From the Green Valley, the 2013 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard (253 cases produced) sees about 44% new French oak. It reveals terrific fruit, lots of tangerine oil, pear, pineapple and caramelized citrus, medium to full body, and tremendous acidity and definition. Drink over the next 7-8 years.

The 2012 Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard is one of the most nuanced, transparent and weightless Chardonnays in this range. Lemon, slate, white flowers and crushed rocks meld together in a pointed, nuanced Chardonnay endowed with terrific energy and pure mineral drive. Bright saline notes support the finish. This is a terrific showing from Hartford.

The 2012 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard is from a hillside location in Green Valley that experiences the frequent fogs that roll in off the ocean. It exhibits abundant notes of Mandarin oranges and citrus oil intermixed with a hint of smoke (one-third new French oak is utilized), and a full-bodied, rich, crisp, layered mouthfeel with great elegance as well as purity. It possesses one of the highest alcohol levels of Hartford Court’s Chardonnays at 14.7%.

More orange rind, tropical fruit blossoms and citrus oil characteristics are found in the 2009 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard. Like its siblings, it is kept in barrel for approximately 15 months prior to being bottled unfiltered. It, too, should drink nicely for 3-4 years. Owned by Jess Jackson and Don Hartford and assisted by winemaker Jeff Mangahas, Hartford Court is one of the bright shining stars in Jess Jackson Family Vineyard's impressive portfolio. All three Chardonnays come from cool climate sites, either the Sonoma Coast or the Green Valley. I tasted five 2008 Pinot Noirs, a challenging vintage for some producers but Hartford Court had no smoke issues.

One of my perennial favorites, the 2009 Chardonnay Stone Cote Vineyard (actually a block of vines within the Durell Vineyard) enjoys indigenous yeast fermentation, aging in French oak, and bottling without filtration. It exhibits lots of green apple, honeyed melon, quince and nectarine notes in its full-bodied, beautifully textured, crisp, fresh yet substantial personality. It should drink well for 3-4 years. Owned by Jess Jackson and Don Hartford and assisted by winemaker Jeff Mangahas, Hartford Court is one of the bright shining stars in Jess Jackson Family Vineyard's impressive portfolio. All three Chardonnays come from cool climate sites, either the Sonoma Coast or the Green Valley. I tasted five 2008 Pinot Noirs, a challenging vintage for some producers but Hartford Court had no smoke issues.

Good bright red-ruby. Highly aromatic nose combines cassis, black pepper and brown spices. Richer and more horizontal than the Bosche, with bright acidity framing and lifting the somewhat cool flavors of dark berries and clove. This juicy, firmly structured wine finishes with sweet tannins and very good breadth but will need at least four or five years of bottle aging to express itself. Winemaker Ted Edwards describes this rather muscular wine as Bosche's big brother. Potentially the best Freemark Abbey wine in years.

FUTURES TASTING HIGHLIGHTS: EXCELLENT QUALITY OF 2016 SUPER TUSCANS Plenty of dark fruit and spice character. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very balanced young wine.

FUTURES TASTING HIGHLIGHTS: EXCELLENT QUALITY OF 2016 SUPER TUSCANS Very fine and linear with polished and creamy tannins. Medium body. A clean and fresh. Wait and see.

Vivid ruby. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet displays scents of fresh boysenberry, black raspberry and cola, with a sexy floral nuance gaining strength with aeration. Sweet and seamless in the mouth, showing very good heft and focus. Delivers impressive energy on the youthfully tannic finish, which hangs on with serious fruit-driven tenacity.

Deep ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of candied red berries, potpourri, vanilla and candied rose. Nicely concentrated and vivacious, offering sappy raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors that gain energy and spiciness with air. Closes sweet and long, with a lingering floral quality and smooth, slow-building tannins.

Ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red fruit and rose scents are complemented by deeper-pitched notes of cola and licorice. Lithe and sharply focused on the palate, offering sweet raspberry and cherry flavors and a touch of white pepper. Shows excellent clarity and lift on the finish, which features suave, velvety tannins and repeating floral character.

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. An intensely flavored mid weight plus macho wine featuring aromas and flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, mocha, and savory herbs. Polished tannins make for very forward drink ability. A “ribeye wine.”

Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Very enticing aromas of alpine strawberry, cherry, wood spice and sous-bois. Highly satisfying, “pretty” core of cherry fruit with a flowery underpinning. The oak is well-integrated, the fine-grain tannins provide support, and the wine finishes with a burst of juicy, black cherry fruit which hangs on for dear life.

Deep ruby. Cherry-cola and boysenberry aromas are complicated by exotic notes of sandalwood, potpourri and star anise. Dense and creamy in texture, with surprising lift and clarity to its ripe dark fruit and floral pastille flavors. Notes of Asian spices and mocha come up with air and carry through a long, smoky finish, which shows just a hint of tannins. I guessed that there was some whole cluster work going on here but I was wrong.

Opaque ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet displays scents of red fruit preserves, incense and cola, with a smoky topnote that gains strength with air. Deeply pitched but lively on the palate, with a smooth interplay of ripeness and vivacity to its raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. The smokiness comes back on the long, focused finish.

Deep ruby. Potent, smoke-accented aromas of black raspberry and boysenberry, with a sexy floral nuance emerging with air. Rich but lively, offering vibrant dark berry flavors and exotic Asian spice and floral pastille flourishes. Closes on a chewy note, with impressive clarity and spicy persistence.

Ruby-red. Black raspberry, incense, rose oil and allspice on the intensely perfumed nose, with a sneaky note of cola gaining strength with air. The palate offers concentrated flavors of sappy red and dark berry flavors joined by a hint of bitter cherry on the back half; showing a lot of fruit today. Finishes with superb energy and lingering spiciness.

Vivid ruby-red. Fresh cherry, raspberry, potpourri and allspice on the highly fragrant nose. Sweet, floral and intense, with bright acidity and minerality contributing energy to this taut wine's sweet red berry and bitter cherry character. Firmly built and sharply focused pinot with suave floral pastille notes lingering on the finish.

Vivid ruby-red. Heady, complex bouquet evokes black raspberry, blood orange and cola, along with a sexy floral overtone. Lush and expansive but lively as well, offering intense red and dark berry flavors that pick up spiciness with air. Closes sweet and very long, with a seamless texture and lingering floral notes.

Bright ruby-red. Candied red fruits and incense on the pungent, intensely perfumed nose. Spicy and incisive, offering sweet raspberry and cherry flavors that pick up a suave floral nuance with aeration. Shows a distinct spiciness on the finish, which clings with outstanding tenacity and persistence. This taut, focused wine has the structure and balance to age.

Bright ruby. Pungent aromas of blackberry, rhubarb, licorice, wild herbs and rose oil. Juicy, brisk and focused, with intense flavors of candied red and dark berries, anise and cola. Delivers a load of flavor and complexity without any excess weight. Finishes youthfully tangy and very long, with a hint of allspice and firm mineral bite. These berries were reportedly extremely small but I detect no overt phenolic character in the wine.

Bright yellow. Powerful, deeply pitched poached pear, mango and iodine aromas, with a zesty mineral overtone. Rich and broad but energetic as well, offering chewy orchard and citrus fruit flavors and a smoky nuance. Quite lithe for such a powerful wine, and showing no excess fat. Closes on a spicy note, with excellent clarity, energy and length.

Vivid gold. High-pitched aromas of pear, anise, iodine and zesty minerals, with a sexy floral nuance that builds with air. Spicy and incisive on the palate, offering vibrant citrus and orchard fruit flavors and notes of honeysuckle, saffron and tarragon. Tightly focused and very lively on the long clinging finish.

Bright yellow. Sexy, highly perfumed nose combines citrus and tropical fruits and notes of wet stone and iodine. Sharply delineated and penetrating, with firm minerality giving spine to the pear, orange and honeysuckle flavors. Wonderfully vibrant chardonnay, finishing with lingering notes of candied lemon and talc.

Bright medium ruby. Classy aromas of blackcurrant, dark chocolate, coffee, leather and tobacco. Firm, tightly wound and backward, with flavors similar to the aromas. Faint complicating note of game. Solidly structured, elegant wine, finishing with serious but fine tannins, a peppery nuance and excellent persistence. Softened nicely with time in the recorked bottle.