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.

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.