The 2021 Pinot Noir Bella Vida Vineyard is alluringly broody with its scents of black cherries, black tea, earth and lavender. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated and fragrant with finely chalky tannins, mouthwatering acidity and a long, spicy finish. 319 cases produced.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Bramble Hill Vineyard is aptly named, offering aromas of dark, wild berry fruit, fennel, spice and flowers. The palate's powerful, spicy fruit is framed by chalky tannins and balanced by mouthwatering acidity, and it has a long, detailed finish. 326 cases produced.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Knudsen Vineyard is a new wine from Penner-Ash. It has intense aromas of black cherries and black tea leaves, bergamot and earth. The medium-bodied palate boasts a concentrated core of dark, fragrant fruit. It has a finely chalky frame, vibrant acidity and a long, perfumed finish. 148 cases produced.

Evolving aromas of lemon-glazed apples grow more prominent as this wine opens on the nose. The palate is quite tense in structure yet bolder in flavor, offering golden touches of lemon, yellow apple and light toast.

Silver metal in 2024 Royal Queensland Wine Awards

This smells savory, with a leesiness up front and mild grape-skin flavor that follows along a crisp coastal line. It feels shady and cool, while the orange-citrus fruit holds lasting acidity. —J.G. (270 cases)

Sumptuous but with clean lines, Hartford Court’s interpretation of the cool Radian site leads with scents of nutmeg and cinnamon, apple and pear, a kind of horchata savor and richness. Its golden-pear flavors are fresh and lively, brought to a close with rippling acidity.

Rich and creamy yet fresh, this full-bodied wine is loaded with ripe fruit and subtle oak spices backed by lively acidity. Aromas of coconut, kiwi fruit and honeydew melon, with vanilla bean nuances on the lingering finish. Drink or hold. 

Broad and rich at first sip, yet balanced to a tee. Fragrant red cherries, black cherries and spearmint lead to lively fresh fruit, minerals and appetizing chalky notes on the palate and finish. Braced by acidity, full-bodied but agile and moderate in tannins, it has the structure for further aging. Drink now or hold. 

Fresh lemons, herbs and spices on the nose. The palate delivers a focused and energetic body with vibrant acidity supporting a rounded and creamy mouthfeel. A very complex, mineral-driven and balanced chardonnay. Drink or hold. 

Incisive aromas of citrus and yellow orchard and stone fruits. Superb balance with firm acidity on a medium weight palate finishing very long with chalky minerals and lemon extract. Sourced from Adi Badenhorst's Kalmoesfontein Vineyard and fermented in oak, amphora, and concrete eggs. 13.5% alc. This label is owned by Jackson Family Wines, and the wine is made by Graham Weertz (here with the author) at a winery in Paarl. Graham offered to show me later vintages at the winery, but my time ran out before I could do so. Next year, definitely

The 2021 The Revivalist Merlot comes from a vineyard planted in 1971 and leads with brambly mintiness, cocoa and dark chocolate, raspberry and plum, aniseed and thyme. This is a classy wine. It has inflections of green, but it nails the brief Merlot characters, and the tannins in the mouth really ground the experience. I think this will age very well indeed. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

La Jota's 2021 Merlot Howell Mountain includes small proportions of Petit Verdot (5%) and Tannat (2%). Scents of mint, pine, black cherries, cedar and crushed stone mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is reasonably supple up front, then turns softly dusty on the long, elegant finish.

The 2021 Chardonnay Desiderium is the first Chardonnay from Zena Crown. It's scented of white peaches, acacia, pie crust, roasted almonds and flint. The medium-bodied palate balances satiny, mouth-coating flavors with linear acidity, and it has a long, spicy finish. It will benefit from 2-3+ years in bottle. 172 cases were made.

The 2014 Blanc de Blancs comes from a single vineyard at Gran Moraine and is the winery's current sparkling release. Half of the base wine was fermented in used barrels. It spent about five-and-a-half years en tirage and another eight months under cork and was disgorged in February of 2020. The nose offers scents of bread, almonds and orchard fruit, while the palate is more open, delivering layers of red apple, lemon and pastry. It has exceptionally creamy mousse, fresh acidity to counter its expansive flavors and a long finish laced with iodine. 152 cases were made.

The 2018 Dropstone Chardonnay was matured for 17 months in used oak and an additional four months in stainless steel. It has expressive aromas of yellow peach, clover honey, hazelnuts and citrus blossoms. The medium-bodied palate balances broad, nutty fruits with structuring, linear acidity, and it has a very long, very detailed finish.

The 2019 Dropstone Chardonnay was matured for around 20 months in oak and four months in stainless steel—winemaker Shane Moore says that the 2019s, "were super tight, super wound up, so I left them in wood for a bit longer." It has soft scents of white peach, lemon peel, cashews, elderflower and flint. The medium-bodied palate is satiny with mouthwatering acidity, saline-tinged flavors and a long, energetic finish. It will benefit from a few more years in bottle. 172 cases were made.

Displays alluring, smoldering red tea and sandalwood notes out in front of elegant details of mulled blood orange, persimmon and raspberry fruit. Savory and mulling spice echoes linger on the finish. Drink now through 2034. 220 cases made

This intense version's aromatics leap out of the glass, with notes of nutmeg and cardamom giving way to mandarin orange, peach, browned butter shortbread and lemon meringue flavors, offering vibrant, sleek acidity on

The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc also comes from the Jackson Family’s Stonestreet Estate was raised in a combination of stainless steel, new oak barriques, and neutral oak. In the glass, it pours a bright silver/straw color and is floral and tropical with an elegant feel, taking on classic, fresh aromas of grapefruit, quince, ripe peach, and chive. Medium-bodied, it has a similarly approachable feel on the palate while retaining purity and freshness. Juicy and long, with a delicately rounded feel, it’s going to hold on nicely over the coming 6-7 years.

From a higher elevation site, the 2021 Chardonnay Bear Point saw 10 months in 44% new French oak. In the glass, it pours a bright straw/silver color and is forward with notes of lemon-lime zest, wet stone, and green almond. On the palate, it’s fresh and inviting, revealing a linear feel without being austere in any way. It’s pure and long on the palate, with a hint of baking spice on the finish. Drink 2024-2030.

A ripe red color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Van Der Kamp Vineyard saw 14 months in new French oak and is woodsy with savory, almost Rhône-like spice in its notes of cracked pepper, forest herbs, incense, and black cherries. It continues to the palate with refined, coiled tannins, a nice, linear feel, and a rather long, savory finish. It has a touch of gamey richness while staying clean and is a very appealing wine that would be great paired with steak. Drink 2024-2034.

From this vineyard on Olivet Road, around the corner from Parsons, the 2022 Pinot Noir Barbieri Vineyard pours a ripe magenta ruby hue and shows a darker profile, with more savory aromas of licorice, black cherries, rosemary, and mossy earth. Medium-bodied, it expands on the palate, with broader shoulders, ripe tannins, and an earth-toned grip on the finish. It is going to show its best in another year.

Located in the Sebastopol Hills, the 2022 Pinot Noir Bloomfield Vineyard is packed with notes of resinous herbs, black raspberries, juniper spice, and toasted cedar. Mediumbodied, it offers ripe tannins and a lovely, weightless, elegant feel, with good length on the palate and notes of tea leaf on the finish. It’s going to drink well over the next 8-10 years.

A bright yellow/silver color, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Journey comes from 48% Taylor Peak, 26% Pocket Peak, and the rest from Helena Bench, and it’s expressive out of the gate. Perfumed and floral, with notes of tropical flowers, melon, guava, and candied tangerines, it’s medium-bodied, elegant, and juicy on the palate, with a juicy and rounded feel through the long finish. It’s going to drink well over the next 5-6 years.