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A ridiculously good value-priced blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from the Gamble Family Estate in the heart of the Napa Valley!

The (Gamble Family) Mill Keeper White Wine Napa Valley 2021 is a blend of fresh, lively Sauvignon Blanc and round, fruity Chardonnay. As some of you may recall from these pages before, the Gamble Family Sauvignon Blanc is one of the best in the valley. But did you know that Gamble’s Chardonnay fruit is the foundation of the Beringer Reserve Chardonnay program? Crazy, right?

Together, that blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Chardonnay aged in 21% new French Oak for 10 months delivers an easier, rounder hypothetical mash-up of those two wines. The Sauvignon gives vibrancy and focus, and the Chardonnay provides an ample middle. What a ‘white wine’ for the money!

91 Points! The 2022 Papillon Red Wine is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% each Malbec and Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot. It also includes a bit more than 5% of 2021 vintage wine, so it is labeled as Napa County, rather than Napa Valley. All the bookkeeping aside, it offers plenty of ripe cherries and a faint herbal streak on the nose, a full-bodied, silky-textured palate and a welcome bit of cedar (it spent 13 months in 40% new oak) on the charming, supple finish. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

The 2009 vintage brought warmth and generosity to Napa Valley, and this Proprietary Red reflects a more expressive, fruit-forward profile while remaining grounded in structure and balance. By this point, Scott Palazzo’s blending vision was firmly established, producing wines that combine richness with restraint. The magnum format was held back exclusively for members and has never before been offered to the public, underscoring the rarity of this release.

Tasting Note:
The nose opens with ripe black cherry, blackberry, and plum, complemented by notes of baking spice, cedar, and cocoa. On the palate, the wine is smooth and generous, showing layered dark fruit supported by softened tannins and balanced acidity. Savory undertones add dimension, and the finish is long, warm, and cohesive, with the magnum format lending added poise and longevity.

From the winery:

The 2023 "The Dude" is a meticulously assembled blend of fruit drawn from prestigious Napa Valley appellations: Calistoga, Rutherford, and Howell Mountain. The wine was refined for 16 months, utilizing 40% new oak to elegantly frame the fruit while allowing the terroir to shine.

Composition 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec

94 Points! The 2023 Red Wine is a fabulous Grenache/Syrah blend. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, dried herbs, lavender and mocha are all beautifully dialed up. Floral overtones add striking finesse and lift. What a gorgeous and vivid wine this is. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94 Points! The 2023 PharoahMoans Red Wine is a 50-50 blend of Carneros Grenache and Pope Valley Syrah, but despite omitting Mouvèdre, it is the best vintage of this wine this taster has sampled. Pretty florals—violets and roses—join tea-like, potpourri-ish nuances and berry fruit in this medium- to full-bodied wine. Lively, fresh and complex, the palate is framed by silky tannins and displays ample length on the finish. It's a super value, as long as you're not hung up on Bordeaux varieties or fancy mid-valley AVAs. - Joe Czerwinski, RobertParker.com

94 Points! This Rhone-style blend is unusual in Napa Valley and gives dark, earthy, savory flavors on a firm texture. Full-bodied, moderately tannic and restrained in fruit flavors, instead emphasizing singed herb, oak smoke, star anise and espresso flavors. A 50-50 blend of grenache and syrah grapes. Drink now or hold. - Jim Gordon, JamesSuckling.Com

95 Points! This has a lovely core of fruit with aromas of nectarines, grilled lemons and flint. The midweight, textural palate shows balanced acidity, finishing with a slight phenolic grip. Moving out of the cooler 2023 bottling, this is far more generous and open. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! For fans of Chardonnay without malolactic fermentation, Shafer's 2024 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch remains a standard-bearer. Ripe pineapple, pear and honeysuckle mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is loaded with opulent mango fruit that's expansive and lush but brought back into focus on the crisp citrus-and-green-apple finish. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

58% Cabernet Sauvingon, 42% Tempranillo. Still unique in Napa, after 10 years – the PARADOR Napa Valley Red Wine is inspired by the great blended wines made at Vega Sicilia in the Ribera del Duero. Utilizing great Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the dramatic Hossfeld Vineyard located in Soda Canyon, and blending with the Tempranillo to make a sumptuous, velvety wine with great aging potential. After blending in the spring following harvest, the wine is aged 2 ½ years in a combination of 30% new and the balance, used French oak barriques and puncheon barrels. 

Cabernet Sauvignon from Hossfeld Vineyard – Steep, terraced planting on eastern Napa Valley hillside bowl in Soda Canyon. – Farmed by hand for the highest quality by owner, Henry Hossfeld. Typically deep-colored, with faint mountain-thistle and dark berry character.

Tempranillo from Rancho Chimiles Vineyard – This virgin vineyard site was cleared and planted for the Parador project by Terry Wilson, landowner and grower, from cuttings and plants originating from the Ribera del Duero. – The vineyard is planted at an elevation of 1000 feet and on a slope filled with sandstone rock.

94 Points! Blackberry, blackcurrant, dark chocolate and spices. Bright and vivid. Medium-bodied with firm, racy tannins and excellent length. There’s an energy and focused directness with lovely length. 75% cabernet sauvignon, 15% mablec, 7% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

92 Points! While the 2021 Proprietary Red could be released as a Cabernet Sauvignon (it's 75% Cabernet Sauvignon), they've opted to keep it as a Proprietary blend to allow for more flexibility in the future. It has a great nose of juicy blue fruits and subtle cassis as well as medium to full-bodied richness, some textbook Cabernet chocolate and tobacco notes, a round, mouth-filling texture, and outstanding length. It's a beautiful wine that will evolve for 10-12 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

Blend:  58% Cabernet Sauvignon / 42% Tempranillo. Reserva is an assemblage of the very best barrels of a great vintage - aged 3 years in 2 new Sylvain puncheon barrels. It was then aged in bottle, released in June of the tenth year from the vintage.

Still unique in Napa,  the Parador Napa Valley Red Wine is inspired by the great blended wines made at Vega Sicilia in the Ribera del Duero. Utilizing great Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the dramatic Hossfeld Vineyard located in Soda Canyon, and blending with the Tempranillo to make a sumptuous, velvety wine with great aging potential.

Cabernet Sauvignon from Hossfeld Vineyard – Steep, terraced planting on eastern Napa Valley hillside bowl in Soda Canyon. – Farmed by hand for the highest quality by owner, Henry Hossfeld. Typically deep-colored, with faint mountain-thistle and dark berry character.

Tempranillo from Rancho Chimiles Vineyard – This virgin vineyard site was cleared and planted for the Parador project by Terry Wilson, landowner and grower, from cuttings and plants originating from the Ribera del Duero. – The vineyard is planted at an elevation of 1000 feet and on a slope filled with sandstone rock.

99 Points! A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2005 Dominus is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It needs a lot of shaking to release notes of baked blackcurrants, fruitcake, and blueberry compote, plus hints of baking chocolate, licorice, dried mint, and pencil lead, plus a waft of wood smoke. The concentrated, hedonically styled, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with layers of black and blue fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully ripe, grainy tannins and well-integrated acidity, finishing very long, profound, and shimmery. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

98 Points! This blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot (note that rarely is any Merlot utilized at the historic Napanook Estate in Yountville). The alcohol, by California standards, is a relatively modest 14.1%. Blending the best of French savoir faire with the brilliant fruit purity and ripeness of Napa Valley, Moueix has turned in another tour de force that seems far superior today than it did when it was first released. This is one of the vintage’s greatest wines. Dense purple and youthful, with a glorious nose of earth, blackcurrants, sweet black cherries and incense, the oak is pushed way in the background, as it is in all of the Moueix wines, and the result is a wine of terroir, of great originality and authenticity. This full-bodied classic from Dominus can be drunk now, but really won’t hit its prime for another 4-5 years and last at least another two decades or more. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com

The 2011 Proprietary Red was shaped by a notably cool Napa Valley growing season, producing wines defined by freshness, structure, and restraint. This vintage aligns closely with Scott Palazzo’s long-standing admiration for classical Bordeaux blends, emphasizing balance and age-worthiness over power. Bottled in very limited quantities, the magnum format was held exclusively for private members until this first public release.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with savory aromatics of dried herbs, red currant, and subtle floral notes, layered with cedar and earthy nuance. On the palate, it is focused and linear, offering tart cherry, cranberry, and gentle spice framed by bright acidity and fine-grained tannins. The finish is clean and persistent, with a refined, elegant profile that has been beautifully preserved in magnum.

96 Points! The 2019 Amuse Bouche, a Right Bank-inspired Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend is superb. Expansive, sweet aromatics are immediately seductive. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plum fruit, sweet tobacco, chocolate, spice and leather. This wonderfully expressive, elegant Napa Valley red hits all the right notes in a mid-weight, nuanced style that is all class. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

91 Points! Lifted, with cherry cola up front, the 2020 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley has a generous palate of fresh cranberry cocktail, sweet baking spice, and tangy acid on the finish. This red is hard not to love and is full of pleasure. Drink it now or over the next 5-6 years. - Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com

The 2006 Proprietary Red marks a turning point in Scott Palazzo’s early Napa Valley journey, as his blending philosophy continued to sharpen and take on greater definition. Building on his Bordeaux-inspired approach, this vintage shows increased clarity of structure and balance, with a stronger sense of cohesion across the blend. Produced in extremely limited quantities, the magnum format was held exclusively for Palazzo’s private members and carefully cellared from release. This offering represents the first time these library magnums have been made available to the public, providing collectors a rare opportunity to experience a maturing Palazzo blend in its most age-worthy and expressive format.

Tasting Note:
With nearly two decades of bottle age, the wine opens with layered aromas of dried red cherry, plum, and blackcurrant, accented by cedar, tobacco leaf, and warm spice. On the palate, it is supple and composed, showing savory red and dark fruit supported by softened yet structured tannins and balanced acidity. Notes of cocoa, leather, and subtle earth emerge as the wine unfolds, adding depth and dimension. The finish is long, smooth, and refined, with the magnum format preserving freshness and harmony while highlighting the wine’s elegant evolution.

The 2007 Proprietary Red comes from a standout Napa Valley vintage and reflects a moment when Scott Palazzo’s blending philosophy reached a new level of confidence and clarity. This wine builds on the foundation of earlier releases while showing greater depth and precision. Produced in very limited quantities, the magnum format was held exclusively for Palazzo’s private members and never released to the public until now, making this a rare opportunity to experience a fully mature Napa proprietary blend in its most age-worthy format.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with layered aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, and plum, accented by cedar, tobacco, and warm spice. On the palate, it is rich yet composed, with concentrated dark fruit framed by softened tannins and balanced acidity. Subtle notes of cocoa and savory earth add complexity. The finish is long and polished, showing depth and harmony enhanced by extended aging in magnum.

Classy Chardonnay for the price! From the winery: The 2020 Willamette Valley Chardonnay is a blend from several of the region’s best vineyards and thus provides complex aromas and flavor. On the nose, this wine begins with an abundance of tropical fruit and floral notes that leap from the glass. Bright acidity and subtle minerality mesh with fresh fruit notes of white peach and Meyer Lemon to provide a complete and balanced palate.

The 2003 Proprietary Red stands as one of the earliest expressions of Scott Palazzo’s winemaking vision and reflects his long-standing admiration for the great blended wines of Bordeaux. Crafted during the formative years of the estate, this wine set the foundation for Palazzo’s later Master Blend philosophy, emphasizing balance, structure, and age-worthiness over sheer size. Produced in extremely limited quantities, the magnum format was held exclusively for Palazzo’s private members for more than two decades. This release marks the first time these mature library magnums have ever been made available to the public, offering a rare opportunity to experience an early Napa Valley proprietary blend with remarkable bottle age in the format best suited for longevity.

Tasting Note:
With over twenty years of evolution, the wine opens with complex aromatics of dried cherry, fig, and plum layered with cedar, leather, and warm spice. On the palate, it is smooth and fully integrated, showing savory red and dark fruit supported by softened tannins and balanced acidity. Secondary notes of tobacco, cocoa, and earth add depth and nuance, while the finish is long, resolved, and graceful. In magnum, the wine retains notable freshness and cohesion, highlighting both the strength of the vintage and the enduring elegance of Palazzo’s early blending philosophy.

Maclean's Nose Blended Scotch Whisky, blessed with a splendid West Coast character, offers a unique value proposition. With a high malt content of 70% – a percentage usually associated with much pricier labels – and a considerable proportion drawn from ex-Sherry casks, this whisky delivers premium quality and exceptional flavor at an unbeatable price. Further fortified by its eco-friendly packaging, the whisky is non-chill filtered and displays a natural color, contributing to its authenticity. Holding an ideal 46% ABV, the whisky is part of an initial release of 25,000 bottles, and is now making its mark across the United States. Colored burnished gold, it evokes a delightful surge of burnt citrus peel, sea salt, bonfire, nectarine syrup, and lime marmalade. The palate is taken on a flavourful journey – puffed rice, homemade rice pudding, and citrus, culminating in a whisper of Ferrero Rocher. The lingering taste of burning heather and smoked praline on the finish accentuates its excellent value. Maclean's Nose offers an indulgent Scotch experience that doesn't compromise quality for price.

92+ Points! The white 2022 Terroir Històric Blanc is the regional wine that blends grapes from nine different villages, 75% Garnacha Blanca and 25% Macabeo from different soils, slate, clay, granite and alluvial. The bunches fermented for three to five days in stainless steel, and the wine matured in stainless steel for six months. It has 13% alcohol and mellow acidity, 4.5 grams. It has a spectacular nose that is very expressive, aromatic, clean and open with pungent notes of pollen and beeswax. It's juicy, round and clean with persistent and pungent flavors, not very high in acidity, eminently Mediterranean. Really impressive. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

93 Points! A dark red color, the 2023 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley is deeper on the nose with mocha, candied flowers, crushed berries, mint, and vanilla bean aromatics. The palate has the most ripeness and richness, a more immediate feel in the range, and a more opulent though well-managed sensation. Drink over the coming 5-7 years. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

79% Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Teldeschi Ranch
14% Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Mounts Ranch
7% Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah, Mounts Ranch