The 2018 Chardonnay Les Voisins is rich, open-knit and seductive. Apricot, peach and light tropical accents all elevate this creamy Anderson Valley Chardonnay. Bright saline notes underpin the finish, nicely balancing some of the more overt leanings.

The 2018 Red Blend is a bold, juicy wine driven by a core of Petite Sirah that gives it richness and unctuous texture. Ripe red cherry, red plum, mocha, licorice and spice are all kicked up in this flashy, juicy Napa Valley red.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Afleet is one of the wines in this range that has a bit more whole clusters than some of the others. Dried flowers, mint, crushed berries, sage and orange peel give the 2018 lovely aromatic complexity. The Afleet is a bit stern in feel.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Tous Ensemble is a fabulous entry-level wine. Bright floral and spice notes complement a core of red berry fruit in a mid-weight, translucent Pinot that hits all the right notes. The 2018 is built on a core of fruit from Sealift in Annapolis. It is one of the very best Pinots readers will find in its price range. The 2018 is a knock out.

The 2019 Picpoul Blanc Copain Estate is a gorgeous white that balances the bright energy of this variety from southern France with the natural exuberance of the Russian River. White orchard fruit, mint and white flowers add a very pretty aromatic upper register. This eccentric white has a lot to offer.

The 2018 Syrah Tous Ensemble is an attractive, affordable wine that delivers the goods. Readers will find a Syrah that delivers the savory, earthy style that is so typical of Mendocino. Vineyard sites are High Rock and Hawkes Butte. The Tous Ensemble is a bit rustic, but long on character.

The 2018 Grenache Brosseau is a bright, punchy wine. Sweet red cherry, hard candy, orange peel and sweet spice give the 2018 a decidedly exotic character.

The 2018 Chardonnay Tous Ensemble is a blend of mostly younger vines on the Sonoma Coast. Lemon confit, marzipan, chamomile and dried flowers all grace this expressive entry-level Chardonnay. The 2018 balances fruit richness and energy, while avoiding some of the austerity of the recent past.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Les Voisins is a pretty, translucent wine that shows the more understated side of Anderson Valley. Crushed flowers, bright red berries, spice, mint and rose petal all grace this airy, transparent Pinot. This is a decidedly understated style. There is lovely energy in the 2018, but it is on the lighter side.

Few wines scream ‘drink me!’ like Californian Pinot Noir — huge, up-front fruits of black cherry, strawberry and raspberry wash over the lush, succulent palate. Officially the Santa Barbara appellation, Nielson pulls fruit for this bottling from Santa Maria Valley, Los Alamos, and Santa Rita Hills. Their respective zones contribute aromatics, weight and power, harmonizing to create a wine of great substance.

I like the way so many French vineyards do not brag on their labels with effusive notes and poetry. This is a straightforward Saint-Émilion with all of the richness that you expect from a grand cru. It is predominantly or perhaps all Merlot, maybe with some Cabernet Franc (locally called Bouchet) in the blend. At $60 it is not a wine to pop the cork on every day, but for a fairly special meal with friends who really enjoy wine this will make them very happy this summer.

Another refined example of Willamette Valley terroir, showing that a cool climate is kind to grapes like Chardonnay that can be so easily manipulated. It spent 10 months in 25% new French oak, which gives it just enough of a sweet undertone and maintains a good balance of acid. This is the ideal white wine for grilled salmon and almost every shellfish.

The Best Wines For Celebrating Summer 2021Best Wines For a Beach BonfireYangarra Ironheart Shiraz, McLaren Vale, AustraliaFor a different take on syrah, turn to this full-bodied shiraz from Australia. This robust red shines with flavors and aromas of black pepper, plum, and blueberry. Juicy and structured, it feels as cozy as the bonfire itself. It’s food-friendly but great on its own.

The energy and focus of this wine is excellent with blackberry, salt, chalk and stone aromas and flavors. Some tar, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine, firm tannins and a long, flavorful finish.

Cabernet Franc led blend.Dark ruby red in colour. Opens up with a beguiling display of black fruits, wet leather, spice, black olives and cigar box. Huge presence. Potent. Gives layers of pleasure. Wow.

Merlot led blend.Deep ruby red in colour. Blackberries, dry leather, pipe tobacco,Eastern spice. Dense and sumptuous. Seamless and unwavering linearity.

Ruby red in colour. Rich fruits comprising cherry and pomegranate lead nuances of dry forest floor and wild mushroom. Plush and silky. Cabernet Franc spice box along with lemon peel and bitter chocolate notes on the very persistent finish.

Intense ruby red in colour. Red fruits, rose aromatics, mocha, spice. Super expressive. Finesse with energy. Plenty of verve.

Bright ruby red in colour. Red berry, raspberry, rose petal aromas, liquorice.Polished. A wine of impact.

Dark ruby red in colour. Red cherry, plum, blood orange, sage and violet floral. Shows superb intensity. Sweet tobacco and liquorice alongside zesty mineral finish.

What's the best wine to have with steak?Offering a touch more freshness than your average richly ripe Napa Cab is this brilliant option from the neighbouring Sonoma County, specifically within the Alexander Valley AVA. It’s still intense and juicy, with concentrated blackcurrant, and sweet vanilla and chocolate notes, but it also has a lovely dry finish, with flavours of cedar, and some refreshing red cherry among all the fleshy black fruit.

A bit on the richer side for WV, but wows with complexity and textural interest.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Dakél Viñedo Maricerro comes from the Itata coast, 12 miles from the Pacific. Aged for 10 months in 15% new barrels, it is a vivid reddish-purple hue with an elegant and intense aromatic profile of cherry, earth, and mushrooms kept inside a cedar box, accompanied by a whiff of smoke. Intense on the palate and full of flavor, it has a terse but silky feel and ripe, delicate, long-lasting aromas.

The 2019 Chardonnay Dakél Viñedo Maricerro comes from the Itata coast, 12 miles from the sea. Fallen leaf yellow in hue. The nose contains aromas from the aging process, such as cigar box and nutmeg, along with white fruit and green apple notes, a hint of creamed corn and a yeasty backdrop. In the mouth it has a lot of flavor, a terse feel and freshness wrapped in an oaky coating. Classical and extremely long-lasting, this is an accomplished, cosmopolitan white.

#WineWednesday: Everything’s Coming Up RosésLa Crema Sparkling Brut Rosé dances on the palate with lovely notes of lemon meringue, wild strawberries and fresh ginger. A special pour for a special day.