Lots of blueberry and black-cherry aromas. Medium-bodied with round, ripe tannins that have a tight texture. Firm and intense. Drink or hold.

An elegant Cali Cab with great natural acidity lifting up the core of fruit as it’s framed by a prominent tannin structure. This wine can still age another five or more years, but right now, it’s singing with balance.

Nice, rich, and aromatic on the nose. Smells like a faint whiff of caramelized pears and fancy French bistro butter. The palate has excellent balance with frothy acidity and a comfy, grippy mouthfeel. Great to just sip on its own or with some hard cheeses.

Peppery Cab with some jammy dark fruit feels. It has a very balanced mouthfeel with soft fruit and well-woven tannins. The structure of this wine is so sound, it sings on the palate. You can even go with duck here.

This gold straw colored Chardonnay opens with a nectarine and pineapple bouquet with hints of oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and has rounded edges. The flavor profile is mild apple and gentle pineapple with notes of pie crust. Hints of oak and lemon. The finish is dry and its flavors linger nicely. This Chard is food friendly and would pair well with a roasted garlic chicken.

Smells like blackberry jam with a whiff of vanilla and some earth. Solid balance on the palate with a nice, quiet, tannic grip. The fruit core is rich and focused. This is a good Cali Cab; it checks all the boxes.

This wine is still softening and reducing to its peak, but it's drinking well now. The deep fruit core has a nice weight on the palate. The aromas of blackberries and soil are starting to emerge. This is a wine for protein — and a lot of it. A big ol’ steak is on the menu here.

Great, everyday Cab. It smells like blackberries in fresh soil with a hint of vanilla. The palate is juicy and round with good acidity (there is def some Merlot in this wine). A great casual sipper to pair with a lean steak.

Sweet and fruity on the nose, smelling like cherry cola. The alcohol is high for a Pinot Noir, but it is well-balanced, and the heat doesn’t mess with the depth of fruit. This wine wants a selection of soft cheeses.

Smells like lean, ripe cherries with a savory, almost musky feel. The palate is full of balanced Pinot Noir. It has good natural acidity, and the earthiness pops out here. This is a great wine for a wine and cheese party or pizza night.

This wine smells like vanilla cherry cola. It has a nice, rich, and broad mouthfeel. The acidity lifts the wine enough to not mess with the subtle depth.

Smells meaty and savory, with a bunch of crushed cherries and a whiff of cinnamon. The palate has nice depth, with good natural acidity broadening the wine. This is a good wine and cheese party bottle.

This wine smells like cherries and beets, with a whiff of cinnamon. Calm on the palate with a nice, rich core of fruit balanced with active natural acidity. This is a great Pinot for all the things; pizza nights, parties, wine clubs, chilled down for wine lunches, etc.

Rich cherry and cinnamon feels on the nose. The palate is a little off with the vanilla oakiness being very separated from the juicy fruit. If they come together over a year in-bottle, then it will jive.

Intense, brooding, concentrated, complex.

This has a very attractive, stony edge, almost flinty, together with bright, fine red fruit in the plum and red-berry zone. There’s a gently floral edge, too. The freshness is impressive. The palate has a very succulent edge and a fine squeeze of tannin that carries a long, detailed and vibrant finish. Still very youthful. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

This has a rich, red-plum, red-berry and pastry nose with some stony elements on offer, too. Offers perfume and an almost chalky edge and the spice is starting to build here. The palate has exceptional tautness and a lively, crunchy texture. Red and dark-berry flavors abound. Long finish. So smoothly resolved and powerful. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Their first grenache to be fermented in ceramic egg. This has such attractive, fresh dark-plum and berry aromas. So pure with very pristine fruit. The tannin texture is very different, quite fine and granular. The long, succulent finish carries dark-plum and blueberry flavors. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

This is a tiny make (only two barrels) with quite a delicate, floral edge and lightly spicy elements sitting in redder-fruit aromas. The palate has a very plush, sleek and assertive feel. Taut with fresh crunchy red fruit. So fresh. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

This has a distinctive, red-berry and confectionary nose with some ripe, intense, sweet and fleshy raspberry and red-plum flavors on the palate. Pastry-like layers to close. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

This broad-shouldered red is structured with brooding raspberry and pomegranate flavors that draw in black tea and bay leaf flavors, building tension toward medium-grained tannins. Hands off for now. Drink now through 2028.

I’m a bit behind with this Yangarra Blanc 2020, but it’s still looking good. McLaren Vale white blend, in the mode of a Chateauneuf du Pape blanc. 62% Grenache Blanc this vintage, fermented in ceramic eggs and older barrel for 4 months. No sulphur until bottling. What a regime for a $27 wine!A nice, fresh and lively drink too. Soft and creamy at the edges but it’s a taut white underneath. I like this sort of frisky, yet not unripe, drink. It’s just a little bit phenolic and pithy to finish, but plenty of refreshment here.Yangarra Blanc 2020. Best drinking: nowish. Might even be better next year.

Pear and apple notes with s smooth texture and a touch of sweetness.

Crisp and lively acidity with tropical fruit and apple flavors with a dash of citrus.

Wine of the Weekend: ChardonnayFilled with sunshine from sandy Santa Barbara soils, Nielson Chardonnay leaps from the glass with vibrancy and juicy lushious layers. Slightly tropical, opening with notes of pineapple and guava, melding seamlessly with honeysuckle and and fresh citrus, leading to a palate of ripe pear, creamy lemon custard, and blanched almond. Highly affordable, this easy going wine is perfect for any day of the week.