Pouring a bright yellow/green hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Four Hearts Vineyards comes from the Laguna Ridge and shows notes of preserved lemon, poached pear, baking spice, and a touch of ginger. Full-bodied and elegant all the way through its long finish, it has a rounded but weightless feel and is going to show its best over the coming 7-8 years.

This is the second vintage which sees Valadorna in its new guise as a 100% Merlot, sourced from two separate plots; one on limestone soils, and one on clay. Ripe, plummy dark berries and menthol lead to a warming palate with that 14.5% alcohol taking centre stage, dominating the rich dark fruits. Slightly drying, chalky tannins can't quite support the weight, and it initially feels quite top heavy but then, dried flowers, coffee, bitter herbs and balsam emerge on the mid-palate, instigating a fresher second half with bright acidity and a long, spicy finish. It will be interesting to see if this comes into balance with time.

This blend of Chardonnay from eight vineyards across the Western Cape has multiple layers and enough acidity to balance its richness. Aromas of tropical fruit, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla shine on the nose. The palate is abundant in baking spices and offers light notes of stone fruit.

Dense aromas of black plum, violet, cherry and cola show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is bold and ripe with more black cherry getting doused in heavy clove, nutmeg and star anise spices. Drink up, as this one feels ready to go and may not last long.

Salted butterscotch, lemon curd, Buddha's hand and quince notes are fragrant and lip-smacking in this version, which offers a touch of crunchy sea and plenty of vivid acidity. The aromatics add wonderful complexity, with lemon verbena, thyme and litsea oil accents that linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. 261 cases made. M.W.

An elegant version on a sleek, mouthwatering frame, with precise notes of Asian pear, lime and Honeycrisp apple, plus details of crunchy sea salt, lemon zest and tarragon. Drink now through 2031. 272 cases made. M.W.

Aged in French oak, this is a rich and toasty, with buttery apricot and citrus aromas. A full-bodied palate with good depth of juicy stone fruit and ripe lemon, countered by fresh, racy acidity and a lip-smacking salty finish.

Mint, creamed honey, lanolin, maybe a little fresh apricot too. It’s slippery, a lot of slightly greasy flavour, but cut with bright acidity and fine chalky texture, there’s also some raw almond and lemon peel, and that stony grip is quite good, though the finish is a little slippery and diffuse, though that’s Rhone whites for you. Always the good times, with some of the bad times. As it stands, this is a viscous and interesting wine, that offers texture and a point of interest.

Brewer–Clifton is a champion of the much-heralded Sta. Rita Hills appellation and winemaker Greg Brewer and his team work under the doctrine of discipline, neutrality, and deliberate intent. Only neutral barrels are used, and the fermentations are all whole clusters complete with fully ripened stems to allow for a well structured, earthy wine to offset the big fruit. In 2021, the fruit comes off three sites, 3D, Machado and Hapgood, bringing a rich selection of clones including Swan, Pommard, 667, and the Merry Edwards clone. This was just tasted last month, so no big changes, although this bottle is singing. A lot of work goes into getting the most finesse they can from this wine, which they have done, but make no mistake, this is a powerful pinot. The nose is a dusty mix of red fruit and tea leaf, with an intense earthy forest floor and baking spice palate that finishes long and warm. The bigger the food here, the better. Peking duck would be a treat, or an even more decadent pork dish.

If you have ever wondered what cabernet smells like when perfectly ripe, this 2018 Stonestreet would be the one. It is always a mix of the best cabernet sauvignon grown at Stonestreet’s Monument Ridge and the Mayacamus Mountains, at the 5100 acre Alexander Mountain Estate. Only 900 acres are planted in 235 individual blocks. Savoury and aromatic, translation Alexander Valley, the fruit sets the stage for a slick, robust, muscular cabernet packed with blackberry, black licorice, menthol, smoke, and tobacco. In 2018, the weather gods cooperated, and this wine has risen to a quality level that reflects its price. A splash of petit verdot is aged 20 months in 35% new French oak. Again, you could drink this wine now, but I recommend cellaring it through 2028 for best results.

Delicate, detailed and light in body but quite expressive nonetheless, this wine offers dark cherry aromas and flavors with appealing accents of baking spice and just a whiff of toast. Fine-grained tannins firm the finish enough to make it promising for the table, but it could also just be sipped with pleasure. 

Supple yet crisp at heart, with expressive orange blossom, green apple amd white peach flavors that glide on the vibrant finish. Drink Now. 982 cases cases made. -T.F.

Sourced from vineyards on the western side of the Mayacamas mountains, planted on a 40° slope. Grapes are whole-cluster pressed, with native-yeast fermentation partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in neutral, 600L German oak puncheons, then eight months on the full lees. Beautiful floral aromatics open into notes of honey and pineapple, wet stone and a bolt of lemony acidity. 

This bottle shows how quenching wines from the cool-climate sites of California's Central Coast can be. The nose is earthy with saline and crunchy fruit notes. There's a refreshing minerality on the palate that's perfectly balanced by the fruit.

Aromas of freshly crushed blackberry, orange zest and sandalwood swirl from the glass of this elegant and zippy wine. On the palate, black licorice, black cherry and black pepper join the party. There’s a brooding intensity here that fans of spicier Pinot will love.

This is lavishly textured and fruit-driven Pinot Noir. Raspberry and plum aromas drive the nose, while the palate adds flavors of tart cherry, cocoa powder, orange peel and sandalwood. The finish is broad and grippy, with plenty of tannin for longer-term aging.

This tropicalscented wine presents a delicate balance between acid and fruit. Papaya, fresh pineapple and juicy pear are the stars of the show as the palate unfolds into a zippy finish. This will pair marvelously with rockfish garnished with lemon and fennel.

A lot of work goes into getting the most finesse they can from this wine, but make no mistake, this is a powerful pinot. The nose is a dusty mix of red fruit and tea leaf, with an intense earthy forest floor and baking spice palate that finishes long and warm. The bigger the food here, the better. Peking duck would be a treat or an even more decadent pork dish.

Blood orange and cherry fruit mixes with a light edge of mulling spices, while flashes of sandalwood and savory line the mouthwatering finish. Modest in scale but nicely persistent. Drink now through 2028. 589 cases made.

Vibrant and floral, showing pretty flavors of lemon and pear accented with honeysuckle and spice notes. Drink now.

Spiced and a little earthy, with red and darker fruit as well as hints of dried flowers and wet stone. Polished and sleek, with a medium body and a chalky texture to its tannins. Very refined. Drink now. Screw cap.

With a first impression of orange zest and cranberries, this wine unfolds into a medium body with a sleek finish, highlighted by a hint of minerality at the end. Drink now or hold.

The single-varietal 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Aurora Point springs from the glass with vibrant notes of fresh grapefruit, green apples, and lime leaves followed by hints of chalk dust, elderflower, and newly mown grass. The medium-bodied palate is intense and pure with a racy backbone, finishing long and minerally. 256 cases were made.

The 2021 Estate Chardonnay skips out of the glass with out-going notes of apple butter, persimmons, and poached pear2021s leading to wafts of beeswax and powdered nutmeg. The medium-bodied palate is creamy and refreshing, with bags of spicy orchard fruit flavors, finishing on a lingering honeyed note. 2,434 cases were made.

The 2022 Sevens Bench Vineyard Pinot Noir is medium ruby-purple in color. Herbal notes of dried sage and bay leaves open out to a core of cranberries and strawberries with a hint of mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of herbal and peppery flavors with a lightly chewy texture and refreshing line, finishing with an herbal lift. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. This Carneros vineyard is on a ridge at an elevation of 200 feet, part of an uplifted riverbed which allows good drainage in the traditional clay-based soils of the region. The name Sevens Bench is derived from the two clones planted on the block: Clone 37 (Mount Eden) and Dijon 777.