Tasting Highlights’ wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors’ most recent scores and notes to WineSpectator.com members.

It’s finally starting to feel like spring, and that has us thinking about white wine. To celebrate, we’ve rounded up these thirst-quenching whites from appellations up and down the coast, all costing $35 or less. They are as diverse as they are delicious, perfect for the even warmer temperatures ahead.

Pinot Gris makes an ideal picnic wine. Crisp and fruit-forward versions from Oregon, at their best, can have compelling depth, like the floral white from Chehalem. Another consistent producer is Maysara, with its single-vineyard Pinot Gris from the McMinnville subappellation in the Willamette Valley.

The white grapes of the Rhône Valley have found a home in California, where they are bottled on their own or in blends. Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche find harmony in McPrice Myers‘ Beautiful Earth white, while The Prisoner Wine Company blends Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc with Rhône varieties.

Washington State is best-known for its red wines like Cabernet and Syrah, but it also excels with a variety of whites grapes. DeLille makes a case for Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon with its expressive Bordeaux-inspired white blend. Idaho-based Huston tapped two vineyards in Washington for its crisp and affordable Chicken Dinner White.

DELILLE Chaleur Blanc Columbia Valley 2017 Score: 91 | $35
Expressive and dynamic, with lively pear and figs flavors, accented by a delicate, creamy and toasty note. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now. From Washington. 4,800 cases made.—Tim Fish

CHEHALEM Pinot Gris Chehalem Mountains 2018 Score: 90 | $20
Floral and pretty, with compelling nectarine and spiced pear flavors that dance on the finish. Drink now. From Oregon. 3,000 cases made.—T.F.

MCPRICE MYERS Beautiful Earth White Paso Robles Willow Creek District 2017 Score: 90 | $30
Finds harmony, featuring Asian pear, mandarin orange, melon and apricot flavors, with touches of almond skin, chamomile and lentil, set on a fresh, crisp frame. Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche. Drink now. From California. 342 cases made.—MaryAnn Worobiec

MAYSARA Pinot Gris McMinnville Arsheen Momtazi Vineyard 2018 Score: 89 | $18
Sleek and expressive, with floral nectarine and spicy citrus flavors that linger on the finish. Drink now. From Oregon. 1,700 cases made.—T.F.

THE PRISONER WINE COMPANY Blindfold California 2017 Score: 89 | $32
Offering a tropical fruit-cocktail mix of coconut, apricot, peach cobbler and pear flavors, this is ripe and round, with an edge of cream soda. Very smooth and juicy, showing good intensity on the finish. Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Chenin Blanc. Drink now. 11,000 cases made.—M.W.

COR Alba Celilo Vineyard Columbia Gorge 2017 Score: 88 | $20
Fresh and delicate, with pretty melon and spice flavors. Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer. Drink now. From Washington. 350 cases made.—T.F.

HUSTON Chicken Dinner White Washington 2017 Score: 88 | $16
Crisp and user-friendly, with pineapple and honeydew flavors that finish on a creamy, toasty note. Riesling, Muscat Blanc and Roussanne. Drink now. 1,170 cases made.—T.F.

TERRA D’ORO Chenin Blanc-Viognier Clarksburg 2018 Score: 88 | $17
Charming, fragrant and juicy, featuring orange blossom, apricot and lemon notes at the core, with a refreshing finish where an accent of candied ginger lingers. Chenin Blanc and Viognier. Drink now. From California. 6,000 cases made.—M.W.

ANDIS Painted Fields Cuvée Blanc Sierra Foothills 2018 Score: 87 | $20
Crisp and juicy, offering an appealing mix of grapefruit zest, lime and smoke notes, with floral and spice accents on the refreshing frame. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Arinto and Chardonnay. Drink now. From California. 500 cases made.—M.W.

Tasting Highlights’ wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors’ most recent scores and notes to WineSpectator.com members.

Napa Valley excels with more than just Cabernet Sauvignon. Framed by mountain ranges, the 30-mile long valley boasts varied soils, elevations and microclimates that make it suitable for a range of grapes and styles. Today’s selection showcases this diversity, with stellar examples of some of the region’s top grapes, alongside its signature Cabernet.

Chardonnay is the second most planted grape in Napa with nearly 7,000 acres. The grape thrives in Napa’s cooler subappellations, such as the Oak Knoll District, where breezes and fog from the San Pablo Bay lend lively acidity to wines like Beringer‘s Luminus.

Sauvignon Blanc is Napa’s other white wine star. They can vary widely in style, from Robert Mondavi‘s smoky Fumé Blanc, which was fermented and aged in oak barrels, to the intense and vibrant Honig that only spent time in stainless steel tanks.

Vintner Joseph Osborne introduced Zinfandel to Napa in the 1850s, and the grape remains one of the most widely planted grapes in the valley. Green & Red tapped its three estate vineyards overlooking Chiles Canyon, in the Vaca Mountain range, to make this sleek, elegant version.

GREEN & RED Zinfandel Napa Valley Chiles Canyon Vineyards 2016 Score: 92 | $27
Sleek and elegantly complex, with expressive cherry, sweet anise and pepper flavors that glide on a long finish. Drink now through 2025. 1,590 cases made.—Tim Fish

HONIG Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2018 Score: 91 | $19
Succulent peach, nectarine and dried mango flavors are intense and vibrant, showcasing plenty of style, with a note of honeysuckle lingering effortlessly. Drink now. 49,820 cases made.—MaryAnn Worobiec

ROCK WALL Zinfandel Napa Valley Hendry Vineyard Block 29 2017 Score: 91 | $45
Plump and plush, featuring zesty black cherry, licorice and toasty mocha flavors that finish with supple tannins. Drink now through 2025. 625 cases made.—T.F.

TURLEY Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Turley Estate 2016 Score: 91 | $44
Features an herb note out front, but a juicy core of crushed black cherry and currant fruit quickly takes over, with light anise and bramble accents on the finish. Opens nicely in the glass, showing engaging energy. Drink now through 2026. 2,500 cases made.—James Molesworth

BERINGER Chardonnay Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley Luminus 2017 Score: 90 | $39
A vibrant style, with notes of flint and slate to the honeysuckle, green peach and dried citrus flavors. Hints of fennel show on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 4,912 cases made.—Kim Marcus

COURTNEY BENHAM Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2018 Score: 90 | $18
The succulent peach, nectarine and mango flavors are lush and juicy, showing terrific focus and intensity due to fresh acidity. Drink now. 3,500 cases made.—M.W.

ROBERT MONDAVI Fumé Blanc Napa Valley 2017 Score: 90 | $22
A smoky beeswax note accents the core of apricot, ginger and pear flavors in this white, with hints of green tea and dried honeysuckle. Finds harmony on the finish, where a crisp thread of acidity emerges. Drink now. 18,185 cases made.—M.W.

RUTHERFORD HILL Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015 Score: 90 | $49
Alluring, leading off with a whiff of menthol and sweet tobacco, followed by dense currant and fig paste flavors. Solidly built, with a tarry spine through the finish. Best from 2020 through 2027. 6,878 cases made.—J.M.

Tasting Highlights’ wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors’ most recent scores and notes to WineSpectator.com members.

Blending grapes can provide winemakers with a broader palette of flavors and textures than single-variety bottlings. This week we’ve selected seven red blends from across California that show how diverse this category can be.

Some of these blends are “traditional,” such as Scalon’s Priority Red, a Bordeaux-style blend that’s roughly equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Co-owners Jesus Espinoza and Cruz Calderon met while they were working at Caldwell, in the Coombsville AVA. They struck up a friendship and decided to launch Scalon, tapping veteran winemaker Julien Fayard to make the wine.

Vintners may also blend grapes from multiple vineyards to achieve complexity in their wines. Ridge‘s Zinfandel-dominated Three Valleys is a lively example, combining grapes from 10 different vineyards. Petite Sirah was added for color and structure, while Carignane and Grenache lend vibrancy and fruit to the wine.

Foxen looked to France’s Southern Rhône for inspiration, blending Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from the Los Olivos District, a subappellation of the Santa Ynez Valley. Kendall-Jackson took a different approach with its Vintner’s Reserve, a perky kitchen-sink blend that combines Syrah, Zinfandel and Cabernet with other varieties.

FOXEN Cuvée Jeanne Marie Williamson-Doré Vineyard Los Olivos District 2016 Score: 92 | $48
Refined and expressive, with floral raspberry, smoky butter and orange zest flavors that build tension toward polished tannins. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. 318 cases made.—Tim Fish

SCALON Priority Red Napa Valley 2016 Score: 92 | $50
This shows a range of smoldering sage, tobacco and fresh humus notes, inlaid into a core of steeped black currant and blackberry fruit. Sports some slightly chewy grip through the finish, though this retains polish as well, imparting balance. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. 325 cases made.—James Molesworth

RIDGE Three Valleys Sonoma County 2017 Score: 91 | $30
Lively and well-built, with expressive cherry, roasted dill and white pepper flavors that glide toward refined tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Grenache. 15,750 cases made.—T.F.

BELLA GRACE Montagñaro Amador County 2016 Score: 89 | $25
Briary and vibrant, with easygoing red plum, sweet anise and smoked pepper flavors that finish with zesty tannins. Zinfandel and Barbera. 440 cases made.—T.F.

ANCIENT PEAKS Renegade Santa Margarita Ranch 2016 Score: 88 | $26
A potent blend that retains a sense of polish and zest, with lively blackberry, licorice and cracked pepper flavors. Syrah, Zinfandel, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. 12,204 cases made.—T.F.

CHRONIC CELLARS Purple Paradise Paso Robles 2017 Score: 88 | $15
Plump and zesty, with fruit-forward cherry jam, pepper and anise flavors. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache. 25,478 cases made.—T.F.

KENDALL-JACKSON Vintner’s Reserve Red California 2015 Score: 88 | $17
A perky red blend, this contains a bit of everything but somehow still works, offering zesty cherry, cracked pepper and toasty herb flavors, with just enough structure to keep this sailing. Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. 20,419 cases made.—T.F.

Tasting Highlights’ wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors’ most recent scores and notes to WineSpectator.com members.

Washington State excels with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, especially in Columbia Valley, east of the Cascade Mountains, where they benefit from the long, dry growing season. Today we highlight some of our top picks from recent tastings.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Washington’s leading varieties, making balanced and expressive wines like Avennia‘s Bordeaux-style blend. Former Microsoft executive Marty Taucher was interning at DeLille in 2009 when he met winemaker Chris Peterson. They launched Avennia the following year, focusing on Bordeaux and Rhône grapes.

Fans of Merlot have some enticing choices here, including the structured red from Lake Chelan. Founded by the Kludt family, it was the first winery to open in the nascent Lake Chelan subappellation, along the northwestern border of the Columbia Valley AVA.

Cabernet Franc is an emerging star in Washington. Vintners traditionally blend the grape with its stable mates Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but it increasingly shines on its own. The Tamarack and Columbia versions show what the state can achieve with this grape.

APEX Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2015 Score: 91 | $36
Sleek and tightly focused, with structured blackberry, stony mineral and tea flavors that build tension toward well-groomed tannins. Drink now through 2025. 1,278 cases made.—Tim Fish

AVENNIA Gravura Columbia Valley 2016 Score: 91 | $38
Vibrant and well-knit, with expressive cherry, toasted spice and smoked herb flavors that take on structure toward the broad-shouldered tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2025. 900 cases made.—T.F.

COLUMBIA Cabernet Franc Horse Heaven Hills 2016 Score: 91 | $38
Sleek and refined, offering expressive cherry and blueberry flavors accented by lead pencil and tobacco notes, finishing with well-buffed tannins. Drink now through 2024. 886 cases made.—T.F.

TAMARACK Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley 2016 Score: 91 | $30
Precise and expressive, with elegantly layered blueberry, dusty herb and coffee bean flavors that take on polish toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2024. 1,512 cases made.—T.F.

LAKE CHELAN Merlot Lake Chelan 2016 Score: 90 | $35
Lithe and well-structured, with black cherry and floral herb garden aromas that take on complexity toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2024. 600 cases made.—T.F.

REININGER Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Helix Phinny Hill Vineyard 2014 Score: 89 | $30
Poised and well-made, with medium-bodied black cherry, tobacco and coffee bean flavors. Drink now through 2024. 357 cases made.—T.F.

MT. FURY Merlot Wahluke Slope 2016 Score: 88 | $17
A vibrant red, with lively red currant and toasted spice flavors that finish on a snappy, juicy note. Drink now through 2023. 10,879 cases made.—T.F.

Tasting Highlights’ wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors’ most recent scores and notes to WineSpectator.com members.

California’s prime Chardonnay and Pinot Noir winegrowing territory is located along the coast, where the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean generate breezes and fog that push inland, creating cool growing conditions that lend vibrancy to the wines. Today’s selection of widely available wines is representative of the different styles you can find, with some solid values to boot.

The Sonoma Coast is a sprawling appellation that encompasses nearly half of Sonoma County, including the new wind-swept Petaluma Gap appellation, home to Sojourn‘s rich Pinot Noir. Co-founders Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley tap top vineyards throughout Sonoma for their Pinots and Chardonnays. Farther north of Petaluma, De Loach‘s mineral version hails from the cool Russian River Valley.

The Chalk Hill appellation, named for its chalk-colored volcanic-ash soil, is known for Chardonnay, like Chalk Hill winery’s structured version. Reata‘s Sonoma Coast bottling offers good bang for the buck, as does the Pinot from Hahn in Monterey County.

SOJOURN Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Rodgers Creek Vineyard 2017 Score: 92 | $48
Voluptuous, with plenty of rich, toasty notes to the red fruit and spice flavors, featuring accents of cola nut and sandalwood. Hints of chocolate show on the creamy finish. Drink now through 2023. 1,025 cases made.—Kim Marcus

CHALK HILL Chardonnay Chalk Hill 2016 Score: 91 | $42
There is good cut to the green apple, Asian pear and persimmon flavors of this white, which is savory midpalate, with a taut finish that features light buttery notes. Drink now through 2022. 14,000 cases made.—K.M.

THE CALLING Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2017 Score: 90 | $32
Green apple and lemongrass flavors give this a vibrant allure. Crisp midpalate, with hints of tangerine on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 4,612 cases made.—K.M.

DE LOACH Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2016 Score: 90 | $25
Concentrated accents of slate and graphite flank the dried cherry and currant flavors in this red. The creamy finish offers sandalwood and spice notes. Drink now through 2022. 11,832 cases made.—K.M.

SBRAGIA FAMILY Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley Home Ranch 2017 Score: 89 | $30
Offers aromas of peaches and cream, with flavors to match, as well as apple tart and baked pear notes. Fruity and spicy on the finish. Drink now through 2021. 3,700 cases made.—K.M.

REATA Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2017 Score: 88 | $20
Savory notes accent the ripe apple and citrus flavors. Flint and shiso leaf hints emerge on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 5,000 cases made.—K.M.

HAHN Pinot Noir Monterey County 2017 Score: 87 | $15
Spicy, almost peppery, with some cedary undercurrents to the macerated red fruit flavors. Crisp finish. Drink now. 120,000 cases made.—K.M.

Tasting Highlights’ wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors’ most recent scores and notes to WineSpectator.com members.

California’s high-end wines are great for special occasions, but the state is also a reliable source of value, as evident in this week’s roundup. There’s a little something for everyone with an assortment of grapes from well-known regions. These widely available wines offer impressive quality at affordable prices, making them a great choice for any night of the week.

Three Zinfandels offer different expressions of the grape. Veteran vintner Carol Shelton tapped old vines in Mendocino County to craft a spirited and zesty Zin. Farther south in Sonoma, Alexander Valley Vineyards‘ bottling shows the graceful side of the variety. The Lodi region in California’s Central Valley is a good source for bargains, including the racy blend from Klinker Brick.

Pinot Noir values are harder to come by, since the grape is demanding in the vineyard and cellar. But Parker Station‘s lively blend, a mix of grapes from top Pinot-growing regions along the Central Coast, won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

Chardonnay lovers have several choices here, including a snappy version from Geyser Peak. Or, consider Martin Ray‘s succulent and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley.

MCPRICE MYERS High On The Hog Central Coast 2016 Score: 92 | $20
Lively and generous, with zesty black raspberry, savory dried sage and peppercorn flavors that build richness toward refined tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Graciano. Drink now through 2026. 1,902 cases made.—Tim Fish

CAROL SHELTON Zinfandel Mendocino County Wild Thing Old Vine 2016 Score: 92 | $19
Spirited and zesty, with lively cherry and smoky cracked pepper flavors that frolic on a long finish toward well-groomed tannins. Drink now through 2024. 8,220 cases made.—T.F.

ALEXANDER VALLEY VINEYARDS Zinfandel Alexander Valley 2016 Score: 90 | $20
Graceful and plush, with elegant yet vibrant cherry, pepper and dusty sage flavors that linger on a bright finish. Drink now through 2024. 2,380 cases made.—T.F.

MARTIN RAY Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley 2017 Score: 89 | $18
Succulent mango, peach and lime flavors are bright, expressive and refreshing, with a smooth body and a juicy finish. Drink now. 8,000 cases made.—MaryAnn Worobiec

GEYSER PEAK Chardonnay California 2017 Score: 88 | $12
There’s good snap to the baked apple and lemon-lime flavors. Fresh and minerally midpalate, with a spicy finish. Drink now. 8,100 cases made.—K.M.

KLINKER BRICK Brickmason Lodi 2016 Score: 88 | $15
Racy, offering lively and well-focused cherry, grilled sage and pepper flavors. Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2023. 3,000 cases made.—T.F.

KIRKLAND SIGNATURE Chardonnay Sonoma County 2017 Score: 87 | $7
Ripe fig, quince and apple pastry flavors dominate this plump style. Spicy finish. Drink now. 216,000 cases made.—Kim Marcus

PARKER STATION Pinot Noir Monterey-San Luis Obispo-Santa Barbara Counties 2017 Score: 87 | $15
A lively red, with light- to medium-bodied flavors of dried red fruits, flanked by minerally accents. Drink now. 23,895 cases made.—K.M.

Tasting Highlights’ wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors’ most recent scores and notes to WineSpectator.com members.

Avoid the sticker shock of Napa’s upper-tier Cabernet Sauvignons with this selection. While Cabernet prices continue to climb, these wineries offer great value and indulging in their wines is a good way to explore what the region has to offer.

Girard, owned by Pat Roney, the CEO and president of Vintage Wine Estates, offers the best bang for the buck with a charming effort that shows the fresher side of Napa Cabernet. The wine is a regional blend of grapes from both the valley floor and mountain vineyards.

Napa stalwart Robert Mondavi winery crafted a textbook Cabernet with its Napa Valley bottling. For a few dollars more consider Maestro, a dark and winey Bordeaux-style blend.

Crane Family stepped up its game in the warm, dry 2015 vintage with a pleasantly rustic Cabernet that should evolve nicely in the cellar. Former president of Cakebread, Peter Chiarella, and his wife, Frances, moved to Napa Valley in 1990 and planted a hillside vineyard in the shadow of Mount Veeder, naming the estate after his father, Don Raffaele. Higher up the mountain, Mount Veeder winemaker Janet Myers crafted an engaging bottling from the winery’s three estate vineyards.

CRANE FAMILY Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Don Raffaele Selection 2015 Score: 92 | $43
This is marked by an alluring minty accent before the tobacco, sage and savory notes catch up. Features a core of gently steeped red and black currant fruit. Rugged grip through the finish gives this a brambly and pleasantly rustic feel. It will be fun to watch this wine evolve with cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2031. 418 cases made.—J.M.

DARIOUSH Caravan Napa Valley 2015 Score: 92 | $48
A polished and fruit-driven style, with dark fig, plum and blackberry reduction notes that cruise through, inlaid with hints of baker’s chocolate and warm tar. A singed alder echo weaves through the finish. Relies more on heft than purity but this is very solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2021 through 2031. 2,932 cases made.—J.M.

GAMBLE FAMILY Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015 Score: 92 | $50
This is lively, with blueberry, açaí and blackberry fruit providing energy and range while light cocoa powder and toasted vanilla notes form the frame. Everything melds nicely through the finish. Rock-solid. Best from 2020 through 2030. 1,450 cases made.—J.M.

GIRARD Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015 Score: 92 | $30
A bright and fresh Cabernet, featuring black cherry, red currant, floral and anise notes dancing through atop a light brambly accent. Engaging, with a light savory hint lingering through the finish. Displays lots of charm. Drink now through 2025. 9,549 cases made.—J.M.

MOUNT VEEDER Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015 Score: 92 | $44
Engaging, with bramble, sage and tobacco accents out front followed by pleasantly grippy bitter plum, black currant and black cherry preserve flavors. Shows a rugged edge through the finish, but the tannins sparkle rather than dry, boding well for the cellar. Best from 2021 through 2031. 39,014 cases made.—J.M.

ROBERT MONDAVI Maestro Napa Valley 2015 Score: 92 | $40
Dark and winey, with vivid blackberry and fig fruit flavors coursing through, carried by a strong graphite edge on the finish. Light licorice and savory notes add range and texture. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2030. 4,972 cases made.—J.M.

ROBERT MONDAVI Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2016 Score: 90 | $36
A direct, focused style, with a core of steeped cherry and plum preserve flavors, liberally lined with toasted vanilla and licorice notes. Sports a pleasant tug of earth at the end of the juicy finish. Textbook Cabernet. Drink now through 2026. 95,663 cases made.—J.M.