Chianti Classico 2018, pure Mediterranean essence in the glassBlack plums, licorice and black tea leaves are the main hints of this young dark red matrix. Medium-full body, ripe and soft tannins in extraction and a well-designed light finish. Drink now.

Oregon is producing some of the most exciting wines in the US at the moment – the region is growing from success to success.The Gran Moraine is a perfect example of this: planted in 2005 to several different Dijon clones, this is one of the more westerly vineyards in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. The area benefits from the cooling afternoon breezes that roll off the Pacific – ideal for grape growing.The chardonnay is hand-harvested and benefits from gentle, whole-cluster pressing. This traditional technique allows winemakers to capture the freshest and most pristine juice.A lengthy 12 months of natural fermentation in Burgundian oak barrels follows.And you’re left with that perfect balance you want from a chardonnay – minerality meeting richness, citrus meeting stone.

Kendall-Jackson is one of the biggest names in Californian wine making – and its Vintner’s Reserve is a quintessential new world chardonnay.It’s a great introduction to Californian chardonnay in particular – a greatest hits compilation, if you will – taking its grapes from Monterey (50%), Santa Barbara 33%, Mendocino (16%) and Sonoma (1%).The result is wine characterised by a velvety texture, toasted oak and lashings of butter.This richness is counterpointed with tropical fruits including pineapple, mango and papaya, with plenty of refreshing citrus, too.It’s rounded off with vanilla and honey for what is the most balanced US chardonnay you’ll find anywhere for less than £20.

La Crema Vinera means “best of the vine” – and that’s the benchmark this Monterey County winery has set itself since it launched back in 1979.The 90-mile long Monterey Valley stretches from Monterey Bay, through farmland and rolling hills, and is always buffeted by the cold winds that sweep in off the Pacific Ocean.The coolness means that the grapes spend more time on the vine, which allows a deeper, more dramatic spectrum of flavours and aromas to develop.La Crema’s chardonnay is the embodiment of this – a rich, layered wine that’s smooth and elegant while still maintaining a zesty brightness.

Valadorna IGT Toscana 2013 is a blend based on Merlot grapes that enhances the complexity and mineral richness of the terroir from which it comes. The wine exalts aromas of exotic spices, predominating jasmine, cumin and vanilla bean. The palate has soft and long tannins, accompanied by a fresh acidity. Excellent in combination with lamb dishes, typical of the traditional Easter menu. A wine suitable for lovers of the oenological excellence of Chianti Classico, one of the most fascinating areas of Tuscany. Valadorna IGT Toscana 2013 was awarded the THREE GLASSES by the Gambero Rosso guide "I Vini d'Italia 2019".

COMMENTARY: The 2019 Cambria Estate Winery Julia's Vineyard Rosé is one of the marketplace's top pink wines. TASTING NOTES: This wine is perky and bright. Enjoy its fruit-lifted aromas and flavors of dried earth, savory spices, and red berries with grilled chile-accented prawns.

Best of Bordeaux: Six affordable fine wines from France’s preeminent wine regionChâteau Lassègue is one of Saint-Émilion’s best-value wines. Purchased in 2003 by Jackson Family Wines – a wealthy Californian wine dynasty – Lassègue is run in partnership with senior winemaker Pierre Seillan. Their investment has paid massive dividends: the style is lush yet refined, with wallet-friendly prices.

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleAnother single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Freemark Abbey; the Sycamore Vineyard is slightly more than a mile south of Bosché, and is situated up against the Mayacamas Mountains. Bright, deep ruby red; aromas of black cherry, blackberry and violets. Excellent ripeness, subdued wood notes, good acidity. Silky tannins and balanced acidity. Peak in 10-12 years. Excellent

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleThis Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bosché vineyard in Rutherford has been the signature wine of Freemark Abbey for more than three decades. Bright, deep ruby red; aromas of black currant, black cherry and violets. Rich mid-palate, excellent persistence. Lovely wine, with beautiful complexity as well as impressive depth in the finish. Excellent persistence, good acidity. Approachable now, but this will be more impressive with additional time in the bottle. Peak in 12-15 years, perhaps longer. Outstanding

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleAromas of black cherry, raspberry and red poppy. Medium-full with very good concentration. Quite harmonious, with round, elegant tannins and good acidity. Very well made, this offers bright, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon fruit that is very appealing. Approachable now, but best to wait another year or two, with peak drinking in 7-10 years. Excellent

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleBright ruby red; aromas of black cherry and red flowers. Medium-full - 60% of the fruit is from Howell Mountain - the tannins are quite soft and the wine is nicely structured. Balanced acidity, elegant finish. Enjoyable now- drink over the next 5-7 years. Excellent

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleLight yellow; aromas of lemon peel, orange blossom, and a hint of grapefruit. Medium-bodied, elegant, with finesse; a subdued style. Good acidity and nicely balanced; oak notes are nicely integrated. Enjoy over the next 3-5 years. Very Good

Freemark Abbey - A Change In Winemakers, Not In StyleTextbook varietal aromas of grass and light herbs (coriander, basil), with delicate notes of melon and pear. Medium-bodied, with very good freshness; touch of spearmint on the palate. Medium-bodied, this is clean and nicely balanced with good acidity. Refreshing - enjoy over the next 2-3 years. Very Good

From the La Jota estate vineyard as well as W.S. Keyes, this impressive wine opens in coconut, chocolate and mocha. Structured tannins lead the way to generous toasted oak, clove, garrigue, tar and leather, a savory whirlwind of concentrated density and lasting beauty adorned in thick black fruit. This will do well in the cellar; enjoy 2026–2031.

This tremendously impressive red wine is blended with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Tannat and given 20 months in French oak, a good majority of it new. Reductive at first, it expands to show root beer, cedar and dried herb in a classically structured and hugely concentrated frame of big tannin and weight. Enjoy 2026–2031.

This is a brawny, herbal and structured wine from the great appellation, as wild and challenging as its provenance. Cedar, dried herb and clove surround dense black currant, licorice and brambly blackberry, with sinewy tannin and toasted oak in abundance. This will do well in the cellar; best 2026–2031.

With 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec, this mountain wine is supple and silky on the palate, its tannins relatively tamed. A touch of reduction on the nose dives into tar, leather and oak, with a tease of black pepper and meaty red fruit, the wine weighty yet ultimately graceful.

Giant Steps owner Phil Sexton's self-named vineyard soars once again in this beautifully textured Chardonnay that is all at once modern and timeless. Take a deep dive into a nose of honeysuckle, lime leaf, salted cashew, waxy lemon and stony minerals. Then let the liquid roll around on your tongue, pricking it gently with crystalline acidity. Complex and ageworthy yet totally approachable now, this is the face of today's Aussie Chardonnay, and it's a mighty fine one. Drink now–2029 and likely beyond.

Sourced from 30-plus year-old vines in a south-facing vineyard, this single-vineyard expression gets the balance of texture, flavor and acidity just right. Tones of minerals and sea salt weave between citrus, melon and well-managed oak. The palate is an expertly built combo of pristine acidity, a smooth texture and supportive oak. The finish is chalky and long. Drink now–2030.

Julia’s is one of two vineyards on the estate property named for the daughters of Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson (the other is Katherine’s). Here, the benchland clay-loam soils soak up what little warmth the valley provides; the vines usually grow fruit with a savory, dark berry expression. This wine is reserved, with elements of both surf and turf, the tobacco note lined with a salty tang. It’s balanced and finely wrought, with a balsamic savor that calls to mind braised duck. Best Buy.

Fresh aromas of lemon balm and lemon verbena meet with exotic melon, blistered almond and sliced tangerine on the nose of this bottling. The palate is a bit more ripe, yet still chiseled in tone, offering crushed white rock, apple flesh and more tangerine before the vanilla and caramel spices pop on the finish.

A 100% varietal white fermented and aged in concrete egg and neutral French oak, this wine succeeds in its gorgeously sleek, focused and fresh lemon and earthiness. Crisp and bright throughout, it has a succulent, memorable finish of light spice and stone.

This wine’s bold, succulent black cherry flavor has the energy to override its oak aging, layering that tight fruit ripeness over sweet touches of caramel and almond. This is clean and spicy in its flavor detail, its acidity gentled by supple sweetness even as it keeps moving the flavors forward. Delicious with tea-smoked duck.

Enticing notes of pencil shavings and sweet spice are front and center on the nose, with additional aromas of baked apple, pressed yellow flowers and orange oil. The palate shows great balance, with a bright seam of acidity that keeps the apple and orange fruit pure and focused. Lovely accents of toasted brioche and wood spice carry the enduring finish.

Give this Yarra Valley Chardonnay, from renowned producer Giant Steps, some time in the glass or decanter to open up, for it's a subtle and somewhat reductive wine at first that needs some air (it also may need a few more months in bottle to knit together). With time, it unveils delicate, pretty notes of citrus blossom, ginger and flinty minerality. While there's less texture and complexity here than on this producer's Sexton Vineyard Chard, this is nevertheless a balanced and ultra food-friendly drop.