The 2018 Chardonnay Jennifer's is a rich, explosive wine. A burst of unctuous fruit makes a strong opening statement. This oily Chardonnay packs a serious punch. Apricot, orange marmalade, pineapple and exotic flowers build into the textured finish.

The 2018 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard is another potent, rich wine from the Sonoma Coast. Bright saline notes play off a core of unctuous, textured fruit. Apricot, pineapple, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper lend brightness to this potent, structured Chardonnay. The Seascape is sourced from a site next to Coastlands.

The 2019 Old Vine Chenin Blanc Jurassic Vineyard is gorgeous. Bright and savory, with tons of character, the Chenin is exquisite. Dried pear, mint, sage, anise and lemon peel are all laced together in a wine of striking beauty. I haven't always been impressed when Hartford ventures outside their Sonoma comfort zone, but this Santa Barbara Chenin in certainly a welcome addition to the range.

Delicate aromas of Meyer lemon peel, squeezed lime and orange flesh are evident on the nose of this bottling, for which only three barrels were made. A puckering acidity launches the sip, where pleasantly tart lemon and lime flavors lead into riper melon by the midpalate.

Rounded apple, wet stone, damp plumeria and light seashore aromas pop on the nose of this bottling. The palate is wrapped in the brand’s expected grippy texture, with rounded pear and white-flower flavors, as well as a tart touch of dairy.

This white gold colored Chardonnay opens with a vanilla cream and baked apple bouquet with hints of pineapple, butterscotch, and oak. On the palate, this wine medium bodied, nicely balanced, and very smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty oak influenced lemon square and apple blend with hints of green tea, pineapple and mild minerality. The finish is dry and its flavors are extended and drift away for quite a while. The Panel would pair this Chard with Savoury Lane five fruit chicken or with Vietnamese shrimp fresh spring rolls.

This dark red colored Pinot Noir from Brewer-Clifton is impressive! It opens with a fragrant strawberry and Dr. Pepper bouquet with hints of raspberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, juicy and nicely coats your mouth. The flavor profile is an earthy loam and cherry-cola blend with notes of steeped black tea and red plum. I also detected hints of black pepper and clove. The finish is dry and its fruit flavors and moderate tannins show very nice length for a Pinot. This Pinot would pair perfectly with beef bourguignon.

Aromas of earth are sweetened by wildflowers and mocha. Scrumptious, sumptuous notes of strawberry and more mocha are elegantly joined by a unique thread of red tea with a hint of maple. The finish ushers in bright notes of cherry-flavored licorice and a touch of salinity.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Barbieri Vineyard, from a site on Olivet Road, is bright and perfumed, with lovely red berry character pushed front and center. This silky, mid-weight Pinot captures the exuberance of the Russian River, but in a refined style that avoids bombastic intensity. Hints of orange peel, spice and licorice linger. A dollop of whole clusters adds aromatic nuance without dominating the balance.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Perry Ranch Vineyard, from a site in Green Valley, is quite lifted and aromatically expressive. Sweet dried cherry, mint, tobacco and an array of floral and savory nuances open in the glass. Silky tannins give this gracious Pinot tons of charm.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard is fabulous. Dark, rich and expansive, the 2018 has tremendous character and tons of nuance. Black cherry, lavender, spice, menthol and chocolate all infuse the big, powerful tannins that give the 2018 a ton of brooding intensity that needs time to soften. This is built for the cellar.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Harstaadt Vineyard is fabulous. Bright and effusive, with striking aromatic presence, the 2018 hits all the right notes. Crushed flowers, red berry fruit, spice, cedar and blood orange infuse the 2018 with remarkable depth. Silky and exceptionally balanced, the 2018 is positively stellar. It is one of the best wines in this range.

The 2018 Chardonnay Cougar Ridge Vineyard is marked by strong floral accents and pretty white orchard fruit. Beautifully lifted and perfumed, the 2018 is a model of grace. It is such a distinctive wine with plenty of cooler-climate inflections to match its understated personality.

The 2018 Chardonnay (Alexander Valley) is laced with a range of tropical, buttery and exotic floral notes that play off the naturally textured fruit these stressed hillside sites produce. Open-knit and sensual, the 2018 Chardonnay is ready to go. Readers who enjoy more overt Chardonnays will adore the Alexander Valley bottling from Matanzas Creek.

The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (Knights Valley) is wonderfully complex and nuanced. Layered and bright, the 2019 has terrific depth as well as energy. White flowers, mint, sage and citrus peel add striking shades of character. The Knights Valley has a bit of skin contact, which adds to its phenolic feel.

Sleek and minerally, with lithe spiciness to the sinewy cherry and dried berry flavors that are backed by zesty acidity. Shows hints of graphite on the crisp finish, with notes of forest floor. Drink now through 2026.

More bright Bing cherries, leafy herbs, flowers, and violet notes define the 2019 Pinot Noir Lingenfelder Vineyard. Medium-bodied, it has a rounded, elegant texture and outstanding length on the finish. With more moderate acidity and plenty of up-front charm, it nevertheless has good underlying tannins and the balance to keep for 4-6 years.

I loved the 2018 Pinot Noir Lingenfelder Vineyard. It's a beautiful, floral, complex Russian River Valley release offering vibrant red fruits, flowers, spice, and orange blossom-like aromas and flavors. With terrific overall balance, a layered mouthfeel, and ripe tannins, it's already delicious yet should easily keep for 4-6 years (and probably longer).

I was able to taste two wines from the Legacy label. First, the 2018 Chardonnay offers a rich, medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated style as well as exotic pineapple and tropical fruits, notes of chalky minerality, white flowers, and honeyed almonds, good acidity, and a juicy, elegant, upfront mouthfeel. Drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years.

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.