Golden color, smooth and rich with toasted oak and a core of bright acidity; this winery is very consistent in style and quality; long and lovely through the finish.

This pale straw-colored Chardonnay from La Crema is impressive. It opens with a lemon custard and mild oak bouquet with notes of pineapple. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, round and smooth. The flavor profile is a mild mineral infused pineapple with notes of Anjou pear and oak. I also detected hints of apricot and a dash of white pepper towards the end. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. I would pair this very nice Chard with pan seared sea scallops drizzled with herb butter.

Dark fruit flavors are fleshy and dense, juicy and appealing, with a floral note adding aromatic lift to the details of spice, tobacco and toasted herb. Sticky toffee pudding and toasted cedary elements linger on the finish. Drink now through 2030.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. The nose offers aromas of blackest cherry, black raspberry, dried herbs and burnt tobacco. Mid-weight in concentration, featuring well-ripened, earth-toned black fruits with a modicum of oak in the background. Fruitladen, with mild tannins, good brightness and a sappy finish. Similar when tasted from a previously opened and re-corked bottle the following day. A hint of warmth appears on the finish as the wine warms in the glass.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of blackest cherry, earthy flora, oak spice and Herbes de Provence. Both earth and oak accent the hearty core of black cherry and boysenberry fruit that is framed by mild fine-grain tannins. There is a hint of tobacco and mocha. Silky in texture, with some length on the finish. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the earth and oak tenor of the fruit persisted.

Sweet raspberry and cherry aromas, cedar, violets, peppery spices, leather and cocoa aromas lead to a silky palate with berry tea, fine spice and earthy flavours. A delicious and well constructed Pinot with freshness, structure and persistence.

COMMENTARY: The 2018 diatom Bar-M is an excellent example of a Santa Barbara County Chardonnay. TASTING NOTES: This wine is multi-dimensional. Enjoy its aromas and flavors of ripe core fruit, creamy oak, and mineral notes with a pan-seared, panko-breaded flounder.

Yangarra’s egg-fermented Roussanne is pale gold in hue, with a slightly green tinge. An aromatic offering, it bursts from the glass with notes of ginger, lavender hand soap, fresh pineapple and peach, and speckles of honeysuckle and soft spices. The mouthfeel is rich and highly textural, with just enough acidity to freshen it. Minerals and spices run through to the finish, and the fruit takes a back seat. A characterful, site expressive, outside-the-box bottling with not a hint of funk.

Weighty and textured, this richly layered wine shows a density of baked strawberry, pomegranate and rhubarb, the fruit seasoned in clove. Toasted oak supports and complements, finishing in a subtle twist of black tea and cola.

Pomegranate, raspberry, carnations, rose petals and toasted sage fall into harmony on the nose of this appellation blend. Black-raspberry and light thyme flavors show on the palate, which deftly balances weight and acid.

This full-bodied wine offers seductive, pretty fruit aromas and flavors that reflect ripe black cherries, blueberries and strawberries. It tastes pure and uncomplicated, nicely polished in texture and with a lingering berrylike finish.

McLaren Vale Delivers Top Mediterranean Styled RedsThis grenache rosé nails the bright, fresh brief with aromas of light strawberries, peaches and apples, leading to a very elegant, zipped-up palate that delivers crisp, fresh appeal. This is right on the stylistic bullseye. Drink now. Screw cap.

McLaren Vale Delivers Top Mediterranean Styled RedsThis has a very attractive, fresh and spicy nose with rich, darker-plum and blackberry aromas. Chocolate and raspberries, too. This is a vintage that delivers bold, fleshy, darker fruit. Supple, fleshy texture and nice chew on the finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

McLaren Vale Delivers Top Mediterranean Styled RedsPlenty of ripe red plums and purple flowers with a cedary and spicy oak thread, too. The palate has a succulent, smooth feel with a bold, assertive cut to the tannin. Ripe, rich and punchy merlot.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Coming all from the estate in the Alexander Valley, the appellation 2018 Chardonnay Estate reveals a medium gold color to go with lots of honeyed stone fruits, buttered almonds, brioche, and that classic mineral and white flower character that seems to be present in all of these Stonestreet Chardonnay. It's balanced, medium-bodied, and has loads of character.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018From a cool, windy region south of Monterey, the 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands offers a fruit-forward, medium-bodied, classic style that carries lots of black raspberry fruits, a touch of floral and violet notes, and plenty of spice-like aromas and flavors. This rounded, plush, and sexy Pinot Noir is ideal for drinking over the coming 4-6 years.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018The flagship Sauvignon Blanc, the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Journey is a mix of Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, and Bennett Valley fruit and was brought up all in neutral French oak, mostly larger puncheons. It has an exotic, tropical bouquet that includes plenty of tart pineapple, grapefruit, and floral notes. This carries to a medium-bodied, dry, crisp white with good concentration, bright acidity, and a great finish. It's one of the more serious, age-worthy releases in the lineup and I suspect it will keep for over a decade.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Helena Bench comes all from the Knights Valley AVA and includes 5% Sauvignon Musque, which no doubt contributes to the wine’s exotic aromatics of citrus, pineapple, exotic flowers, and honeysuckle. It's another beautifully balanced, vibrant Sauvignon Blanc with good acidity, plenty of fruit, and a clean, dry finish.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Lastly, the 2018 Chardonnay Journey is a smaller production cellar selection from vineyard in Sonoma County. Brought up all in French oak (new and used) and going all through malolactic fermentation, it has plenty of orchard fruit as well as subtle tropical hints to go with a medium-bodied, juicy, racy style on the palate. It has bright acidity, good concentration, and plenty of sweet fruit. Drink this classy, classic California Chardonnay over the coming 4-6 years.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Brought up in a mix of new and neutral French oak, the medium-bodied 2018 Chardonnay Cougar Ridge is another pure, elegant, beautifully balanced wine from Marcia Torres Forno. Lots of white fruits, white flowers, spice, and a touch of toasted bread all emerge from the glass, and it has a great texture, plenty of acidity, and a good finish. Drink it over the coming 4-6 years.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Fermented and aged in 35% new French oak, the 2017 Chardonnay Kelli-Ann Vineyard comes from the Russian River and spent 14 months in barrel prior to bottling. A ripe, classic bouquet of buttered apples, white flowers, toasted bread, and hints of nuttiness give way to a medium-bodied Chardonnay that's nicely balanced, with good acidity and a great finish. It's another high-quality Chardonnay from this estate that I'd be happy to drink.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018From a selection of growers in the Russian River Valley, the 2017 Chardonnay 9 Barrel has a ripe, tropical bouquet of tart pineapple, buttered lemons, flowers, and toasted bread. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay with a terrific mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a crisp finish. Impeccably made, it’s a terrific Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years. I don't think it matches the 2016, but it's a beautiful wine.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Trace Ridge is also all varietal and comes from the Kellog Vineyard in the warmer Knights Valley AVA. Aged 19 months in just over 60% new French oak, it offers rocking crème de cassis, spicy oak, lead pencil, and violet notes as well as a plush, medium to full-bodied, impressively textured style on the palate. It still shows those 2017 tannins but is beautifully done.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Last of the Chardonnay, the 2018 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Camelot Highlands comes all from the Santa Maria Valley (which is a cooler region) and was fermented and aged all in French oak. Brioche, honeysuckle, toasted nuts, and orchard fruits all define the bouquet, and this beauty is rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, with terrific balance. It's another rich yet balanced, incredibly high-quality white from the team at Kendall-Jackson.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Savory spice, dried herbs, rose petal, earth, mulled cherry, and cranberry notes all emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Muldune Trail, which comes from an estate vineyard in the southern end of the Anderson Valley, located at 1,600 feet in elevation. Aged 17 months in 42% new French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered, it's medium-bodied, elegant, and ethereally styled, with light tannins and solid length. It's going to keep for 7-8 years, but it’s not one of the more singular wines in the lineup.