Sauvignon Blanc Masters - Gold

The 2019 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard is sourced from vines planted in 1975, meaning some of the oldest Pinot vines in the Russian River. Exotic Martini clone aromatics give this mid-weight, wonderfully translucent Pinot tons of character. The Arrendell is not an obvious wine, but rather a Pinot built on understated nuance and character. Sweet red
berries, mint, cedar and crushed flowers open effortlessly.

The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Aurora Point is a gorgeous, distinctive wine that marries varietal character with mountain structure. The 2019 shows how magical this site is. Intensely floral, savory Sauvignon aromatics lend into a layered core of fruit in a Sauvignon that screams with character. This is far from an easygoing white. I loved it.

The 2019 Chardonnay Gravel Bench Vineyard is one of the most complex wines in this range. It offers up a whole range of savory and mineral nuances that lend notable complexities throughout. Crushed rocks, graphite, sage, mint, lemon peel and dried flowers all run through this wonderfully polished, vibrant Chardonnay.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point Vineyard is a wine of power, tension and energy. Bright acids run through a core of black fruit, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice, and chocolate. This brooding, potent Cabernet has a lot to offer. All it needs is time to allow the tannins to soften a bit. There's a lot of wine here.

The 2020 Chenin Blanc Jurassic Vineyard Old Vine is fabulous. Readers will find a wine that captures tremendous varietal character to match its translucent, mid-weight personality. Sandy soils yield a Chenin built on expressive savory and floral nuances, with bright saline accents that lend energy throughout. White flowers, pear, sage and mint linger on the sublime finish. Memorable

The 2019 Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard captures all the magic of this site at 1,000 feet in elevation at the north of the West Sonoma Coast, near Annapolis. Elevation, exposure and Goldridge soils over a bed of Franciscan yield a nervy, saline Chardonnay endowed with terrific energy. This bright, focused Chardonnay is one of the highlights in this range from Hartford.

The 2019 Chardonnay Radian Vineyard is another fabulous wine in this range from Hartford. Lemon confit, spice, crushed rocks and exotic tropical notes all meld together. This rugged, exposed site in the Sta. Rita Hills yields small berries and wines with real textural depth and nuance. The Radian is so distinctive, but, then again, so is this Sta. Rita Hills site.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Far Coast is wonderfully elegant and precise. A Pinot of linear intensity and drive, the Far Coast is all understatement, all class. Blue/purplish fruit, cloves, leather, lavender, mocha, licorice and coffee are nicely woven together. Give the tannins a few years to soften.

The 2019 Chardonnay Brosseau is quite understated, but time in the glass brings out all the savory, mineral qualities that are such signatures. Readers should expect a powerful Chardonnay with quite a bit of structure, but less in the way of overt fruit. As always, the Brosseau is very distinctive.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale is terrific. Deep, dense and beautifully balanced, the 2018 captures all the stylistic signatures that make the Arrowood Cabernets so appealing. Black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate are wonderfully fused together. Give this powerhouse a few years to soften.

The 2019 Chardonnay Gold Run is an airy, gracious and wonderfully finessed wine. Pear, white flowers, mint and candied lemon peel all run through this classy, superbly polished Chardonnay. The silky, caressing finish is a thing of beauty.

The 2019 Chardonnay Red Point is a bright, piercing wine. Crushed rocks, lime, slate, menthol, white flowers and sage lend notable volume. There is good depth in the glass and plenty of texture too, but the 2019 is very bright and intensely saline, with all of its energy seemingly directed inwards.

The 2019 Chardonnay Broken Road Vineyard is wonderfully deep and layered. Candied lemon peel, honey, tangerine oil and white flowers add an exotic quality to the 2019 that is quite appealing. This dense, phenolic, richly textured Chardonnay has a bright future. It's a gorgeous, inviting Chardonnay from Stonestreet.

The 2019 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard is weightless and wonderfully nuanced. Tangerine oil, mint, crushed rocks and chamomile are all finely sketched. Time in the glass brings out attractive tropical overtones, but the Upper Barn is really a wine of energy more than anything else.

The 2019 Chardonnay Skycrest is a knockout. Bright, floral and energetic, the 2019 is wonderfully detailed and nuanced. Lemon confit, almond, sage, mint and dried flowers lend striking complexity. The 2019 is wonderfully vibrant and sculpted, with exceptional balance, the 2019 is an absolute winner.

The 2019 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard is another incredibly distinctive wine in this range. Candied ginger, passionfruit, lemon confit, white flowers and tangerine oil give this mid-weight Chardonnay tons of character. Bright acids lend freshness and verve to a Chardonnay that is very much on the exotic side of things.

The 2019 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard is marked by soaring, lifted floral aromatics and mid-weight structure. White flowers, mint, lime and green pear lend
brightness throughout. The style is airy and understated. All the elements are so nicely balanced.

The 2019 Chardonnay Stone Côte Vineyard is quite delicate, with a lovely mix of floral accents and the more mineral signatures that are so typical of this site. Orchard fruit, apricot, mint, tangerine oil and hints of pastry all grace this exquisite understated Chardonnay from Hartford. This is very nicely done.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Truly Rita, from Dierberg-Drum Canyon in the Sta. Rita Hills, is a big, potent wine. Huge tannins wrap around a core of blue/purplish fruit. Lavender, mocha, spice, chocolate, gravel, incense and licorice add to the wine's brooding intensity. Give this muscular Pinot a few years to soften.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Jennifer's is a potent and incredibly distinctive wine. Poor soils in a very cool site yield a Pinot full of game, leather, blood orange, spice and earthy notes complement a core of dark red/purplish fruit. A Pinot of power and breadth, the Jennifer's is not especially subtle, but there is a real feeling of energy here that is undeniably appealing.

Hartford's 2019 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard offers up an explosion of crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon, rose petal and cedar. This fruity, aromatic Sonoma Coast Pinot is a real charmer. It will drink well with minimal cellaring, but also has enough energy to develop positively for a number of years.

The 2019 Syrah Sea Lift is packed with blue/purplish fruits, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice, black pepper and mocha. Pliant and deep, with striking depth, the 2019 has a ton to offer. I imagine it will benefit from a few years in bottle, which should help the reticent aromatics open.

The 2019 Chardonnay DuPratt is layered and super-expressive right out of the gate. Orchard fruit, white pepper and flowers are some of the many notes that grace this delicate, understated Mendocino Chardonnay. I especially admire the energy and persistence here.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Crown is a very pretty, perfumed wine that shows the more elegant, aromatic side of Knights Valley Cabernet. Sweet floral and spice top notes lend finesse to this deep, structured Cabernet, with hints of blood orange, dried herbs and red berry fruit that linger.