Two Angels — 2004 Sauvignon Blanc, Shannon Ridge Vineyards

Not only has Lake County spawned a new appellation—High Valley—but it also has produced a series of wines with new labels. The recently formed wine importing and marketing company Quintessential brings you Two Angels, a label inspired by the two sons of the founder.

Sauvignon Blanc can do alright in Lake County due to the extreme night cooling effect. This offering is crisp and pale in color, with scents of freshly cut grass and mineral aromas. On the palate, tropical fruit flavors marry with spices to give you a complex experience. The wine does pack 14.4 percent alcohol but remains balanced and not an overall bad choice. Oysters or lightly cooked shrimp would be a good match.

Rating: 13.5/20
Price: $15

Other Sauvignon Blancs we've tasted.

Barra — 2001 Petite Sirah, Mendocino

What’s all the hoopla about biodynamic and organic wines? Well, if you want a clean and chemical-free product that will reduce your chances of headaches, try this one. Barra is a well-established winery in Mendocino that has been producing wine organically for fifty years. The vineyard, where the Barras grow ten different varietals, is certified annually by California Certified Organic Farmers. This Petite Sirah is part of the growing number of offerings in this American Heritage Varietal. Often misunderstood, Petite Sirah is not for beginners. Its juice is characterized by a deep dark ruby color with thick tannic character that is perfect for aging. This particular wine has aromas of black cherry, with peppery flavors on the palate. A bright point is that you can pair it with more foods than you’d think.

Rating: 13/20
Price: $24

Other Petite Sirahs we've tasted.
For more information, visit www.barraofmendocino.com

Aura— 2004 Verdejo, Rueda

So it’s still summer and you’ve gone through your Sauvignon Blancs and assorted Rosés. Now what? For a cool, refreshing and different option, how about a clean, crisp green apple Verdejo from Rueda? The Aura winery is located near Tordesillas at the southwestern tip of Valladolid, Spain. Verdejo grapes are indigenous to Rueda, where white wines have been made since the 17th-century. This boutique winery has been operated by the Velasco family for generations. Teresa Rodríguez, who leads the winemaking team, says, “With Aura we have managed to make a sublime white wine with incredible elegance and a full-bodied mouth feel.” You may sip it as an aperitif and take it through your meal with shellfish.

Rating: 14.5/20
Price: $18

For more information, visit www.domecqbodegas.com
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Row Eleven— 2002 San Luis Obispo Pinot Noir, California

When you taste Row Eleven Pinot Noir, you get to sample the result of thirty years of experiments and selection from winemaker Richard de los Reyes and partner Bradley Miller. In this case the fruit comes from vineyards in San Luis Obispo County (15.3%) and Mendocino County (84.7%), the best rows on the best blocks. “I truly believe that a winemaker is no more than the grape’s idea of itself. We want our wines to be smooth as silk, refreshing as the ripest berries, elegant and rich as the earth that bore it,” says de los Reyes. Only 2,500 cases of this wine, which was cold soaked and aged in French oak, were produced. A pronounced taste of cherries greets you. It is well balanced and has a rich and elegant mouth-feel, perfect with duck.

Rating: 14.5/20
Price: $32

For more information, visit www.roweleven.com
Other Pinot Noirs we've tasted.