Made by Greg Brewer and already bottled, the 2023 Chardonnay comes from the Mission Mills Vineyard just outside of Los Alamos. Its vivid medium gold hue is followed by a vibrant nose of salted citrus, tangerine, exotic flowers, and subtle spice. Medium-bodied, pure, rounded, and beautifully balanced, it has plenty of power and density, integrated acidity, and a great finish. This impeccably made Chardonnay should be snatched up by readers, as it competes with wines at two to three times the price.

Ripe golden fruits, honeyed minerality, a kiss of iodine, crème brûlée, and white flower notes all emerge from the appellation 2022 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills, and as always, it competes with the best out there, offering medium to full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Sourced from the 3D, Machado, Hapgood, and Perilune vineyards, it will evolve for 15 years in cold cellars. 3,805 cases.

More exotic notes of tangerines, orange blossom, toasted almond, and grilled pineapple all emerge from the 2022 Chardonnay Machado, a juicy, medium to full-bodied, textured, vibrant Chardonnay that has bright acidity and a great finish. It's a singular Chardonnay that will evolve for 10-15 years as well. 213 cases.

Leading off the reds, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is incredibly expressive and open, with a great nose of spiced red fruits, iodine, spring flowers, rose, and baking spices. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir with a round, layered, elegant mouthfeel, rock-solid acidity, and a great finish. As always, it’s a terrific value in top-notch Pinot Noir and will have 10-15 years of longevity. 4,969 cases.

The 2022 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is one of the bigger wines in the lineup, with darker strawberry and redcurrant fruit as well as sappy herbs, spice, and subtle orange blossom-like nuances. I love its overall balance, and it's medium-bodied, with a soft, silky mouthfeel and a great finish. It should continue drinking beautifully through 2032.

The 2020 Lassegue is a blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes skipping out with notes of blueberry pie, baked plums, and spice cake, plus hints of fragrant soil and potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers chewy tannins and a refreshing line to support the black fruit layers, finishing long and spicy.

The 2021 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vivacious notes of red currant jelly, crushed blackberries, and black raspberries, followed by underlying hints of dried Provence herbs, lavender, and graphite. The medium to full-bodied palate is light on its feet and styled with compelling restraint, framed by fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with an herbal lift.

Lastly, the 2021 Pinot Noir Signature Collection Barbara's (Clone 667) offers a similar translucent ruby hue as well as classy notes of candied cherries, framboise, classy oak, spring flowers, and baking spices. If anything, the oak is slightly better integrated here, and it's medium-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, finely polished tannins, and a great finish. If you're oak averse, you'll need to give this a year or two, but it’s a classy, impeccably balanced, elegant Pinot Noir with tons to love.

Cherries, sassafras, sweet spice, and minty flower notes all emerge from the 2022 Pinot Noir Hapgood Vineyard, another beautifully balanced, elegant Pinot Noir from this label. It's medium-bodied, has the vintage's charming, supple style, and nicely integrated tannins. I’d wouldn’t be surprised to see it age gracefully yet would drink bottles over the coming 4-6 years or so.

The 2021 Chardonnay Signature Collection Katherine's is slightly bigger than the classic release, with more Meyer lemon, toasted spice, orange, and exotic flower-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's nicely balanced, has a layered, opulent texture, integrated oak, and a great finish.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Signature Collection Julia's has a more oak-driven style, yet it's not overbearing, and it has a solid core of ripe red fruits grounded by spicy oak, savory flower, and underbrush nuances. This carries to a medium-bodied Pinot Noir that's nicely balanced, has fine tannins, integrated oak, and a great finish. It’s a beautiful Pinot Noir to drink over the coming decade.

Always a great value, the 2022 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard is light gold-hued with classy notes of ripe stone fruits, flower oil, toasted bread, and honeyed orange-like nuances. With medium-bodied richness, a round, lush mouthfeel, beautifully integrated oak, and a great finish, it tastes like it costs two to three times its price. Drink bottles over the coming 3-4 years. Talk about a serious house white.

Lively red and black berry fruits, sage, ground pepper, conifer, and cedarwood notes all emerge from the 2022 Syrah, a 100% Syrah that's all from the Perilune Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills. Not destemmed and brought up in neutral oak, it's medium-bodied, has a supple, elegant mouthfeel, the more broad, rounded style of the vintage, and outstanding length. It’s another brilliant wine from winemaker Greg Brewer that readers will love.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is a step up, with more purity and precision. Black cherries, leafy herbs, leather, and some sappy floral notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, and has a great finish. It’s a good value in top-notch California Pinot Noir.

La Crema 2022 (375 ml) is the perfect size for one to enjoy with dinner. Dry, medium-bodied and fresh on the nose and palate with ripe yellow apple, pear, baking spice, caramel and vanilla flavours silky smooth and balanced with bright acidity, it is very delicious now. Drink or hold to 2028.

The value-priced 2022 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard comes from a site in the Santa Maria Valley and was brought up in 22% new French oak. Its translucent ruby hue is followed impressive notes of ripe cherry and strawberry fruits supported by pretty spice, flora, and leafy herb-like aromas and flavors. A wine that would hand many a Village Burgundy its ass, it's well worth buying and drinking over the coming 3-5 years.

Composed of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2021 La Joie sports a deep garnet-purple color. It comes galloping out of the glass with energetic notes of fresh red and black currants, mulberries and candied violets, giving way to evocative wafts of cardamom, clove oil, and iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is built like a brick house, delivering taut, muscular black fruit and very firm, finely grained tannins, plus a finely knit line of freshness, finishing long and energetic. It’s tightly wound and will require patience to allow the tertiary characters to blossom. Forget it for 5-7 years in the cellar and drink it over the following 30 years+

The Mt Brave vineyard was established many decades ago at high altitude on Mt Veeder between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Above the fog line, the vines receive plenty of morning sunshine, but the nutrient-poor, gravelly soils give small grapes with concentrated flavours. What an extraordinary wine is this Merlot – practically perfect in every way. Deep purple-black in hue, the wine exudes morello cherry and black plum fruit with perfumed aromatics and gentle toast accents. Vibrant flavours across the full-bodied palate are in seamless balance with good freshness and silky tannins. Opulent but elegant, the wine is complete, textured and layered, revealing a sequence of flavours towards the lingering finish. Sensational.

 Sourcing grapes from one of the oldest cabernet franc vineyards in Napa Valley, this wine has durability. Intense raspberry, dried sage and black pepper aromas are followed by dense dark fruit flavors and firm tannins.

The Mt Brave vineyard was established many decades ago at high altitude on Mt Veeder between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Above the fog line, the vines receive plenty of morning sunshine, but the nutrient-poor, gravelly soils give small grapes with concentrated flavours. What an extraordinary wine is this Merlot – practically perfect in every way. Deep purple-black in hue, the wine exudes morello cherry and black plum fruit with perfumed aromatics and gentle toast accents. Vibrant flavours across the full-bodied palate are in seamless balance with good freshness and silky tannins. Opulent but elegant, the wine is complete, textured and layered, revealing a sequence of flavours towards the lingering finish. Sensational.

Established in 1886, Freemark Abbey was the 16th bonded winery in California. The only producer to have both a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chardonnay in Steven Spurrier ’s 1976 ‘Judgment of Paris’ tasting, which catapulted Napa Valley into the international spotlight, Freemark Abbey’s ‘classic’ wines have long been recognised as exceptional. Fashioned by Freemark Abbey head winemaker Kristy Melton, the wine is deep ruby in colour, showing red plum and ripe blackcurrant fruit with touches of vanilla buttercream, exotic spices, leather and violet. On the palate, brisk acidity and linen tannins frame the flavours. Packed with layers and textures, the wine will be superb served with a lamb and barley stew with dried figs and olives.

For consistent quality, the grapes are sourced from four different Sonoma regions. Classic flavor and aroma profile of white peach, honeydew, pear, and honeysuckle. A personal favorite.

Deeply structured and a bit brooding at this point, with blueberry and plum flavors accented by sandalwood, black tea and stony mineral notes. Finishes with medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031. 330 cases made.

Supple and polished, with delicate raspberry and cherry flavors highlighted by orange peel and zesty cinnamon tones that finish with fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031. 1,500 cases made.

This Pinot, about $10 a glass, absolutely overdelivers. It tastes like it costs way more than it does. There’s lots of beauty and length here. Plus a core of scrumptious, sophisticated, rich fruit. But what I love most is how much the Gran Moraine Pinot smells like the Oregon countryside itself—Earthy wet forests, tender juicy wild berries, rolling hillsides of orchards, ancient volcanic rock. Nature, in a state of aliveness.