New reviews of Syrah, Cabernet, Chardonnay and more from top names such as Martinelli and Pride .... Includes Chiarello Vineyards Zinfandel Felicia Old Vine 2009 at 89 Points. Full review at left.

Food & Wine Magazine honors a Napa winemaker known for his hands-off style. We proudly salute him, as Chiarello Vineyards was his first independent wine project after leaving Turley Wine Cellars.

Napa Valley and producer Robert Biale show their Zinfandel muscle with this weeks newly reviewed wines. Six of the seven Zinfandels hail from Napa and four of those are the first 2008s from Biale.... Not to be outdone, star chef Michael Chiarello proves his family’s winemaking mettle with the Napa Valley Giana 2008. The Chiarello Family Zinfandels just get better and better it seems.

There’s only one thing small about Petite Sirah--the size of its berries. Seven others including 91 Point Chiarello 2008 Petite Sirah Roux Old Vine reviewed. Full review at left.

Michael Chiarello always loved the kitchen. At the age of 8, a class assignment required him to talk about what he wanted to do when he grew up. While other boys spoke of fighting fires or building homes, he described how he wanted to be a chef.

Michael Chiarello, the stellar Napa chef whose Food Network shows are a full-flavored antidote to the Rachael Ray overload, tends near-century-old vines and makes first-class wines to go with his meals. Chiarello Family Vineyards specializes in Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. As you'd expect, they're concentrated, food-friendly productions with depth and style.

Looking up from a bottle of his wine, Michael Chiarello said, "You know, I promised myself I wouldn't get into the wine business unless I had something to say."