The One That Goes All Minerally. Huge mineral feel, indeed, you’d paste this into the section under ‘Wine; Minerality’ in an encyclopaedia. All pebbles and talc in perfume, sure, some citrus, citrus blossom, faint bread dough notes, but you’re drawn to the flint and element rocky notes primarily. The palate does the same, flint, wet slate, smooth pebbles rolled around the palate, olive brine, green apple juice and lime comes in too. Feels quite firm despite a sense of juiciness and being dart-shaped and long. Finishes with the faintest kiss of salted nuttiness. Just beautiful. Poised and fine.

The One That Feels Racy. Tight and lean, skeletal and firm, barely there citrus characters, mineral water, saline notes. Whips across the palate in a green, cool, almost minty breath of precise and ultra fine, needle thrust of chardonnay. Blink and you’ll miss it kind of style but has the finesse and tension many seek from Australia’s uber chardonnay revolution. Despite its attempt at acid-forged finesse, there’s just a lick or a breath of yeasty nuttiness in there too. Nicely done in its style, where laser-like precision is the motif.

From the Coal River Valley (Nocton Vineyard). One of my favourite things is ‘Death Can Be Fatal’, a Two Ronnies mini-serial, featuring Piggy Malone and Charley Farley.Dark cherry, plum, spicy biscuit oak, dried rose perfume. It’s fleshy, mouth-filling, though not particularly heavy, thick and silky tannin, even raspberry acidity, and a long insistently silty, slightly ashy tannin finish. Plenty to grab onto, yet it’s still identifiably Pinot Noir.

The One With The Quietest Personality. Shy chardonnay with green apple, green mango, nectarine, grapefruit juice and white almond. That’s the story. Juicy in the palate with a nice little chalky pucker to it. Feels quite translucent in texture, a bit diffuse, but that grip and chew to finish counters that quite nicely. Perfume is sedate but pretty with all that character there when you seek it out. Fresh feeling, nice shot of minerals through the core, finishes pleasing albeit a little steely and resinous, and cool. Easy as. Good stuff.

A fine example of tempered California chardonnay produced in one of cooler northern appellation of Russian River. Crisp pear, apple blossom, toast and almond are delicately expressed on the nose and palate. Tension from acid adds lift and definition to the wine while the judicious use of oak gently balances the fruit. A sophisticated new world chardonnay that will equally please lovers of classic white Burgundy.

Rose petals, red berries, and orange rind precede a palate of mineral linearity and lemon-lime acidity, kumquats, cranberries, tart red cherries, and a hit of Mediterranean herbs.

A Beginner's Guide to California WinesSonomaDirectly to the west of Napa lies Sonoma. It spans 50 miles of scenic Pacific coastline and is home to 18 AVAs. The Sonoma coast is where you'll find the coolest temperatures; cold ocean air and fog create ideal conditions for bright and lean styles of pinot noir and chardonnay. Try La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2017...

National Chardonnay Day is coming up on May 21 along with some much needed warm weather. Here are three favourite Chardonnay selections from Jackson Family Wines .Celebrate along with us and enjoy this selection of wines to match every price point!

National Chardonnay Day is coming up on May 21 along with some much needed warm weather. Here are three favourite Chardonnay selections from Jackson Family Wines .Celebrate along with us and enjoy this selection of wines to match every price point!

National Chardonnay Day is coming up on May 21 along with some much needed warm weather. Here are three favourite Chardonnay selections from Jackson Family Wines .Celebrate along with us and enjoy this selection of wines to match every price point!

8 Red Wines Worth Splurging On This Spring It’s no surprise that France’s Bordeaux region makes outstanding wine. But I was absolutely blown away by this wine’s rich, subtle flavors – which ranged from roasted blackberries and roasted almonds along with a hint of dark chocolate. Let me add that the 2012 vintage is also outstanding but you’ll likely have an easier time finding the 2016 vintage, which is drinking great right now. Just make sure to give this wonderful wine time to breathe (about 30 minutes to 1 hour) after opening the bottle.

8 Red Wines Worth Splurging On This Spring Siduri Winery makes several different powerful Pinot Noir wines, but I especially enjoyed this earthy yet elegant red wine. As you might expect from a younger California Pinot Noir, the fruit flavors (hint of raspberry and blackberry) take center stage at first. But within a few minutes, those flavors become more muted and more complex, intense flavors begin to emerge. A truly wonderful wine ready to enjoy now.

8 Red Wines Worth Splurging On This Spring Another complex Pinot Noir from California’s superb Sonoma County. While it’s difficult to make broad generalizations when talking about two of California’s most famous wine growing regions, I find that many Sonoma County wines often have an earthier, more full-bodied finish compared to wines from neighboring Napa Valley. But this subtle, silky Pinot defies such expectations. Here, the flavors (including raspberry) are softer and more understated. I was especially impressed by how well this light, refreshing red wine tastes at this young age. A perfect summer afternoon red wine.

2017 Jackson Estate Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap ($40): There is a faint Burgundian note in the initial whiff of this otherwise rustic, beet-scented, blackberry-tasting winner. The same large company that makes various good-value Vintners Reserve bargains has invested in this relatively new appellation and the project has yielded here proof that the region has special properties. The fruit here is broad, and the mid-palate richer than some who make a slightly more “wild” version of PN. Instead, there is a succulence to the palate, which means it’s a bit more approachable than some of the “Gap” PNs that go for slightly more rusticity. The company has also released a 2018 Pinot called “Cloud Landing,” which is slightly more impressive, but because it’s a year younger, it’s slightly harder to evaluate. And the fact is, that wine is $55. The 2017 is actually good value, comparing favorably to $50 to $60 Pinots. The 2018 is primarily going to be sold to restaurants, but because most such places are closed, it will benefit from additional bottle time.

2017 Jackson Estate Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap ($40): There is a faint Burgundian note in the initial whiff of this otherwise rustic, beet-scented, blackberry-tasting winner. The same large company that makes various good-value Vintners Reserve bargains has invested in this relatively new appellation and the project has yielded here proof that the region has special properties. The fruit here is broad, and the mid-palate richer than some who make a slightly more “wild” version of PN. Instead, there is a succulence to the palate, which means it’s a bit more approachable than some of the “Gap” PNs that go for slightly more rusticity. The company has also released a 2018 Pinot called “Cloud Landing,” which is slightly more impressive, but because it’s a year younger, it’s slightly harder to evaluate. And the fact is, that wine is $55. The 2017 is actually good value, comparing favorably to $50 to $60 Pinots. The 2018 is primarily going to be sold to restaurants, but because most such places are closed, it will benefit from additional bottle time.

Bright, light yellow colour, with a fresh, sawn timber oak and creamy lees aroma, the fruit flavour powerful and pungent in the mouth, with white peach, passionfruit and a semblance of sweetness, which is probably just the richness of the fruit talking. There's a trace of tannin, more than balanced by the body. A delicious wine, which should go on to show more and more character with time. The powerful fruit comprehensively outguns the oak and lees characters.

Light, bright yellow hue, with cashew nut, preserved lemon and toasted almond notes in its fresh, youthful bouquet. In the mouth, it's restrained and crisp, youthfully refined, restrained and undeveloped. Oak has been sensitively used. Traces of toasted hazelnuts emerging on palate. An attractive wine, with potential.

Bright, light-yellow colour. The bouquet is intense and bright, fresh and piercing, with an appealing lacework of nutty oak, which is less evident in the mouth. A hint of butter. A chardonnay of superb intensity, drive and finesse, cashew, toasted almond and melon flavours neatly harmonised.

Very bright, light, fresh looking colour, with a slivered-almond, lightly-toasted cashew nut bouquet; elements of preserved lemon and honey hovering beneath the surface. A suggestion of butterscotch. The wine is rich and mouth-filling but also retains the finesse and restraint that are hallmarks of the maker. A fuller-bodied style than the Sexton.

This light golden straw-colored Chardonnay opens with an inviting citrus bouquet which includes lemon, lime and pineapple. I also picked up some light cantaloupe, coconut and vanilla. On the palate, it was full bodied, smooth, bright, clean and zesty. The flavor profile featured lemon, pear and a buttery oak with hints of vanilla and light tangerine. I also detected some pink grapefruit on the juicy finish that faded away nicely. I would pair this good value Chardonnay from Nielson with herb grilled salmon.

Off the vine: Wines you can celebrate withLa Crema Winery in California’s Russian River Valley is a highly regarded producer of both Pinot Noir and sparkling wine. The winery is celebrating 40 years with a stunning Pinot Noir. Bright red in color with rosewood and cedar aromas, this rich and concentrated wine is jammed packed with ripe fruit flavors such as black cherry and plum. Medium to full bodied with good depth and sharp, crisp acidity.

The 2016 Pinot Noir also received neutral-oak treatment so the cherry, fig and white truffle aromas and flavours shine.

The 2017 Chardonnay has aromas and flavours of lemon drop, ginger and sea salt.Unlike some over-oaked Cali Chards, the Brewer-Clifton remains bright and elegant because the wine was aged in used oak barrels, which imparts buttery texture, but no overpowering wood.

The 2017 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir begins with very pleasant aromas of red and black cherry, cola, roasted coffee, vanilla and a hint of rhubarb and cranberry. The medium-bodied wine tastes wonderfully smooth, balanced and is full of flavors of black cherry cola, strawberry, a little earth, a little oak and even a bit of minerality. This is a super easy and fun to drink wine. A nice streak of spice, licorice and even a little citrus zest lead into the dry, very long finish. Excellent!We’ve featured this wine a number of times over the years and that is simply because it is so consistently delicious. The 2017 is no different in that regard.

Wines of the weekThe nose on this pale-straw coloured Sonoma Chardonnay offers a complex combination of red apple, fresh pear, ripe cantaloupe and tropical fruit, as well as subtle vanilla and spice. On the medium-bodied palate those components come through beautifully, with those latter elements adding texture and richness. A stylish example of what can be done with this grape in California, and worth trying while it’s on sale (it’s regularly $29.07). It’s also one of the products available for delivery from Liquor Marts. 4.5/5