This Rhône-style white blend, matured in ceramic eggs, is built around young plantings of Grenache Blanc (50%), Clairette (12%), Piquepoul (9%) and Bourboulenc (4%), and the addition of 25% older Roussanne. While fleshy Roussanne dominates, there’s a curious sharp-sour note, with the apple bite of Grenache Blanc and saline lick of Piquepoul. In subsequent vintages, this blend will comprise different percentages and maturation regimes, but the initial version has intriguing tension and texture.

Best Medium-Bodied Rosé: La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir Rosé 2021
This lush, medium-bodied rosé is sturdy enough to stand up to summer grilling, so give it a try alongside everything from steaks to chops and even ribs. Keep it around for winter — think Valentine's Day dinner!

Best Fruity Rosé: Copain Mendocino County Rosé 2021
Light and bright with hints of strawberry, peach and tropical citrus, this is the perfect by-the-pool summer sipper.

Best Rosé for Cheese Platters: Captûre Rosé of Sangiovese 2021
This rosé of sangiovese has a nice acidity that pairs well with fatty or fried food because it balances out the richness. Try it with fried calamari or a charcuterie platter.

A savory pinot, showing dark raspberries and earthy berries, orange peel and hints of mushrooms and walnuts. A juicy, medium-bodied pinot with juicy fruit and a smooth, supple mouth-feel. Drink now.

Peach pits, apricots, butter, milk and broad beans on the nose. Full-bodied with a round, creamy and leesy palate, with lingering yoghurt and milk character. Drink now.

One of the most dramatic Sauvignon Blancs I have ever tasted with an aroma that’s 20% herbal Loire Valley, 75% Bordeaux blanc, and just a trace of New World. Dried and fresh herbs, chamomile tea, a bit of lemon, and a creaminess from lees and a bit of neutral barrel age.

Raspberry/blackberry aromas with traces of pepper and spice; layered tannins that portend a long future. Made by Sam Teakle.

Blackberry and cassis aroma with hints of dark chocolate, somewhat tannic entry, but the tannins fade rapidly. Excellent balance and firm structure, but not hard the way many mountain-grown Cabs can be. Made by winemaker Susan Lueker.

The 1011-hectare Tenuta di Arceno estate sits 404-809 metres above sea level. The site between Florence and Siena has been producing wines for nearly 3000 years. According to Roman mythology, an ancient Roman statue, Il Fauno, was installed in the estate’s centre to protect it from intruders. The nose is a riot of savoury black cherries with a dusting of mint. Rich, robust and full-bodied, it is only beginning its life. Black plums and licorice dominate the palate, supported by cedar, toasted oak and a more savoury, peppery note in the finish. Il Fauno is a Bordeaux-style blend of 43/32/20/5 Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. It is one to lay away for seven to 10 years. However, wild boar would be a good match if you must drink it now.

A bright, refreshing, and ultra-delicious Chardonnay from Monterey, right next to the Pacific. The sun-kissed fruit is balanced by a fantastic acidity and freshness with expressions of white peach, tangerine, and pear. It has a full mouthfeel, a creamy texture with a finish that focuses on citrus and pralines and cream. A complex wine that is effortless to drink. Wonderful discovery!

Wines for Mother's Day
This excellent Pinot Noir features attractive color, impressive strength and notable complexity on the nose, along with wonderful body, balance and length on the palate.

Wines for Mother's Day
This fine Italian wine out performs its price with power and complexity on the nose, medium-full body, excellent fruit, attractive balance and elongated finish.

I can unequivocally say that Greg Brewer's wines deliver more value per dollar than any other winery I know. A Chardonnay that stuns on the nose and on the palate with notes of ripe yellow apple, fresh peach, Meyer lemon oil, matchstick, toasted salted hazelnuts, and yellow wildflowers. Round and dewy on the palate, with perfect acidity that doesn’t overpower the lovely fruit flavors and saline finish. Editors Choice and Best Buy.

Exploding with spicy, earthy notes from the glass, this Pinot Noir from Greg Brewer is a sensory delight. Red and black spiced cherry, wild strawberry, sassafras, black tea, and green olive juice notes are all present. Greg doesn’t use any new oak on his wines, but it’s never needed and what you get is the pure expression of the grape and the Sta. Rita Hills terroir. Medium tannins, high acidity, and a medium body complete the wine’s lengthy finish.

Refreshing, clean, and light on the nose with aromas of Meyer lemon, tangerine zest, dried banana, and white flower blossom this wonderful Chardonnay is made by Greg Brewer, one of my favorite winemakers. Wonderful mouthwatering acidity, a medium body, and lovely structure are all present. At a price point of $25, it’s also an insanely good value for the money and a Chardonnay you could enjoy any night of the week. Best Buy.

A yummy Syrah by winemaker Greg Brewer, that always over-delivers at the price point, this medium ruby stunner, with a pinkish rim, bursts with notes of boysenberry, blueberry compote, wet pine needles, black olive, and ground pepper. It’s leaner on the palate than on the nose and produces a very balanced, saline, and earthy finish. Tannins are a bit elevated so giving this a year or two in the bottle to settle down will be richly rewarded.

Sip Sunny Sauvignon Blanc This Earth Day Weekend
La Crema Sauvignon Blanc from sustainably grown fruit from vineyards throughout Sonoma County reveals ripe tropical notes thanks to the warm climate the fruit is coming from, including Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley (also known for producing robust Zinfandel and hearty Bordeaux varietal wines). As the wine opens layers of guava and mango emerge, melding harmoniously with crushed stone, soft green herbs like tarragon and mint, and earthy minerality.

A ripe and acceptably fresh blend is composed by notes of plum, red and dark pinot fruit and a pretty floral whiff. The rich, supple and very forward middle weight flavors offer reasonable depth on the bitter pit fruit-inflected finish where a touch of warmth slowly emerges. This is attractive in its fashion though it lacks a bit of verve, particularly on the back end.

Purple fruit, such as ripe plums and white peaches with flowers. Medium to full body with lots of perfumed flavors and a savory finish. Powdery tannins provide roundness and beauty. Long finish. Tight at the end. Needs two or three years to soften and open.

The fruit comes through wonderfully on the nose, from raspberries to light, ripe strawberries. Earth and black mushrooms, too. Full-bodied with a very attractive texture and focused sensibility. Silky tannins blend in nicely. Drink or hold.

Bright floral and black-cherry aromas with some ripe strawberry. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a fine, linear finish. Tensioned and real. Lovely ripeness of fruit with a polished texture. Gorgeous now, but will age beautifully, too.

A layered Champagne that shows length and focus, with a creamy texture and very fine bubbles. Juicy, lightly chalky and long. Just a hint of phenolics that keeps it framed and attentive. 7.5 years on the less. Seriously dry at the finish. Best sparkling wine from Oregon? Drink or hold.

Strawberries and black cherries with stones and flowers. Medium body, firm and round tannins and a stone and mineral aftertaste to the fruit. Tight at the end. Drink after 2024.

Perfumed and fresh with sliced peaches and hints of white flowers. Medium to full body with a creamy texture. Tart and energetic at the end. 3 years on the less. 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir. Tight and delicious. Drink now.