An elegant shade of reddish purple in the glass, this bottling offers asphalt, game and aged berry aromas on the nose. The palate is lightly bodied by extremely expressive and layered, moving from purple flower and fruit flavors to savory pork fat, wood spice and sagebrush.

Hints of almonds and savory herbs in the aroma accompany Bosc pears and vanilla on the palate as this handsome, toasty wine balances fruitiness and an oak-aged spiciness for a complex and complete expression. Best through 2028. Editors’ Choice.

I last opened a bottle of this two years ago and I have to admit that those tasting notes are still pretty spot on. Like I said in the previous note (“golden in the glass, but no signs of oxidation on the nose, just tons of honeyed, even candied lemon curd, laden with heavy doses of vanilla and oak. Yeah, this is a big’un, certainly in the style of those late 90s California Chards“), on the continuum of fruity and fresh to oaky and buttery, this definitely trends toward the latter, way towards the latter. That does not scare me in the slightest (although I prefer my Chardonnay with a defter hand), but this is not a Chard for the Anything But Chardonnay crowd. At. All. Excellent.

Mint sauce and tobacco and white pepper underlay plump plum and cherry fruit on this Cab Franc, which vibes more Bordeaux than Loire. There's a lick of polished vanillin oak present, too. Tannins are distinctively textured, raspy and spicy, weaving through the plush red fruit. Well structured, this could be drunk now with a roast leg of lamb or cellared through to 2030.

I can't think of a better term than "exquisite" to describe the 2019 La Crema Russian River Valley Chardonnay! It romances your palate with the abundant flavors of apple, pear, lemon zest, and a crisp finish with a mineral note, and a hint of mellow oak.

Coming from both Coombsville and Carneros, the 2020 Chardonnay spent 10 months in 36% new French oak. It’s a classy, outstanding effort offering lots of apple blossom, white flowers, and orange zest nuances in a medium-bodied, bright, juicy style. It’s perfect for enjoying over the coming couple of years.

Dark strawberry, raspberry jam and light herb aromas make for a familiar and complex nose on his bottling. The palate is edgy in texture and brisk in flavor, showing red plum, pomegranate and rounded red-flower flavors, with pepper spice on the finish.
Editors’ Choice.

Giant Steps 2021 Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay (Yarra Valley). This is a mediumweight, fruit-and-toast driven Chard from the upper Yarra. High-toned aromas of lemon, apple peel, grilled white peach and musk are backed by cream and saline notes. It’s slippery in texture, balanced by a salty acidity, with length and poise. This vintage feels more reticent than previous ones, so cellar for a year or two then drink until 2031. Jackson Family Wines. Cellar Selection

Produced from 100% Sangiovese, the 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Strada Al Sasso is concentrated and potent with fresh pine, worn leather, sage, and black cherry. It is medium to full-bodied, with a driving linear feel to its acidity, and reveals angular tannins, notes of dusty baked earth, orange peel, rosemary, and cedar, and a citrus-tinged finish. Drink 2025-2035.

A broad, creamy version, with flavors of fresh-cut apple, yellow plum, blanched almond, chamomile and honeycomb defined by mouthwatering acidity that pushes the flavor range, streamlining everything on the long, salty finish. Drink now through 2028. 200 cases made, 150 cases imported.

Rich, with butterscotch and apple butter notes as well as ripe peach flavors on a supple, creamy frame revealing fresh acidity and spiciness. Shows a wonderful sense of balance and elegance on the finish. Drink now. 217 cases made

The 2020 Ovitelli Blanc (a white Rhône blend made from Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Picquepoul and Bourbelenc) presents a complex, although reserved, experience. It opens with an engaging array of waxy, pithy and nutty aromas with a subtle chamomile lift. Dry and quite textural, tangy acidity drives upfront impact before slowly taking a more savory turn to a textural finish. This is a good effort and a wine to watch.

The 2020 Merlot The Revivalist with splashes of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon is a sumptuous, fragrant wine. Already approachable, it delivers plush open-knit aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry with tinges of leaf and dried herbs. A good volume of flavor follows but is slightly edged out by toasty oak and drying tannins through a reasonable finish. This has crowd pleaser written all over it.

This 2020 Cabernet Franc, blended with small volumes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, offers beautifully pristine blackcurrant and graphite aromas with a well weighted vein of spicy French oak. There is impressive elegance and balance, too. Firm but fine tannins underline well-defined flavors through a lengthy finish. Beautifully approachable now but also with the potential to improve over the medium term.

The popularity of Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve label, which blends grapes from the Jackson family’s vineyards across California to produce consistently flavourful and concentrated wines, might make some underestimate this Alexander Valley Cabernet. That would be a mistake. Alexander Valley in Sonoma County is a choice spot for cabernet in California, rivalling Napa in terms of quality and character. This estate-grown cabernet includes 22 per cent merlot in a red wine with a sweet and vibrant character. Drink now to 2030. Available in Ontario.

The 2019 Chardonnay Estate is plush, creamy and super-expressive. Apricot, mint, chamomile and light pastry notes all grace this smooth yet understated Chardonnay from Stonestreet.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Lingenfelder Vineyard offers attractive brightness to play off a core of sweet red cherry/plum fruit. The style is a bit on the linear side, and yet there is plenty of both fruit and mid-palate pliancy to pull it all together. This is nicely done.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Perry Ranch Vineyard is a bold, potent wine. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, clovers, licorice and mocha give the Perry Ranch its dark, rather brooding personality. The 2019 needs a bit of time to come together, as it is a bit awkward in its contours. But there is certainly plenty to look forward to.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Edmeades Vineyard is a very pretty wine. Sweet floral and spice accents give the Edmeades lovely brightness to complement the dark red fruit. There's plenty of vintage 2020 richness, and yet Edmeades also offers a good deal of aromatic intensity and overall energy as well.

The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Journey is a blend from Matanzas Creek, Knights Valley, Alexander Mountain Estate and Jackson Park, four top estates. Apricot, ginger, mint, lemon confit white flowers and sage all meld together in a Sauvignon Blanc endowed with terrific textural finesse and fine balance. This is a magnificent wine for the year.

The 2018 Merlot (Alexander Valley) is sof, fruity and easygoing, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Bright red cherry, plum,spice, new leather, chocolate, and licorice are nicely pushed forward.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Unforgettable shows a lovely red berry fruit character to match its understated, mid-weight personality. Soft, silky tannins wrap it all together. This firms up a touch with air as the acids begin to emerge. The brightness is quite attractive. I would open this an hour or two in advance to allow all the elements to be fully expressive.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Jolie is the most ethereal and lifted of these Pinots. Crushed red berry fruit, cedar, mint and orange peel hover across the palate. Understated and classy to the core, the 2019 is impeccably balanced, not to mention a real charmer.

The 2019 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard is a classic Russian River Chardonnay built on texture and oiliness. Apricot, honey, tangerine oil, chamomile, spice and butter notes all come together nicely. This mid-weight, fleshy Chardonnay is loaded with up-front appeal and charm.

The 2016 Syrah Outer Limits Vineyard, from Far Coast, is a rare Syrah from the Annapolis district in the northern part of the West Sonoma Coast. It offers up copious dark fruit, black pepper, five spice and bittersweet chocolate. Even at six years of age, the 2016 has a wild, rough around the edges feel that is quite present.