| Category | Name | Rating | | Notes |
| Shiraz | Baystone Shiraz | 4.0 | | As an Australian transplant in California, winemaker Michael Scholz has shiraz in his blood. A wine with meat on its bones, this full-bodied beauty is packed with jammy fruit, smokiness and a delicious bittersweet chocolate quality. |
| Chardonnay | Beringer Chardonnay 'Private Reserve' | 4.0 | | The Private Reserve is one of Napa's signature wines and is as opulent as the 125-year old Beringer Vineyards is historic. This is serious stuff: golden in color with an ultra-ripe pineapple quality, buttery, toasty oak character and a creamy mouthfeel. |
| Pinot Noir | Brancott Vineyards Pinot Noir 'Reserve' | 4.0 | | What pinot noir should be: medium-bodied and pretty with vibrant acidity, a spicy finish and ripe black cherry fruit. Brancott consistently produces delicious, well-priced wines. |
| Cabernet Sauvig | Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon | 3.5 | | Sporting substantial tannins, fresh herbal notes and ripe blackberry fruit, this medium-full bodied cab is a good choice for meats hot off the grill. |
| Pinot Grigio | Castello Banfi 'San Angelo' Pinot Grigio | 3.5 | | Produced by one of Italy's well-known names, Castello Banfi, from grapes grown in the warm Tuscan sun of the area around Montalcino, it sports depth and citrus freshness without being too tart or lean. |
| Rose | Chateau Routas 'Rouviere' | | | A blend of grenache, syrah and cinsault, this quaffable, delicate rosé overflows with aromas of strawberry and peach and a dash of pepper. Uncork it as a foil to ribs slathered in barbecue sauce. |
| Cabernet Sauvig | Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon 'Stags Leap District' | 4.0 | | Situated on the Silverado Trail in the heart of Napa, Chimney Rock crafts cabernet with a European flair. Understated and stylish, it captures the deep berry and cocoa powder quality of Stags Leap District fruit without overpowering tannins. |
| Cabernet Sauvig | Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon 'Stags Leap District Palisade Vineyard' | 4.0 | | Soon-to-be-released wine that explodes with unique perfumed aromas of violets and sweet berry. Medium-bodied with zesty boysenberry fruit, integrated tannins and hints of fresh herbal notes, it is tight and youthful now but will grow up beautifully. |
| Pinot Grigio | Columbia Winery Pinot Gris | | | Bigger and more ripe than Italian pinot grigios (pinot gris and pinot grigio are the same grape variety) Columbia Winery's version is creamy and medium-full with juicy melon notes. Pour it as an alternative to chardonnay. |
| Rose | Concannon Vineyard 'Righteously Rose' | | | A Rhone-style wines that ranks as one of my favorites year in and out. Like a fruit bowl loaded with peach, nectarine and watermelon, it screams summer. Don't let its freshness fool you — there's some substance, too. |
| Shiraz | d'Arenberg Shiraz 'The Footbolt' | 3.5 | | Not your typical breed of Aussie shiraz. Exploding with raspberry fruit (instead of deep blackberry) and sporting a healthy dose of sweet clove spice, it doesn't hit you over the head with power. |
| Rose | Delas Freres Tavel 'La Comballe' | | | Nearly ruby in color, this is as serious as rose gets: meaty, smoky and nutty with a touch of tannins, tangy raspberry notes and a medium-full body. Pair it with powerful foods from the grill. |
| Shiraz | Domaine du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage 'Cuvee Gaby' | 4.0 | | Forget spending big bucks on Hermitage when you can find wine from the neighboring region for a fraction of the price. Racy and fresh with soft tannins, violet aromas and a meaty, wild berry character. |
| Cabernet Sauvig | Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 'Estate Grown' | 4.5 | | Duckhorn has built a cadre of merlot followers over the past 24 years, but its cabernet is addictive, too. With chocolate, blackberry jam and licorice notes, this full-bodied, tannic wine is for lovers of big boy reds. |
| Pinot Grigio | Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris | 4.0 | | A delicious example of Oregon pinot gris that's substantial and concentrated with exotic melon and peach flavors, mineral notes and a kick of fresh peppercorn. (Don't drink it too cold, though, or you'll mask some of its complexity). |
| Red blend | Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon 'Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve' | 4.5 | | Named for Maximiano Errazuriz, who founded the winery in 1870, this is one of Chile's top wines and belongs alongside the world's best. Gorgeous intensity of fruit is layered with minty notes and supple tannins. Drink now or age long-term. |
| Chardonnay | Errazuriz Chardonnay 'Wild Ferment' | 4.0 | | The Casablanca Valley is the region for elegant chardonnay because of its proximity to cooling ocean breezes. Allowing the wine to ferment with yeasts that naturally occur on the grape skins, adds layers of complexity to this crisp, exotic white. |
| Chardonnay | Far Niente Chardonnay | 4.5 | | Far Niente, the winery, is one of Napa's most historic and picturesque properties. Far Niente, the wine, is also a beauty sporting tropical fruit and spicy, vanilla aromas tied together with crisp acidity and balanced oak. |
| Red Bordeaux | Firstland Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot | 3.5 | | Want an impressive package for a gift but don't want to spend a fortune? Seek out this bottle. Merlot's telltale velvety softness joins cabernet's blackberry fruitiness in this eminently drinkable blend. |
| Pinot Noir | Foxes Island Pinot Noir | 4.0 | | If you like your reds bold and muscular, you'll love this wine. Extracted and concentrated, it sports allspice, ultra-ripe plum, buttery graham cracker aromas, mouth-puckering tannins and a long, peppery finish. Drink now or age short-term. |
| White blend | Frog’s Leap Winery 'Leapfrogmilch' | | | Frog's Leap knows how to have fun and this wine is a joy to sip. A blend of riesling and chardonnay, it's a take-off on German liebfraumilch. Juicy, floral and full bodied, Leapfrogmilch is perfect when paired with piquant stir-fry. |
| Shiraz | Geyser Peak Winery Shiraz | 4.0 | | Has an Australian name but a California soul. Pretty floral aromas highlight ripe, tangy boysenberry flavors and a succulent vanilla-laced finish. An excellent companion for springtime grilling. |
| Shiraz | Greg Norman Estates Shiraz | 3.5 | | A wine as broad-shouldered as the golfer himself. Full bodied with strong tannins, ultraripe fruit and a black-pepper jolt on the finish, this is pure Aussie-in-a-bottle, mate. |
| Pinot Noir | Isabel Estate Pinot Noir | | | Classy. Layers of complexity keep unfolding in the glass: licorice and tea leaves, black cherry and strawberry. Balanced and elegant, this wine sports an embarrassingly long finish that leaves you wanting more. |
| White blend | Joseph Drouhin Chablis | 3.5 | | Chablis (the wine) is often described in the same way as Champagne: crisp and steely. Drouhin's medium-bodied, oak-free version smells of mineral, lemon and honeysuckle and tastes like bottled sunshine. |
| Red blend | Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny | 4.0 | | Another of my favorites. There's just something sexy and seductive about Chambolle. Medium-bodied but fleshy, with floral aromas and chocolate-covered cherry flavors, this wine is pure style. |
| White blend | Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet | 4.0 | | An age-worthy wine with anise and allspice aromas, tropical fruit, vibrant acidity and toasty but integrated oak. According to Véronique Drouhin, 'wine from this region is the best expression of chardonnay in the world.' |
| White blend | Joseph Drouhin Saint-Véran | 3.0 | | Look to the village wines of Saint-Véran for great value. Soft and juicy, this wine offers up light touches of oak and aromas of caramel, honey and apricot and peach. |
| Red blend | Joseph Drouhin Volnay | 4.0 | | Volnay is the epitome of pinot noir, but for less money than other red Burgundies. Volnay produces wines with distinctive earthiness. This version is supple and feminine with aromas of tea leaves, mushrooms and ripe strawberries. |
| Rose | Lawson’s Dry Hills Pinot Rose | | | Not common but worth the search, especially if you like vibrant, palate-perking New Zealand wines. It smells of creamy vanilla and allspice and tastes like a mouthful of watermelon and berries. |
| Shiraz | Novy Cellars Syrah | 4.0 | | A real find made by the folks responsible for Siduri pinot noir. Swirl the glass and release smoky, vanilla aromas and a whiff of black truffles, then sip and taste plum, licorice and spice. The tannins are in check, making it elegant and refined. |
| Pinot Noir | Olssens of Bannockburn Pinot Noir | 4.0 | | A plush pinot that embodies the emerging New Zealand style. It's creamy, yet has a strong backbone of acidity, ripe black cherry fruit, hints of cola and a texture as smooth as Jennifer Lopez's complexion. |
| Pinot Grigio | Pepi Pinot Grigio | 3.5 | | A California-based winery using fruit from Oregon to craft Italian-style pinot grigio -- talk about a split personality. It manages to pull it off, though, combining crisp green apple notes with a ripe, full character. |
| Cabernet Sauvig | Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 'Reserve' | 4.5 | | Mondavi's top bottling, the Reserve '99, is young but already oh-so-smooth. Deep and rich with blackberry, plum, and smoky pepper notes the wine is stunningly balanced. |
| Shiraz | Rosemount Estate Shiraz 'Show Reserve' | 4.0 | | Fleshy and full with tar, leather and smoky aromas wafting from the glass, this is serious 'sheeraz' as the Australians call it. Complex, intense and tannic, it's ideal with anything formerly a cow. |
| Red blend | Seña | 4.5 | | Cabernet sauvignon with merlot and a healthy dose of carmenère, it is powerful and sophisticated. Concentrated fruit, a touch of dusty cocoa and distinctive hints of clove are wrapped around a backbone of firm, but smooth tannins. Age for up to 10 years. |
| Cabernet Sauvig | Silverado Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 'Stags Leap District' | 4.5 | | Silverado has quietly been making some of Napa Valley's best cabernet sauvignon. Layers of complexity unfold into anise, licorice and blackberry notes, while velvety softness and supple tannins seduce your palate. |
| Rose | Solo Rosa Rose | | | Focusing solely on rose, Solo Rosa scores with its inaugural release. An eclectic blend of syrah, sangiovese, merlot and zinfandel, it captures a delightful berry/cherry quality backing it up with well-integrated touches of oak and a long, spicy finish. |
| Pinot Noir | Spy Valley Pinot Noir | 4.0 | | Focused and elegant with noticeable tannins, freshly picked mushroom and smoky bacon aromas and loads of cherry fruit, this offers a bit of Burgundy in New Zealand. |
| Red Bordeaux | Te Awa Farm 'Longlands' Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc | 3.5 | | Another blend that's sheer fun to drink and easy on the wallet. Spicy with plummy aromas and light tannins, it pairs with everyday fare, from pizza to burgers to spaghetti. |
| Red Bordeaux | Te Mata Estate Cabernet/Merlot | 4.0 | | Sipping this wine feels like wrapping yourself in velvet. A deep purple color gives a clue to the wine's intensity. Aromas of toast and blueberry jam and supple tannins make this medium-full bodied wine a pleasure to drink. |
| Chardonnay | The Hess Collection Chardonnay | 4.0 | | Donald Hess focuses on elegance in all his brands, from the affordable Hess Select to the top-of-the-line Hess Collection label. Bursting with butterscotch and cinnamon notes, the oak is tempered by vibrant citrus fruit. |
| Pinot Noir | Tohu Pinot Noir | 4.0 | | Seductive and sultry, this is pinot with an attitude. Medium-full with plum and berry fruit, toasty oak and a black pepper kick. Uncork it with hearty beef stew. |
| Red Bordeaux | Villa Maria Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 'Private Bin' | 3.5 | | If a wine could sashay, this one would. It's a little sassy, but goes down smooth. A dash of malbec and cabernet franc adds herbal complexity and a tinge of earthiness to the fresh berry-fruit character. |
| Shiraz | Yangarra Park Shiraz | 3.5 | | A new offering from Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates Collection. Not too big, not too jammy, just right. Toasty aromas pair up with fresh blackberry fruit and a kick of pepper. |
| Rose | Zaca Mesa 'Z Gris' | | | Think pink grapefruit and nectarines with this zesty, Rhone-style wine. Tangy and light, it's best served well-chilled and alongside fiery fare like Cajun-spiced scallops. |