Spirited Zine’s 2021 Father’s Day Gift GuideFather and son vignerons—Pierre and Nicolas Seillan produce this selection at Château Lassègue where ornate sundials adorn the façade of the 18th century château. This symbol of perfect sun exposure represents the message of the wines from the estate and can be found on the label. Lassègue is the flagship wine of the estate and is Saint-Émilion at its most opulent. Old vines grow on the south/southwest hills which are the prolongation of the Côte de Saint-Émilion, and whose soils of clay and limestone add exquisite minerality to their fruit. Rich, aromatic Cabernet Franc married to the dense concentration of old vine Merlot and seasoned with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon results in a wine that is at once powerful and elegant.

The notes in Cambria Katherine's Vineyard 2017 and La Crema Sonoma Coast 2018 are of citrus blossom with a touch of peach. Apparently the effect of the climate is to lengthen the growing period, which gives depth to the flavours. Deliciously different.

The notes in Cambria Katherine's Vineyard 2017 and La Crema Sonoma Coast 2018 are of citrus blossom with a touch of peach. Apparently the effect of the climate is to lengthen the growing period, which gives depth to the flavours. Deliciously different.

Gumbo & Wine in New OrleansGumbo Pairing: Brewer-Clifton 2018 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

Wines We LoveA great example of why grenache is so hot right now. Savoury, aromatic, refined and with a commanding web of tannin, this is compelling stuff.Raised in ceramic eggs, this spent 158 days on skins post fermentation, resulting in a wine that is both delicate and savoury. There’s a perfume of red fruits and florals, with dried orange peel, sun-warmed terracotta and dried cranberries. It’s hard not to think of nebbiolo, but it’s firmly grenache, even if the assertive but finely textured tannins pull you further in the other direction. There’s a fineness through the wine, a neatly pitched elegance, but with the generosity of the variety underpinning it, too.

Very spicy and intense, this complex pinot shows blueberry and dark-cherry aromas, as well as some sappy notes, roses and forest wood. The palate is weighty with plenty of ripe fruit flesh. Quite supple and velvety with flavors that run from red to dark cherries. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

Rich plum in colour, this grips right from the off, and moves slowly and carefully through the palate, revealing brambly blue and red fruits, and a lovely sense of energy and uplift. Extremely good quality, with sage and saffron edges alongside layers of fine tannins that close in towards the finish, slowing things down even more. This will age well, and is an elegant yet concentrated wine.

Very pure fruit aromas with ripe cherry essence and some strawberry. The palate has a soft, creamy feel with a distinctive, kirsch-like core of flavor. Crunchy tannins cradle fluid fruit flesh. Drink now.

All the herbs you want with none of the green that you don’t.

World-famous for its Pinot Noir, the Willamette Valley is also an ideal growing region for beautiful sparkling wine. This Chardonnay-led Brut Rosé, a non-vintage bubbly, encapsulates just what is so exciting about Oregon wine right now. It’s a single vineyard, estate-grown wine from the Gran Moraine Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA of Willamette Valley. Aromatic, exotic citrus fruit, ripe peaches, toasted almonds and a sprinkling of dried rose petals. Mouthwatering acidity is balanced with supple tannins all the way.

Rosé Season Is Here: The 12 Best New Bottles of Pink to Drink This SummerDusty rose marks the nose on this pale beauty from Sonoma’s Hartford Family Winery, with wild strawberry joining in the perfume. This one is dry and refreshing yet generous, its red fruit running from raspberry to cranberry, ripe peach, grapefruit and tangerine zest all underlined with minerality.

Impressive sensorial quality that imposes a profound stamp is rich in identity with the mixed floral and fruity scents of lavender, violet, agapanthus, magnolia, orange blossom, blue plums, pressed blueberries and warm white stone. Full body, silky tannins, enveloping but not over the top, it relaxes in a very pleasant bite that from the center of the palate onwards creates length and persistence. What a phenomenon. Impossible to resist it but better from 2023.

Impenetrable in color with captivating violet reflections, hints of black plums, blackberries, wild myrtle, cinnamon, juniper berries and green pepper emerge. In the background, the slight opalescence given by the stay on large and fine lees makes it more attractive and will protect it over time. Full body, velvety tannins and an incredibly radiant and essential, defined and progressive finish. Fantastic now it will be better from 2023 onwards.

Processed without fear of contact on the fine lees, this young Chianti Classico shows sensory power and character. Primary hints of black cherries, orange blossom, wild strawberries and juniper berries blend with shades of cedar and pink grapefruit. Full-bodied, juicy and delicious on the palate, it gives a more than pleasant sip, important but not demanding. Delicious right away but better from 2022.

Fresh but flinty and sulphide-inflected, La Crema's 2018 Monterey chardonnay starts out with gentle wood influence with just a touch of caramel and creamed corn, alongside more dominant white and yellow-fleshed orchard fruit. Yet the finish picks up the wood theme and runs with it, ending on astringent texture and burnt caramel flavours. Ultimately, it seems, it carries more wood than the wine can/should handle in my view, on this leaner, cooler climate frame. The net result is a little rough and tumble, oak-infused.

Notably warm, buttery and creamy, certainly as compared to the Sonoma and Russian River chardonnays. Also herbal pesto, pecan brittle and then back to ferns and nettles in a chardonnay that oscillates with the tides. Plenty of complexity, diversity and intensity with a tacky feel that comes and goes in waves. Acids keep things equal and alive. Drink 2021-2024.

This is is a full bodied, smooth, just slightly sweet chardonnay with a fairly ripe complex nose of peach/pineapple fruit, creamed corn, some flinty reduction, toast and nutmeg. Ticks all the boxes of modern California chardonnay. But it is a bit blowsy, sweet and spicy on the palate, with alcohol heat as well. The length is excellent.

A McLaren Vale Shiraz always destined to impress. This 2018 is no different. Another excellent Ironheart Shiraz. Handpicked off certified organic and biodynamic vineyards, 25% whole bunches were used before sitting on skins for 16 days and 32% new French oak used. It's deep and brooding, dark chocolate and coconut husk reach out early. Packed with interest, cedar, cloves and raspberries seemingly skim across the surface but it's the darker red fruits that get in deep. Hold your breath before blackberries cut loose - it's the depth that screams out and captivates here. The oak protrudes a little for now but this will settle with time. This is most definitely a keeper. Dried herbs and a lashing of chocolate rush late as do fine spices. A finish that runs long and seemingly never-ending. Brilliant! Drink to ten years+.

Opening to a delightful nose, the 2017 Chardonnay wafts out of the glass with delicate French oak notes, citrus blossom, yellow apple, Meyer lemon, hints of musk melon and underripe pineapple. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows energetic acidity with succulence on the palate. Growing spiciness from the oak enters across the mid-palate, with subtle flavors of sautéed almonds and yellow apple with a kiss of reductive essence. The wine finishes texturally long and with a food-friendly, spicy conclusion. Nicely done.

Pale straw in the glass, the 2018 Chardonnay Silene opens with beautiful aromas of cardamom madeleines, yellow apple, crème brûlée and sweet lemon pastry cream. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is fresh and vibrant with a balanced structure, lively acidity and oak tones woven through the mid-palate. The wine concludes with a bright finish of soft, nutty flavors of almond and a lingering tone of lemon panna cotta.

Splendid Red, White, Rosé and Bubbly Wines To Serve During BBQ SeasonFrom the foothills of this appellation comes this versatile blend of 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc from Ch. Lassègue’s second label. This vintage is aged only 12 months in French oak, which gives it a lightness that allows for a slightly chilled serve. It’s fantastic with barbecued chicken, or even hot dogs!

ABC - AKA – Always Bring Chardonnay I would love to serve this in a blind tasting for people who usually ONLY DRINK BURGUNDY! This wine takes a bit of time to open up in the glass but once it does you will be rewarded with crystalline granny smith apple freshness, nervy citrus peel tension, a coquettish brioche whisper which is whipped into place with a saline savoury finish. A super serious and elegant option which could contend with certain sites in Burgundy, especially at the price!

ABC - AKA – Always Bring ChardonnayBaked pear ripeness gives away this wine’s Cali roots but it’s a bit more restrained on the oak front. Think Werthers Original tanginess as opposed to butterscotch. This is what Brits order to enjoy Cali Chard without actually having to go too far out of their comfort zone!

Moving the aesthetic now from narrative luxury to the more traditionally understood sense of deluxe, my tastings yielded several examples vying for a place at the high table. The Capensis Chardonnay 2016 is a perfect candidate: Burgundian in its DNA, harmonious, multilayered, opulent, yet still fresh.

Deep garnet color, lush plum aroma, dense, meaty, spicy with soft tannins with notes of plum and toast, balanced and long, give it a couple of years to come around.