Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of cassis, white flowers, plums, cherries and raspberries. Flavors of raspberries, plums and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the short to perhaps medium term.

The 2020 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay from California (Vintages Essential $21.95) offers something a bit rich and creamy. This medium-bodied, oakedChardonnay starts with the fetching fragrance of roasted nuts and baked apples with a touch of cream somewhere. The entry is slow, almost undulating and generous, lit with a lace of acidity that keeps each sip lively. Flavours unfurl with lemon curd and butter pastry, crème brûlée and toasted hazelnut and a subtle stroke of vanilla. Little wonder this bottle is a popular choice at the LCBO.

Stellar Sauvignon Blanc Best of California With fruit sourced mainly from Monterey, Lake County, Mendocino and Sonoma, this is a cross-Californian Sauvignon Blanc, uniting Pacific freshness and Golden State sunshine. The nose is subdued but fresh, it is on the palate that a zesty, almost pithy texture appears, showing this to be a rather gastronomic wine, benefitting from a little oak influence. This is wonderfully rounded but beautifully fresh at the same time.

Stellar Sauvignon Blanc
Best of California

A solidly built red hallmarked by violet, black cherry and blackberry, with leather, earth and menthol accents that add interest. Ends with a firm grip of tannins. A potential match for steak or lamb, this needs a bit more time in the bottle. Best from 2025 through 2038.

A bold and ripe merlot that offers much in the way or ripe plum and blueberry fruit, as well as assertive, cedary oak influence. The palate starts fleshy and squares up through the mid-section with bold tannins peaking before a burst of red-plum fruit through the finish. Drink over the next five years.

The 2020 Pinot Noir was made with 40% whole clusters and matured for 12 months in about 40% new French oak. Medium ruby, it bursts with scents of cranberry sauce, rhubarb, orange peel, fernet and woodsmoke. The light-bodied palate is chalky and fresh, with delicate, crunchy red fruits and a long, spicy finish.

Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Skycrest Vineyard offers broody red and blackberry fruits with slowly emerging accents of potpourri, aniseed and crushed stone. The medium-bodied palate has an appealing rusticity, with firm, grainy tannins and a fresh, earth-laced finish. It was bottled after 10 months in 33% new French oak.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Sea Lift, medium ruby-purple in color, opens slowly to cranberry sauce, charcuterie and blood orange with notes of tea leaves, dried earth and bergamot. Medium-bodied, the palate is bursting with juicy fruits which are balanced by loads of spicy and savory nuances. It has a silky texture and bright freshness that calls you back for another sip. It was bottled after 10 months in 30% new French oak.

The 2018 Chardonnay Alexander Mountain Estate Vineyard, aged 10 months in 33% new French oak, offers scents of baked apples and toast with nuances of graphite, almonds and beeswax. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and expansive, its lush, spicy fruits balanced by stony streaks and tangy freshness, and it finishes long and flavorful.

The 2017 Merlot Jackson Park Vineyard, aged 20 months in 29% new French oak, has a medium ruby color and singular scents of blueberries, red cherry candy, warm chocolate, thyme and lavender. The palate is full-bodied with fine-grained tannins, bright bursts of acidity, perfumed fruits and a long, spice-laced finish.

The 2019 Chardonnay Bennett Valley matured for 10 months in 40% new French oak. It has pretty aromas of white peaches, jasmine, roasted almonds and honey. The medium-bodied palate is silky and savory with concentrated, honeyed fruits and a long, refreshing finish.

The 2019 White Pinot Noir, aged nine months in neutral French oak, is scented of spiced apples, lemon and crushed stone. The medium-bodied palate is bright and fresh with spicy, citrusy flavors, honeyed bass tones and a bright, mineral-driven finish. This will be great as a foil for richer dishes or as a complement for fresh vegetables.

Matured for 16 months in 25% new French oak, the 2019 Pinot Noir Unforgettable has deep scents of red and black cherries, blood orange, forest floor, mushrooms and conifer. The medium-bodied palate is pleasantly broody with seamless acidity and a spicy, earth-laced finish.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Jolie comes from vines planted in 2000-2001 and was matured for 16 months in 10% new French oak. Medium ruby in color, it has lush black and red cherry aromas with earthy accents of underbrush and tree bark, plus top notes of citrus peel. The medium-bodied palate is bright and fresh with finely grained tannins, earth-laced fruits and a long, refreshing finish.

Aged 14 months in 35% new French oak, the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has a medium ruby-purple color and savory aromas of dark cherries, iodine, woodsmoke and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate has a silky texture and concentrated, ripe fruits, finishing with satisfying bursts of refreshing acidity.

The 2019 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, mostly barrel fermented and aged seven months in 17% new oak, has pretty aromas of spiced apples and toast with touches of cream and Meyer lemon. The medium-bodied palate is silky and fresh, offering intense, spicy fruits and a long, creamy finish. It offers a great quality-to-price ratio and is widely available.

Matured nine months in 25% new oak, the 2019 Chardonnay Anderson Valley offers ripe apple, cantaloupe and citrus on the nose with accents of yogurt and spice. The medium-bodied palate is silky, fresh and flavorful, its creamy fruits lingering in the mouth for a very satisfying finish.

The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc has pretty aromas of kiwi, lemon and white peaches with touches of beeswax and graphite. The medium-bodied palate is silky and concentrated with a pleasant weightiness that comes from a touch of Sémillon in the blend, and it has a long, flavorful finish.

Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Seco Highlands features scents of dark cherries, forest floor, lavender and amaro with a flourish of spicy accents. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh with concentrated, layered fruits and a long, spicy finish.

The medium ruby colored 2019 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Outland Ridge offers deep, layered scents of black cherries, blood orange, tea leaves and lavender, unfurling as it spends time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is powerful and spicy, with concentrated fruits that linger for an extended finish.

The 2019 Jackson Estate Pinot Noir Anderson Valley has a medium ruby color and layered aromas of black cherries, forest floor, violets, orange peel and tobacco with touches of graphite. The medium-bodied palate is powerful and layered, offering concentrated fruit, earth and spice and a long, flavorful finish.

The 2019 Jackson Estate Cloud Landing Chardonnay has slowly opening aromas of apple pie, roasted almonds, honey and top notes of citrus peel. The medium-bodied palate is bright, fresh and focused, its honeyed fruits unfurling slowly on the long, layered finish.

The 2016 Syrah Outer Limits comes from southwest-facing vines on the Sonoma Coast, planted in Goldridge soils at 680 feet in elevation. It was matured for 21 months in 41% new French oak and aged a further two years in bottle. Deep ruby-purple, it has pure scents of cassis, coffee beans, bitter chocolate, mint leaves and grilled meats. The full-bodied palate is plush and powerful, with a classy streak of new oak spices and a long, slightly flinty finish. Despite being the current release of Syrah from Hartford Court, it could still use plenty more time in bottle!

The 2019 Zinfandel Jolene's Vineyard comes from head-trained vines that are more than 100 years old, and it was matured for 10 months in 49% new French oak. Medium ruby, it has soaring scents of plums, wild berries and apricot, with layers of lavender and pie spice. Its gregarious aromatics belie its surprisingly lifted, juicy frame, grainy tannins and elegant, fragrant fruits. It's the most open, easygoing of the Hartford Zinfandels from 2019 and makes a great candidate for earlier drinking and pairing with food.