel Rieslings require some sweetness to balance the searing acidity levels of a normal growing season. As a result, you get an intriguing balance of sweet and tart with a dash of slatey, salty mineral, as in this well-priced Riesling. It’s light, delicate and slightly sweet, with floral, green apple and citrus aromas and flavors. When that chiseled acidity kicks in, your tongue will forget the sweet. It’s a refreshing aperitif and can soothe the heat of jalapeño-covered nachos or a stir-fry seasoned with Thai chiles.”

Price: $15.99-$17.99

2013 Rickshaw Pinot Noir, California, US

Michael Dresser chose this “vibrant” Pinot Noir with “penetrating black cherry and earthy flavors” as his final recommendation as The Baltimore Sun’s wine reviewer.

He said: “Despite the California appellation, it’s as fine as many Pinot Noirs from prestigious subregions. This textbook Pinot Noir is versatile enough to serve with everything from steak to salmon. Cheers and au revoir.”

Price: $21

FEL Chardonnay 2013, Anderson Valley, California, US

“While the price puts this beyond the everyday wine category for most people, it is definitely worth the slight splurge for special meals”, wrote Dennis Sodomka in the Augusta Chronicle of this Anderson Valley Chardonnay.

He said: “It has a slight buttery taste, reminiscent of old-time Chardonnay, but it is not a fat, flabby wine. There is plenty of fresh acidity and a slight minerality to keep the wine lively. It is a beautiful gold in the glass with powerful aromatics of pineapple and grapefruit. Each sip brings out a new layer of flavor. Lemon starts, followed by peach, tangerine, pear, honey, butterscotch, lemon custard, toffee, and finally some flint and limestone leading to a long finish. The acidity keeps the tastes fresh and helps with the food pairing.”

Price: $27-30

Frei Brothers, 2013 Russian River Valley Chardonnay, California, US

Finall Peg Melnik, writing in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, picked the Frei Brothers 2013 Russian River Valley Chardonnay as her wine of the week.

She said: “This is a smart buy for budget-minded Chardonnay lovers who find a bold version appealing. It has aromas and flavors of bright apple, toasty oak and butter. It’s rich and full-bodied, and it has a lingering finish. The wine is a great value for the caliber of the Chardonnay.”

Price: $20