The 2021 Chardonnay 9 Barrel is a selection of the top nine barrels from the vintage, which for this wine included 20% each from the Saralee's and Kelli Ann vineyards, 10% from Bloomfield, and the rest from growers. It was raised for 15 months in 34% new French oak and pours a golden yellow hue. In the glass, it delivers a compact layered profile, offering aromas of melon rind, white flowers, a hint of flinty wet stone, almond, and pear. Full-bodied, it has lovely finesse and a weightless feel, with mouthwatering freshness throughout. It has a lovely energy that comes through this more decadent style and has a light toasty feel on the finish. Drink 2025-2032.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Nine Barrel saw 15 months in 50% new French oak, and comes from the vineyards of Barbieri, Bellflower, Piner, Saralee's, and Grower. It pours a rich magenta/ruby color and boasts more savory and brooding notes of cedar, black cherries, sappy earth, and black truffle. Medium to full-bodied, it has ripe structure, with ripe, present tannins, a grounding feel, and good acidity to keep it fresh and structured enough to last over the next 10 years.

A deeper magenta/ruby color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Fog Veil comes from the three neighboring vineyards of Barbieri, Bellflower, and Piner. One of the warmer areas La Crema picks from, the wine takes on deeper aromatic notes of black cherries, turned earth, and root beer spice, with a hint of blue fruit shing through. Leaning toward fullbodied in terms of its expansive feel, it has ripe tannins, good richness throughout, and a structured, ripe feel. It’s a richer style to enjoy over the next 6-8 years.

A bright red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Cloud Landing comes from the top of the knoll of this vineyard, which is located in the Petaluma Gap, with a lot of fog and wind influence as well as clay-heavy soils. The wine reveals spicy aromas and a touch more oak in its profile, with a lifted feel to its notes of cinnamon, pine, red berries, and dark minerals. Medium-bodied, it has a juicy and floral profile on the palate, with an approachable feel, although it has fine tannins and good freshness of acidity. It’s going to drink well over the next 8-10 years

From a site on Olivet Lane, the ruby red 2022 Zinfandel Jolene's Vineyard is 100% Zinfandel. It’s expressive on the nose, with notes of cracked pepper, wild berries, forest herbs, floral perfume, and mocha. Full-bodied, it fills the palate with a richer, heartier texture and a more earth-noted finish, with lasting notes of truffle. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.

The magenta/purple 2022 Zinfandel Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard has the addition of some Petite Sirah and displays more baked fruit notes in the glass, including notes of baked plum, red fruit, sappy herbs, pine, and cedar. Full-bodied, it fills the palate and has a hearty, chewy tannin structure. Deep and brooding, it’s going to need time to soften a bit. Offering a warming finish with notes of Bourbon spice, this is a winter weight wine. Drink 2025-2035.

The 2022 Chardonnay Dupratt Vineyard comes from vines planted in the early 1980s on a high elevation surrounded by forest and was raised in 12 months in 15% new French oak. It pours a bright medium yellow/straw color and offers notes of honeyed citrus, poached pear, and baking spice. Medium to full-bodied, it has rounded, rich concentration, with an elegant feel on the palate and a rather long finish that slowly tapers and lifts. A very pretty wine, it’s going to have a wide window for enjoyment over the next 6-8 years

A medium red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley comes from the Maggie Hawk
and Edmeades vineyards and spent 14 months in 10% new French oak. It delivers more
savory and woodsy aromas, with notes of cranberry, orange peel, forest herbs, and spice.
Medium-bodied, it has a lovely linear feel, with fine tannins and a clean finish. Elegant
and weightless, it’s going to improve if given a couple years to open. Drink 2025-2037.

The 2022 Chardonnay Stone Cote Vineyard comes from the Durell Vineyard and sports a youthful, ripe golden yellow hue. It’s ripe and generous on the nose, with notes of salted pineapple, marzipan, honeyed citrus, fresh peach, and a light hint of reduction. Opulent in texture and structure, it’s layered on the palate, with generous sunny fruit and a juicy feel, as well as a long finish, a bit of baking spice, and a tapered brightness. This decadent white will drink well over the next 5-7 years.

Pouring a bright yellow/golden hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Sevens Bench Vineyard comes from Carneros, where it sees a lot of cool winds from the bay. It takes on floral aromatics of jasmine, peppery spice, a hint of wet stone reduction, and fresh melon. Medium to fullbodied, it expands on the palate, with a sunny feel and a bit of pithy, ripe texture on the finish. It’s approachable now and should well over the next 5-7 years.

The deep red 2022 Pinot Noir Truly Rita comes from the more southerly area of Santa Barbara and is ripe with aromas of black cherries, wild herbs, gravelly earth, and toasted spices. Medium-bodied, it has a plush, mineral-rich texture, with light, gamey richness, ripe tannins, and a clean finish. Drink it over the next 6-8 years.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Seven's Bench is medium red/ruby hue and offers a riper feel, with savory spices and notes of sanguine iron-rich earth, dried cherries, and menthol. The palate is ripe and inviting, with a plush texture that remains medium-bodied. It has more modest acidity and offers more immediacy in the range. Drink over the next 5-7 years.

Pouring a deeper ruby/magenta color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is ripe and layered in the glass, with a generous, inviting, pure perfume of black cherries, cola, sweet baking spice, and forest floor. Medium-bodied, it has a lot of charm and a good, weightless feel, with fine tannins and a clean finish. I love that it never feels heavy but is 100% Russian River Valley in character. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. This is a lot of wine for the value

A fresh, racy style, with pure damson plum and hibiscus notes driving through atop mouthwatering acidity, while a light black tea accent fills in subtly on the finish. Drink now through 2031. 357 cases made.

Flush with mulberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit notes, this red is backed by melted licorice
and sweet spice accents on the caressing, flattering finish, which is sneakily long thanks to the
well-buried acidity. For the fruit-loving crowd. Drink now through 2033. 1,353 cases made.

Sourced from a single 2ha block of Sangiovese, this 2021 Strada al Sasso has a gorgeous nose of fleshy, balsamic cherries which leads into an equally forward and fleshy palate of succulent, sapid red and black fruits. Fine, chalky tannins underline this vibrancy, while herbal and balsamic notes provide lift. Salinity emerges on the mid-palate and extends the fragrant dried cherry and herb finish. It's focused and vertical despite the opulence and fleshiness on display, and remains in balance even with its 15% alcohol.

This Chardonnay comes from a highaltitude single vineyard in Stellenbosch. The nose reveals lime, melon and vanilla cream and leads to a concentrated, yet balanced palate. It shows depth and tension through notes of citrus fruit, turmeric and vanilla bean, along with vigorous acidity. It has a soft mouthfeel and a delightful finish.

This wine is lively, vibrant with aromas of black plums, black cherry, dried herbs, violets, and earth on the nose. The flavors on the palate are red plum, Bing cherry, clove, interwoven with allspice, spiced vanilla cream, orange zest and finishing dry. Hold or Drink until 2030

This wine is bright, zesty, with aromas of baked Red skinned apple, raspberry, Lemon cream, dried herbs, and mineral on the nose. The flavors on the palate are pineapple, plum, Key lime cream layered with sedimentary rock, dried herbs and a long mouthwatering finish. This wine has no skin contact which is why is considered a White Pinot Noir. Pair with Sunshine and Friends. 

This brand’s current winemaker, Matt Revelette, is embracing and elevating the ripe yet fresh style mapped out by Adam Lee when he founded Siduri decades ago. This appellation cuvée pairs baked black cherry, chai and flower-petal aromas on the nose with a palate that’s fruity, spicy and chalky all at once. Editors’ Choice.

This is generous in feel, with a plump edge to its cherry and damson plum fruit compote notes, offering hints of tobacco, warm earth and singed herbs that stay in the background. The light-handed toast lets everything knit easily through the finish. Drink now through 2033.

Offers a bright, floral-tinged mix of pomegranate, cherry and raspberry fruit, with dried violet and iris hints racing along the edges. A subtle sandalwood thread curls around and knits up the finish. Drink now through 2032. —J.M.

Steeped boysenberry and mulberry fruit is succulent and focused in this vivid and fresh version, while light notes of anise, hibiscus and singed black tea fill in through the finish. Drink now through 2032. —J.M.

In reviewing the previous vintage, the 2020 Chardonnay Silene has certainly earned its "+" rating. Showing more oak and baking spices with waxy melons, plus apples and lemons, the wine is balanced, fresh and complex, with nutmeg notes and graham cracker tones and a long, lingering finish. 19,800 bottles were produced.