Classically styled 2020 sees subtle yet effective interplay of yellow citrus flavours, oak spice, silky texture, lees influence & sustained freshness. Seamless, refined & elegant, with usual distinctive salty length. From several sites; barriques only & 11 months (as Fijnbosch), 38% new.
The 2021 Chardonnay Warrior Princess is expressive with a perfumed blend of gingery spices and dusty florals accentuating peach preserves. This is juicy and fresh in style, with vividly ripe orchard fruits and honeyed inner florals. The 2021 leaves the palate crisply refreshed with a subtle mineral tinge and hints of Asian pear.
From magnum. Under cork. I “won” this bottle at the 2010 International Pinot Noir Celebration at a dinner with Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash and I waited until tonight to open it. And it was fabulous. Fresh and lively fruit on both the nose and the palate with wild cherry and just a hint of rhubarb. Fantastic. Great balance as a lively acidity holds all that fruit in check, leading to a lengthy finish that lasts for quite some time. This wine was made when Lynn was still firmly at the helm and I like to think I can taste her passion both for the variety and the Willamette Valley. Excellent. 92 Points.
This big, full-flavored wine blended from mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah is scented with blackberries and black pepper, drenched in dried cherry, 100% cacao and espresso flavors that reflect good ripe grapes and the complexifying effect of new oak barrels for aging. Firm tannins and a full body make it quite mouth filling. Best from 2025–2035. —J.G.
This big and brawny wine wraps plenty of delicious black fruits in firm tannins for a hefty mouthfeel. It’s easy to appreciate the blueberries, cocoa, spearmint and oak-char flavors. Best from 2025–2035. —J.G.
Subtle vanilla, cedar and toast aromas lead to hearty, ripe and delicious berry flavors in this full-bodied, moderately tannic wine. Blackberries, raspberries and oak spices meld on the palate for a satisfying feast of fruits. —J.G.
Tart, slightly wild aromas of melon and Meyer lemon meet with a wet-slate minerality on the nose of this bottling from a historic Chenin vineyard. The palate is zesty and bright with lemon, lime and lychee flavors. —M.K.
Assertively oaky in aromas and flavors, this intense and spicy-tasting wine opens with ginger, toast and white pepper in the nose, followed by a vivid, toasty and slightly gripping palate that echoes a touch of pepper spice for a warm mouthfeel. Best from 2025. —J.G.
A maraschino cherry aroma and delicious cherry-pie flavors give a lot of fruity vibrancy to this full-bodied but lightly tannic wine. The focus and purity of red and black cherries is wonderful to taste. —J.G.
Young, vibrant, Ripe forest fruit with strong, leafy, vegetal notes. Ceylon tea blends with mellow cherry. Structured and bursting with fruit. Drink 2023-2030.
A fresh and electrifying Chardonnay comprised of three different Sta Rita Hills sites. Herbal aromatics of sweet hay, wild dill and tarragon meld with notes of grilled orange rind. The palate offers flavours of candied ginger, grilled lemon, orange oil, crushed quartz and chalk minerality.
The 2021 Pinot Noir 3D features cranberry, pomegranate and tangerine scents with accents of underbrush and bitters. The light-bodied palate is silky and energetic with generous, crunchy fruit, tangy acidity and a long, spicy finish.
The 2021 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills opens with lots of flinty, matchstick tones over a core of spicy white peach and citrus blossoms. The light-bodied palate balances juicy acidity with a touch of textural grip. It has youthfully toasty, beeswax-laced fruit and a long, flinty finish. It will benefit from some time in a decanter.
The 2021 Chardonnay Machado is expressive and inviting. It opens with gregarious toast and allspice scents complemented by ripe quince and honey. The medium-bodied palate features generous, spicy flavors balanced by juicy acidity, and a touch of textural grip lengthens the finish. It doesn't need any bottle time to drink deliciously on its own or with richer dishes at the table.
The 2021 Pinot Noir Perilune comes from vines planted in 2007. It has a pale ruby color and layered aromas of pomegranate, underbrush, orange peel, earth and bitters. The medium-bodied palate has a deep core of tangerine-tinged fruit, chalky tannins, shimmery acidity and a delicate, spicy finish.
Opens with a burst of vibrant raspberry flavors and then slowly reveals density and tension, with accents of crushed rock, forest floor and dusky spices. Ends with slight tannic bite. Best from 2025 through 2031. 254 cases made.
Fragrant and generous, with elegantly structured raspberry and guava flavors that reveal accents of baking spices and black tea, building tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2031. 5,232 cases made.
Jackson Family Wines have lovingly restored Château Lassègue under the direction of celebrated winemaker Pierre Seillan. Lassègue is an opulent Saint-Émilion whose 50-year-old vines grow on the south/southwest hills that are an extension of the Côte de Saint-Émilion. Its clay and limestone soils work in tandem, storing moisture and refreshing the palate in warm years like 2018. Expect a subtle mix of floral and cassis that bleed into a rich, chalky palate, pitching soft, round, blackcurrant and barely there tannins. 2018 ranks among the best ever vintages at Lassègue and is a tribute to the work done at the property. It will age effortlessly through 2030 and beyond. The blend is 62/35/3/ merlot, cabernet franc, and cabernet sauvignon that spends 12 months in 60% new French oak.
Coming all from Carneros and Coombsville and aged in 43% new French oak, the 2022 Chardonnay Napa Valley is medium gold-hued and has a gorgeous perfume of honeyed tangerine, exotic flowers, and subtle baking spice notes in a medium-bodied, layered, rounded, beautifully textured profile on the palate. This singular, exotic, impeccably made Chardonnay will keep for 3-4 years.
The largest production, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 1% Merlot that's from both mountain and valley floor sites. It's a classic 2021 with its fresher, focused, perfumed style as well as medium to full-bodied richness, lots of currant and black cherry fruits, some tobacco and graphite notes, building tannins, and a great finish. It's a serious wine that will age.
Young, vibrant. Ripe forest fruit with strong,leafy, vegetal notes. Ceylon tea blends with mellow cherry. Structured and bursting with fruit. Drink 2023-2030.
Young and vibrant with elegant ripe fruit. Aromatic and nuanced with a savoury earthy tang. Fruit underpinned by fresh acidity. Drink 2023-2030.
Freemark Abbey is on a roll under the Jackson Family Wines banner and winemakers Kristy Melton and Ted Edwards. In 2019 this Napa Valley cabernet opens with rich dark baking chocolate and blackberry. Similar flavours mark the palate with some espresso and reasonably bright acidity that lends a fresh, juicy character to what is a youthful red. It was a mostly perfect year for Napa cabernet, and this warm, spicy red is all you can want at this price point. The final mix is 90% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 2% petit verdot, 2% malbec, and 1% cabernet franc. The fruit comes from all over Napa Valley, led by 33% Okaville, 20% Atalon, 5% Keyes, 2% Sycamore and 40% purchased fruit. It aged 24 months in French oak barrels, of which 41% were new.
The nose is lead pencil, juniper and hard cherry. The palate entry is concentrated black plum with a polished core of baking spice and blossoms finishing with fine acidity. Drink 2023-2028.
The nose is direct, silky mint and tart red fruits. The palate entry is packed with green garden herbs leading to a concentrated day and tobacco core finishing with black cherry and polished acidity. Drink 2023-2028.