With Christmas only days away and plenty of shopping left to do, don’t fret about spending too much on a lovely bottle (or a few) for your dinner.  Our tasting panel has come up with four excellent choices that all coast under $35.  Cheers!

Morgan 2015 “Twelve Clones” Pinot Noir

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Santa Luis Highlands, Ca

Price: 25-30

Tasting Notes:

Lively red berries aromas combine with allusions of minerals, clove, and bacon on the nose. The palate offers up flavors of dried cherry, strawberry, and cranberry that play among expressions of wet stone, all-spice, and smoked bacon. Ripe red fruit is framed by supple tannins; open a bottle with your Christmas turkey.

Rating: 91

Ridge 2012 “Lytton Estate” Petite Sirah

Grape(s): 90% Petite Sirah & 10% Zinfandel

Region: Dry Creek Valley, Ca

Price: 30-35

Tasting Notes:

Enticing aromas of blueberries, blackberries, and dark cherries blend with nuances of clove, anise, and mint on the nose. Chewy tannins frame the wine nicely, with flavors licorice, minerals, and mint wrapping around a core of blueberry and blackberry. Good structure and good balance in this wine.

Rating: 91

Louis Martini 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape(s): 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petite Sirah, 5% Petit Verdot, & 2% Merlot

Region: Napa Valley, Ca

Price: 30-35

Tasting Notes:

Aromas of cassis and blackberries mingle among suggestions of dark chocolate, mint, and cedar on the nose. Cocoa tannins frame flavors of cassis, blackberry, and dark cherry, along with accents of cedar, anise, and mint. Good structure and depth make this a wine to enjoy with your Christmas roast now or lay down in the cellar for 3-5 years.

Rating: 91

Trinitas 2014 Chardonnay

Grape(s): 100% Chardonnay

Region: Napa Valley, Ca

Price: 20-25

Tasting Notes:

There’s a bouquet of lemon, pineapple, caramel, and pie crust that wafts up from a glass. Mouth-filling, it delivers flavors of Meyer lemon, cinnamon, and buttery caramel. Fans of big, rich Chardonnays will find plenty to like here.

Rating: 91