There is a certain freshness and fragrance that captures an essence of this grape that I really like, and that many Napa cabs sometimes miss. It is that lifted blackcurrant, minty/caper greenness, tobacco nicely fitted with oak vanillin and cedar. There is excellent complexity here. It is full bodied, fairly open knit and a touch juicy, with some green tannin. The length is excellent. Moving into a good drinking window, and should hold five years.

COMMENTARY: The 2018 WillaKenzie Estate Willamette Valley Chardonnay packs excellent and finely-tuned balanced and structure on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine serves up aromas and flavors of sandalwood, savory spices, dried apples, and earth. Enjoy it with roasted game birds.

Food & Wine pairing recommendation

Food & Wine pairing recommendation

Food & Wine pairing recommendation

Food & Wine pairing recommendation

Food & Wine pairing recommendation

Clones 114, 1145, 667, 777, Pommard. Aged 10 months in 31% new French oak. Dark ruby robe, light body, seamless structure. An infusion of floral and violet notes meld effortlessly into savoury, dark red fruit and black tea on the finish.

Just five miles from the Pacific Ocean, the Sealift Vineyard sits in the “true” Sonoma Coast, where a small enclave of dramatic vineyards thrive in this cool climate, creating stunning Pinot Noirs.The sandy loam soils were shaped from ancient marine terraces turned up from the bottom of the ocean during tectonic movements millions of years ago, which resulted in well-drained, nutrient-poor soils perfect for concentrated flavor development. Rich and complex, the Sealift Pinot Noir opens with intense aromas of blackberry and ripe raspberry with hints of clove, cocoa and herbs.A powerful expression of raspberry, sage and cardamom with a deep intensity on the palate and a long, complex finish.

The historic Edmeades Vineyard sits on a plateau above the Navarro River, just west of the small town of Philo. High density vines are planted in clay loam soils. This causes a beneficial struggle for nutrients and the development of rich, concentrated flavors in the fruit. From the nearby ocean, chilly coastal breezes sweep in each day around 3pm, maintaining cooler temperatures and allowing the grapes to ripen slowly. The bright red raspberry, Bing cherry and savory herb complexity display signature Mendocino character. Across the palate, the texture is juicy and rich, with subtle earthiness and smooth tannins. The finish is long and vibrant.

The Skycrest Vineyard is a steep hillside vineyard perched over the town of Boonville in Mendocino. Above the fogline, the grapes experience cool, sun-filled days and long hang times that give this wine its intense flavors and vibrant red fruit profile.The pitch of the vineyard slope requires that the grapes be handpicked, which allows for precise control over phenolic ripeness and harvesting at the peak of maturity. The resulting wine displays a rugged intensity indicative of its dramatic landscape.A lively red cherry and cranberry fruit profile evolves with intense grip and power on the palate. The bright texture extends across the long finish, carried by firm tannins and notes of clove and spice.

The Bloomfield Vineyard sits at the southern end of the Russian River Valley near the town of Sebastopol. Foggy mornings and cool, windy days allow the grapes to ripen slowly over a long growing season for complex flavor development.The sandy loam soils, derived from ancient marine terraces, have excellent drainage and low fertility, producing smaller yields of intense fruit. The result is an elegant wine with balanced ripeness and a vibrant profile. Grapes are selected from a single block of the vineyard. Ripe cranberry and morello cherry introduce the wine, joined by fragrant spices and light mocha aromas.

Grown on the western ridge of the Mayacamas Mountains, the grapes for the Alexander Mountain Estate Chardonnay benefit from complex soils and cool sunshine.Sitting just above the fogline, the vines receive a cooling influence from below and abundant sun from above. This idyllic combination allows for complex flavor development over a long growing season.A mixture of volcanic rock and sedimentary deposits, the diverse soils impart a distinctive minerality. Sourced from two of the older blocks in the vineyard, the wine is made of 100% Chardonnay. The mountain pedigree gives this wine its powerful aromatic expression and character. Yellow apples, Meyer lemon, toasted hazelnuts and vanilla bean yield to a soft, voluptuous texture across the palate. The finish is long and focused with stony minerality and acidity.

The famous Saralee’s Vineyard has a rich history and reputation for producing stunning Burgundian varieties.Located in the Russian River Valley, the vines sit near the Petaluma Gap, where wind and fog whip through daily from the Pacific Ocean. This cooling influence allows the grapes to ripen slowly, developing rich, complex flavors.The vineyard is dry farmed and the vines, which are over 30 years old, extend deep in the ground for nutrients and water, creating a vivid expression of terroir in the fruit. Sourced from two adjacent blocks within this famed vineyard, the Chardonnay shows classic aromas of golden apple and ripe pear. Toasted oak frames the fruit as the flavors extend through a creamy, round palate, lifted with hints of lemon curd across the long, lingering finish.

This pale salmon colored wine open with an inviting watermelon and wet stone bouquet with hints of ripe nectarine. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, round and nicely coats your mouth for a Rose. The flavor profile is a tasty mineral infused gentle tangerine and watermelon blend with hints of lime zest and nectarine. The finish is dry and refreshing. The Panel would certainly sip this Rose on the porch on a hot summer day. With food, we would pair it with a grilled fish taco or poached trout.

Wines for Father’s Day and summer grilling$60s+ - Maggy Hawk 2018 Pinot Noir Jolie recommended.

Wines for Father’s Day and summer grilling$30s-$50sThe most enjoyable, impressive white tasted in this price range has appealing color and a powerful nose that presage full body, beautiful fruit, excellent complexity, notable refinement and attractive personality.

Wines for Father’s Day and summer grilling$30s-$50sDon’t make assumptions based on its medium color depth, as this excellent Zin exhibits impressive strength, rich fruit, beautiful balance, engaging complexity and attractive integration, all expressed for great length.

This medium gold colored Chardonnay from Kendall Jackson opens with a Squirt soda and pineapple bouquet with hints of oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied and slightly acidic. The flavor profile is a lemon, pineapple and oak blend with notes of vanilla and peach. The finish lingers and drifts away nicely. Always a Theresa favorite and I would pair it with hummus-crusted chicken.

This opaque and medium purple colored Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a black cherry, oak and red licorice bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied and savory with slightly elevated acidity. The flavor profile is a mild mineral and black currant blend with notes of oak. I also detected some hints of black cherry and blueberry in the background. The finish is dry and its fine minerality and flavors fade away nicely. This Cab would pair nicely with a three-meat meatloaf.

10 best dry white wines for summertime sipping: From pinot grigio to chardonnayBest oaked white – Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard chardonnay 2017.Any survey of dry white wine can’t ignore the superb cool-climate crus of California. Sisters Katie and Julia Jackson run the Cambria Estate in Santa Barbara, which includes Katherine’s Vineyard on the coastal Santa Maria Bench. Its position means that it benefits from the Pacific sea breezes that funnel in and allow the longest growing season in the state. This well-balanced chardonnay, aged for six months in French oak, has intense orchard and floral flavours and a satisfying minerality that carries through to a long and satisfying finish. Enjoy it by itself or with a variety of fish dishes.