Brooding aromas of licorice, black cherry liqueur, and leather jump from the glass of the 2019 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard, and the palate is luxurious without feeling heavy, offering notes of black plum, turned soil, and espresso. With a silky texture and a rounded mouthfeel, it should warrant another year or two in bottle. Drink 2024-2034.

The 2015 Blanc de Blancs takes on more toasted rounded aromas, with oak spice, brioche, caramelized citrus, and baked apple. The palate is tension-filled, with great concentration, a chalky texture, and notes of pear and lime. Drink 2022-2030.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton is perfumed with savory fresh pine, grapefruit, cedar, and incense as well as black cherry fruit. The palate is dry, revealing notes of black raspberry, tobacco, and dusty earth. Drink 2023-2032.

Just looking through the box that arrived, I went to grab a bottle of The Peake (Cab/Shiraz) and pulled out another bottle of The Trueman, which made me double take, and question my sanity. Turns out there’s no Peake, but two Trueman. Lucky me! So I’ll leave that one to CM or MB to review. It’ll be Peake CM, if he does it. It’s a little wheaty and squishy in profile, feels slightly truffle-edged and baked plum, along with nougat and cedar oak, and some tobacco, and sage. Medium-bodied, tobacco and truffle, fine-grained milk chocolate tannin, though there is some firmness and grip here and ironstone feel, and some sun dried tomato and raspberry on a finish of dry tannin and good length. It’s a good wine, though I feel slightly off the pace this vintage.

La Crema's 2017 Kelli Ann Vineyard is in a fine place right now, one of La Crema's prized single vineyards in the heart of the Russian Valley. the toastiness of wood ageing and lees ageing is increasingly apparent with the maple syrup, curry flavours creeping in on the caramelized orchard fruit and citrus. Acids are creamy and round, balancing 14.2% alcohol declared. Length is very good to excellent, and concentration is clearly above the mean. Ready to enjoy or hold short term.

La Crema continues to engage single vineyard fruit with another example coming this time from Russian River Valley's Kelli Ann Vineyard. The site is off of Eastside Road on the banks of the Russian River, planted in 1989. The '17 chardonnay was barrel fermented and then aged 15 months in 35 per cent new French wood. Comes away pure and of a distinct varietal character that accepts the brûlée provided by the barrel, to caramelize and spice accentuate flavours so reminiscent of lemon curd. Both pretty and plentiful there is ample weight and also texture to sink one's teeth into. Has done it's aging so get at this sooner rather than later.

Medium yellow color. The aromas are so fresh, with kiwi, yellow apples, topped in chalk, stony minerals, saline, some bread crumbs and honey. The palate is full of precise acidity and deep texture, with flavors of lemons and limes and crunchy yellow apples. Some floral perfume and saline tones blend well with biscuits, bread dough and some honey. A very clear and focused Chardonnay that should age nicely. Really surprising and delicious stuff.

High-toned red fruit encompasses the palate of this full-bodied wine, that is supple and generous in tannin and flecks of black pepper and clove. A rounded texture gives it a welcome plushness and length.

The 2020 Pinot Noir has classic markers of beet root, cinnamon spice, and raspberry seed, followed by a medium-bodied palate with a stony mouthfeel, offering notes of fresh cherry pit, with fresh roses, and crunchy red fruit on the finish. This wine is sourced from what is now officially known as the West Sonoma Coast.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is perfumed with sweet crushed flowers, candied blackberry, and soft baking spice. The palate is juicy up front and gives way to more savory fine-grained tannins and a supple mouthfeel, with notes of black tea and wild herbs. Drink 2025-2042.
Vérité

The 2020 Pinot Noir Skycrest Vineyard is more introverted in its aromatics of fresh fig, freshly turned earth, and sassafras. It has a more powerful structure and grip, with notes of ripe black cherry pit and tea leaf. Allow some time in bottle before drinking 2024-2028.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard is fragrant of ripe red plum, dried red flowers, and orange oil. The palate is ripe with plum pit, turned earth, and tea leaf. This is a little more savory expression, offering gamey richness and fine tannins. Drink it over the next 8 or so years.

The nose of the 2019 Pinot Noir Zena Crown Vineyard is expressive of some black fruit as well as iron-rich minerality and moss-covered earth. The palate is savory with iron-rich earth, red cherry pit, and crunchy red plum skin. Drink this over the next 6 or so years.

A more savory side comes through in the 2019 Merlot Jackson Park Vineyard, which offers notes of fresh pine, black plum, and sun-baked hay. The palate is more compact, with fig, dark chocolate, and tea leaf. Drink 2024-2032.

There are perfumed floral tones with the 2019 Merlot Bennett Valley as well as hints of violet candy, currant, and dark mineral earth. The palate is full and structured, with fresh acidity as well as notes of red plum and turned earth. Drink 2023-2030.

The 2020 Chardonnay Kelli Ann Vineyard has a more assertive character and flinty minerality, with ripe green apple, vanilla, and lemon bars. The palate is full and inviting, with notes of melon, crème brûlée, and lemon pith. Drink over the next 5-7 years.

Exuberant aromatics of toasted vanillin, custard, and candied pineapple emerge from the 2020 Chardonnay Cougar Ridge Vineyard, and its palate is full of yellow apple and a florality that carries through the finish. Drink it over the next 6-8 years.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Unforgettable Estate Vineyard was raised in 25% new French oak and has aromas of fresh red plum, vanilla bean, and crushed red flowers. There is another gear on the palate, with up-front primary fruit of juicy raspberry that is cleaned away with fresh cranberry and mouthwatering acidity. This is another open and charming wine now, but it will be wonderful over the next 8-10 years.

The 2019 Pinot Noir 9 Barrel is rich with soft floral aromatics of crushed flowers, cedar, and cherry candy. Juicy red cherry fruit fills the palate, with fresh sweet herbs and forest floor. Drink 2022-2030.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Green Valley is compact, with dark cherry fruit, forested earth, and dried herbs. The palate has a bit more structure and fine-grained tannins, with more energetic tension running through the mid-palate that can hold up to richer meat dishes at the table. Drink over the next 8 years.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Trace Ridge leads with floral aromas of crushed violets, black raspberry liqueur, and cocoa powder. The palate is soft and upfront with ripe black fruits and fine but present tannins, and the wine offers lift and fresh acid on the finish. Hold it a couple years and drink over the next 15.

Sourced from Pocket Peak, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Hawkeye Mountain is packed with aromas of concentrated black plum skin, cedar, and sage. This is a full octane wine that does not shy away from its structure and power. Notes of dried herbs, fresh tobacco, primary black fruits, and light bourbon toast emerge on the palate. Hold this red a couple years and enjoy over the next 10 or more years.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Seco Highlands is lifted with a perfume of roses, candied red cherries, and sweet herbs. The palate is really fresh, with crunchy strawberry and raspberry fruit, refreshing acidity, and fine tannins. Drink now or over the next 10 years.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Cloud Landing offers rich floral aromas of black cherry liqueur, candied violets, and spice, followed by a full-bodied, textured red revealing notes of ripe red plum, turned earth, and nutmeg. Drink 2023-2030.

The 2020 Chardonnay Stature is highly aromatic and floral with jasmine, ripe cantaloupe, and lemon candy. The full and luxuriously rich palate delivers notes of lemon confit and ripe apple as well as a long finish. Drink over the next 8 years.