Shows wonderful density, with toasted herbs, tobacco and notes of laurel bay leaf, sage and rosemary that complement a core of dark berry and cassis flavors on a velvety frame. Reveals notes of black Assam tea that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2033.

Neither oak spices nor tannins dominate this medium-bodied wine, allowing the grape variety’s complex, savory characters of black currants and bay leaves to shine through, backed by a supple texture and light, integrated tannins.

This is the first vintage of this white Rhone blend. Chamomile, beeswax, apricots, lemons and white grapefruits. Round and textured, with some phenolic tension. Full-bodied yet fresh and sleek. Hint of gingery spice at the end. 50% grenache blanc, 25% roussanne, 12% clairette, 9% piquepoul, 4% bourboulenc. 59% skin contact in amphora between 90 and 126 days. Drink now. Screw cap.

In its bold, grapey youth, this wine needs decanting to show detail in the black fruit. Immediately fresh and clean, it turns fragrant with air, long and rich. A standard-bearer for the Yarra Valley.

This premium Napa Chardonnay is sourced from the Ahmann and Huichica Vineyards in Carneros, the Keyes Vineyard in Howell Mountain, and the Rancho Sarco Vineyard on the north east edge of Napa. The nose shows tropical fruits, russet apple, caramel, delicate sweet spices and wet stone. Medium-full bodied with a creamy and refreshing texture, look for ripe stone fruit and orchard fruit on the long finish.

This is reserved in style but has a nice well of loganberry and mulberry fruit, with subtle apple wood, loam and licorice root notes. A flash of sweet bay leaf flickers in the background, too. Polished feel overall. Drink now through 2032.

The 2018 Capensis is matured in 45% new oak that comes from three cooperages, though I found the wood component supremely well disguised. It has a pretty bouquet that demands a little coaxing, eventually offering dried yellow flowers and touches of dried mint. Quite understated compared to its peers. The palate is well balanced with a lovely, slightly waxy texture counterbalanced by a fine bead of acidity. Nicely focused, nothing extravagant on the finish yet everything feels neatly embroidered together with fine persistence.

Blended with 9% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot, this wine offers firm structure and strong tannins. With more than two years in French oak, it unfurls into waves of earthy dried herb, cedar and peppercorn,
with a chalky texture of crushed rock.

This charming, light-colored and well-balanced wine offers the balance of a Pinot Noir with light tannins and good acidity as well as some of the tangy, mouthwatering qualities of Sangiovese. Enjoy this rarity (in California) for its focus, lively texture and subtle cranberry and black-tea flavors.

Rounded aromas of apricot, peach, salted butter and citrus pith emerge on the nose of this three-barrel bottling. A light sandalwood flavor shows on the sip along with lemon peel, wet earth and more savory sea-salt elements.

Shimmering ruby. Fragrant raspberry and cherry aromas show excellent clarity and are accompanied by potpourri and baking spice nuances. A smoky mineral flourish builds in the glass and carries onto the palate, which features appealingly sweet red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors and smooth, seamless texture. Deftly balances richness and liveliness and finishes long and floral, with harmonious tannins and a subtle echo of candied flowers. These vines were planted in 1946 on a cool, sandy site.

Bright straw-yellow. Nervy and precise on the nose, displaying fresh Meyer lemon and green apple aromas that pick up a subtle floral note as the wine opens up. Taut and gently chewy on the palate, showing fine clarity and a refreshingly bitter snap to the mineral- and floral-accented citrus and orchard fruit flavors. Finishes with firm cut, repeating citrus character and strong, mineral-driven tenacity.

Deep red. Vibrant raspberry and rose aromas, along with hints of dusty minerals and baking spices. Juicy, seamless and focused on the palate, offering appealingly sweet red fruit and floral pastille flavors that deepen steadily as the wine opens up. Fine-grained tannins frame the lively, spice-laced finish, which shows strong, red-fruit-driven tenacity.

One of the things that distinguishes Oregon Pinot Noir from much of California is there is an earthiness that California does not possess. This 2020 certainly offers bright and expressive Pinot fruit – strawberry, Bing cherry, red raspberry, along with pomegranate and cola notes, but also an earthiness similar to mild mushroom. The acidity is in check, the fruit and oak nicely balanced, and you’re left with a solid wine that reflects its place of origin. Siduri produces wines from many different Pinot regions in Oregon and throughout California, and one of the reasons they are so successful is they understand the place where the fruit comes from. This Willamette will not disappoint and will give you a taste of Oregon.

After 14 months in 30% new French oak, this is a compelling Pinot Noir that favors fruit, baking spice and sweet herbs. Layers range from plum, pomegranate and lavender to boysenberry and Bing cherry. There’s a sense of silkiness that’s joined by juiciness, Craisin and a finish that brings everything together.
Outstanding!

I loved the nose on the 2019 Pinot Noir Hapgood Vineyard, and it has complex red and black fruits as well as some foresty, floral nuances, medium-bodied richness, good purity of fruit, and ripe tannins. It's a balanced, satisfying Pinot Noir to drink over the coming 4-6 years.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Signature Collection Barbara's Clone 667 comes from the same vineyard (Julia's Vineyard) but is a clonal selection brought up in new barrels. It's a better-balanced Pinot offering impressive red and black fruits, notes of spice box, forest floor, and dried flowers, medium body, integrated oak, and a great finish. This layered, ripe, wonderfully textured Pinot Noir is going to keep for 7-8 years, if not longer.

The 2020 Syrah Ex Post Facto (100% Syrah) comes from sites in Santa Barbara County and is always a vibrant, cool-climate inspired Syrah (although it’s certainly ripe). Ripe red and blackberry fruits, sappy green herbs, and peppery notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with a fleshy, rounded, opulent texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This beauty is going to shine for 7-8 years.

Readers looking for a smoking value in Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County will love the 2021 Diatom. Offering a light gold hue as well as a juicy array of ripe melon, pineapple, honeyed flowers, and chalky minerality, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a round, lush mouthfeel, good acidity, and a great finish. It's well worth a case purchase and should keep for at least 4-6 years, although there's no need to delay gratification.

The 2019 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is laced with crushed flowers, sweet red/purplish berry fruit, cinnamon and rose petal. The aromatics are quite alluring. On the palate, the 2019 is a bit more nervy and reticent. Even so, there's good energy and plenty of persistence, along with a good bit of weight that becomes increasingly apparent over time.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Barbara's Clone 667 shows the more gracious side of the estate. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, orange peel, lavender and rose petal lend notable aromatic presence. This is an especially airy, ethereal style that, in this cool vintage, leans into the realm of nervy.

The 2020 Pinot Noir 459 is intensely savory and brooding in this vintage. Dark fruit, tobacco, incense and dried herbs emerge with some coaxing, but only reluctantly. Time brings out a slightly more elegant, nuanced side to the 459. It will be interesting to see where things ultimately settle. Readers should plan on giving this a few years to soften.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Machado presents a distinctly dark profile and greater breadth than the other wines in the range, a reflection of the clay-rich souls in this parcel. Dark red/blue fruit and big tannins convey quite a bit of primary intensity. This brooding Pinot will need a few years to soften.

From the west side on sedimentary soils, the 2019 Pinot Noir Conifer is forward with fresh pine, compost, and black cherry. It is a well-structured wine with freshness and is noted by red plum, tea leaf, and forest herbs. Drink. 2024-2034.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard pours a transparent ruby, with aromas of wild raspberry, clove, and dusty earth. The palate is silky, with round red fruit of baked strawberry, cherry pit, and shitake. It is approachable and appealing now, or drink it over the following 6-8 years.