The 2018 ‘Slope’ is a gorgeous bottling that comes from Zena East Block 5 and Zena West Block 6. The wine yields serious tension and weight once on the palate with layers of orange rind alongside guava, pine needles and stony undertones. Gorgeous to consume now, this rich and mineral-driven wine has a long journey ahead of it. Drink 2022-2035

The 2018 ‘Conifer’ is sourced from Zena West 1A, 6 and Zena East 12 blocks, as vines are set on a wide range of soils from Jory to Helmick. This wine saw 15 months in French oak before bottling. This full-bodied, warm vintage effort displays plenty of finesse as bright red fruits collide with pine needles, citrus embers and salty undertones. This beauty has at least another ten years in front of it. Drink 2022-2034

I get the feeling that 2020 in McLaren Vale was better for Shiraz and Grenache, over the Bordeaux grape varieties. Spice, paprika and pepper, blue and black fruits, meaty and more than a little nutty. It’s meaty and savoury, dried herbs, some aniseed perfume, a fine chalky chew to tannin, a little vanilla/cedar oak, a whole lot of dry spices, and black olive, with fresh acidity and a saline and pepper-laced finish of excellent length. Slightly baked in flavour profile, but convincing all the same.

La Crema is one of the larger brands focused on Sonoma chardonnay and pinot noir, so I am happy to see them delving into single vineyard offerings as well. This pours fairly deep yellow. It is full on oak fermented and aged creating a souffle of nutmeg spice, butter, toast and butterscotch around tropical fruit. It is medium-full bodied, texturally rich and creamy yet underpinned by lemony acidity. The flavours are very rich, the length is excellent to outstanding.

The colour of golden afternoon sunshine, La Crema's Kelly Ann Vineyard chardonnay is a striking and compelling wine. Ripe lemons and apples are enveloped in rich barrel flavours of butterscotch, cedar, nutmeg, and toasted fenugreek seeds. The buttery, smooth as satin silk palate is lifted and supported by tart acidity. There is excellent concentration here and the finish is long and memorable.

Deep ruby color. Beautiful nose of tangy strawberries with warm raspberry jam, topped in complex tones of mint, pepper, anise, rhubarb, just a lot going on here. The tannins are chalky but structured, balanced nicely with zippy acidity, and the red cherry and strawberry fruit is juicy and fresh. The complexities of black tea, pepper, sage, oregano, cola and rhubarb go on and on and offer a lot to contemplate and enjoy. Pretty, balanced, with a very long finish. This could use at least two or three years, but what a beaut.

This ruby colored Pinot Noir from Oregon opens with a black raspberry and craisin bouquet with hints of oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with pleasant medium acidity. The flavor profile is a tasty boysenberry and black raspberry crumble pie with notes of oak and black licorice. I also detected hints black pepper, craisin and black tea. The finish is dry, and its dusty tannins and fruit flavors linger and last for a very long time. This impressive Pinot would pair well with veal tenderloin medallions with a brown butter sauce and mushrooms.

This appellation blend is a very satisfying and delicious expression of the region, rivaling many single-vineyard bottlings. Snappy aromas of raspberry and pomegranate are clean and polished on the nose. The palate is juicy and bright with strawberry flavors that are cut by minty tarragon tones.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Cougar Ridge has some savory aromas of fresh leather, red and black plum, and mountain herbs. The palate floods with fresh fruit up front and through the mid-palate, with ripe redcurrant, that leads to a refreshing (and dangerous) drinkability, with a softer stony feel through the finish. Drink 2024-2042.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point Vineyard has more medicinal herb on the nose as well as notes of menthol, fresh sage, dark mineral earth, and compact black cherry. The palate is fleshy through the mid-palate, with the structure coming together to lend more savory richness. The finish is long and gives way to its mineral profile. Drink 2026-2046.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Edmeades Vineyard leads with very floral aromas of fresh raspberry liqueur, crushed roses, and cinnamon spice. The palate is open, with a hug of fresh fruit, red cherry, and forest floor as well as fine tannins. This another super pleasurable wine to drink now or over the next 8 years.

With 70% Merlot from Bennett Valley and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from Knights Valley, the 2019 Journey Red is perfumed with blackcurrant candies almost moving into blue fruits, gravelly earth, and fresh leather. The palate is structured and full, with rich mineral earth moving into purple flowers and blue and black fruits. Drink 2025-2038.

The 2019 Merlot Keyes Vineyard offers a more powerful and assertive character, with cedar, tobacco leaf, and spiced black plum. It has an iron-rich texture, with light game and meatiness, black fruits including cherry pit, and earthiness on the finish. Hold this 2-3 years and drink over the next 10-15 years.

The 2020 Chardonnay Journey is layered with its aromatics of yellow flowers, fresh lemon balm, and white peach, as well as a light, reductive, flinty tone. It has a supple, silky texture on the palate, with honeydew melon and delicate baking spice. Drink 2022-2030.

Led with Clone 777, the 2019 Pinot Noir Stormin' Estate Vineyard has a darker fruit profile, with black raspberry, rich mineral earth, and cedar. Full cherry fruit floods the palate, with baking spice, fine tannins, and a long finish. Hold this another year or so and drink 2024-2034.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Afleet Estate Vineyard utilized 40% stem inclusion with whole clusters. The aromatics are spiced and take on more depth, with red plum, cinnamon, and forest floor. The palate has more structure as well, with brambly red fruit, wild raspberry, and turned earth. It has a bit of youthful astringency on the peripheral palate, so hold 1-2 years and drink 2024-2032.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Stature is flush with classic aromatics of cedar, pipe tobacco, and black currant liqueur. The palate is full throughout and rich with plum skin, iron rich earth, and dried sage. Drink 2024-2037.

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.