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California
California isn’t just home to big, assertively fruity wines. Cooler regions like Santa Barbara and Edna Valley yield Pinot Noirs in an elegant, Old World style. For Syrah, however, it’s best to look to a warmer climate such as the Dry Creek Valley region. Chardonnays from top California estates can age well for years, and though many producers are making completely unoaked Chardonnays these days,...
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Sauvignon Blanc
Few varietals have spawned as bizarre a list of descriptors as Sauvignon Blanc. Believe it or not, “cat pee” is in fact a complimentary tasting note, associated with some of the best bottlings. (It’s a somewhat odd way of pointing out herbaceousness in the wine.) Cat pee aside, Sauvignon Blanc (sometimes called "Fumé Blanc" in California) is a bit of a chameleon in terms of style, and quite...
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Alexander Valley
Cyrus Alexander, for whom Alexander Valley is named, planted the region's first vineyard in 1846. Situated at the top of Sonoma County with about 15,000 acres of highly prized vineyards, Alexander Valley today encompasses a variety of microclimates supporting a wide range of grape varieties. While Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme on the gravelly terrain of the valley floor, the region also...
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