Made with fruit sourced from vineyards across the Russian River Valley, this chardonnay has an ambience of warmth, opulence, and richness, making it an apt choice for cold weather. I like the silky palate, supported by firm acids, and the enduring finish.

A fleshy, textured chardonnay with aromas of apricots, honeysuckle, nutmeg, toast and persimmons. It’s medium- to full-bodied with bright acidity. Balanced, layered and very drinkable. Hints of flint at the end. Drink now.

From the historic Stonestreet estate vineyard in Sonoma’s Mayacamas Mountain, and named after the founder, Jess Stonestreet Jackson, Stonestreet Estate Chardonnay brings the rusticity of the mountainous vineyard, delivering structure and texture to the wine, with juicy, fruit-forward flavor. Layers of ripe white peach and apricot meld with tropical mango and pineapple. The fruity layers meld into toasted nutmeg, hazelnut, and allspice, with a nice bite of crushed stone minerality, ensuring a textural, multi-dimensional flavor that is easily enjoyed sipped after sip.

This is the pinnacle release for one of the most exciting wineries in Tuscany. While Sangiovese is what you’d expect from this area, Tenuta Di Arceno have taken an evolutionary spin on one of the world’s most famous winemaking regions. Cabernet Franc is placed in the spotlight, creating a wine that is so beautifully unique to this region. Innovation meets heritage as the two worlds intertwine, resulting in a ripe dark plum, mint, sage and thyme nose. The palate is explosive with black cherries, white pepper, truffle, strawberries and licorice. Cedar oak jumps out with burnt toast and a delicate raspberry lingers on the finish.

As one of Napa Valley’s most prized wineries, Cardinale has been creating a storm of wonder since its first vintage release. This wine encapsulates everything that is extraordinary about this region and leaves me wanting more every time I taste it. The hefty Bordeaux blend showcases 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot with 22 months in French oak barrels. The result? A dollop of 70% dark cocoa, rounded out by blackberries, black cherries and blackcurrants, tobacco, cedar oak and a kiss of rose petal on the finish.

This has to be one of my top finds of 2022. Produced from a 15-acre parcel of rolling hills this wine is driven from clones of the world renowned Pommard amongst other incredibly rare vineyards. It’s like a love affair between Burgundy and Sonoma with a distinct Santa Barbara twist. Expect ripe cherry, rhubarb, cola nut, black berry, allspice and black tea all wrapped up in a refined, savoury and textured treat.

While Napa Valley is typically known for its beautiful expressions of Chardonnay, Santa Barbara doesn’t often get as much praise. I can tell you wholeheartedly, this is one of the best Chardonnays coming out of California. Perched within the Santa Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara, Brewer-Clifton has been producing world class wine since 1996. Over three decades they’ve perfected their craft which has led to this triumphant expression of one of the world’s most famous grape varieties. The ocean air brings a slight salinity, alongside lemon curd, minerals and a rich texture that hugs your tongue from the moment it greets your lips. Intense, complex and destined for greatness.

20 Most Dazzling Sparkling Wines For The Holidays
Gran Moraine Yamhill-Carlton Brut Rosé
This sparkling wine from Oregon may just transport you to Champagne. The Gran Moraine Brut Rosé is a blend of multiple vintages – with each vintage adding distinctive qualities to the final blend. It is the epitome of style, grace, and elegance made using the traditional méthode champenoise. Pop open this dazzling Brut Rosé to enhance the already joyful mood of your holiday party.

This is a fine, glossy, full flavoured chardonnay from the Russian River Valley. There is a real sense of elegance here. The nose is generous with hazelnut, dried flowers, custard and peachy fruit. It is very smooth, somewhat sweet and intense. So rich! Excellent to outstanding length.

100 Amazing Wines: 15 Chardonnays
Stonestreet 2018 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Stonestreet, a brand relative in the Jackson Family Wines fold, produces prodigious, ageworthy $100 chardonnays and cabernet sauvignons from 5,500-acre Alexander Mountain Estate. Smartly, Stonestreet also makes outstanding wines at more affordable prices, blends of various wine lots from the estate, like this chardonnay. You can pay more and get less, as this wine strikes a balance of richness with vibrancy, with grilled pineapple, peach and baked apple decadence supported by citrus notes, oak spice and palate-cleansing acidity.

100 Amazing Wines: 7 Sauvignon Blancs
Matanzas Creek 2021 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc
This Bennett Valley winery, owned by Jackson Family Wines since 2000, remains the land of lovely lavender fields and sauvignon blanc. As many as five sauvignons are bottled under this brand in most vintages, from grapes grown in Jackson Family Wines’ extensive vineyard holdings in Alexander Valley, Knights Valley and Bennett Valley. The Sonoma County wine is blended from multiple vineyards to achieve year-to-year consistency, with racy white grapefruit, lemon-lime, kiwi fruit and fresh-herb personality.

Stunning, this is oozing with spices, perfume and polish, featuring green cardamom, clove, lavender and nutmeg details that add an aromatic overtone to wild berry, cranberry and strawberry pastry flavors. Drink now through 2034.

Fragrant and expressive, with polished, creamy tannins setting the stage for blueberry, raspberry and cardamom flavors. Delivers details of palo santo, brown sugar, dried violet and sweet mint tea on the long, impressive finish. Drink now through 2034.

An impressive blend that’s stylish and handsomely structured, this slowly unfurls notes of cherry and cassis accented by espresso, toasty spice and hints of flint as it promenades on the palate toward polished tannins. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. From California.

Pure and focused, with a laser beam of lemon meringue, fleshy mandarin orange and orange sherbet showing incredible intensity and concentration. This remains light on its feet and focused, thanks to fresh acidity, with details of matcha and dried apricot for extra dimension on the finish. Drink now through 2027.

Refined and polished yet deeply structured, with expressive red currant, dried herbs and hints of stony minerality that build tension and richness toward big but polished tannins. Drink now through 2030.

Starts off with a core of Fuji apple and pear flavors, expanding to details of salted caramel, marmalade and orange zest, which show savory details of sesame seed and toasted herb that linger. Vibrant acidity keeps the flavors fresh. Drink now.

Firm and focused, with strawberry, cherry and raspberry flavors that are juicy, fresh and focused, plus details of Earl Grey tea, rose petal and dried herbs on a poised frame. Long finish. Drink now through 2030.

Lip-smacking, featuring a core of fresh white peach, Honeycrisp apple and lemon curd, with notes of salted butter, pickled ginger, toasted herbs and green tea that linger. Drink now through 2028.

Full-bodied and firm, with good intensity to the blueberry and blackberry flavors at the core, with dried herbs, black pepper, loam and savory green olive and tobacco details. Drink now through 2030.

Shows wonderful density, with toasted herbs, tobacco and notes of laurel bay leaf, sage and rosemary that complement a core of dark berry and cassis flavors on a velvety frame. Reveals notes of black Assam tea that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2033.

Polished and juicy, with wild blackberry, blueberry and spiced plum flavors on a thick and velvety frame, plus details of Earl Grey tea, dried sage and toasted cumin. Reveals a hint of paprika on the finish. Drink now through 2032.

A generous red, fruit-forward yet well-structured, offering cherry and red currant flavors accented by toasty oak and espresso. Drink now through 2028.

Lithe and open in feel, with a gentle breeze of dried cherry and blood orange notes flecked with tea leaf and savory hints. Drink now.

The Tenuta di Arceno estate covers 2,500 acres of rolling hills, lush green forests and ancient cypress trees with medieval stone buildings dating back hundreds of years. Strada Al Sasso is the flagship wine from this property. It is crafted from single vineyard, single block Sangiovese. This exceptional micro-cru was planted in 1998 and is located in a wind-swept corner of the estate.
This is another remarkable effort from the estate. This 100% Sangiovese showcases crème de cassis and crushed red plums that abound with a hint of saddle leather, cinnamon, Oolong tea and minerals. The tannins remain silky and polished. The acids are well integrated as you get the impression that this could be a New World wine, but you’re reassured that it is a truly a wine with the status of Gran Selezione. This is an elegant expression of Sangiovese from great terroirs.