(65% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot) Bright ruby-red. Black and blue fruits complicated by licorice, minerals and fresh herbs on the nose. Rich, broad, lush and full, even if it conveys less easy sweetness and personality today than the Muse (but then this is Seillan's Pauillac-style blend). Best today on the sensational back half, which features a major coating of suave tannins and an extremely long, aromatic finish that reverberates with subtle floral tones. Interestingly, this cabernet-based wine has a higher pH than the merlot-based Muse: 3.78 vs. 3.64.

Good bright ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of cassis, black cherry, graphite, iron, tobacco, menthol and spice cake. Lush and broad on entry, then sweeter and lusher in the middle palate than the Muse, with a captivating chocolatey quality and outstanding volume. As rich and full as this is, there's no sense of excess weight. Finishes long, dense and palate-saturating with major dusty tannins. This Pauillac is sweeter and deeper than Seillan's Pomerol, a comment on the comparative quality of cabernet sauvignon and merlot in California's North Coast.

Very pale yellow. Captivating nose combines exotic apricot, white plum, crushed rock, brown spices and a lavender high note. Intense and tactile on entry, then tightly coiled and penetrating in the middle, a step up over the foregoing wines in its impression of acid spine. Very powerful, youthfully aggressive, palate-staining wine that will need time in bottle to open and expand. Less thick and sweet at the same stage than the 2008, but at the same time more glycerol than the 2009 Gravel Bench. A great example of a California chardonnay, by which I mean that I would not mistake it for Burgundy in a blind tasting.

Very chalky and dusty, showing golden raspberries and grapefruit on the nose as well as a burst of red raspberries and juicy cherries with pits on the palate. Brioche too. Rich and satisfying with a clean, dry finish. 88 months en tirage. Dosage 0 g/L. Disgorged 2024. Drink or hold.

Generous and salty, showing aromas of yellow apples, chalk and cream with a wonderfully dense texture and flavors of lemons, grapefruit, a little iodine and brioche. The crisp, dry finish has long minerality and a bit of richness. 88 months en tirage. Dosage 0.2 g/L. Disgorged August 2024. Drink or hold.

Lovely perfumed aromas of orange peel, black pepper and sandalwood. Medium-bodied, the mouthwatering palate has tense acidity and fine, elegant tannins with sweet spices and citrus zest in the finish. Drink or hold.

This plush, full-bodied wine shows ripe lemons, golden apples, yellow peaches and green mangoes with creme brulee and pleasant crushed-almond flavors. The finish carries baking spices and creaminess. Drink or hold.

Really juicy and pleasurable, showing chalky, dusty loam and grapefruit on the nose with tropical flavors and citrus on the palate. Medium-bodied with lime zest and minerals in the long finish. Drink or hold.

Aromas of chalk, bergamot, bright red fruit, hibiscus and subtle anise. Medium-bodied, the exuberant, juicy and succulent palate is very refreshing. Drink or hold.

A sweet nose of salted pineapple and green melon leads to nicely tart acidity with flavors of green apples and other plump orchard fruit. This luscious, flavorful, medium-bodied wine finishes clean and precise. Drink now.

A magenta/ruby color, the 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva kicks it up a notch on the nose,
with layered notes of Mediterranean herbs, sweet mixed berries, violets, and fresh leather.
The palate is very well-balanced, and I’m impressed with this wine for both its integration
and purity. It has refined tannins, wonderful purity of ripe fruit, and even acidity. It is a lovely
wine already but should age gracefully over the coming 12-15 years.

The dark ruby 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Strada Al Sasso is lush with aromas of
black raspberry liqueur, fresh lavender, toasted cedar, and forest floor. The palate is plush
and expansive while retaining good freshness at this early stage, and the wine has a
rounded mouthfeel, with its more blue-fruited notes shining through the long finish. It’s
hard to resist now and should drink well over the coming 12-15 years.

The 2019 Arcanum is entirely Cabernet Franc and pours a purple/magenta color. The nose
is spicy and ripe with notes of menthol, cassis, blueberry, violets, polished leather, and
vanilla. Full-bodied, it has salty, mouthwatering accents, ripe tannins, and even acidity. It
closes with savory and light gamey richness and will likely benefit if given another year or
more to come together. Drink 2026-2040.

The 2023 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard, matured for 10 months
in 25% new French oak, has slowly opening scents of raspberry,
blackberry, tea leaves, gravel dust and bitters. The full-bodied
palate is brimming with concentrated, spicy berry flavors. It’s
framed by softly chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a
long, dynamic finish. It opens dramatically with air and will
benefit from time in a decanter. 235 cases were made.

The 2023 Pinot Noir Van Der Kamp Vineyard matured for 14
months in 10% new French oak. It floods the senses with
singular aromas of blackberry, raspberry, shiitake mushroom,
underbrush and spice. The full-bodied palate is brimming with
perfumed, spicy berry flavors. It’s framed by fine, chalky tannins,
and vibrant acidity drives a very long, expressive finish. 155
cases were made.

Maturedfor 15 months in 19% new French oak, the 2023 Pinot Noir Far CoastVineyardhas slowly unfurling aromas ofwild berries, oolongtea leaves, nori andfloral perfume. The fullbodied palate is powerfully styled with generous, ripe, spicy flavorsand firm, grainytannins. It’sbalancedbyvibrantacidity andhas a long, dynamic finish. Itwill benefitfrom time inthe cellar. 348cases were made.

The 2023 ChardonnaySeascape Vineyardcomes from vines planted four miles from the Pacific Ocean in 1990. Barrelfermented andmaturedfor 14 months in24% new oak, the nose is burstingwith peach, guava, lime peel and saline.The mediumbodied palate pairsmouth-coatingflavors with tangy acidity, and it has a long, energetic finish. 266 cases were made.

The 2023Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyardcomes fromvines planted in 1975. Maturedfor 14 monthsin 12%new Frenchoak, it has slowly unfoldingscents ofraspberries, orange peel, tobacco, mossybark andbitters. The full-bodied palate is powerfully styled with concentrated, earth-lacedflavors structuredbyfirm, grainytannins. It’sbalancedbyjuicyacidity andhas a long, spicyfinish. 133 cases were made

Maturedfor 15 monthsin 12%newFrench oak, the 2023 Pinot NoirMacLean'sBlock has layeredaromasof redcherry, blood orange,tobacco, tea leaves andgraham cracker. The full-bodied palate is burstingwith detailed, spicyflavors. It’sstructured by firm, grainytannins and brightacidity andhas a long, expressive finish. Itwill benefit from time in the cellar. 210 cases were made.

The 2023Pinot Noir Muldune Trail comes from vines planted in the late 1990s andearly 2000s. Maturedfor 14 monthsin 21% new French oak, it has intense aromas ofblack cherries, blood orange, tea leaves, chaparral and graham cracker. The fullbodied palate featuresopen-knit, botanical-laced flavors. It’s framed bysoft, silkytanninsand juicyacidity and has a long, layeredfinish. 251 cases were made.

The 2023 ChardonnayFar CoastVineyardwas barrel-fermented and maturedfor 14 monthsin used Frenchoak. Ithas intense aromas of saline,white peach, Meyer lemon, graveldustand herbal undertones. The full-bodied palate has a silkytexture and is burstingwith concentrated, mineral-drivenflavors. It’s balancedbyvibrantacidity andhas a verylongfinish. 266cases were made.

Fromvines planted between1975and1980, the 2023 ChardonnayFour Hearts Vineyardwas barrel-fermentedand maturedfor 10 monthsin 23% new Frenchoak. Ithasintense aromas ofmatchstick, ripe apple and peach andgenerous yet well-integrated oak spice.The full-bodied palate has a satiny texture and is burstingwith highlyconcentrated, spicyflavors. It’sbalancedbygently tangy acidity and hasa long, flinty finish. 1,106 cases were made.

From vines planted in 1995, the 2023Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyardwas barrel-fermented andmatured for 15 months in 28%newFrench oak. Ithas pure,intense aromasof yellow peach, lemon, honey, chamomile andchaparral. The mediumbodied palate has a silky, mouth-coating texture andcreamy, citrusyflavors. It’sbalanced byvibrant, gentlytangy acidity, and it has a long, fragrantfinish. 160cases were made.

Bombastic aromas of juicy blueberry, spiced plum, and vanilla burst from the glass on the nose of this Syrah. The palate feels nervy and lifted, with powder fine tannin balanced by ripping acidity, with rich flavors of berry compote, chopped herbs, black tea, cinnamon, and dark chocolate. Yummy now, this will continue to unfold nicely with some time in the cellar.

Focused aromas of pineapple, ginger, lemon balm and apple blossom jump from the glass of this Chardonnay. The palate brings waves of mouthwatering acidity and flavors of tropical citrus, cinnamon and jasmine that reverberate all along the finale.