Rich cabernet aromas of blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate lock in an embrace with shiraz's red berry and plum flavours. Fine tannins, balanced acidity and an incredibly long finish are hallmark characters of the historic 1850 Clarendon Vineyard.

Hawks Butte shows blackberry, cherry bouquet with hints of licorice, black pepper and blueberry. On the round balanced palate proper tannin/acidity supports plum, blueberry, cigar box and cumin flavors through a long clean finish. I was surprised at its flavors and long finish due a medium purple color which suggested a less complex wine.

Inviting notes of warm brioche, honeysuckle and candied orange peel are layered with flavors of green fig, melon and salted almond in this elegant white. Bright acidity is lightly mouthwatering and refreshing throughout, defining the lush and lingering, spiced finish.

Rich and toasty, a medium-bodied white, with a lush range of glazed apple, smoky grilled brioche, lemon curd and candied ginger notes reined in by sleek, well-knit acidity. The lasting finish is lightly mouthwatering, with pretty lime blossom and flint notes. Drink now through 2026.

Fine-textured, with good lift to the luscious pear tart and apple pastry flavors. Plenty of toast notes midpalate lead to a long, spicy finish, with tropical fruit and buttery nuances. Drink now through 2025.

A bold yellow color. Deep and rich aromas of honey, cream, mixed nuts, almond and crumb cake, and sea salt, over top of juicy lemon and yellow apples. The palate shows a deep texture but moderating acidity. Lemon curd and pear butter fruit mixes with nuances of peanut shell, salted pecans and honey. But these vibes of chalk, flint, minerals and dried white flowers bring these elevated, airy vibes to the richness. Lovely stuff, complex but vibrant, their first release of this wine and it is on point. Sourced from two mountain vineyards, their estate Fijnbosch Vineyard and its neighbor, Nooitgedacht.

Firmly structured, with a spicy mix of ripe apple, pear and peach pastry flavors that are backed by lively acidity. Minerally midpalate, with notes of sage cream on the rich finish. Drink now through 2024.

Refined and open-textured, with a buttery and toasty allure to the airy blend of white fruit and spice flavors. The juicy finish has accents of ripe citrus.

A graceful white, offering a lithe spine of acidity, layered with a creamy mix of nectarine, Golden Delicious apple, elderflower and ground ginger. Rich hints of toasted almond and fleur de sel emerge on the finish. Drink now through 2025.

A juicy style, with accents of dried savory herbs to the apple and green pear flavors. Shows hints of white currant on the ripe, spicy finish. Drink now through 2024.

Fresh, with a savory snap to the green apple, mineral and Asian pear flavors. Custardy accents midpalate lead to a well-spiced finish.

Green apple and dried pear flavors show notes of savory richness, with juicy minerality on the direct and lively finish. Drink now through 2023.

Juicy and toasty, with notes of ripeness to the baked apple and dried apricot flavors, layered with plenty of cooking spice accents.

Wine of the Day: Nielson Pinot NoirOver five decades ago Uriel Nielson saw the cool terrain of Santa Barbara and said, I can grow grapes here. I am sure some thought he was crazy because at the time the region was considered too cool to grow grapes, but Nielson saw it as the ideal place to grow two key varieties that thrive in cool temperatures, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Today the Nielson wines shine as approachable, varietally correct examples of these two loved varieties thanks to the influence of the Pacific Ocean that benefits from evening fog to keep grapes cool, and then an early fog burnoff in the morning allowing sunshine-filled days to ripen delicate fruit. Nielson Pinot Noir layers ripe black cherry, blackberry, and cherry with black tea, fragrant violets and roses, and a touch of earthiness. The finish is toasty with caramel and spice notes, enhanced by twelve months of French oak aging. #Cheers

Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec, the 2018 La Joie displays an opaque purple-black color, slowly unfurling to offer profound notes of crème de cassis, preserved plums and boysenberries, with hints of rare beef, pencil lead, black olives and lilacs, plus touches offer tile loam and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate has jaw-dropping elegance and poise, featuring a solid backbone of firm, very fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the intense mineral-laced black fruit layers, finishing long with loads of savory and floral sparks. Simply breathtaking!

Composed of 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec, the 2018 Le Désir was aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is a little closed to begin, soon unfurling to offer glimpses at notes of kirsch, raspberry preserves and mulberry scents, plus hints of cedar chest, crushed rocks, bay leaves, Sichuan pepper and lavender with a waft of sandalwood. The medium to full-bodied palate has tons of freshness to support the melange of preserved red and black fruits, textured by grainy tannins, finishing with a lingering peppery kick. It may require just a little more time to come around than the La Joie and La Muse, and then I suspect this beauty is going to reward the patient.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Far Coast is fabulous. It is also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Hartford. Inky and so expressive, but not at all overdone, the Far Coast dazzles from start to finish. Red/purplish berry fruit, licorice, espresso and cinnamon all flesh out over time, and yet it is the wine's balance that is so compelling. What a wine.

The Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard is once again the most compelling of the Zinfandels in 2019. Perhaps it is that dollop of Petite Sirah in the blend that gives the wine its energy. Dense and explosive in feel, the Fanucchi-Wood Road is exquisite right from the first taste. The purity of the flavors is simply striking. Blood orange, spice and floral accents leave the closing shades of nuance.

The Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard, made from a blend of heritage clones, is once again superb in 2018. The vines planted in 1975 yield a Pinot endowed with tremendous aromatic presence and sheer pedigree. Bright red-toned fruit, cinnamon and sweet floral notes linger on the persistent finish. The Arrendell Pinot is arguably Hartford's flagship wine. The 2018 is a fine edition.

The 2018 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard is a tremendous wine. It offers a stunning combination of textural richness, vibrancy and energy. All the best elements of the Stonestreet house style come through in a Chardonnay that is incredibly distinctive.

The 2018 Chardonnay Gold Run is an incredibly distinctive wine. Apricot, exotic flowers, butter and passionfruit all flesh out in an unctuous, textured Chardonnay long on class. This is an especially overt, tropical style, and there is terrific freshness as well. These vines planted in 1982 yield a Chardonnay of notable complexity.

The 2019 Zinfandel Hartford Vineyard emerges from vines planted in 1906. A heady, exuberant wine, the Hartford Zinfandel builds nicely in the glass as sweet floral and spice notes emerge to complement dark-fleshed berry fruit. This creamy, layered Zinfandel is pure sensuality.

A new wine in this range, emerges from a site in Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak planted a handful of years ago. Dark and brooding in power, the 2018 has so much to offer. Huge mountain tannins enshroud a core of black cherry, scorched earth, licorice, menthol and chocolate. I won't be surprised if the Poet's Peak Cabernet quickly becomes a flagship wine in this range, as it is truly fabulous.

The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Aurora Point is gorgeous. Creamy, ample and wonderfully open-knit, the 2018 is super-expressive. Dried pear, sage, mint, anise and wild flowers all meld together in a beautifully textured Sauvignon Blanc. Lees stirring brings out striking layers of nuance and dimension.