While you may be gathering an all-American lineup for a Memorial Day softball game, we here at Wine Spectator have put together an all-American selection of wines to enjoy throughout the weekend. Coolers of beer or soda may be more traditional accompaniments to a picnic or barbecue, but that doesn't mean wine has to be left behind (although with more screw caps in wine shops these days, you may be able to leave the corkscrew at home).
Below, we highlight well-priced bottlings from America's three primary wine-producing areas: California, Oregon and Washington. We left Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon off the list and instead focused on other grape varieties that we recommend with picnic fare.
The whites include several aromatic grape varieties. Most of these wines are not fermented or aged in oak, which lets their pure fruit and floral flavors shine through, and they are balanced by good acidity. This makes them enjoyable sipping wines on a hot day, and they are also suitable with spicy barbecue sauces.
Our red wine picks range from the familiar Merlot to the lesser-known Petite Sirah. Effusive berry and cherry flavors are sure to be crowd-pleasers, while spicy and smoky notes stand up to food from the grill.
| Wine |
Score |
Price |
| LUNA Pinot Grigio Napa Valley 2001 |
91 |
$18 |
| Remarkably complex and compelling. Ripe and rich, loaded with tiers of fig, roasted almond, spice, vanilla bean, cream and tangy lemon overtones. Excellent viscosity, with tart, lingering quince nuances. From California. Drink now. 16,000 cases made. -- J.L. |
| |
| HONIG Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2001 |
88 |
$15 |
| Ripe and concentrated, with a broad swath of melon, freshly cut hay, grass and fig flavors. Tangy grapefruit, lemon and orange overtones carry through the finish. From California. Drink now. 15,000 cases made. |
| |
| WILLAMETTE VALLEY Pinot Gris Oregon 2001 |
87 |
$15 |
| Enticing stuff, fresh and lively, with almond-scented pear and melon flavors that hang on through the soft finish. From Oregon. Drink now. 8,000 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
| COLUMBIA CREST Johannisberg Riesling Columbia Valley 2001 |
86 |
$7 |
| Off-dry. A touch of grapefruit sneaks in with the peach and almond notes, echoing nicely on the soft finish. A nice Riesling from a reliable Washington state winemaker. From Washington. Drink now. 50,000 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
| BARNARD GRIFFIN Fumé Blanc Columbia Valley 2001 |
86 |
$9 |
| Bright and refreshing, a lively mouthful of white peach, white pepper and herb flavors, which echo with a touch of citrus on the finish. From Washington. Drink now. 9,300 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
| CLINE Oakley Vin Blanc California 2001 |
85 |
$9 |
| Aromatic and viscous, with orange skin, honeysuckle, green apple and ripe melon flavors. Fruit concentration lingers, along with spice and honey notes. Excellent value in this unusual white blend. Pinot Gris, Viognier and Marsanne. From California. Drink now. 8,321 cases made. |
| |
| CLOS DU BOIS Sauvignon Blanc North Coast 2001 |
85 |
$10 |
| Lively, with good intensity to the freshly cut hay, cut grass, melon and tangy lemon flavors. From California. Drink now. 91,000 cases made. |
| |
| COLUMBIA Gewürztraminer Columbia Valley 2001 |
85 |
$7 |
| This Washington white appeals with its lovely citrus and litchi aromas and flavors, picking up a slight white pepper note on the off-dry finish. A real deal at the price. From Washington. Drink now. 10,000 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
| WILLAMETTE VALLEY Riesling Oregon 2001 |
85 |
$8 |
| Pleasantly light and fruity, with pretty peach and melon flavors. Finishes on the dry side. From Oregon. Drink now. 15,000 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
| Wine |
Score |
Price |
| SAGELANDS Merlot Columbia Valley Four Corners 2000 |
89 |
$15 |
| Plump, open-textured and brimming with currant, plum and subtle spice aromas and flavors. Weaves in peppery oak notes on the round finish. From Washington. Drink now through 2006. 10,545 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
| DAVID BRUCE Petite Syrah Central Coast 2000 |
88 |
$16 |
| Marked by well-focused, stewed plum and beefy cherry and wild berry fruit, it's notably smooth for a young Petite. Firms up on the finish, where the tannins show a grittier, earthier side. An excellent value. From California. Drink now through 2008. 13,824 cases made. -- J.L. |
| |
| CARMENET Merlot North Coast Dynamite Vineyards 2000 |
88 |
$18 |
| Supple in texture, with ripe plum, herb, currant, game and cherry notes, holding its flavor and focus. An elegant, graceful Merlot at an attractive price. From California. Drink now through 2006. 37,000 cases made. -- J.L. |
| |
| QUPÉ Syrah Central Coast 2001 |
88 |
$15 |
| A ripe, fruity style, centered around a core of cherry and rhubarb pie flavors, right down to the crust. Firmly tannic, it can be enjoyed now or cellared short-term. Excellent value. From California. Drink now through 2008. 11,000 cases made. -- J.L. |
| |
| SEGHESIO Zinfandel Sonoma County Sonoma 2001 |
88 |
$16 |
| Scents of wild berry, flowers and dark fruits lead to rich, enticing flavors of blackberry jam, anise, cedar and pencil lead. Shortens a bit on the finish, where it shows its tannic backbone, but this wine has a lot going for it. At this price, buy a case (or two). From California. Drink now through 2008. 50,000 cases made. -- J.L. |
| |
| SNOQUALMIE Syrah Columbia Valley 2000 |
88 |
$11 |
| Ripe, generous, dark and juicy, with plum, berry and sweet spice flavors that echo on the finely balanced finish. From Washington. Drink now through 2005. 24,500 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
| BOGLE Petite Sirah California 2000 |
87 |
$10 |
| Firm, with a burst of dried raspberry, stewed plum and overripe black cherry flavors. Solid tannin clamps down with oaky cedar and vanilla notes on the finish. Not typical Petite flavors, but an outstanding value nonetheless. From California. Drink now through 2008. 65,000 cases made. -- J.L. |
| |
| CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE Syrah Columbia Valley 2000 |
87 |
$15 |
| On the lean side, nicely balanced to show spicy plum flavors on a lively frame. From Washington. Drink now. 14,742 cases made. -- H.S. |
| |
| CLINE Syrah California 2000 |
87 |
$10 |
| Black cherry, beef and roasted herb flavors have solid tannin and fine focus, with generous toasty oak character framing the lingering, tangy finish. A superb value. From California. Drink now through 2006. 36,359 cases made. |
| |
| DELICATO Merlot California 2001 |
86 |
$8 |
| Tasty, with ripe, round and jammy plum, blackberry, vanilla and toast notes, offering depth and richness. From California. Drink now. 100,000 cases made. -- J.L. |
| |
| CLINE Zinfandel California 2001 |
85 |
$10 |
| Offers medium-weight blackberry, olive, leather and spicy-peppery aromatics, though on the palate no one flavor comes into focus. From California. Drink now. 92,916 cases made. -- J.L. |
| |
| JEST RED North Coast NV |
85 |
$10 |
| Firm, with a solid core of black cherry, chocolate, fresh herb and beef notes. Slightly musty character and generous toasty oak carry through the tannic finish. Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot and others. From California. Drink now through 2007. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 10,360 cases made. |
| |
| RANCHO ZABACO Zinfandel California Dancing Bull 2001 |
85 |
$10 |
| Very good value. Starts with a touch of matchstick, but folds into toasty oak, black cherry, tart, tangy structure and dried berry notes that carry through the finish. From California. Drink now through 2005. 206,800 cases made. |
| |
| WASHINGTON HILLS Merlot Columbia Valley 2000 |
85 |
$10 |
| On the light side, but nicely fleshed out with dark berry and delicate herbal flavors. From Washington. Drink now. 10,000 cases made. -- H.S. |
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