I loved the 2018 Chardonnay 9 Barrel. It has a more stone-fruited, white flower, toasted almond, and brioche-driven style that carries medium to full-bodied richness, a great mid-palate, and a layered, elegant mouthfeel. It reminds me of a hypothetical mix of a Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years.

The flagship release from this estate, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Stature offers up a dense purple hue to go with lots of pure cassis and darker berry fruits as well as notes of chocolate, classy oak, and tobacco. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and wonderfully balanced, it shows the more elegant, focused, structured side to the vintage and will drink nicely for 15 years if properly stored.

One of the more up-front, perfumed Zinfandels in the lineup, the 2019 Zinfandel Dina's Vineyard boasts a ruby/purple hue as well as ripe strawberries, blueberries, cedary spice, and dried flowers. This complex, medium to full-bodied, incredibly charming, and satisfying effort is going to drink nicely for 7-8 years.

The 2019 Zinfandel Winberrie Knolls is a beautiful Zinfandel offering classic red plum and ripe cherry fruit to go with a complex array of sandalwood, flowery incense, and candied orange peel notes. Nicely textured on the palate, medium to full-bodied, and as supple and seamless as they come, this is a charming, pleasure-bent, undeniably delicious Zinfandel to drink over the coming 5-7 years.

Readers looking for a pure, impeccably made Russian River Chardonnay should check out the 2019 Chardonnay Russian River Valley from Hartford Court. It has classic pineapple and honeyed orchard fruits, a rich, medium-bodied mouthfeel, good acidity, and subtle toasty, nutty background nuances. It's ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.

Another Anderson Valley cuvée, the 2019 Chardonnay DuPratt has that classic, savory, mineral-laced perfume of the appellation as well as bright lemon and pineapple fruits, medium-bodied richness, a rich, concentrated mid-palate, and subtle background oak. It's another classic, impeccably made Chardonnay that has loads to love.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pine Mountain comes from an estate vineyard on Cloverdale Peak, and while I'm not sure of the blend, I suspect there's a splash of Merlot in the mix as well. Deep purple-hued, with a rich, full-bodied, polished style, it has plenty of blackberry and cassis fruit, classic Sonoma minerality, plenty of toast, spice, and savory herbs, terrific balance, and outstanding length. It's approachable today, yet my money is on it evolving for two decades or more.

The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Pine Mountain offers a similar style yet has more vibrant lime and minerality, medium-bodied richness, bright, crisp acidity, and a great finish. It's slightly more serious and age-worthy and is going to drink brilliantly for 4-5 years, if not longer.

This makes a youthful yet already complex impression, with spicy charcuterie-like elements interlaced with strawberry and wild red cherry fruits. The palate has a vivid, upbeat feel delivering attractive and open-knit style around a fresh core of red cherry and berry fruit flavours.

Pastry-like notes framing sliced pear, fresh lemon and gently peachy chardonnay fruits, all set in a restrained and pure mode. The palate delivers a smooth fleshy impression of the fruit and fresh pastry flavours that follow the nose. Very elegant with impressive clarity of fruit.

A red with berry, chocolate and some toasted oak. It’s medium-to full-bodied with round tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

Lots of blueberry and black-cherry aromas. Medium-bodied with round, ripe tannins that have a tight texture. Firm and intense. Drink or hold.

Malty, lanolin, raw almond aromas, delicate, refined, subtle and beautifully balanced. Tastes quite different to a Gingin clone wine from, say, Margaret River. Intense, very fine and long and there's a gentle grip on the finish that helps cleanse the aftertaste. (200m altitude, Gingin clone)

Powerful, dense and velvety, with star anise and salty black licorice flavors that show whiffs of smoke, bay leaf and black tea, mingling with currant, spiced stewed plum and cassis on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2036.

Lots of ripe fruit with spices and flowers on the nose. It’s full-bodied with soft, round tannins and a chewy finish. A little dusty and woody now, but will come together nicely in another year. Drink or hold.

Very pretty Chianti Classico with a medium body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. It’s medium-to full-bodied with integrated tannins and a long, linear finish. Cool and well crafted. Drink or hold.

Attractive violet-like florals with blueberry, red plum and blackcurrant, this makes a pure impression and has a degree of inherent, aromatic detail. The palate is smoothly rendered with fine tannins, suspended through layers of ripe dark berries and plums. Medium body. A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

This is a jubilant style of Pinot Noir, loaded with cherries and strawberries as mace and oak spice uplift the fruit. The fresh red fruit explodes on the palate, where cinnamon and sumac wrap into vanilla- pastry flavors, with lingering oak on the finish.

Creamy texture akin to salted butter leads the way to a mineral-driven midpalate of stone, citrus and peach in this delightfully complex and balanced wine. Hints of baking spice and dried herb provide additional character and intrigue.

Reductive red fruit, cedar and oak combine around an intensely grippy and powerful midpalate in this appellation wine. Nuanced elements of cherry, currant and cassis whisper within the layers of tobacco, tomato leaf and fine structure.

This shows attractively ripe cherries with floral tones, as well as forest wood, leaves and hints of fresh tobacco. The palate offers good depth and fresh, redder-toned cherry flavors, amid some spicy and earthy threads through the finish. Drink or hold.

Lovely light pink with an elegant nose of red flower, rhubarb, a tad savory. Another homerun on the palate, great fruit, acidity, the whole nine here. Outstanding.

100% Pinot Noir. Another wine that seems to have improved over the last 12 months (92 Pts. in 2020). Classic medium pink with a lovely nose of ripe peach and rose petals. Fruity on the palate with a savory note, plenty of tartness, a another lovely wine. Outstanding.

COMMENTARY: The 2018 Penner-Ash Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir is bright, aromatic, and lasting. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows up with bright and fragrant blue fruits and stays lovely on the palate with lasting and attractive boysenberry flavors.

COMMENTARY: The Gran Moraine Brut Rosé is fresh, lovely, and persistent. TASTING NOTES: This wine sails onto the palate with red fruit flavors that lasts long and crisp in the finish. Pair it with grilled salmon.