2008 J Viognier, Hoot Owl Vineyard Appellation: Alexander Valley Alc: 14.3% Price: $30 Haydn gives it: 90pts You can buy this wine at: J Winery Ahh the Viognier. It's an often overlooked grape—with the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay's of the world commanding...

I'm not quite sure what possessed me to drive through Napa to get back to Marin from Alexander Valley. Maybe it was the horrendous wines tasted at one of the Alexander Valley wineries. Maybe I just wanted to get into...