Lemon, lime, apple, grass aromas. A bit of ginger and some salty, stony minerality on the palate. Aromatic, dry, with refreshing acidity and lingering finish. Very good.

The ‘electric acidity’ of Sta. Rita Hills fine chardonnayRecommended

There’s more than one way to ditch white (wine) after Labor DayThe 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is full with aromas of black plum, raspberry, and forest floor, complemented by flavors of bing cherry and sassafras and hints of baking spice. This 100% Pinot Noir bottle pairs with a full table spread, from grilled and roasted meats as well as pasta Bolognese to prosciutto, mushrooms, and cured black olives.

This pours almost flourescent yellow and the aromas are just as bold. From the cool Pacific-cooled Santa Maria Valley this single vineyard chardonnay has been made in a reductive style to bring some edge to its naturally rounded character. The nose shows a touch of flint and onion, along with considerable oak toast, spice and pineapple fruit. It is medium-full bodied, fairly firm and nicely balanced, with excellent length. Lots going on, quite assertive and lacking some finesse. I would actually age it a couple of years.

Nice to see California moving to serious rose wines that aren't white zinfandel. There is California weight and warmth to this pinot noir rose but it maintains freshness and even a sense of delicacy. Expect vague sour cherry and floral aromas and flavours with a touch of grapefruit on the finish. The length is very good.

Limpid yellow. Powerful, mineral-tinged Meyer lemon and pear scents show fine definition and complementary, building notes of anise and smoky lees. Vibrant and focused in the mouth, offering sappy citrus and orchard fruit flavors and deeper buttered toast and honeydew qualities that emerge on the back half. Shows impressive energy and finishes silky and very long, featuring lingering vanilla and floral nuances.

Light, shimmering yellow. A highly perfumed nose evokes fresh melon, Meyer lemon, pear nectar, vanilla and succulent flowers, and a smoky mineral nuance emerges as the wine stretches out. Sappy, concentrated and incisive on the palate, offering intense citrus and orchard fruit flavors and chamomile and buttered toast flourishes. A dusty mineral element adds vibrant lift and cut to the impressively long, penetrating finish, which leaves behind a suave floral note. 55% new French oak.

Brilliant straw-gold. Fresh pear, tangerine and melon aromas are joined by ginger, honeysuckle and mineral notes that build in the glass. Juicy, penetrating and focused on the palate, offering concentrated, well-balanced citrus and orchard fruit flavors and suggestions of sea salt and bitter quinine. Shows an intriguing blend of richness and vivacity and finishes with outstanding clarity and strong, mineral-driven tenacity.

Pale yellow. Fresh pear, melon and lemon curd aromas are complemented by hints of white flowers, vanilla and buttered toast. Fleshy and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy citrus and orchard fruit flavors that tighten up and pick up a minerally nuance with aeration. Finishes with firm grip, a repeating floral note and strong, spicy persistence.

Shimmering yellow. Fresh nectarine, orange, Bosc pear and floral qualities on the highly perfumed nose. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated yet lively orchard and pit fruit, honeysuckle and vanilla flavors that show an appealing touch of smoky reduction. Hangs on with impressive tenacity on a spice-laced finish that strongly echoes the pear and floral notes.

Vivid yellow. Ripe, spice-tinged apricot and pear nectar aromas, with a subtle floral note in the background. In a generous, fleshy style, showing good heft to the juicy orchard and pit fruit flavors. A sweetening honey note builds on the persistent finish, which features building floral and gingery spice qualities.

Bright violet. Expressive black and blue fruit aromas are complemented by floral and cola notes and a hint of cracked pepper. Smooth and seamless on the palate, offering juicy blackberry and boysenberry flavors that slowly tighten up on the back half. Finishes on a faintly smoky note, with strong persistence and supple, even tannins making a late appearance.

Light, bright gold. Fresh pear and white peach aromas are complemented by suggestions of white flowers and lemon zest. Fleshy and energetic in the mouth, offering sappy citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a spicy hint of candied ginger. Finishes with firm grip, a sweetening touch of vanilla and good, spicy persistence.

Limpid, green-tinged straw. Fresh citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, joined by a hint of fennel as the wine opens up. Fleshy and broad on entry, then more taut in the midpalate, offering bitter pear skin, Meyer lemon and candied ginger flavors. Finishes long and spicy, with a lingering pear note and a hint of florality.

Les Cadrans de Lassègue 2016, with black cherry, cranberry, spice and violet on the nose, a rich and round palate and fresh acidity on the finish.

...but if you prefer something a little creamier, there’s the 2019 Matanzas Creek Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, a fragrant wine with melon and pink grapefruit flavors and an appealing texture.

Seductive, generous, supple.This seductive bottle comes from the portfolio of more than three dozen (worldwide) wineries owned by Jackson Family Wines. One harvested primarily from Oakville Reach (Oakville), Keyes (Howell Mountain), Stage Coach Vineyard (Atlas Peak), Bosche Vineyard (Rutherford) and the Sycamore Vineyard (Rutherford) in Napa Valley; it was aged 28.6 months in 60-gallon French oak barrels (35% new). The blend is 75.8% Cabernet (by law to be labeled as such it must contain 75%+ Cabernet Sauvignon) with descending amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc.Freemark Abbey is a generous red, it doles out inky aromas of intense cassis, vanilla, black cherries, licorice, purple floral notes and baking spices. Just as concentrated, the palate delivers dusty dark fruit, savoury spices, toasted oak and chicory with bittersweet cocoa and espresso lingering on a persistent finish. This wine has it all; balance, structure and authority.

This is a typical Santa Barbara chardonnay with its ripeness elegantly constrained by firm acidity giving tension and with oak spice well integrated on nose and palate. Structurally it is dry, firm and well balanced with good focus and a lively fruity finish. Very good to excellent length. Still youthful, so give it an hour or two in a decanter only lightly chilled or better still age for another year or two in the cellar.

Widely known for the quality of its chardonnays and pinots, La Crema delivers this crisp and fruity ros made with pinot noir grown in five vineyards located in Monterey County, Calif. The purity of fruit flavours and its easygoing nature make this worth the splurge. Look for refreshing cran-cherry, melon and citrus notes that are nicely balanced and finish with a clean sweep of acidity. Drink now to 2021.

A dry pinot noir rose that is a delicate salmon pink with fine mild aromas of red cherry and strawberry fruit with mineral and floral notes. The palate is midweight and creamy with a little fruit sweetness and soft acidity and lots of flavour. Excellent length. Enjoy on its own or with seafood or mildly flavoured cheese.

Summery red, white and sparkling wines to enjoy before autumn arrivesThe Value Whites2018 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, California

This delightful blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is sharp and crisp with strawberry and cherry flavors. Nicely balanced with a fresh, lively finish.

Wine of the Day: Diatom Bar-M ChardonnayFrom 20-year-old vines grown in the Sta. Rita Hills’ Bar-M vineyard, the clean, precise wine is chic, polished, and sophisticated. Diatom Bar-M Chardonnay from Brewer-Clifton is a gorgeous and luscious, yet delicate and crisp.Refreshing and bright, with lime leaf and lemon blossom, a wet stone, mineral core, and clean, slightly briny finish.

Defined tones of red fruit and tangerine, alongside bright acidity, give this wine undeniable lift and life. It is sourced from a cool-climate block within the Arrendell Vineyard. Herbal in thyme and celery seed, it delights the midpalate with length and energy, expanding on the earthy theme with lasting freshness and specks of white pepper and cardamom.

From a panoramic estate site above Occidental in view of the Pacific Ocean, this wine is peaty and feral, with plenty of fruitiness to spare. Beautifully layered and crisp in orange peel and plum, it is aged in 100% French oak, 37% of it new, allowing for structure and grace with lasting teases of clove, pepper and briny sea.