Reductive red fruit, cedar and oak combine around an intensely grippy and powerful midpalate in this appellation wine. Nuanced elements of cherry, currant and cassis whisper within the layers of tobacco, tomato leaf and fine structure.

A supple and sultry red wine that is brimming in baking spice and tannin, this small-production wine shows the appellation’s funk and earthiness to great effect. Tree bark, tea and a bit of barnyard work well within a generously full-bodied context of concentration and dense red fruit.

Earthy and herbal in cedar, pencil shaving and sage, this wine has thick, firm tannin structure and an enduring elegance. Full bodied, it holds its power in check, with rich layers of cigar and dark chocolate leading to a seamless finish.

Rounded, with substantial, elongated tannin, this is a richly layered, concentrated wine that expertly showcases the appellation in its embrace of dark blue and black fruit, cola, tea and baking spice.

Very delicate on the nose, this rosé begins with clean and tight aromas of rose petal and red apple. There’s a line of chalk to the palate, where wet stone, pluot and light pomegranate flavors align.

From the Barham Vineyard, this bottling begins with deep and dark aromas of black currant, blackberry and purple flowers on the nose. The palate is loaded with candied purple fruit and flowers, cut by a line of intranet acidity and rounded with a bit of smoke.

Light lemon aromas meet with warm, toasty oak tones on the comfortingly familiar nose of this bottling. Salted lemon-wedge, pineapple and cantaloupe flavors arise on the sip, which lends into more sea salt and nuts on the finish.

Pinot Noir Retrospective 2007-2008Here is further evidence that rich and lusty Pinot Noir, when made well, can age impressively. Even with a bit of a cedary, woodsy note in the aromas, the wine is still very forward and nicely fruity for its age. It is supple and full in body with that extra bit of concentration typically seen in the best of this label. It is wine that you can sink your teeth into, and what it lacks in silky, velvety texture is more than made up for by its ability to be a splendid mate to well-seasoned roasts and chops.90 points at first review.

This deep maroon colored Merlot from Matanzas Creek is very good. It opens with a black cherry bouquet with hints of Canada mints. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, slightly acidic, round, and easy to drink. The flavor profile is a cherry and juicy black plum blend with notes of cedar and bergamot. I also detected hints of minerality, clove, and strawberry licorice. The finish is dry, and its dusty tannins linger and last for a very long time. I would pair this Merlot with beef tenderloin lollipops.

Made from old-vine grapes grown at Jolene's and Fanucchi vineyards this wine was then fortified with Germain-Robin brandy. Viscous, unctuous and softly textured, it tastes of blackberry cobbler, nutmeg, gingerbread and Christmas spice.

With an oak-driven beginning, this white shows nicely balanced layers of salty lemon rind, honeycomb and fig, with a complement of acidity.

Wet gravel, crushed stone, lime candy and petrol aromas make for complex nose on this refreshing wine. The wine clings to the palate at first, then opens to green-apple and Key lime flavors, with a brush of bay leaf.

Sharp aromas of lemon wedge and wet stone are warmed up by hints of nectarine and pear on the nose of this bottling. It lands boldly on the palate, offering melon, bright citrus and sea-salt flavors, as wood and stone elements linger on the finish.

Clean lines of hot sandstone, lemon butter and paraffin show on the nose of this bottling. Baked nectarine, guava, pineapple and a hint of brioche come through on the palate, which is mellow in texture.

Struck stone aromas lead into aromas of dried honeydew melon on the nose of this bottling. The palate kicks into gear with a slightly sour grape-fruit flavor, and smashed almond richness rises on the finish.

Very smooth and mouthfilling, this medium-bodied wine offers watermelon and light herb aromas followed by rather rich plum and peach flavors.

Though its sweet and slightly honeyed nose brings expectations of sweeter, light-hearted flavors to come, this very clean, medium-bodied Pinot Gris does not quite follow the predicted path, and, while gently juicy, it is not at all sugary in tone and tastes of well-defined peach-like fruit with a barely perceptible sprinkling of spice. A likeable enough sipper on its own, it is a well-balanced offering that will do happy service in washing down cracked crab as well as a wide variety of sushi.

If a comfortably balanced, slightly sweet, fruit-driven Riesling is what the menu or moment commends, this clean, user-friendly effort will handily fill the bill. It may not claim a great deal of complexity, but its affable mix of sweet limes and honeysuckle makes it a pleasure to sip on its own or with food, and, not the least of its appeals are its affordability and wide availability.

This full-bodied wine is rich in texture and tastes more figgy and minerally than fruity, as subtle herb and broth flavors reveal some density on the palate.

There is a candied-lemon quality to the nose of this one that presages sweeter flavors to come, but the wine turns out to be quite dry and slightly more stony than it is forthrightly fruity in taste, and it exhibits a relatively firmer table-wine structure that directs it away from nonchalant quaffing and more to service with simple seafood recipes.

For a lesson in indulgence, it would be remiss of us not to try an American wine. The 2017 Brewer Clifton Sta Rita Hills has it all. If you want hedonistic pleasure from your wine, this is the bottle you should take home. It’s generous on the palate, with lashings of sun-soaked tropical fruit, a delicate nuttiness and wafts of baked brioche. All these flavours come through on the palate, but there is plenty of refreshing acidity which keeps you grounded as your taste buds are delighted.

Bargain BordeauxThe second wine of the noted Château Lassègue in Saint-Émilion, this red offers elegant restraint along with its ripe red fruit and baking spice notes.

Such attractive red-floral, stone and bracken aromas here with a red-plum and redcurrant edge, as well as pink grapefruit, blood orange and white pepper. The palate has a sleek and granular feel with a finely detailed style of tannin and a dried red-berry and cherry core. Leaf-like layers of tannin. Exquisite. Drink over the next eight years. Screw cap.

Hickinbotham's 2019 The Peake Cabernet Shiraz is a 56-44 blend of the two varieties, aged in around 50% new French oak. Blended from selected barrels, it ratchets up the intensity even further than the Trueman Cab or Brooks Road Shiraz, while also adding additional layers of complexity. The herbal notes of the Cab are there but toned down, the cassis and blackberry notes of the two varieties complement each other, and the vanilla and cedar shadings are beautifully integrated into the wine. Full-bodied, concentrated and richly textured, it's expansive yet structured and long and elegant on the finish. Give it another couple of years in the cellar and drink it over the next two decades.