Leading off the single vineyard releases, the 2022 Pinot Noir Perilune Vineyard comes from sandy soils in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. It has a darker core of black raspberries and cherries as well as sappy flowers and spicy, foresty, bouquet garni-like nuances. It's medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, has fine tannins, and a great finish. The texture and overall balance here are beautiful, and it will shine through 2032.

Each sip starts aromas of lemon curd, buttered toast and toffee and then beams in sunlit and pure, flooding the senses with total pleasure. Roasted nuts and praline score the tightly wound, crisp-creamy centre that cascades with lemon meringue pie, buttered biscuit, orange zest and almond. This layered, vibrant white with the long, slow close is worth the money.

The 2022 Ovitelli Grenache is a wine of unexpected twists and turns ... on one hand, it aromatically offers amaro bitters and nuances of tequila sunrise (without the tequila, or perhaps it is anejo or mezcal), bitter orange and cranberry. There's a distinct biscuit character to note: Biscoff or malt. In the mouth, the wine is lean and spicy, layered with exotic herbs, graphite tannins and inflections of wet concrete and petrichor. The fruit on the mid-palate rises above its élevage and time on skins and envelopes us in raspberry and blood orange, which quickly sinks beneath a tide of clove buds and star anise and cardamom. It was handpicked from Block 20, adjacent to the High Sands block, destemmed and pressed to ceramic eggs for 150 days on skins. No pressings were utilized in the final blend. No oak was used at any stage; instead, the wine spent a total of 14 months in ceramic egg. Bottled June 2023. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

The cheapest of a trio of very smart Chardonnays from Graham Weerts, Silene uses grapes from four different sites in Stellenbosch. Fermented in 30% new wood with no malolactic, it's smoky, briney and intense, with minerality to spare, subtle reduction and layers of toast, citrus zest and wet stones. 2024-29

A longer ripening period during the 2023 vintage has amplified aromas, with shades of violet at the edge of ripe blood plum and dark cherry. The ripeness is also reflected in bright, luscious blood plum and dark cherry flavours in the front palate; while the combination of MV6, G5V15 and Abel clones provides a keen savoury note, with earthy bite and graphite notes. Chewy tannins give a moreish finish to a wine that already appears resolved and complete.

This site – the Primavera family’s 240m-high vineyard, planted on rich red basalt soils – provides something different for Giant Steps. Surprisingly, it’s an open and expressive front palate, with supple red cherries, raspberries and hints of blood tomato. It obtains a tight squeeze in the midriff thanks to a strong acid spine, then the smooth palate concludes with the bite of tight, crunchy tannins. Very good now; likely to improve in the cellar.

The most fragrant Pinot Noir within the Giant Steps single-vineyard collection has a nose redolent of roses and sweet red cherries. Its vibrancy is underlined by vivid colour. Flavours of cherry compote and the spicy lift of white pepper speak confidently, unmitigated by overt oak influence – after full malolactic fermentation it matures in older French oak barriques over nine months. Its tidy elegance is reiterated by neat closure enforced by tight black tea tannins. Its great trick is providing generous flavour without overt broadness or excessive boldness.

A bright, sunny personality is underlined by bright golden colour and lively tropical notes atop a pithy citrus body. It’s an honest reflection of site – mostly clone P58 Chardonnay planted at 100m elevation along south- and east-facing slopes on grey clay loam – with the cool location providing lively acidity that ensures good intensity and drive.

Dynamic and expressive, offering richly detailed cherry and red currant flavors layered with espresso and Asian spice tones as this builds polish toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2033.

The Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of grapes from three vineyards: Sycamore, Bosché, and Red Barn Ranch, a site on sedimentary and gravelly river bed stones, which is northwest of Frog's Leap winery and owned by Round Pond. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc was aged in 64% new French oak for 26 months. The style here is more black-fruited, with very compact, fine-grained tannins and the fragrant dusty mineral character so distinct to wines from the Rutherford AVA. That dustiness is on the nose and palate, nuanced by wonderful dried herb qualities. Some decadent blue fruit notes are prevalent now and will soften into more red and black with time in the bottle. A very delicious wine in its youth, with compact tannins that resolve into juicy black and blue fruits underscored by racy acidity and a spicy finish redolent of dark cocoa.

The nose on this single-vineyard expression begins with light aromas of cherry, crisp currant and tarragon, and then quickly opens into richer versions of those scents. The palate is rounded, refreshing and complex, showing red fruit, peppercorn and forest-herb flavors.

Crushed raspberry, tangerine, cinnamon and anise aromas burst from the glass of this zesty Zin. An acid-driven palate loaded with berry-lemon acidity gives way to a finish with plush tannin and lingering whispers of black pepper and licorice.

Dark, brambly fruit aromas meet with lavender, violet and turned-earth notes on the complete nose of this bottling. The fresh fruit flavors are bouncy and joyous on the palate, aligning with elegant floral tones toward the finish.

Lovely, crushed Bing cherry and rose petal aromas waft from the glass of this Pinot. The palate is plush and complex, with flavors of red raspberry, forest floor, clove and fresh flowers across the palate. The finish lingers with whispers of black tea and orange peel.

Aromas of this wine jump out of the glass, offering Meyer lemon, apricot, white flowers and river rock. The palate vibrates with pithy lemon-lime acidity, alongside flavors of marzipan, fresh baked pastry and Anjou pear. There’s an energy here that begs for a little time in the cellar. Drink 2025–2035.

This wine is bright, with aromas of yellow apple, nectarine, pineapple, florals and toasty oak on the nose. Flavors on the palate are Meyer lemon, pear and cinnamon, wrapped around chamomile tea, sedimentary rock and a long, mouthwatering finish. Pair with seafood pasta with cream sauce.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard is certainly the most serious wine in Siduri’s single vineyard SLH lineup. Voluptuous and round yet intensely mineral and chiseled, there’s a stunning depth of blue/black fruit and heady florals on tap. This is a very sensual wine with tons of up-front appeal. Still, if you look deeper, you’ll uncover a treasure trove of savory, earthy inflections, while blueberry, black cherry, espresso, mocha and French oak richness blast through this mercurial but impeccably balanced Pinot.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard is so heady, marrying pure, ultra-ripe fruit with vivacious energy and spirited drive. Tannins are right up front, and toasty French oak stands ready, but this feels complete, even if it sits on the pushed end of the spectrum. Kirsch, and pomegranate, cinnamon, clove and new leather lends tons of intrigue. This is a sexy expression of Garys’.

Aromas of lemon peel, wet stone, waxy apple and a hint of chalk show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is very chalky in texture, giving a firm platform to present flavors of buttered nectarine, sea salt and coconut flake.

This wine is rich and concentrated with plush black plum, raspberry and cinnamon. The wine is driven by juicy red plum, pink grapefruit zest, pink peppercorn weaving in quince; black tea brings dark chocolate and a silky finish. The sunshine and cool climate of the region are captured by this wine.

This wine is lush and vibrant, with aromas of huckleberry, boysenberry and cardamon. The wine is full-bodied with black cherry, violet, allspice, weaving in vanilla cream and dark chocolate to lead up to plush silky tannins. Long ago, I created a story about this wine and the mythical sisters who lived in the forest. Enjoy with meat, poultry, fish and good friends.

This wine is intense, with aromas of black cherry, boysenberry and allspice. Concentrated Morello cherry, black currant weave into blackberry, vanilla spice, mocha and lush tannins. Aerate and enjoy with braised lamb shank. 

The nose shows aromas of blackcurrants, herb tea, violets and charcuterie. The palate is full-bodied and complex, with finely integrated tannins, bright acidity and secondary notes of red currants, tea leaves, red peppercorns and tobacco. Grown on volcanic quartz. Drink or hold.

The nose displays aromas of blueberries, red currants, tomato bush and licorice. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, fresh acidity and notes of plums, cedar, tobacco and cassia bark. A single vineyard at 300 meters grown on terraces. Drink or hold.

A floral and lifted nose showing lemon balm, orange blossoms and green papayas. The palate is round and textured, with fine acidity, creaminess and notes of grapefruit, mandarins and creme brulee. Grown at 260 meters. Drink or hold.