This pale copper colored "Brut Rose" from Gran Moraine opens with a beautiful array of fine bubbles. Its bouquet features bread dough and strawberry with hints of almond, peach and pineapple. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with plus acidity. It is crisp yet has a round mouthfeel. The flavor profile is a mineral influenced strawberry and watermelon blend with notes of grapefruit and brioche. We also detected hints of clementine and lemon in the aftertaste. The finish is pleasantly dry and quite refreshing. This Brut Rose would pair well with fresh sliced Norwegian salmon or sushi.

Today we stick our nose and tongue into a really good white wine. It’s so good, they’ve incorporated it into the name: Murphy Goode Chardonnay! Located in Sonoma, California, this winery is part of the Jackson Family wine empire, which includes Kendall Jackson.The label gives you a big hint on what to expect: “ripe apple, lemon curd, vanilla.” But describing a wine is a very subjective exercise. Experience can certainly help you identify more aromas and flavours than when you first start appreciating wine. The bottom line is, “Do you like it?” And picking descriptors for the smells and flavours is very personal. It’s what you experience rather than whether you are right or wrong.On the nose I identified tropical fruit, citrus, toasty oak and coconut. When I tasted this golden Chardonnay there was ripe pineapple and lemon zest, butterscotch from the minimal barrel fermentation, and a hint of spice like nutmeg. It's a well-balanced wine with the fruit and the other properties in harmony, a refreshing amount of acid and a long mango finish. Here’s a Chardonnay that works as a sipper as well as a great pairing for seared scallops.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder was aged in French oak barrels for 22 months, 94% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it soars out of the glass with vivacious scents of black cherries, black raspberries and black currant pastilles, followed by nuances of pencil shavings, tilled earth, lilacs and underbrush plus a waft of crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is taut, packed with muscular, impactful black fruits, featuring a rock-solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins, finishing with a whole firework display of earthy/minerally sparks. Give it a good 4-5 years in bottle and drink it for the next 25+ years.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesComposed of 84.5% Merlot and 15.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 W.S. Keyes Merlot was aged for 22 months in oak, 79% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it charges out of the gate with intoxicating scents of black cherry compote, plum preserves, baked raspberries and spice cake with hints of potpourri, star anise and garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the taut, crunchy black and blue fruit layers are supported by tightly knit, very fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. The super ripe tannins and showy fruit mean it is approachable now, but I'd leave it a couple of years for the flavors to start to fan out. It should easily cellar for 20-25+ years.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard was aged for 12 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has a profound yet slightly broody nose to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal wonderfully fragrant notes of wild blueberries, black cherries, dark chocolate and warm cassis, followed by nuances of garrigue, violets, tar and licorice plus a touch of wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has gorgeous velvety tannins and finely knit freshness supporting generous black and blue fruits, finishing very long and achingly fragrant. Wow.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesComposed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, the 2018 Cardinale was aged in French oak barrels for 22 months, 81% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it prances out of the glass with gregarious notions of warm cassis, black cherries and wild blueberries, followed by emerging earth scents with a tobacco and garrigue undercurrent. Medium to full-bodied, gracefully styled and refreshing, the vibrant black and blue-fruited palate offers a wonderfully fine-grained texture and bags of energy, finishing long with a skip in its step.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Le Désir was tasted as a final-blend barrel sample, due to be bottled in January 2021. Composed of 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec, it will have been aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is a little shy to begin, offering subtle suggestions of red roses, lilacs and kirsch over a core of blackberry preserves, black raspberries and red currant jelly plus a touch of cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is captivatingly elegant, featuring layer upon layer of floral and earth accents among the intense black and red fruits, finishing with fantastic length and almost electric tension. Stunning!

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 La Muse was tasted as a final-blend barrel sample, due to be bottled in January 2021. Composed of 90% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec, it will have been aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes galloping out of the glass with energetic scents of freshly crushed black and red plums, wild blueberries, red currant jelly and boysenberries with hints of crushed rocks, truffles and black olives plus a waft of damp earth. Full-bodied, the palate is taut and muscular with firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing incredibly long and incredibly nuanced.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) was tasted as a finished blend that has come out of barrel in preparation for bottling. It spent 12 months in 100% new French oak and is due to be bottled in April 2021. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose delivers intense black currant cordial, Black Forest cake and blackberry pie notes with suggestions of cardamom, tobacco leaf, pencil lead and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is pure decadence with layers of black and blue berry preserves intertwined with tightly knit earthy nuances, poised to break through all that fruit. The rich flavors are well-framed by firm, very fine tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with fantastic persistence. What a beauty!

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain was aged in French oak for 22 months, 92% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal earthy/rocky scents over a core of black currants, blackberries and mulberries with emerging hints of pencil lead and green peppercorns. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness with loads of mineral suggestions intertwined with the black fruits, finishing long with some evocative floral notes coming through.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain was aged for 22 months in French oak, 93% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose explodes with profound cassis, black plums and blackberries scents backed up by suggestions of espresso, black olives and bay leaves. The concentrated, full-bodied palate is jam-packed by expressive black fruit preserves and savory layers, supported by a firm backbone of grainy tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard spent 12 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bold scents of fresh blackberries, black currants and mulberries plus suggestions of cedar chest, pencil lead, iron ore and truffles, with emerging wafts of crushed rocks and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers firm, grainy, exquisitely ripe tannins and seamless freshness supporting layer upon layer of black fruits, finishing on a long-lingering fragrant earth note.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard was aged for 10 months in French oak, 46% new. It has a very classy nose of ripe peaches, fresh yellow apples and allspice followed by fresh ginger, cashew and acacia honey plus a waft of sea spray. Full-bodied, rich, satiny and with fantastic intensity and tension, it finishes very long and chalky. YUM!

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesA blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain was aged for 22 months in oak barrels, 84% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it explodes from the glass with bombastic black currants, black cherries and boysenberries notes plus underlying hints of violets, dark chocolate and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard was 100% barrel fermented in French oak barrels, 26% new, and aged for 14 months. It needs a little coaxing to reveal restrained notes of lemon meringue pie, lime leaves, struck flint and wet pebbles with touches of coriander seed, orange blossoms and yuzu zest. Medium-bodied, the palate is very crisp, intense and pure with loads of citrus and stone-inspired flavors, finishing very long and zesty. This tight-knit beauty is going to be incredible in another year or two and will drink well for at least 10+ years.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Jennifer’s Vineyard was 100% barrel fermented in French oak barrels, 34% new, and aged for 14 months. It springs from the glass with impressive lemon curd, lime blossom, sea spray and mandarin peel scents with hints of shaved almonds, green mango and chalk dust. The palate is like a tightly coiled spring with amazing tension and intensity—loads of citrus and mineral layers—finishing very long and zesty.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 La Joie was tasted as a final-blend barrel sample, due to be bottled in January 2021. Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec, it will have been aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal fragrant roses, violets, chocolate box and pencil shavings notes with a core of black currant pastilles, mulberries and warm plums. Medium to full-bodied, very tightly knit, elegant and refreshing in the mouth, the intense black fruits are mineral laced and perfumed, finishing with great length.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) was tasted as a finished blend that has come out of barrel in preparation for bottling. It spent 12 months in 100% new French oak and is due to be bottled in April 2021. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose is very primary, revealing pure blueberry, plums and crushed black currants scents with nuances of cedar, cloves and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm, grainy texture with concentrated black fruits leading to a very long, fruity finish.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain was aged in French oak barrels for 22 months, 97% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it rolls effortlessly out of the glass with notes of warm cassis, black cherries, mulberries and plum preserves plus hints of dark chocolate, crushed rock and tree bark with a waft of truffles. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with earthy/savory black fruit layers and super firm, rugged tannins, delivering a tightly wound, lively finish. Give it a good 5 years in bottle and drink it over the next 20+ years.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Cabernet Franc Howell Mountain was aged for 22 months in oak, 65% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with a lifted, perfumed nose of red roses, kirsch, red plums and red currant jelly, followed by hints of mulberries, pencil shavings and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular red fruit, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long with loads of earthy sparks.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesComposed of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot, the 2018 Cabernet Franc was aged for 22 months in oak, 76% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with vibrant scents of black cherries, warm plums and warm red currents with hints of graphite, cardamom and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with energetic, crunchy black and red fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing on a lingering ferrous note.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard was 100% barrel fermented in French oak barrels, 15% new, and aged for 13 months. It comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of baked apples, poached pears and spice cake with hints of powdered ginger, honeydew melon and brioche. Medium-bodied, delicately played and tightly wound in the mouth, it has great tension and loads of mineral nuances coming through on the finish. Stunning Chardonnay!

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's Vineyard is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 20 months in French oak, 73% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it delivers a gorgeous nose of red currant jelly, Morello cherries and black currant cordial with hints of chocolate mint, tree bark and cardamom. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, featuring crunchy, densely laden fruit flavors and a firm, grainy texture, finishing with great length, freshness and a touch of minerality.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Gravel Bench Vineyard was aged for 10 months in 100% new French oak. A little closed to begin, it soon opens out to reveal citrus fruit notions of lemon tart and lime cordial with a hint of yuzu, followed by pear drops and nutmeg with a waft of toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully generous with a satiny texture and a lively line leading to long, spicy finish.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesA blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder was aged for 22 months in oak barrels, 82% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vibrant crème de cassis, baked plums and Morello cherries scents, followed by nuances of sautéed herbs, clove oil, mocha and scorched earth. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with layers of black and blue fruits, sporting a rock-solid backbone of grainy tannins and great tension, finishing long and minerally.