This shows a spicy and chocolaty character with an array of ripe red and dark berries, dried herbs and orange jam. Medium-bodied and silky with dusty tannins and vibrant, juicy fruit flavors that lead to a supple, savory finish. Drink now.

One of the better noses in the tasting of 55 Pinots, with lovely red berry fruit. The palate is quite fruity, ripe, and creamy. Really fantastic. Outstanding.

Made in a hearty, tannic and concentrated style, this wine nonetheless captures the variety’s ability to project the environment in which it’s grown, which in this case means sage and freshturned earth. Black fruit, iron and oak dominate but show the ability to integrate over time. Enjoy best from 2029–2034.

Deeply structured and expressive, with brooding blueberry, tarragon, sandalwood and other dusky spice flavors that gather richness and tension toward full-bodied tannins. Drink now through 2030.

A handsome red, refined and well-structured, with tightly focused blueberry and cherry flavors highlighted by licorice and dusky spice accents that finish with medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030.

Aromas of white peach, baked lemon and almond skin. Medium-bodied with supple, oily texture. Elegant with pleasantly ripe peachy fruit complemented by lees complexity and a bit of nutty character. Layered. Sustainable. Drink or hold.

This wine has shapeshifted nicely over the years, segueing from a fruit-forward iteration to a more streamlined, taut and spicy expression. Mid weighted, savoury and highly suggestive of the northern Rhône. Aromas of mace, clove, dill pickle, salumi and spiced cherry. Yet there is nothing hard to the tannins or too challenging for those seeking established styles. Juicy and long of flow, this makes for excellent, versatile everyday drinking.

A robust red that retains a sense of grace and structure, this offers expressive raspberry and tart blueberry flavors that mingle with rose petal, dusky spice and stony minerals as it builds richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2029.

The nose of the La Jota is at half mast, showing sweet blackberry and plum, black currant, blueberry, and clove. Full bodied, the structure is a nice combination of precise acid and broad and soft tannin. The longer it’s in the mouth, the more grit and chew that develops (and becomes mouth coating). Red plum and cherry, blackberry, raspberry, violet, tamari, and black tea are all pronounced in the flavor profile. This shows, if barely, primary development and is one to cellar for at least seven or eight years, if not fifteen to twenty if you can wait that long.

Shows a concentrated and mouthwatering mix of pineapple, ruby grapefruit and yuzu fruit flavors, with notes of crunchy Honeycrisp apple, saline and matcha lingering on the finish. Drink now.

Delivers a dense, concentrated laser beam of flavor, with fleshy ripe peach, Bartlett pear and salted Crenshaw melon showing accents of lemon zest. Packs a crisp mineral edge, with hints of spice and oolong tea on the long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2027.

This renowned Yarra Valley winery has ventured outside Victoria and into Tasmania. This bottling bears the Giant Steps signature but walks to a distinctly different beat. It’s layered and spicy with brambly red currant, cranberry and blueberry fruit backed by subtle chocolaty oak, white pepper and violets on their stems. There’s heft to the palate, with concentrated fruit, spicy, chiseled tannins and barrel influence. An expressive bottling, well-made with longevity in mind. Drink now–2032.

This has developed a savory nose of olives, smoked meat, white pepper, black fruit and dried herbs. It's silky and flavorful, with a medium body and excellent freshness. Lengthy and tasty finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now or hold. Screw cap.

This is the first vintage of Roux Beauté. Complex nose of waxed lemons, dried flowers, beeswax and thyme. Textured and phenolic, with a medium to full body, waxy texture and vibrant acidity. Lots of energy and drive. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap.

The Sexton Vineyard shares a north-facing hillside in Gruyere with Yarra Yering and Coldstream Hills; this will be the site of a new winery and cellar door currently under construction. The vines, now 25 years old, produced a meaty and intense 2021, layering the smoky earth of its tannins with spicy, bright, rose-scented fruit. Structured and lasting, this is a wine to cellar, then to serve with roast duck.

Starts off with a core of Fuji apple and pear flavors, expanding to details of salted caramel, marmalade and orange zest, which show savory details of sesame seed and toasted herb that linger. Vibrant acidity keeps the flavors fresh. Drink now.

Firm and focused, with strawberry, cherry and raspberry flavors that are juicy, fresh and focused, plus details of Earl Grey tea, rose petal and dried herbs on a poised frame. Long finish. Drink now through 2030.

Lip-smacking, featuring a core of fresh white peach, Honeycrisp apple and lemon curd, with notes of salted butter, pickled ginger, toasted herbs and green tea that linger. Drink now through 2028.

Like a brooding teenager, this Pinot has a lot going for it but patience is required. Offers notes of blueberry, stony minerality and forest floor framed by a tannic bite on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2030.

Pulsating with tension and balancing snappy acidity with simmering tannins, this offers lively cherry and strawberry flavors flanked by savory herbs, bittersweet chocolate and spice. Still coming together, but will bloom in time. Best from 2023 through 2030.

The aromas intoxicate, with notes of black tea, herb, peppery spice, cedar and plum. The palate is full feeling, delivering flavor and textural richness while never losing its poise and balance. Coffee notes linger on the finish. More
please!

Greg Brewer flexes his usual Pinot Noir muscles to tackle cool-climate Syrah in this brand, and his delicate yet fruit-driven touch shows. Lighter in the glass than many Syrahs, this offers red flower, bright berry and a hint of asphalt on the nose. The palate is spicy with white-pepper and black-pepper flavors that enliven the dark pomegranate core.

Limpid straw-yellow. Fresh pear and nectarine aromas show fine definition and take on floral, succulent herb and mineral accents with air. Chewy, penetrating and precise on the palate, offering concentrated orchard and pit fruit flavors that are given lift and spine by an undercurrent of smoky minerality. The floral note recurs on a fragrant, strongly persistent finish that leaves behind a vibrant Meyer lemon note. Fermented and matured in ceramic eggs; 60% of the final blend of this wine saw 137 days of skin contact.

Inky ruby. Powerful, spice-accented scents of ripe dark berries, licorice, candied violet and smoky minerals, along with hints of mocha and cola. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit liqueur and cherry-vanilla flavors sharpened by a suggestion of peppery spices. Becomes sweeter and deeper with air, with no loss of energy. Finishes smooth, smoky and very long, featuring youthfully firm tannins and a strong echo of sweet dark fruit.