Byron's 2016 Chardonnay Bien Nacido is a ripe, flamboyant beauty that offers loads of tropical fruits, quince, and flower oil-like notes in its medium to full-bodied, mouthfilling, opulent style. It has good acidity but just fills the mouth with fruit. It’s a character-filled, pleasure-bent effort to drink over the coming 2-3 years.

The 2015 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard has turned out very nicely. Aromatic and expressive, with lovely stone fruit character, the 2015 captures the more restrained style of the year. Apricot, chamomile and lightly honeyed tones give the wine its succulent, open-knit personality. This is very nicely done.

Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. The nose offers aromas of buttered popcorn, honey, pineapple core and lemon rind. Creamy in the mouth with well-ripened fruit flavors of yellow apple, pineapple, mango and pear. A bold, rich wine with nicely integrated acidity and a deft touch of oak. Well crafted in this fruit and oak driven style.

Moderately dark golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of citrus peel, yellow grapefruit and ripe apple lead to a discretely rich styled wine with ripe flavors of pineapple, lemon and yellow peach underlain with complimentary oak. A good cut of acidity maintains a refreshing vibrancy.

Coming from sandy, shale and limestone soils, the 2015 Chardonnay Nielson Vineyard from Byron was barrel fermented and spent 16 months in 70% new French oak. Orange blossom, stone fruits and plenty of salinity give way to a concentrated, rich, yet fresh and pure Chardonnay that's ideal for drinking over the coming 3-5 years. Originally founded in 1984, Byron is now owned by Jackson Family Wines with the wines made by Jonathan Nagy. The oak treatment sticks out slightly in a number of these wines, but as I hope the scores show, there’s tons to love here. These are ripe, classic Santa Barbara wines.

Lovely vanilla nose; silky and fresh with tangy acidity, fresh pear and soft vanilla oak; fruit forward and elegant.

Roasted macadamia, toasted coconut and baked apple scents lead the nose of this wine from Santa Barbara County’s first commercial vineyard. The palate is broad to start, with lemon curd, pear and almond flavors; but it centers on a flinty mineral character as it finishes.

A rich, stylish effort, with a seductive overlay of smoky, toasty oak to the ripe pear, fig, nectarine and melon flavors, gaining depth and length on the finish.

A rich, stylish effort, with a seductive overlay of smoky, toasty oak to the ripe pear, fig, nectarine and melon flavors, gaining depth and length on the finish.

The aromas of this Chardonnay are zesty and fresh yet rich, with barrel smoke, caramelized pear and vanilla tones. The integration continues on the palate, with a bit of oak followed by apple, white peach, nectarine and lime zest. It’s flavorful and enjoyable now

Santa Maria Valley's terroir shines through in this Chardonnay's brisk, mouthwatering acidity and fruit purity. The bright, vibrant guave and citrus flavors are enriched with a coating of sweet, smoky oak. There's a fascinating minerality, like a lick of sandstone rocks, that boasts its complex appeal.

Very rich, reflecting 100% barrel fermentation in partial new oak and 100% malolactic fermentation. Under the creamy lees and buttered toast are scads of pineapples, pears and papayas. The grapes come from the Nielson Vineyard.

A gorgeous, flamboyant Chardonnay, with a rich, creamy mouthfeel and opulent flavors of peaches, orange popsicle, candied orange peel, buttered toast and cinnamon, brightened with crisp acidity. A real crowd-pleaser.

A beautiful wine, crisp and elegant, filled with varietal complexity. Oak-inspired butterscotch and vanilla custard accent ripe fruit flavors of grilled pineapples and ripe kiwi, with a long, spicy finish. Beautiful now for a year or two.

What a string of successes Byron's Nielson Chard has had over the years. As always, this is a high acid, mineral-filled wine, with a taste of lighter fluid riding over the pineapple, pear and kiwi fruit. Very dry, it should be considered for the cellar, if you're into aging the handful of California Chards that can handle it.

Zesty and well-sculpted, with forest floor notes to the dried fruit and spice flavors. Dried orange peel and clove accents show on the supple finish, revealing hints of tar and paprika.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Machado is quite tight-knit after its very recent bottling, unwinding in the glass with notions of cherry, strawberry preserve, rose petal, cinnamon and orange rind—seemingly the most floral and high-toned of these 2016s. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, supple and fine-boned, without the power and richness of the Hapgood or 3D, but endowed with lovely energy.

Offers mouthfilling richness, with suave and well-articulated flavors of dried red fruit and savory spice. The minerally finish stretches out, revealing hints of soy.

2016 PINOT NOIR, 3D The nose is a pure black cherry accented with notes of raspberry and spice. The palate is well-focused and bright on entry with a saturated core of black fruits and a firm acid profile on the finish.

Vibrant and juicy, with concentrated raspberry, plum and cherry flavors that are filled with Asian spice and cedar notes. The long finish echoes with red fruit confit and savory accents.

Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Acin has bright, lifted red cherry and raspberry notes with suggestions of Marmite toast, dried Mediterranean herbs and stewed tea. Medium-bodied with a lively acid backbone and chewy tannins defning the palate, it has loads of earthy nuances and ends on a sour cherry note.

Very woody and herbal aromas of wild thyme, sagebrush and bay leaf meet with rust, orange rinds, blistered tomato and crushed hibiscus on the spicy nose of this clonal selection. Wild red currants and cranberry-orange compote make for a sour tangy sip, with minty herbs in the background.

The 2015 Pinot Noir Machado is a classic Sta. Rita Hills built on exuberance and racy, voluptuous fruit. There is fabulous drive to this creamy, layered Pinot with layers of flavor and texture, not to mention tons of pure appeal.

The 2015 Pinot Noir Machado offers a perfumed, nuanced and savory bouquet of herbes de Provence, dried strawberries, dusty earth and spice to go with a seamless, elegant style on the palate that stays weightless and lively. It’s more restrained and reserved than the 459 cuvée (which is from the same vineyard), yet opens up with time in the glass, has a terrific mid-palate and is beautifully balanced. I like it today, but it should be at its best from 2019-2025+.