Red ($14, 13%)
By Jon Bonné, Chronicle Wine Editor

Kenny Likitprakong has been doing a lot of good work in California, whether with his Zinfandels under the Hobo label or his Ghostwritert Pinot Noirs. Folk Machine is his effort to provide value-priced wines from the state — ones that often contend dollar for dollar with their imported counterparts. This new effort takes that quite literally, as one of the best Rhone-styled table reds to appear in years.

It’s a mix of 60 percent organically farmed Carignane from century-old vines — Carignane saving our wallets yet again — plus Grenache from McDowell Valley and some biodynamically farmed Syrah. That savory roast-carrot side of Carignane comes out to play, along with hearty huckleberry flavors, black pepper and a terrific balance of brightness and fruit that commends it to the autumn table