The 2018 Pinot Noir Pratt Vineyard-Sexton Road is once again one of the most distinctive wines in the range. Sage, cedar, tobacco and dried flowers give the 2018 its strong savory and floral scents. Deep dark fruit fills out the layers nicely. Sweet pipe tobacco, mint and dried flowers add aromatic signature.

The 2017 Desvelado is fabulous. Inky dark blue/purplish berry fruit race out of the glass, followed by a whole range of floral and spiced notes that develop over time. This mid-weight, Malbec-based red from Matanzas Creek is a knockout.

The 2018 Chardonnay (Bennett Valley) emerges from blocks on the Matanzas Creek property. It balances fruit depth, aromatics, freshness and nuance, all in an understated style that is incredibly appealing. Time in the glass brings out layers of creaminess and texture. Bright and saline through to the finish, the 2018 captures the essence of this site and Bennett Valley more generally.

The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Journey is the top wine in the Matanzas Creek-Journey range. Classy, elegant and polished, the 2018 marries varietal character with energy in a gracious mid-weight style that is hugely appealing. Lemon peel, sage, mint and bright saline notes build into the intense, salivating finish.

Capture's 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Pine Mountain is stellar. Rich, ample and so resonant, the 2019 exudes character from the very first taste. Apricot, peach, melon, sage and dried flowers build in a gorgeous Sauvignon full of mountain character. The 2019 was aged in a combination of puncheon, stainless steel and concrete. I would give it 6-12 months in bottle, as it is a serious wine.

Red and blackcurrants, gravelly earth, tobacco, and assorted spice notes all emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall Vineyard, and this rich, powerful 2017 has medium to full body, rich, chewy, substantial tannins, good overall balance, and a great finish. It shows more purity and elegance with time in the glass, yet it's still going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and should have an easy two decades of overall longevity.

Chamomile, mulled lemons, sappy herbs, and toast are just some of the nuances in the 2019 Chardonnay Gravel Bench Vineyard, a rich, textured, yet concentrated, chalky Chardonnay that stays nicely compact and focused on the palate. It has solid structure and will keep for 7-8 years.

More chamomile, poached pear, honeyed lemon, and ample spice notes emerge from the 2019 Chardonnay Broken Road Vineyard, another ripe, rich, medium to full-bodied Chardonnay with loads to love. It's beautifully done, textured, and opulent, and ideal for drinking over the coming 4-6 years or so.

Another Anderson Valley release, the 2018 Pinot Noir Afleet Estate Vineyard has plenty of spicy, red cherry and mulberry-styled fruits as well as dried flowers, tea, and loamy earth styled nuances. I love its elegance. Medium-bodied, with a light, silky texture, light tannins, and outstanding length, it's beautifully done and will shine on the dinner table over the coming decade or more.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Jolie Estate Vineyard is more perfumed and angular, with lots of Bing cherry and dried strawberry fruits to go with white flowers, chalky minerality, and rose petal-like aromas and flavors. It's another ethereal, seamless, medium-bodied beauty that shines for its complexity, elegance, and purity.

Lots of red and black plums, briary herbs, cigar wrapper, and candied violet notes emerge from the 2019 Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard, a juicy, medium to full-bodied wonderfully pure Zinfandel that's going to continue to offer incredible pleasure over the coming 5-7 years.

The 2019 Zinfandel Russian River Valley is a gem and certainly a great candidate for those looking for a great Zinfandel, or those interested in the style and quality of this great estate. Classic red and blue fruits, sandalwood, cigar wrapper, and candied violets dominate the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with considerable structure, good purity, and a great finish. It will have 8-10 years of prime drinking.

Readers looking for an incredibly charming, delicious Pinot Noir that’s going to deliver the goods should check out the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley from Hartford Court. Revealing a translucent ruby/plum color, it has a wonderful nose of spiced red and black fruits, candied violets, orange blossom, and incense. Medium-bodied on the palate, it’s wonderfully balanced, with soft, supple tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. Drink this beauty any time over the coming 5-6 years.

Coming from Carneros, the 2018 Pinot Noir Sevens Bench Vineyard has a spicy, black cherry, gamey style that offers medium to full-bodied richness, a round, beautifully textured mouthfeel, supple tannins, and outstanding length. It's already complex and hard to resist, yet it firms up nicely with time in the glass, and I suspect it has a solid 8-10 years of longevity ahead of it.

More tropical fruits and exotic, honeyed flower notes emerge from the 2018 Chardonnay Jennifer's, a medium to full-bodied, textured, rich, and fleshy Chardonnay that has a touch of botrytis character, yet is clean, dry, and lengthy on the finish.

The 2017 Armoniza is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 14% Malbec, all from Knights Valley. The flavors are bold and punchy in this super-expressive, vibrant red. I would cellar the 2017 for at least a few years, as the acids are bright while the tannins are searing. There is plenty of fruit behind that, but it needs time to emerge.

Checking in as a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the dense purple-hued 2017 Red Wine gives up classic 2017 savory red and black fruits as well as lots of chalky minerality, notes of lead pencil, graphite, and tobacco, full-bodied richness and depth, and building yet polished tannins. This gorgeous 2017 has some charm today yet will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and have two decades of overall longevity.

The 2019 Zinfandel Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard is a darker, slightly more earthy release that has darker berry and blue fruits to go with medium to full body, a structured, tannic mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and a big finish. It's going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age yet keep nicely through 2031 if stored correctly.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Barbieri Vineyard, from a site on Olivet Road, is bright and perfumed, with lovely red berry character pushed front and center. This silky, mid-weight Pinot captures the exuberance of the Russian River, but in a refined style that avoids bombastic intensity. Hints of orange peel, spice and licorice linger. A dollop of whole clusters adds aromatic nuance without dominating the balance.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Perry Ranch Vineyard, from a site in Green Valley, is quite lifted and aromatically expressive. Sweet dried cherry, mint, tobacco and an array of floral and savory nuances open in the glass. Silky tannins give this gracious Pinot tons of charm.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard is fabulous. Dark, rich and expansive, the 2018 has tremendous character and tons of nuance. Black cherry, lavender, spice, menthol and chocolate all infuse the big, powerful tannins that give the 2018 a ton of brooding intensity that needs time to soften. This is built for the cellar.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Harstaadt Vineyard is fabulous. Bright and effusive, with striking aromatic presence, the 2018 hits all the right notes. Crushed flowers, red berry fruit, spice, cedar and blood orange infuse the 2018 with remarkable depth. Silky and exceptionally balanced, the 2018 is positively stellar. It is one of the best wines in this range.

The 2018 Chardonnay Cougar Ridge Vineyard is marked by strong floral accents and pretty white orchard fruit. Beautifully lifted and perfumed, the 2018 is a model of grace. It is such a distinctive wine with plenty of cooler-climate inflections to match its understated personality.

The 2018 Chardonnay (Alexander Valley) is laced with a range of tropical, buttery and exotic floral notes that play off the naturally textured fruit these stressed hillside sites produce. Open-knit and sensual, the 2018 Chardonnay is ready to go. Readers who enjoy more overt Chardonnays will adore the Alexander Valley bottling from Matanzas Creek.

The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (Knights Valley) is wonderfully complex and nuanced. Layered and bright, the 2019 has terrific depth as well as energy. White flowers, mint, sage and citrus peel add striking shades of character. The Knights Valley has a bit of skin contact, which adds to its phenolic feel.