Matured in 30% new oak, the medium ruby colored 2018 Pinot Noir Abel offers intense red berry fruit on the nose with accents of tree bark, dried herbs, earth, citrus peel and dried flowers. Medium-bodied with a silky texture, the palate explodes with juicy fruits and earthy accents, its bright freshness carrying the long, spicy finish.

The 2019 Chardonnay Tidal Break is bright and mineral-driven on the nose, with fresh apples and citrus underpinned by saline, almonds and crushed stone aromas. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with pure citrus fruits, which segue to expansive, honey-nut tones on the long, ethereal finish. It was matured in 10% new oak.

The 2019 Chardonnay Skycrest Vineyard comes from one of Copain's estate vineyards, where vines are planted from about 1,600 to 2,200 feet in elevation. It opens slowly to hazelnuts, white flowers, beeswax and quince paste aromas, with bright accents of citrus and stone. The palate begins medium-bodied, linear and citrusy before expanding its honeyed bass tones, and it finishes with loads of flavor layers. It deserves another year or two in bottle to unfold.

The 2019 Cabernet Franc is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a little swirling to unlock notes of stewed red plums, baked blackberries, and Morello cherries with hints of bouquet garni, pencil lead, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is bright, refreshing, elegant, and refined with loads of subtle black and red fruit layers and a mineral-laced finish.

The 2018 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is a little closed to begin, soon unfurling to offer notes of warm cassis, blackberry preserves, and mulberries, with an undercurrent of dusty soil, fallen leaves, iron ore, and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is soft and juicy, with plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with beautiful harmony.

The 2018 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon comes from vines just in front of the Cardinale winery. Deep garnet-purple in color, it soars out with vivacious notes of blackcurrant jelly, baked plums, and boysenberry preserves, leading to suggestions of cedar chest, unsmoked cigars, crushed rocks, and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate has a firm frame of finely grained tannins and oodles of freshness supporting the muscular fruit, finishing long and earthy.

Vineyard is at the wonderfully-named Gruyere, planted in 1997. North-facing, exposed site. Cherry pie, sweet and delicious, with earthier/meatier aspects. It’s like drinking sweet roasted lamb, studded with berries and herbs. Blue fruit aspects here, woodsy herbs, sweet acidity through the finish. It’s not simple but it feels like a simple pleasure, if that makes sense; it just has that drink-me-now exuberance. That said the tannin here is beautifully crafted. I’d drink this before the others in the Single Vineyard range though it may well hold for as long as any of them. Up-front pinot deliciousness, with substance, is the message here.

A salty, savory version, this red offers woodsy underbrush and loam notes, along with sanguine, iron, leather and meaty cherry aromas and flavors. Lively and balanced, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit and herbs. Sangiovese and Merlot. Drink now through 2029.

A heady perfume of oak spices like clove, cedar, cinnamon and toast leads to a palate full of very ripe black fruits, mint and dark chocolate. Moderate tannins, good concentration and a full body encourage a lingering finish. Best through at least 2028.

This big but well-balanced wine wraps fine-grained tannins around nicely ripe and round black cherry and black currant flavors. It tastes deep and subtly oaky and feels both mouthfilling and lively. Best through 2028.

Soft, spiced and forest-like in earthy pine and mushroom, this wine offers rich additional layers of red berry and orange zest. Herbal with a hint of white pepper, it is complex, full in style and tight with a tannic grip.

This elegant, attractive, light- to medium-bodied wine offers subtle, intricate flavors of black tea, red tea, cranberry, cinnamon and bay leaf on a silky texture of light tannins and lively acidity.

This aromatic, medium-bodied and slightly tannic wine shows great balance and an especially appetizing vein of snappy acidity. Aged in just 10% new oak, and for a relatively long 16 months. Clove, cedar, black cherry and mulled cherry give it plenty to appreciate.

Lively and vibrant, with fresh cherry and rhubarb flavors accented by green tea and spice. Lingers on the supple finish. Drink now through 2030.

The first vintage of this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Oakville AVA was in 2015. Roughly 500 cases are made annually, and though it is currently only available at the winery, winemaker Kristy Melton says they are planning to offer it to the wholesale market soon. From an unnamed single vineyard, it shows a subtle, pretty nose of violets, brown spices, blackberry and herbs. Texturally this is classic Oakville, with elegant, fine-grained tannins and crushed graphite minerality, and finishes long with rich chocolate notes.

Notes of brambleberries, sage, tomato leaves, olive stones and iodine lead to a firm and savory palate. Medium body and firm, tight tannins. I like the salty undertones.

This is mellowing nicely, with plum and black cherry flavors fading while earth, mushroom, tobacco, spice and woodsy notes are emerging. Harmonious, ending with lingering savory accents. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Viñedo Maricerro from Portezuelo, Itata, was cold-macerated for 7 days before spending 11 months in 25% new French barrels. Vivid cherry red in the glass. The intense nose offers cherry, strawberry, black tea and hints of oak, sweetbriar, dried rose and cigar box. In the mouth, this is broad and terse, with a slightly velvety feel, integrated freshness and a generous helping of fruit at the back of the throat. The long-lasting, oaky finish rounds out a nuanced Sonoma-style wine.

Made with fruit from the Coal River Valley, in Tasmania, the 2021 Fatal Shore Pinot Noir is a wholly darker and more brooding expression of Giant Steps Pinot Noir, although Flamo's (chief winemaker Steve Flamsteed) take is that they were able to imprint the Giant Steps style on the wine, despite the fruit sourcing, which I agree with. The fruit, in case you were wondering, was reefer-trucked up to the winery and was in the Yarra by the following morning, where the two clones were treated differently; the MV6 was fermented with whole bunches, while the D5V15 was fermented whole berry. This brings a ripe cherry character to mind, with hints of red apple, fresh garden mint and crushed graphite tannins.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has 3% Petit Verdot in the blend. Deep garnet-purple in color, it springs from the glass with notes of black raspberries, blackcurrant pastilles, and kirsch notes, plus suggestions of cinnamon stick, dried mint, red roses, and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers intense, muscular fruit with a solid backbone of firm, grainy, and approachable tannins matched by lovely freshness, finishing with long-lingering earthy nuances. 1,641 cases were made.

Delivers a long beam of raspberry and mulberry coulis notes carried by fresh, nicely embedded acidity, while black tea, dried anise and rooibos notes add fuel for the finish. Shows really nice energy. Drink now through 2029.

This offers some alluring red currant, raspberry and blood orange coulis notes that are stitched together with fine acidity, while flecks of savory, incense and red tea fill in judiciously through the finish. Shows nice length and detail. Drink now through 2029.

Aromas of ripe strawberries, ripe cherries and roses. Medium-bodied with dense fruit and floral character. Fine, tight tannins are soaked in fruit, keeping the palate juicy. Lovely length and concentration. Sustainable. Best after 2024.

Complex aromas of strawberry, brioche and sliced almond. Medium-bodied with a tight mousse. Well-composed flavors of citrus and berries. Long. Crisp and refreshing at the end. 53% pinot noir, 41% chardonnay and 6% pinot meunier. Drink now.

Aromas of mint, nutmeg and baked lemon. Medium-bodied with a supple texture. Delicate and steady with lovely length. Slight nutty character comes through. Elegant. Refreshing finish. Drink now.