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.

Medium ruby color; dark cherry and wild raspberry aromas with light oak and spice shadings; pure, lively and deep dark cherry flavors with spice and pomegranate notes; some tannin; good structure and balance; long finish. Deep, dark Pinot with great structure and balance.

Medium ruby color; earthy, blueberry and raspberry aromas with light floral notes; fresh, pure plum and blueberry flavors with dark chocolate notes and supple tannins; good structure and balance; long finish. This is an earthy and floral Pinot with a lot of complexity.

My favorite is the 2012 Pinot Noir Afleet, which is made from the Pommard selection, and comes across as a French Pommard, with its meaty, muscular, rather masculine style. With lots of damp earth, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit and plenty of muscle, density and structure, it’s the biggest and richest of the Pinot Noirs, but also the most limited in availability (156 cases).

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Lovely scent of black cherry mash, spice, rose petal and grilled mushrooms. More sappy and concentrated than the 2011 version, with a bombastic array of redder cherry and berry fruits touched by oak. Deft winemaking here with suave tannins, and bright acidity that flatter the fruit core. Like all the 2012 Maggy Hawk Pinot Noirs, the finish is noteworthy for its generosity and persistence.

Gorgeous moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. This wine has an Oh God! nose offering sexy aromas of Bing cherry, cardamom spice, dark chocolate and vanilla bean. The delicious black cherry core saturates the mid palate, expands in the mouth, and carries over to a finish that seems to last a minute. Suede-like tannins frame the fruit which is accented by oak-driven notes of spice, mocha and vanilla. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and recorked bottle, the aromatic goodness was still in full dress. The only nit I have is that the oak is a little heavyhanded.

Light, bright red. High-pitched aromas of strawberry, blood orange and fresh rose. Spicy and precise, with an intriguing litheness and very good energy to its tangy red fruit, cola and floral pastille flavors. Shows a vibrant mineral quality on the finish, which clings with excellent tenacity and appealing sweetness. This wine is all about finesse.

Vivid red. Sexy raspberry and Asian spices on the highly perfumed nose, with notes of fresh rose, minerals and incense adding complexity. Sweet, sappy and expansive, offering penetrating red and dark berry flavors and a velvety texture. Impressively energetic and precise, with seductively sweet notes of candied red fruits and rose pastille on the seamless finish. 40% new oak here.

Racy, nervy and showing pinpoint focus and tangy, elegant flavors of cherry, raspberry and spice; pretty, pure and stylish with great finesse and balance.