Charlie Olken, publisher of the Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wine, posted several comments on this subject on the previous thread about his experience with lot variation in domestic wines. Lot numbers could help sort out some of that. Should wine lot numbers appear on the labels of American wines as they do in Europe? MORE >>

The $16 price tag helped too. Next we were off to Mendocino County, California with the multi-vineyard Tous Ensemble 2007 from Copain (about $20). We were back to California with a wine from Morgan Twain-Peterson, Old Lakeville Vineyard Syrah 2007 ($36). alcohol. Then we tried the J. Chave , St. MORE >>

I'd like to thank Kristen and her good friends for helping me taste this flight of wine picks for Thanksgiving. The wines were from California, Italy, France and New Zealand. While semi-dry in flavor, this wines slightly higher acidity balances the residual sugar for a refreshing, lighter style of wine. Great deal at $10. SRP $40. MORE >>

SPIT: California bargains. Mike Steinberger contemplates the puzzle of why so few “superstar&# winemakers in California make wines under $20. We discussed the lack of tasty California values last year in relation to Fred Franzia , and heard from wine importer Bobby Kacher and winemaker Patrick Campbell. LA Times ]. NYT ]. MORE >>

Some people brought in bottles from trips to wineries in New York and California, and others were looking to try something out on us before pouring it at Thanksgiving. This wine helped us two on our goal to the Wine Century Club since it has 40% Kékfrankos, 30% cabernet franc, 15% syrah, 5% Kekoporto, 5% pinot noir, 5% cabernet sauvignon. MORE >>