This is a stunning Chardonnay from the Zena Crown Vineyard, high in the Eola-Amity Hills. It comes from three blocks (2, 8, and 12) in the middle of the vineyard. The wine flaunts fabulous lemon custard aromas and buttercup florals, complemented by salty sea air and beeswax. The palate delicately balances brushing lemon oil with smoky sea shells and filigreed minerality, and a sprinkle of dried chamomile carries the finish.

Deep ruby red in colour with intense purple undertones. Highly perfumed aromas of sweet scented spice, candied orange peel, crushed red rose petals, polished saddle leather and clove. Bing cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry, pomegranate, liquorice, cedar notes and sweet toasted tobacco. The palate reflects the bouquet. Velvety tannins vie with friendly acidic presence. Well extracted. Glorious tingling sensation following mid palate to the long, wide finish.

The Freemark Abbey Bosché Vineyard 2014 offers a preview of qualities like those in its tobacco, rosemary and roasted plum aromas. “I liked 2014 a lot and it really shines in the cellar right now, but we think it can age 20-30 years easily,” said Freemark Abbey winemaker Kristy Melton. “It’s shifting from that nice ripe, primary fruit to secondary, more dried fruit, dried pomegranate, and starting to develop that bottle bouquet.”

Wonderfully sleek, sophisticated, linear and layered, with great focus in the flavors and polish in the texture. Black cherries, blueberries, blackcurrants, bay leaves and touches of forest floor and leather. This amazingly well-balanced, silky and trimly structured wine is grown at the southern edge of the Rutherford AVA, adjacent to the Oakville AVA and situated between Staglin and To Kalon Vineyards. Contains 8% petit verdot and 1% cabernet franc. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.

The Éclatant from Willakenzie is a serious head-turner: rich baked brioche and lemon curd aromas with a lovely floral quality. The palate offers a deep streak of citrus cream, almond pastry cream, and beautiful pops of candied ginger with a finish of creamy opulence. I am smitten with this gorgeous bubbly from Willakenzie and winemaker Erik Kramer.

Well structured and rich in minerals, offering intense focus that energizes this concentrated, muscular wine. Firm, caressing tannins wrap around flavors of white stones, chalk, raspberries, blackberries and subtle dried herbs. Full-bodied but elegant, lithe and well balanced. Drink now or hold.

A classic California cabernet with great structure, abundant black fruit flavors and a lingering finish. This is built for further aging, and its blackcurrant, black cherry and dried blueberry flavors will mature and evolve. Full-bodied, firmly tannic and nicely layered. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.

Blend of Fijnbosch, Barrydale (Klein Karoo), Robertson and Kaaimansgat fruit. Similar oaking regime with 32-33% new oak and multiple passage barrels. The aromatics show a fabulous lemon blossom and herby, savoury depth with green melon, lemon pastille and a beautifully integrated delicate oak spice that’s almost an afterthought. The texture is world class, polished, sleek, refined and incredibly crystalline and pure. A beautiful expression from a top-class producer.

Deep, concentrated purple-red colour; the aromas are likewise bright, fresh intense and bold: white pepper, freshly picked herbs and red fruits including raspberry. There is a generous measure of whole-bunch tied up in this. The flavour is impressively intense and focused, elegant and spicy, long and penetrating. The tannins are velvet smooth but are doing their job beautifully. Lovely now and will surely reward keeping. A ripping cool-climate shiraz.

Very deep, colour with a brilliant purple rim; as dark as Australian pinot noir gets. The bouquet is a mixture of fragrant herbs, sweet Turkish Delight, pot-pourri and underbrush, while the palate is medium-full-bodied and very deep, with impressive structure and a long follow-through. Dark cherry is deep within the core and takes its time to emerge. There's a mass of fine, dry, powdery tannin, perfectly balanced with the concentrated flavour. An impressively powerful pinot noir which should have a rosy future.

Excellent depth of ruby with a good tint of purple; reserved and brooding bouquet of dried herbs and earthy smoky savoury aromas, the darker cherry notes lurking beneath. Rich, sweetly ripe black and red cherry flavours fill the palate, with a rich, sweet-fruit heart and abundant fine, drying, powdery tannins in beautiful balance taking it to a long finish. A ripping pinot noir, young but already drinking superbly.

Deep-ish red-purple colour; attractive fragrance of dried herbs and flowers, subtle spicy touches and an abundance of red and darker cherry fruits. The palate is succulent in sweet ripe pinot fruit: there are complexing factors here but the fruit is doing most of the talking. A magical pinot noir, drinking beautifully already.

Bright light lemon colour with an intense spicy nose, showing classy oak and a range of citrus fruit led by lemon and lime, a trace of grapefruit also and the palate is seriously tensioned and refined, with precisely focused flavour that really sings and lingers long on the aftertaste. Great energy and drive: a marvellous chardonnay. It also promises to develop beautifully with time.

Light yellow colour with a reserved and smoky, baguette crust, lightly toasty, savoury bouquet; some traces of dried citrus peels. Cashewnut and pencil shavings too. Oak is there but very much in the background. A wine of precision and finesse, the remarkably sustained palate drive not distracted by a touch of phenolic grip that adds texture and emphasis. Outstanding chardonnay which combines classic chardonnay generosity with finesse and drive.

Floral and perfumed with an underlying power, showing notes of mulberries, wild blackberries, Damson plums and cured meat. The palate is full-bodied with seamless tannins and bright acidity, giving robust notes of dark cherries, iodine, mocha, violets and ferric earth. Well balanced and structured. Very serious. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Pale in appearance. The nose gives lifted aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, sweet spices and orange peel. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of dark cherries, dried herbs and cocoa. Exceptionally lifted and fresh. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

The nose is deeply perfumed, with brooding aromas of mulberries, mocha, dried herbs and tea leaves. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and focused acidity, giving notes of raspberries, cassia bark, potpourri and spices. Very complex and tightly wound, with real purity of fruit. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

There is great tension and freshness in this subtle, structured and at first restrained wine. Medium-bodied with vivid acidity, minerals, white peaches and crisp pears. It doesn't go through malolactic and uses no more than 10% new oak for barrel fermentation, helping to retain balance, linearity and length. More in the mold of a Chablis than a Meursault. Drink now or hold.

A beautiful, balanced, elegant wine from mountain vineyards that has great structure for aging, but also is drinkable soon, after decanting. Blackcurrants, baked blackberries, spearmint, dark chocolate and cherry syrup. Tannins are velvety and fine-grained, caressing the palate and leading to a lingering finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.

Beautiful floral aromas and densely saturated black fruit make this distinctive and gorgeous. Violets, rose petals, blackberries and blackcurrants, with velvety tannins, super concentration and focus. So deep on the palate and long in the finish. Contains 10% cabernet sauvignon. Drink now or hold.

Wow, a beauty of a Bordeaux-style blend that is seamless in texture, layered and nuanced in flavor. It contains all five Bordeaux red grape varieties, but none of them dominates. Black cherries, blackberries, cocoa, spearmint and minerals with light, savory bay leaf accents, but so much pure fruit comes through. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.

Complex aromas of blueberry bush, wild blackberries, graphite and pomegranates. The palate is medium-bodied with seamlessly integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of Damson plums, dark cherries, coffee beans and wild raspberries. Vibrant and refined, with a firmly integrated structure. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Complex aromas of blackberry bush, cassia bark, coffee beans and autumn leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with refined tannins and integrated acidity, giving notes of wet bark, dried herbs, dark cherries and cured meat. A hint of reduction with a savory edge. 40% whole-cluster fermentation. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Complex aromas of lemon peel, gun smoke, orange blossoms and sea spray. The palate is medium-bodied with a creamy texture cut through with tightly wound acidity, giving notes of candied lime zest, mandarin peel and steely minerality. Very refined and pure with an underlying tension. The premiere release of this vineyard to Giant Steps. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Expressive aromas of lime curd, oyster shells, white rose petals and flint. The palate is medium-bodied with vivid acidity and a creamy texture, giving notes of orange zest, chalk and Meyer lemons. Very tightly wound and energetic, with an underlying power. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap.