A wonderful, rewarding blend that has enough blackberry, cassis and smoky oak flavors to satisfy hedonists, yet also shows the acid-tannic structure to develop bottle complexity over the years. Drink this flashy wine now and through 2018.

The 2017s From Sonoma More Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, the 2016 Armoniza always comes from the same block of the Kellogg Vineyard in Knights Valley and is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 18% Malbec. Its deep purple color is followed by terrific notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, and scorched earth. It’s ripe and medium to full-bodied, with plenty of mid-palate depth and sweet tannins. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Composed of 98% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Sémillon, the 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Journey reveals zesty scents of yuzu, grapefruit and key lime pie with touches of crushed rocks and wild thyme. Medium-bodied, it delivers mouth-filling citrus and mineral layers with oodles of freshness and great length.

Matanzas Creek's track record with Sauvignon Blanc is solid and certainly won't be diminished by this beauty from the Alexander Valley in the 2016 vintage. For one thing, it exhibits remarkable complexity for a Sauvignon (with a touch of Semillon in the blend). On the nose grassy notes emerge with hints of citrus and peach. On the palate there's an additional note of fig. Well balanced and showing excellent length, this is a Sauvignon that will pair well with grilled fowl and Mediterranean tapas, or simply as a summer quaffer.

The Top 20 in Value for 2017… Wines are rated on a 100-point scale. Wines are chosen for review because they represent outstanding quality or value, and the scores are simply a measure of this reviewer's enthusiasm for the recommended wine.

The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Helena Bench is the most textured and resonant of the four Matanzas Sauvignons. Rich and expansive on the palate, the 2013 is utterly captivating.

The leader of an impressive trio from Matanzas Creek, it does the best of the three in integrating deep fruit and unrepentantly pushy varietal character whose pungent juniper and weed focus finds favor in some quarters and disappointments in others. That said, this one is full of fruit citrus and melon fruit, high in pert, bracing character and long on the palate in an entirely convincing manner. We would not be surprised to see it grow in interest and layered complexity for many years to come.

Bone dry, and brightened with zesty acidity, this fabulous SB defines the category. Accented with a touch of oak, it stars potent citrus and tropical fruit, green apple, white flower and mineral flavors, with a complexity that makes it easily worth the price. Gets better and better as it warms in the glass.

Very much biased to green grass and citrus with glimmers of mineral peeking out here and there, this very firm yet well-ripened youngster hits all the right varietal marks and does so with a great sense of reserve. It may show a brief bit of roundness on entry, but it gets downright tight as it goes. We nonetheless find its present coarseness easy to forgive, and its minor offenses are but those of a wine that is simply too young. Good things lie ahead, and it wants another year or two to prove it.

This hits the pure passionfruit flavor of finely ripened sauvignon. It's mouthwatering and firmly structured, with umami flavors of oyster mushrooms and marrow to balance the fruit. A portion of the blend is sauvignon musqué (13 percent) and a portion is fermented and aged in French oak barrels (21). The result is delicious with roast fish.

The 2017s From Sonoma Lots of white flowers, salty minerality, crushed rocks, and gorgeous white fruit notes emerge from the 2017 Chardonnay Journey. Coming from estate holdings on Alexander Mountain and aged in 30% new French oak, it’s medium-bodied, with outstanding purity of fruit, a layered yet elegant texture, and again, this salinity and minerality on the finish that keeps you coming back to the glass.

The 2017s From Sonoma Also beautiful, the 2017 Chardonnay Cougar Ridge Vineyard offers complex notes of stone fruits, turmeric, white flowers and charcoal as well as medium body, terrific overall balance, good acidity, and a great finish. It’s another balanced, complete, satisfying Chardonnay from Marcia that should easily evolve for 3-4 years or more.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Chardonnay Journey is a little youthfully mute, giving way to green mango, guava and Golden Delicious apples notes with a toasty undercurrent and hints of beeswax and roasted almonds. Full-bodied with mouth-coating tropical and toasty layers, it has a lovely line of freshness and plenty of spices coming through on the finish.

The 2016 Chardonnay Cougar Ridge comes from a cooler site in the eastern part of Alexander Valley which was replanted in 2009. This site had previously been planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, yet never ripened. This 2016 gives up Chablis-like notes of lemon curd, buttered citrus, rose petals, and charcoal. With medium body, a fresh, vibrant style, and beautiful purity, it’s going to drink nicely for 5-6 years.

The 2016 Chardonnay Bennett Valley is impressive and offers a fresh, lively style as well as classic aromatics. This cuvée comes mostly from the Wente clone and spent 10 months in 27% new French oak, and offers lots of buttered citrus, white flower, and hints of pineapple as well as medium-bodied depth and richness. Drink it over the coming 3-5 years.

The 2014 Chardonnay is bright, focused and impeccably balanced throughout. Not at all showy, the Chardonnay is a wine built on finesse. Most of the fruit was sourced from the Jackson family's Alexander Mountain Estate. A dollop of Bennett Valley fruit adds brightness and attractive aromatic top notes.

The 2012 Chardonnay is terrific. Dried pears, apricots, white flowers and spices meld together in the glass in a striking, beautifully nuanced Chardonnay to drink now and over the next few years. Beautifully layered and silky throughout, the 2011 impresses for its balance, poise and total sense of harmony.

Unbelievably rich, this tastes pretty much as excellent as the winery's more expensive Chardonnays. It really dazzles with its complex flavors of tropical fruit, green apple,pear, buttered toast and honey. It's all brightened by terrific acidity and wrapped into a creamy texture.

A big, oaky Chardonnay, obviously rich and dense, but somewhat immature. Yet there's lots going on under the dryness, lees and wood tannins. Huge flavors of citrus and tropical fruits, minerals and flowers. Flashy, a crowd-pleaser.

A very rich Chardonnay, notable for its complex flavors of pineapples, sweet Meyer lemons, Key lime pie, buttered toast and smoky caramelized oak. Acidity is quite high, and plays a role in the way it tingles and cleanses the mouth. There's a fresh, jammy quality that makes the wine taste younger that its almost three years. Should develop in the bottle through 2013.

Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Energetic aromas of black cherry, cardamom spice and complimentary oak. Discreetly concentrated in a charming and poised style, with flavors of black cherry, black tea and spice. Highly accessible, with welcome elegance, a silky mouth feel and seamless integration of t n’ a. “Graceful Lady” is an apropos name for this wine. Still highly aromatic and charming when sampled the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. A classic Pinot nose of spiced cherry and earthy flora. A big gulp of dark fruit goodness that is bold yet refined with gracious tannins and giving acidity. Satiny in the mouth, with noticeable oak backing, and a long finish. The majestic fruit is unusually concentrated for Pinot Noir. More desirable when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle when the oak showed better integration. Decant or hold awhile in the cellar.

14.5% alc., pH 3.64, TA 0.58, 192 cases, $66. Primary clone is Pommard. 5-day cold soak, proprietary yeast primary fermentation, punch downs daily, aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 41% new. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. A gorgeous perfume of black cherry, rose petal and vanilla arrives with more aromatic depth over time in the glass. The incredibly intense attack of black cherry, blueberry and pomegranate flavors bring the palate to attention. The engaging fruit envelopes the mid palate with purpose and is framed by filigree tannins. A special wine that although delicate in color, delivers sublime and boisterous flavors that are remarkably persistent on the energetic finish. The flavor profile is quite different from Pommard grown in the Russian River Valley. Score: 93

14.5% alc., pH 3.76, TA 0.51, 236 cases, $66. Primary clone is 667. 5-day cold soak, proprietary yeast fermentation, punch downs daily, and aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 34% new. · Moderate reddish purple hue in the glass. The classy nose offers aromas of black cherry, spice, seasoned barrique and mushroom. A blast of cherry greats the palate in the primarily redfruited, mid weight wine. Not quite the fruit intensity of the other 2013 Maggy Hawk wines, but still impresses with great harmony, cashmere tannins, and a lip-smacking finish. The wine was still pumping out engaging aromas the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 93

Moderate reddish purple hue in the glass. A very charming wine that aims to please with inviting scents of dark cherry, spice, rose petal and anise-laced oak. The full-bodied attack of black cherry, black raspberry and blackberry flavors are accented with a hint of spice. The most tannic of the Maggy Hawk Pinot Noirs, but has the fruit concentration to balance. The velvety mouthfeel is very seductive and the head-turning finish ramps up the intensity level a few notches.