Moving further north into Mendocino, the 2020 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Sable Mountain Vineyard has savory appeal, revealing notes of fresh pine, lemon verbena, and ripe apple. The palate is ripe with energetic tension, with white peach, pear, and baking spice. Drink 2022-2030.

Moving into more candied and confected aromatics, the 2019 Pinot Noir Marin County is noted by sweet purple flowers and candied raspberry. The palate is softly textured and very pretty in style. The florality continues through the palate and is delicate and fresh. Drink 2022-2038.

Fragrant with fresh flowers, the 2019 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard is noted by dusty, chalky earth, sun-ripened yellow apple, and chamomile. The palate is full and moves into green apple skin. Drink over the next 10 or more years. This is a very pretty style of Chardonnay.

The 2019 Chardonnay Sevens Bench Vineyard is a touch more savory on the nose, with crushed rock, light toast, and lemon verbena. The palate is fresh with salty ripe lemon and has a long finish that shows off subtle baking spice and custard. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.

The 2019 Syrah Brosseau is compact and savory on the nose with graphitic earth, Kalamata olive, and blackberry. The palate is also compact and full of meaty richness, with black plum, tobacco, and turned earth. Hold a few years and drink over the next 8-10 years.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Edmeades Vineyard moves into a darker fruit profile, with fresh-turned soil, saddle leather, cherry, and violet notes. Its profile is dark fruited but lifts off the palate despite having a fairly grippy tannin structure. The finish is crunchy with ripe strawberry and turned earth. Drink 2024-2030.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Sealift is very pretty on the nose, with notes of roses and fresh wild strawberry. The palate is fresh and floral, with wildflowers, raspberry, and herbes de Provence. With its fine tannins and medium frame, this is a very charming wine. drink 2023-2030.

The 2020 Chardonnay Brosseau Chalone is more savory with white button mushrooms, dried herbs, and pear. The palate is full of tension, followed by mineral nerve and acid drive on the finish. A gastronomic expression, it will be wonderful to see this develop over the next 15 or more years.

Planted in 1981 at 1600 feet elevation on the southwest side of the valley, the DuPratt Vineyard sits within the fog line and keeps very long ripening. The aromas of the 2020 Chardonnay DuPratt are ripe with lemon curd, corn kernels, and brioche, while the palate is round up front, then comes into focus with a medium-bodied frame. There is more astringency here as well, with pithy lemon and melon rind.

The 2020 Chardonnay Skycrest leads with crushed rock and apricot, while the palate has more concentration and depth, with a super-long finish and mineral nerve. Its elegant style delivers lots of finesse. There is a touch more warmth here, but it is well integrated. Drink over the next 15 years.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is lifted with graphite and pencil shavings, compact blackcurrant, and dried tobacco leaf. It has powerful mountain structure, with black plum skin, a bit of gamey iron richness, and dried herbs. It warrants several years in the cellar to tame its structure, and should be drunk between 2025 and 2040.

Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, cassis, black pepper, dried herbs and black cherries. Flavors of cassis, plums, currants and raspberries. Medium acidity, firm tannin, full bodied. Drink now with air or hold a little longer.

Those who enjoy rose and forest floor, cranberry and orange zest aromatic PN should try their Land’s Edge Vineyards Sonoma Coast 2018, 93 McD, gets 1 price point under $40. Dense, still tannic, color says no problem, balanced aromas, acidity and flavors. Finishes with sea breeze tang.

The 2019 is more citrus and floral, bright acidity, it needs time, 93 McD under $70. Spent 14 months on French oak so probably hasn’t hit Delaware shelves yet.

The 2020 The Revivalist Merlot comes from vines that were planted 1971. The fruit here is leafy and decidedly pink in its fruit profile. Classic and elegant—the tannins are very soft, and the fruit is delicate. It is concentrated in a pure kind of way. Nicely done.

Attractive brambly red fruit, as well as gently sappy notes and fresh bracken. This smells quite pure and fresh. The palate has athletic tannin structure that swirls around a central core of ripe red-fruit flavors. Well structured and drinkable. Drink or hold.

The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc opens with touches of flint and matchstick that complement a deep core of white peach, kiwi, tarragon and beeswax. Medium-bodied, silky and fresh, it offers a combination of ripe citrus fruit and focused acidity, and it finishes long and textural.

The 1998 La Muse is the inaugural vintage of this Merlot-based cuvée from Vérité, harvested from October 6-26. Blended with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a medium garnet color and fully mature aromas of leather, menthol, truffle, potpourri, roasted plums, black tea and underbrush. The palate is soft and juicy, with delicate, dried red berries and layer after layer of savory accents on the finish.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Edmeades Vineyard, bottled after 10 months in 38% new oak, has a medium ruby-purple color and pure aromas of cranberry, rhubarb, black tea leaves, citrus peel and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is intense with expressive, spicy fruits, a silky, fresh frame and a long, spicy finish. Yum!

The 2019 Pinot Noir Bloomfield Vineyard, aged 10 months in 31% new French oak, is especially expressive, offering scents of cranberry sauce and blueberry jam with accents of cracked pepper, pipe tobacco and licorice. The medium-bodied palate is bright and fresh with pure, intense, crunchy flavors and a long, floral finish.

The 2019 Chardonnay Alexander Mountain Estate Vineyard, aged 10 months in 35% new French oak, is bursting with aromas of baked apples and quince, honeycomb, roasted almonds and jasmine with wafts of pie spices. The full-bodied palate is satiny and expansive, its honeyed fruits balanced by bright acidity and stony character, and it has a long, textural finish.

The 2017 Journey is a blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged 20 months in 52% new French oak. Medium to deep ruby in color, it has pure aromas of Morello cherries, blueberries, mint chocolate, cured meats and fried thyme. The full-bodied palate explodes with intense, fragrant flavor layers, and it boasts a silky texture, seamless acidity and a long, layered finish.

The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Journey has pretty aromas of apricot, citrus blossoms, kiwi and stone, with loads of alluring herbal accents blossoming as it spends time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate offers electric energy from its juxtaposition of tangy acidity and a rounded, mouth-coating texture, and it features beeswax and herbal nuances on the long finish.

The 2018 Merlot Alexander Valley, aged 18 months in 33% new French oak, has a medium ruby color and scents of Morello cherries, chocolate, bacon fat and dried herbs, plus wafts of floral perfume. The medium-bodied palate is lush and silky with concentrated fruits, bright acidity and a long finish. It could benefit from a couple of hours in the decanter.

The 2018 Chardonnay Journey, aged 10 months in 33% new oak, offers ripe banana chip and guava aromas with touches of honey, almonds, lemon peel and meringue. The medium-bodied palate is silky, seamless and expansive, with gently honeyed flavors and a long, concentrated finish.