Top Ten: California Mt. Brave Vineyard sits high atop Mt. Veeder at 1,400 to 1,800 feet. The estate, on the western flank of Napa Valley, is named for the native Wappos who first called it home. Mt. Veeder has been planted to wine grapes since the early 1860s while Mt. Brave Vineyard dates back to 1841—before the Gold Rush and the Civil War. The site is all about high elevation and thin, rocky soils that present many winegrowing challenges. Four cabernet clones (191, 4, 8, and 337) and three rootstocks (3309C, 101-14, and 1103P) neutralise some of the issues in what is a slow moving, long, cool growing season above the fog line. The wine fermented in stainless steel and goes through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels (80 percent new). After some 19 months of barrel ageing it is bottled without fining or filtration. The season was perfect, yielding flavourful floral, blueberry notes with stony mineral whiffs. The palate is firm with rich, dense tannins, black raspberry/blackberry fruit and dried herbs. A real mountain wine that will need time. The blend is 82/7/6.5/4.5 cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec and cabernet franc. Cellar for a decade or two.

Mt. Brave Vineyard sits high atop Mt. Veeder at 1,400 to 1,800 feet. The estate, on the western flank of Napa Valley, is named for the native Wappos who first called it home. Mt. Veeder has been planted to wine grapes since the early 1860s while Mt. Brave Vineyard dates back to 1841—before the Gold Rush and the Civil War. The site is all about high elevation and thin, rocky soils that present many winegrowing challenges. Four cabernet clones (191, 4, 8, and 337) and three rootstocks (3309C, 101-14, and 1103P) neutralise some of the issues in what is a slow moving, long, cool growing season above the fog line. The wine fermented in stainless steel and goes through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels (80 percent new). After some 19 months of barrel ageing it is bottled without fining or filtration. The season was perfect, yielding flavourful floral, blueberry notes with stony mineral whiffs. The palate is firm with rich, dense tannins, black raspberry/blackberry fruit and dried herbs. A real mountain wine that will need time. The blend is 82/7/6.5/4.5 cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec and cabernet franc. Cellar for a decade or two.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is gorgeous. Blueberry, blackberry, cloves, menthol, spices and licorice are all woven together in a Cabernet Sauvignon that is relatively soft and supple for a mountain wine. Sweet perfumed notes flesh out on a highly expressive finish laced with violets, jasmine and lavender. Dollops of Merlot and Cabernet Franc round out the blend. This is an absolutely beautiful bottle of wine.

Fantastically concentrated with blackberry, cassis and dark chocolate flavors that are wrapped into massive tannins, this impressive Cab defines Mount Veeder’s early deliciousness coupled with ageability. It’s just beginning to soften and show what it can do. It’s still a tight, hard young wine whose elegance will allow it to evolve over the next 8–12 years.

Deep ruby color; spicy berry nose; smooth and dense with black raspberry, cassis and plum; lush and ripe, balanced and rich with vanilla and sweet oak; bright and long.

Amazingly rich and voluptuous, this shows none of the rustic edges that can sometimes plague Malbec. It's concentrated in blackberry jam and black currant flavors, with a jacket of smoky oak. The alcohol is high, but not overbearing. This really asserts itself with the customary power and authority of a great Mount Veeder red. Wonderful now, but should continue to develop for at least 10-15 years.

Made from 100% Malbec sourced from Mount Veeder at the old Chateau Potelle vineyard, this is arguably one of the best Malbecs from California ever. It's dark in color, dense in texture and full bodied, offering bone-dry blackberry flavors that are wrapped with hard tannins. Nowhere near ready to drink now, although consuming it with a steak will help mellow it. Hold until 2015, at least.

This estate-grown syrah is vibrant from the color- a beautiful violet edge to black - right through to the expressive finish - red edges to black fruit, scents of flint, orange zest, rosewater. The complex layers form an aromatic density, all built on a bright berry and deeper, beefier flavor. Decant a bottle for lamb with couscous and Provencal herbs.

The 2017s From Sonoma The 2016 Merlot Keyes Vineyard from Howell Mountain is another rocking effort that has loads to love. Ripe blackcurrants, black cherries, bay leaf, cedar, and scorched earth all flow from this medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced Merlot. Made from 100% Merlot brought up in 40% new French oak, it has ample upfront appeal, yet I suspect it will cruise for 10-15 years in cool cellars.

A younger, more angular version of Matanzas Creek’s splendid 2012 version, the 2015 has less complexity and fewer savory notes at this stage. The tannins are a hint more apparent and perhaps a touch aggressive, yet the balance is still wonderful. With air, earthy notes and a delightful hint of funkiness comes out, indicating to me that this wine will develop beautifully. The family resemblance is apparent. If your budget allows it, buy them both — the 2012 for this year’s roasted leg of lamb and the 2015 for one in a few years.

The 2015 Journey Red is a significant step up (in price as well) and checks in as 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 46% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied beauty gives up loads of black cherry fruits, notes of tobacco, bay leaf, and cedar, ultra-fine tannin, and an elegant, seamless style on the palate. It has loads of character and should be capable of drinking well for a decade.

Dense and rich with ripe plum, cassis and toasty vanilla oak; velvety, intense and balanced with spice, hints of mint and chocolate; seamless and complete, long and exceptional. 88.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.7% Merlot, 4.6% Malbec, 0.1% Petit Verdot.

The '01 Matanzas merlot is intense, to say the least. We love the sophisticated, toasted, smoky oak vanilla aromas streaked with pepper, chocolate and black plum jam. It is packed full of toasted oak, coffee, chocolate, plum jam and orange peel flavours. Smooth and polished, perhaps the best merlot yet from Matanzas Creek, drinkable but you could easily cellar for five or more years.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Desvelado is a blend of roughly equal parts Malbec and Merlot, plus a drop of Petit Verdot. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, leather and cedar run through this racy, boisterous red from Matanzas Creek. Best of all, the Desvelado will drink well pretty much upon release.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Armoniza is another gorgeous red in this range from Matanzas Creek. Winemaker Marcia Torres Forno has done a fabulous job in taming the often formidable Knights Valley while retaining the savory character that makes wines from this corner of Sonoma so compelling. Cedar, licorice, pomegranate, dark cherry jam and blood orange infuse this super-expressive Cabernet Sauvignon–based red.

It's not every day that you're going to be in the mood to drop forty bucks on a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc -- or any white wine for that matter -- but if you're an appreciator of the complexities that a seriously well made white has to offer, you'll want to treat yourself to a bottle of this beautiful wine. Stone fruit, mint, white flowers, granite minerality and a touch of leaf are present in both aroma and flavor, with a ripe quality to the fruit element that doesn't overwhelm the proceedings. It finishes very crisp and mouth watering. Be careful, though -- on your way to the bottom of the bottle you'll wish you had the kind of life where you could sip this serious wine poolside while your people take care of your business for you. Well done!

One of the gems in the lineup is the 2016 Chardonnay Journey, which is a barrel selection that ended up being 38% new oak. This cuvée is made with the idea of a rich, powerful wine, and while it succeeds on that front, this beauty also has considerable purity and elegance. White flowers, buttered citrus, tangerine, honeysuckle, and hints of wood smoke give way to a deep, rich, concentrated Chardonnay that’s drinking beautifully today.

Orange peel, butter, vanillin and a host of tropical notes infuse the 2015 Chardonnay (Bennett Valley) with remarkable depth and viscosity. This is a decidedly powerful, exotic Chardonnay full of Wente Clone character. Winemaker Marcia Torres Forno got the very best out of this fruit.

Journey's 2013 Chardonnay deftly balances richness with finesse. Apricot pit, orange blossom, mint, spice, butter, brioche and smoke are woven together in a hugely appealing fabric of aromas, flavors and textures. Voluptuous and layered in the glass, the 2013 possesses striking depth, but no excess heaviness. All the elements fall into place effortlessly.

From high elevation estate vineyard blocks in the Alexander Valley, the 2012 Journey Chardonnay was 100% barrel-fermented and aged in barrel for 10 months prior to being bottled. A stunning effort, it boasts abundant notes of candy corn, white peaches, apricots and honeysuckle. Full-bodied, pure and loaded with fruit, with the wood component pushed to the background, this long, rich, authoritative Chardonnay should drink nicely for 4-5 years, possibly longer.

Expensive, yes, but very lovely and dramatic. Creamy and smooth in the mouth, this is perfectly dry, with rich notes of honey, Mandarin oranges and sweet buttered toast, girded with minerals. Shows control and precision.

Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Reserved, but pleasing aromas of forest and blackberry fruit. Both earthy and fruity, exhibiting a mid weight core of fresh black cherry and black raspberry sap clothed in gracious toasty oak. Soft and silken in the mouth with a notable juiciness and a big, even giant, persistent finish. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, that glorious finish continued to grab my attention.

Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Lovely perfume of black cherry, clove, and Wassail spices, becoming more explosive over time in the glass. The mid weight black cherry essence is pure and vivid in the mouth, carrying over through an exceptionally long finish. Even better when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. This wine has an aura that captivates me year in and year out.

14.5% alc., pH 3.73, TA 0.53, 268 cases, $66. Primary clone is Wädenswil 2A. 5-day cold soak, proprietary yeast primary fermentation, fermented in three separate lots unlike the other Maggy Hawk wines. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 49% new. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. A panoply of dark red berries, earthy flora and wood spice greet the nose. In the mouth, the delicious flavors of dark red cherry, raspberry and spice are accented with a judicious touch of oak. The satiny texture is sensual and comforting and the wine’s balance is impeccable. Like all great wines, the intensely flavorful finish refuses to dissipate. Still exceptional the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 94

Medium-deep ruby color; earthy and rich, fruit forward aromas of dark cherry; full and rich, packed with black cherry and plum flavors; good structure and balance; long finish. Full and rich Pinot with good structure for age.