This medium purple colored Shiraz opens with a black currant and sage bouquet with hints of boysenberry, faint leather, and black tea. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with nicely integrated medium acidity. The mouthfeel is smooth and well-balanced. The flavor profile is cedar influenced boysenberry and subtle stony minerality blend with notes of red plum. We also detected hints of black raspberry and menthol. The finish is dry, and its moderate tannins are nicely prolonged. The Tasting Panel would pair this Shiraz with lamb lollipops, Jiko's wild boar, or venison stew.

With its nose of cinnamon, cherry, and rose, this inviting Pinot Noir shows brilliant minerality and a light, airy mouthfeel. A touch of white pepper seasons cherry, cranberry, and red tea.

25 Bottles of Wine to Drink to Become a Wine Expert
Chardonnay is the most popular grape variety in the US. Familiarize yourself with the classic California style—ripe fruit, spicy oak notes—with a wine like the 2019 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.

First-Time Bubbly
Shane Moore, the winemaker at Gran Moraine in Oregon's Willamette Valley, describes the recently released 2014 Blanc de Blancs as "an Oregonian James Bond." The extended-tirage sparkling wine, the winery's first-ever Blanc de Blancs, is crafted from estate-grown chardonnay and integrates layers of Meyer lemon, orange peel and brioche.

Twice as Compelling
Along with the Lassègue 2018, a Saint- Émilion Grand Cru wine composed of Merlot (62 percent), Cabernet Franc (35 percent), and Cabernet Sauvignon (3 percent), Château Lassègue released its 2014 library vintage blending the same grapes in slightly different proportions—Merlot (60 percent), Cabernet Franc (30 percent), and Cabernet Sauvignon (10 percent). While the 2018 bursts with red and black fruit, the prime-drinking 2014 unites notes of licorice, spice, and subtle oak.

Twice as Compelling
Along with the Lassègue 2018, a Saint- Émilion Grand Cru wine composed of Merlot (62 percent), Cabernet Franc (35 percent), and Cabernet Sauvignon (3 percent), Château Lassègue released its 2014 library vintage blending the same grapes in slightly different proportions—Merlot (60 percent), Cabernet Franc (30 percent), and Cabernet Sauvignon (10 percent). While the 2018 bursts with red and black fruit, the prime-drinking 2014 unites notes of licorice, spice, and subtle oak.

This concentrated La Jota red—from Chris Carpenter, like the earlier-mentioned Caladan—comes from some of the oldest Cab Franc vines in Napa Valley. Aromas of pungent mountain herbs announce its Howell Mountain provenance, swirling with violets, red fruit and touches of cocoa and smoke box. The palate follows with beautifully intense raspberry and red cherry laced with sweet spices, while a significant tannin structure (Howell Mountain!) creates visceral tension through a vivid finish.

From Cardinale’s Chris Carpenter (who is also behind Lokoya, La Jota and more) comes Caladan, a project rooted in Cabernet Franc. This 2018, with 25 percent Merlot added to its 75 percent Franc, gives up an incredibly high-toned nose full of spicy rose petals, fresh mint and red berries over a layer of wet-stone minerality and pencil shavings. The palate is juicy and delicate even in its generosity. Raspberry and strawberry compote join a vein of cherry (the Merlot talking), with hints of exotic spice and bright but gentle acidity joining with extra-fine tannins to create an elegant structure.

What We Are Drinking This Week
La Crema 2019 Pinot Noir lovely colour with ruby tints and a glowing intensity at its heart. Pure beetroot and strawberry its a Burgundian on the nose with the mineral tension from the winemaking. Full and flavoursome upfront well wed fruit and oak with texture and length with a depth of flavour generosity. A yummy, good value wine.

This is a long running, outstanding oaked chard that from time to time goes on sale, when it does, grab it, my bet, it will easily keep for a couple years. This one is pale/golden in color with a nice vibrant nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some lovely buttery, rich, caramel flavors along with some apple and pear. On the medium length in finish the wine displays some nice crisp, dry, vibrant acidity and oak notes. This is a lovely, smooth, elegant oaked chard, not overdone, to my tastes … Yumm. I would give it an 88+. We paired it with pan fried scallops and it was heavenly.

Wine's for Valentine's Day
Strong but refined, this full-bodied wine has gorgeous fruit, yet excellent balance, as well as exceptional complexity, integration, refinement and finish. Plus, the name of the vineyard is fitting for Valentine’s Day.

One of the most popular California Pinot Noirs come from La Crema, part of the Jackson Family portfolio. The 2019 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is smooth, balanced and delicious, with juicy flavours of red cherry and plum accompanied by accents of cinnamon, sweet pipe tobacco, orange and a forest floor earthiness.

We made a big pot of homemade Seafood Chowder full of shrimp, scallops and crab, with a hot baguette of multigrain bread alongside. We paired this with a bottle of La Crema Pinot Gris, for another cold winter feast. Not a bad way to spend a Grey Day!
The La Crema is a little on the delicate side, with a pleasant nose of melon and stone fruit. The flavors are tangerine and lime, with a little Meyer Lemon in the mix. The finish is crisp and clean. The alcohol content is 13.5%, and Norm’s score is 88.
This would be a great choice for Chicken Piccata, and also Shrimp Salad Louie.

Penner-Ash 2018 Estate Pinot Noir has fresh berry and warm spice notes, with fine tannins and a hint of vanilla. Founded by Lynn Penner-Ash, Penner-Ash is one of Oregon's most celebrated wineries. Kate Ayers has been the current winemaker since 2018. A silky wine to sip with Baked Brie with Fig Preserves.

If you're in a French state of mind, try a velvety Bordeaux blend: Chateau Lassegue 2018. The wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. The moment you pour it into your glass, aromas of violets and dark berries are released, and on the palate, notes of cassis, black cherry, and an earthy finish. This is a smooth and luxurious wine, a fantastic pairing with Beef Wellington.

This iconic California winery has been crafting world class sauvignon blanc and merlot since 1977. Some of the states most talented winemakers have crafted their wines. This Merlot showcases the fantastic grapes that Alexander Valley in Sonoma County can grow. The wine defines what California merlot can really achieve and what level it’s capable of reaching. The talented Marcia Torres Forno crafted this “18” and aged it in French oak for 18 months.
Lovely aromatics of ripe boysenberry, spice and leather fill the glass. Succulent flavors of ripe blackberry, raspberry, anise and black pepper notes fill the mouth. Excellent structure and perfect balance followed by a lengthy finish.
Pair with: pepper steak, grilled ribeye, hearty ragu with pasta, sirloin tips in red wine reduction or end meal with some dark chocolate.

A blend of Sexton, Tarraford, Applejack, Primavera and Wombat Creek vineyards. 15% new oak (puncheons). About 10% malo. In other news, Mel Chester (ex Seppelt, Sutton Grange) is the incoming winemaker at Giant Steps, while Steve Flamsteed involves himself in special ops for GS, among other things.
Flavour, crunch, gloss, and all up a Chardonnay of fine balance and appeal. White peach, almond, a little fennel and lime, fine acidity, flinty texture, a cool cucumber thing happening, and clean, with a well-defined finish of excellent length. Very good in 2021.

Hand-picked from the usual assortment of Giant Steps vineyards across the Yarra Valley.
Red fruit, spice, a little pepper, something of a blood orange/Campari character too. It’s slightly sappy, red cherry and spiced strawberry, again that blood orange flavour and some savoury ‘autumnal’ character. Tannin has light emery grip, and the finish is juicy/sweet/sour and slightly bitter, offering solid length. Good drink. Better again with a little more time in bottle.

Valentine’s Gift Guide 2022
This Pinot Noir can be described as graceful, layered, and bold. Aromas of boysenberry, cherry, and sweet tobacco are followed by flavors of raspberry, blackberry, and cherry. Perfect for celebrating another year with your lover.

Valentine’s Gift Guide 2022
Your love interest will swoon over the notes of white flowers, braeburn apple, and crushed oyster shell. Flavors of lemon meringue, wild strawberries, and fresh ginger shine through on the palate. A lively core of acidity is followed by a vibrant lingering finish.

Best Valentine’s Day Wines
The 2018 Lassègue has a deep garnet color. The bouquet shows notes of cassis and violet. The palate reveals lots of red and black fruit, and silky tannins evolving in a long, complex finish.

How to Pair Wine with Chocolate
Pairing Milk Chocolate with Wine
Milk chocolate is your safest bet when you want to enjoy a wine pairing. Its higher milk and sugar content and lower cacao make it more likely to pair well with your drink of choice. We recommend pairing a medium bodied red like a pinot noir from California or Australia. Both regions are warmer, and their wines boast beautiful ripe fruit flavors that will pair wonderfully with this medium intensity chocolate. Try the 2018 Siduri Russian River Pinot Noir.

The label is deceptively simple and bespeaks respected winemaker Chris Carpenter’s expertise with this single varietal after his work at Lokoya and Cardinale estates. Well before that he interned at Tenute Antinori in Tuscany and studied at the University of Stranieri, which I suspect gave him a notion that big red wines don’t have to be huge red wines. There are layers of aromas and spices here, proving that Merlot is not one-dimensional and merely likeable. The price tag is high but the wine deserves respect.

This bright medium yellow colored Chardonnay from Kendall Jackson opens with a under-ripe pineapple bouquet with hints of Anjou pear and lemon. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied with medium acidity. The mouthfeel is round, bright, and balanced. The flavor profile is a mild oak influenced gentle pineapple with notes of cantaloupe. I also detected hints of butterscotch and vanilla. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Chard is made in a crowd-pleasing manner. It is versatile and will pair well with many food. I would pair it with pasta carbonara.

Six Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignons — All Under $100 — You Need To Try Right Now:
Kendall-Jackson 2018 Jackson Estate Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon