California Syrah: top Mendocino County wines
Wild, earthy and umami-laden Mendocino County Syrahs...
According to the California Wine Institute, the California wine region is responsible for producing 81% of all US wine, and is the fourth-largest wine-producing region after France, Italy and Spain.
There are 242,000 hectares of vineyard spread across 139 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas).
The North Coast is home to famed AVAs such as Napa County and Sonoma County, although wineries can be found from north to south, and further inland too.
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Chardonnay is California’s most widely planted variety, with approximately 37,800ha planted. Cabernet Sauvignon is not far behind, with approximately 36,700ha planted.
Wild, earthy and umami-laden Mendocino County Syrahs...
An array of styles, all equally complex…
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Matthew Luczy charts the rise of California Syrah. And from a tasting of 82 wines he reveals the top 14 to try…
One of California’s most noted Pinot Noir properties
Large estate listed in Lake County, with Cabernet Sauvignon vines and winery...
Matthew Luczy questions why, even though California Chardonnay has evolved in style, many perceptions haven't
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Adrian Smith highlights his top five Napa winery visits...
In his first column for Decanter, our California correspondent Matthew Luczy reflects on how he came to be bitten by the wine bug…
Legendary Napa winery sold to Gaylon Lawrence Jr and Carlton McCoy Jr MS...
From cult California classics to some fancy French favourites…
All of the estates featured in the top 10 have two or more wines in the report...
The charity wine event won’t take place in 2021...
Within this top 14 are wines from across Napa’s varied AVAs
Intensity and suppleness are unifying factors in the best St Helena wines
2018 was like the old-fashioned vintages of 10 to 15 years ago...
'It was an epic vintage,' says Frog’s Leap's Rory Williams
Market trends, top names and how to buy the wines
These wines are powerful and burly, but fresh and vibrant.
Mount Veeder is rugged, remote, and feels frozen in time compared to the valley floor beneath.
2018 in Calistoga was a drama-free 'winemaker vintage’...
Top examples include Lokoya, La Jota, Metzker and O’Shaughnessy
Oakville has become an epicenter of the modern, luxe Napa Cabernet
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There's optimism among analysts and merchants that collector interest in Napa will continue to grow on the international fine wine market.
Unquestionably one of the finest vintages for California Cabernet Sauvignon in the past two decades...
One of Napa's pioneer estates...
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