Julia’s is one of two vineyards on the estate property named for the daughters of Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson (the other is Katherine’s). Here, the benchland clay-loam soils soak up what little warmth the valley provides; the vines usually grow fruit with a savory, dark berry expression. This wine is reserved, with elements of both surf and turf, the tobacco note lined with a salty tang. It’s balanced and finely wrought, with a balsamic savor that calls to mind braised duck. Best Buy.

The mountain-grown cabernets of Sonoma's Alexander Valley remain a source of true California cab value without having to pay Napa prices. This high altitude cab pours deep ruby-purple. The nose lifts with ripe blackcurrant jam, cabernet mint, dark chocolate and fine vaguely resinous wood spice. It is full bodied, chunky and firm with considerable alcohol and tannin, so you may want to age a few bottles. Excellent focus and length, Tasted Feb 2020.

Plush, yet precise and structured, with rich blackberry, green peppercorn and dried sage flavors that finish with fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2029.

Fresh aromas of lemon balm and lemon verbena meet with exotic melon, blistered almond and sliced tangerine on the nose of this bottling. The palate is a bit more ripe, yet still chiseled in tone, offering crushed white rock, apple flesh and more tangerine before the vanilla and caramel spices pop on the finish.

A 100% varietal white fermented and aged in concrete egg and neutral French oak, this wine succeeds in its gorgeously sleek, focused and fresh lemon and earthiness. Crisp and bright throughout, it has a succulent, memorable finish of light spice and stone.

Siduri Likely to Keep on Winning The nose is just gorgeous, offering aromas of baking-spiced red and black fruit, including strawberry, blackberry and blueberry. There’s a moist earth note as well. The deeply layered body is full and round, but juicy acid adds levity, elevating the light and sweet tannin. Flavor-wise, it offers sweet and polished cherry, blueberry and strawberry, which are accompanied by black pepper and cigar tobacco. This is a very pure expression of Russian River pinot.

Tasting the Traumatic 2017 Vintage (And Others) in Northern California Aromas of blueberries, currants and flowers follow through to a medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a delicious finish. Shows some hazelnut and walnut undertones. Very fine-toned. Drink or hold.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases Pale to medium ruby-purple colored—wow—the 2017 Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters explodes with perfumed red and black cherries, candied violets and chocolate box plus touches of rose hip tea, sautéed herbs and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate possesses wonderful vibrance and freshness, with a plush, fine-grained texture and a long, savory finish.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2017 Pinot Noir Truly Rita leaps from the glass with vibrant baked raspberries, Bing cherries and wild strawberries notes, plus hints of melted chocolate, underbrush and lilacs and a waft of fertile loam. Medium-bodied, the palate is plush, juicy and evocative, with loads of red berry and earthy layers, finishing long and fragrant.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2017 Pinot Noir Land’s Edge Vineyards opens with spicy notions of fenugreek, cumin seed and cloves over a core of baked red plums, blackberry pie and blueberry preserves plus wafts of oolong tea and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with black and blue fruit preserves, structured with finely grained tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2017 Pinot Noir Fog Dance Vineyard is a little closed to begin, opening out to Black Forest cake, mulberries and kirsch scents plus hints of dark chocolate, wild thyme, lavender and charcuterie. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers fantastic intensity with loads of red berry and savory layers and a pleasant chew to the texture, finishing with an herbal lift.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases The 2017 Chardonnay Stone Côte sashays out of the glass with provocative apricot tart, honey-drizzled pears and spice cake notes plus suggestions of fresh ginger and marzipan. Medium-bodied, the palate possesses bags of finesse and freshness and a satiny texture to boot, finishing on an invigorating citrusy note.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases The 2017 Chardonnay Sevens Bench Vineyard bursts with expressive green mango, guava and apple pie scents plus suggestions of coriander seed, cedar chest and pineapple tart. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is all class with lovely freshness defining the apple and tropical flavors, finishing on a spicy note.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases The 2017 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard is a little youthfully mute at this stage, giving up notions of baked pears, peach cobbler and lemongrass with touches of pie crust and chopped nuts. Medium-bodied, the palate gives a great intensity of pure, well-defined apples and pears flavors, structured with a refreshing backbone, finishing chalky.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Zinfandel Hartford Vineyard comes strutting out of the glass with gregarious Black Forest cake, black raspberries and prunes notes, plus hints of red roses, black tea, spice cake and fertile loam. Full-bodied, concentrated and jam-packed with fruit preserves and spicy layers, it has a plush texture and compelling freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Zinfandel Dina's Vineyard has a nose of preserved plums, fruitcake, unsmoked cigars and charcoal with nuances of dried herbs, fallen leaves and Chinese five spice. The full-bodied palate has a lovely savory expression with rugged, chewy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long and savory.

USA, California: All Along the Central Coast – The 2017 Vintage in Paso Robles and Beyond Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2016 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard opens with Bing cherry, spiced cranberry, pomegranate and sliced blueberries, with an intriguing background of floral perfume—lots of layers here. It's light to medium-bodied with good fruit intensity, firm, grainy tannins and juicy acidity, finishing long and layered. Yum!

USA, California: All Along the Central Coast – The 2017 Vintage in Paso Robles and Beyond Deep ruby-purple, the 2016 Syrah Brosseau Vineyard (the vineyard is certified organic) opens with blueberry liqueur, cassis, a hint of toasted coconut, black earth, aniseed, mint leaves and charcuterie with bay leaf accents. Medium-bodied, it's rich and intense with a frame of lightly chewy tannins, great freshness and a long, flavorful finish. This is youthfully flamboyant and should develop well in bottle over the next few years.

USA, California: All Along the Central Coast – The 2017 Vintage in Paso Robles and Beyond Aged 15 months in 23% new French oak, the pale to medium ruby colored 2016 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands gives up crushed blackberries and black cherries, cranberry, moss-covered bark, dried tangerine peel, rose petal, perfumed earth and red berry aromas. The palate is light to medium-bodied with a wonderfully silky texture but still retaining power, with pure fruits and lots of perfume. It has a frame of sturdy, grainy and juicy freshness with a long, energetic finish.

2018 Oregon Vintage: Vineyard Savvy Reaps Consistency and Quality Striking, fragrant lift here with blood-orange, pink-grapefruit and pomegranate aromas, as well as wild red cherries and forest leaves. The palate has very elegant style with bright acidity carrying red cherries long and fresh. Drink or hold.

2018 Oregon Vintage: Vineyard Savvy Reaps Consistency and Quality A very modern, complex style with rich aromas of red cherries and plums, laced with baking spices, fresh forest leaves and stones. The palate has a very supple, smooth-honed feel with a creamy style of tannin, carrying fresh, red-cherry flavors in pure, bright mode. Good definition too. Drink or hold.

2018 Oregon Vintage: Vineyard Savvy Reaps Consistency and Quality Aromas of star anise, red plums and cherries, as well as blueberries. This is enticingly complex. The palate delivers a smooth, vibrant red-cherry core with such silky, smooth tannin. Great balance, too. Really seductive. Drink or hold.

2018 Oregon Vintage: Vineyard Savvy Reaps Consistency and Quality Impressive aromas of fresh lemons and peaches with lime-pith and spiced-biscuit notes, as well as a hint of praline. The palate then delivers a superbly fleshy and smooth core of rich, concentrated, ripe-peach flavors. Very composed and long. Drink now.