This unoaked Chardonnay from Australia overcomes its cumbersome moniker and delivers refreshing, pure, affordable pleasure. It’s versatile, too — easy to like on its own, but with enough substance to pair with food. Enjoy! Plantagenet 2008 Unoaked Chardonnay Western Australia Omrah ($15). Crisp green pear and light, smooth melon character are accented with generous zip of aromatic citrus acidity, with [...]

Summer’s not over yet — this intense white is perfect for the last weeks of the season! More substantial than just a “patio wine” but still juicy and refreshing. Enjoy! Robert Mondavi 2008 Fume Blanc Napa Valley ($20). Concentrated and crisp, offering a core of juicy peach accented with aromatic lemon zest, fresh herbal notes [...]

The $20-line seems to be an important one in the world of California Merlot. Cross under it, and the odds are stacked against you. But venture above it, and you significantly up your chances of getting pretty, smooth, nuanced flavors. Like this bright, rich Napa Valley number: Freemark Abbey 2007 Merlot Napa Valley ($25). Intense, bright, flavorful blackberry, [...]

The Jackson Hills tier of wines was introduced this spring by powerhouse producer Kendall-Jackson, and for my money, it amounts to some of their best wines. This Chardonnay is a great example — sourced from Santa Barbara and offering lovely, pure fruit and a long, complex finish, it’s well-worth the $25. Kendall-Jackson 2008 Chardonnay Santa [...]

I’ve been tasting a bunch of inexpensive California Merlots this week, and, frankly, don’t have anything nice to say about any of them. Maybe the last few will pleasantly surprise me over the weekend… But I’m hedging my bets with a batch of these irresistably crunchy, almond- and lemon-flecked biscotti to serve as a simple [...]

Livermore Valley winery Concannon recently introduced a new line of wines called Conservancy. The Conservancy wines are made from grapes sourced from Livermore vineyards that are permanently protected from urban encroachment, an important issue in this area and other wine regions of California. The lineup includes Petite Sirah, Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon — all line-priced at [...]

Here’s an interesting wine — a small production Bordeaux blend from select Argentina appellations that offers structure and bottle age at a considerably lower price than its left-bank distant cousin might fetch. Bodega Navarro Correas 2004 Ultra Mendoza ($30). Appealing balance in this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot, offering layers of mature dark fruit — [...]