below, a modest selection of the best of the best

By Dan Pearl

Peter Michael Winery is considered by many enophiles, as king, when it comes to Chardonnay. For more than 25 years, they have been creating beautiful terroir driven chardonnay's, both red and white Bordeaux style blends, and pinot noirs from their estate in Sonoma.

Lewis Cellars Race car Driver Randy Lewis and his wife Debbie started this family operated winery in 1992, and have been looking in the rearview mirror ever since. Their use of both Napa and Sonoma vineyards, allows them to craft both reds and whites of immense quality. Their hands on approach to the winemaking process leaves nothing overlooked.

A very small production winery, Sine Qua Non has perfected the art of mastering Rhone varietals in California. Located in the Central Coast A.V.A.,they are known for crafting reds made from syrah, grenache, and mourvedre, and whites from roussanne, viognier, and chardonnay. They also make some beautiful dessert wines. Try their late harvest grenache port.

Screaming Eagle For decades, Heidi Barrett was the winemaker at this Famed Oakville Estate, and created one of the most beautiful and sought after cabernets in the entire world. This is Napa Valley's most coveted prize, and is nearly impossible to source. If you do get a chance to taste, it will undoubtedly be a life changing wine experience.

Harlan Estate is Screaming Eagle's only competition when it comes to the title of best Napa cabernet. For over 25 years, Harlan Estate has mastered the grape, and has been making exquisite wines from their west Oakville Property. Also try the individual, small plot, cabernets from their sister winery Bond.

The Araujo family has been making wines from the esteemed 38 acre Eisele Vineyard since 1990. The 120 year old vineyard has been planted with cabernet since 1964, and when the Araujo family took control, they made several improvements and upgraded many of the rootstocks. The old vines produce reds with intense concentration and quality, and whites that are clean, fresh, and crisp.

Kosta Browne Winery's mastery of the Pinot Noir grape has been a sommelier's secret for years. However,recent, well deserved, accolades have boosted this winery to stardom. Their site specific wines truly allow the terroir of the intended region and vineyard shine through. Invest in them now while you still can!

One of the earliest Napa Valley wineries, Far Niente has mastered Napa's potential for both Chardonnay and Cabernet. The wines are some of the most age worthy in the valley, evolving, and developing incredible nuances over time. Also look for their single vineyard cabernets from their sister winery Nickel and Nickel, and their elegant dessert wine under the label Dolce.

Williams Seylem has, for years, been producing handcrafted wines from throughout California's major wine regions. The winery has gained notoriety with their varied styles of pinot noir from vineyard sites in the Central Coast, Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Napa Valley. Each of these sites produces wines with an exceptional concentration of flavors.

Diamond Creek was California's first Cabernet Estate. For years, they have prided themselves on exposing the vast micro climates of Diamond Mountain. They make three cabernets, each from a specific vineyard plot. The three sites; Red Rock Terrace, Gravelly Meadow, and Volcanic Hill, produce such drastically different wines, that they are the ultimate definition of Napa Valley terroir.

Top 5 wines of 2009

-Sojourn Cellars "Gaps Crown" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007

-Dana Estates "Helms Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

-Dominus Estate "Napa Valley" Cabernet Savignon 2006

-Robert Foley Claret 2006

-Kosta Browne "Kanzler Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2006