BUYINGGUIDE
136 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | OCTOBER 201990
J. McClelland 2015 Merlot (Napa Valley).
Tones of chalk and chocolate-covered
cherry carry this wine, which has 22% Cabernet
Sauvignon blended in. Sultry and soft, it flirts with
flavors of earthy clove and tobacco on the palate,
finishing full yet balanced. —V.B.
abv: 14.2% Price: $3590
Jason-Stephens 2016 Reserve Chardonnay
(Santa Clara Valley). The nose on this bot-
tling is quite inviting, with creamy aromas of but-
terscotch, caramel, nectarine and golden apple. The
palate is lush and broad in flavors of buttered apple,
cotton candy and sea-salt caramel, finishing on a
touch of buttercream. —M.K.
abv: 14.5% Price: $3090
Jason-Stephens 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Santa Clara Valley). Plummy aromas meet
with sunbaked soil and lots of earthy herbs on the
nose of this bottling. Grippy tannins and buoyant
acidity frame the palate, where strawberry, red
plum and baking spice flavors lead into an oaky fin-
ish. —M.K.
abv: 14.7% Price: $2890
Jason-Stephens 2014 Persing Vineyard Mer-
itage (Santa Clara Valley). A dried black-
cherry aroma meets with cedar and caramel tones
on the nose of this bottling. The palate is thick and
suave in black cherry and plum flavors, with bright
acidity that pushes through the toasty finish. —M.K.
abv: 14.5% Price: $3890
Jason-Stephens 2014 Syrah (Santa Clara
Valley). Aromas of roasted red cherry and
kirsch show on the nose of this bottling from the
Gilroy area. The oaky tannins are prevalent on the
palate, where vanilla, gingerbread and roasted ber-
ries make for a heavy style of Syrah. —M.K.
abv: 14.9% Price: $2690
King Estate 2017 Foris Pinot Blanc (Rogue
Valley). The Foris Vineyard is near the Cali-
fornia border in southwestern Oregon. This wine is
crisp in nature, focusing on apple, pear and melon
fruits. Half was fermented in stainless, the other
half in a mix of French and American oak. It’s nicely
textured and lingers through a clean, mineral-
drenched finish. —P.G.
abv: 13% Price: $2490
King Estate 2017 Paradox Pinot Gris (Wil-
lamette Valley). Intentionally made in a
style diametrically opposite to the rest of the win-
ery’s extensive portfolio of Pinot Gris, this barrel-
fermented wine is buttery and soft in feel. Plenty
of ripe tree-fruit flavors meld with the oak tones to
yield a balanced outcome. —P.G.
abv: 13% Price: $3590
King Estate 2017 Steiner Block Pinot Gris
(Willamette Valley). This block selection
honors the founder of the biodynamic movement,
Rudolf Steiner. Aged in concrete eggs, it’s a textural,
mineral-soaked expression with sharp citrus flavors
of lemon and grapefruit. —P.G.
abv: 12.6% Price: $2890
Klinker Brick 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel (Lodi).
This wine puts bold, spicy, flashy oak at
center stage, and introduces a good supporting cast
of gorgeous blackberry and black-plum flavors. Firm
tannins lend support and balance out the perfor-
mance nicely. Editors’ Choice. —J.G.
abv: 15.4% Price: $20