Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2017 Chardonnay Red Point is powerful, inward and quite structured, with bright citrus and floral notes adding character. It is also the most reticent of these Chardonnays. While the other 2017s will drink well pretty much right out of the gate, the Red Point is going to need at least a year or two to be at its most expressive.

Napa 2016 Vintage: 5 Consecutive Years of Fantastic Wines Dried apples and lemons with cream and peach undertones. Some pine needles. Full-bodied, layered and bright. Serious acidity at the end gives it energy and focus.

Try this Wine: Amazing Spring Whites One of the few exceptions to this is their Les Voisins chardonnay, of which I had the 2015. It was drinking gorgeously. The nose is just wonderful and engaging with rich honeyed cantaloupe, honeysuckle, lemon zest, crushed gravel, lemon curd and daffodil. It’s slightly on the heavy side of medium bodied. The level of polish on the structure elevates this to elegant status, and the slight streak of acid that runs through it keeps it interesting from first to last sip. The flavors are multifaceted: honeysuckle, peach, fresh apricot, honey dew and sweet lemon curd. It finishes on a wonderful green apple note and a textual sensation and flavor that conjures licking a slate slab. A fantastic wine.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard is a gorgeous, beautifully layered wine. Silky and incredibly polished for a mountain wine, the 2015 captures all of the pedigree of Monte Rosso. Bright red fruit, flowers, mint, chalk and white pepper all add nuance to this super-expressive, layered Cabernet Sauvignon from Arrowood. The interplay of aromatics, fruit and texture makes for a compelling wine.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond Arrowood's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Crown is fabulous. Rich and explosive, the Knights Crown is almost shockingly sensual for a wine from Knights Valley. Racy and silky, the Knights Crown is more texturally finessed than most Knights Valley Cabernets, it is a wine of sheer sensuality and appeal.

The 2014 Arcanum, made with 60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, represents a carefully conceived and contemplated blend to match the difficult conditions of the vintage. Unlike the 2014 Valadorna that seemed to suffer more in this challenging vintage, this top-shelf wine really has its act together. Soft and rich layers of black fruit and spice give the wine lasting depth and intensity. Perhaps the finish is a tad shorter compared to other vintages, but the difference is really quite small. Ultimately, this is a full-bodied Tuscan red with the potential for ten years (or more) of happy bottle aging.

Napa 2016 Vintage: 5 Consecutive Years of Fantastic Wines Blackberries and blackcurrants with hints of hazelnuts and rose bush. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh and spicy finish with currant bush and green walnuts.

This opaque and dark ruby colored Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a burnt match stick and black currant bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium to full bodied, very nicely balanced and super smooth. The flavor profile is a delicious mild black currant and black olive blend with notes of gentle oak and graphite. I also detected hints of blueberry. The finish is dry and its refined tannins linger and last for a very extended period of time. This Cab would pair well with a New York strip steak.

The use of whole bunches do the talking and hum a pretty tune. A fabulous McLaren Vale Shiraz. Some textural funk is partnered by dried herb influences running a neat course forming the backbone of this wine. Blue fruits and plums fold into dark berries and fine pepper is etched throughout. Some silty tannins are brushed across the palate to finish. Gorgeous.

It is always interesting to see varietal mourvèdre, and this is a very deep, plush and luscious example. Rich blackberry and mulberry flavours with the intensity centred on the mid-palate, and savouriness on the finish. Though there is also refreshing bright acidity which gives the wine a lift. I love the complex tannin network that gently frames the fruit. Don't be afraid to give the wine plenty of air, and use a large glass to release its true character.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2017 Chardonnay Broken Road Vineyard is laced with a myriad of citrus, white flower and mineral notes. This medium-bodied Chardonnay is built on focus, delineation and energy. Bright saline notes punctuate the crystalline finish. A bit tight today, but another year or two in bottle should help.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2017 Chardonnay Gold Run is powerful and inviting. Deep and pliant, with striking depth in its fruit, it is also expansive, creamy and generous. Though decidedly overt, it is also complex and layered, featuring tons of orchard fruit, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes that develop in the glass.

Strong aromas of black cherry paste and clove are made more elegant with smashed wet slate minerality on the nose of this wine. The palate is complex, with big and bright red fruits, white pepper and tarragon playing off of the earthy structure.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard is fabulous. Rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous fruit density, the Carlisle is absolutely gorgeous. A rush of ripe cherry, pomegranate, blood orange, mint and hard candy all race out of the glass in a racy, flamboyant Zinfandel loaded with personality. The field blend at Carlisle yields a wine with tremendous aromatic intensity and exotic beauty.

A younger, more angular version of Matanzas Creek’s splendid 2012 version, the 2015 has less complexity and fewer savory notes at this stage. The tannins are a hint more apparent and perhaps a touch aggressive, yet the balance is still wonderful. With air, earthy notes and a delightful hint of funkiness comes out, indicating to me that this wine will develop beautifully. The family resemblance is apparent. If your budget allows it, buy them both — the 2012 for this year’s roasted leg of lamb and the 2015 for one in a few years.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Desvelado is a blend of roughly equal parts Malbec and Merlot, plus a drop of Petit Verdot. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, leather and cedar run through this racy, boisterous red from Matanzas Creek. Best of all, the Desvelado will drink well pretty much upon release.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Armoniza is another gorgeous red in this range from Matanzas Creek. Winemaker Marcia Torres Forno has done a fabulous job in taming the often formidable Knights Valley while retaining the savory character that makes wines from this corner of Sonoma so compelling. Cedar, licorice, pomegranate, dark cherry jam and blood orange infuse this super-expressive Cabernet Sauvignon–based red.

Napa 2016 Vintage: 5 Consecutive Years of Fantastic Wines Subtle and intense aromas of blackberries and hints of fresh herbs. Evergreen. Full-bodied and powerful with chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. A big, mountain-grown style to this.

Napa 2016 Vintage: 5 Consecutive Years of Fantastic Wines Big and chewy red with blueberries and blackberries and fresh-herb undertones. Full-bodied and chewy. Boisterous and solid. Needs five to six years to soften.

Napa 2016 Vintage: 5 Consecutive Years of Fantastic Wines This is a layered and round-textured wine with dark berries, chocolate and terracotta. Full body. Juicy fruit. Flavorful finish.

Napa 2016 Vintage: 5 Consecutive Years of Fantastic Wines This is a very tannic and rich cabernet franc with blueberry and blackberry character. Full-bodied, powerful and rich. Shimmering tannins.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Stature is gorgeous. Racy and sumptuous, the 2016 is impressive in the early going, but also has the potential to develop nicely in the coming years. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark fruit in a flamboyant yet impeccably balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. Mocha, black cherry, leather, smoke and licorice grace this impeccable, layered Cabernet.

There's a lovely sense of restraint here, with firm tannins reining in complex, detailed flavors of blueberry pie, kirsch and dark chocolate. Espresso, clove and caramel notes add even more complexity on the finish, where the flavors continue to unfold.

Juicy and vibrant, showing terrific purity to the raspberry and black cherry flavors at the polished and refined core, with supple tannins and details of Earl Grey tea, violet and toasted cumin. Impressive for the seamless harmony and the creamy texture, this shows a tug of grip from the tannins on the finish.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond A new wine in this range, the 2016 Pinot Noir Truly Rita is gorgeous. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the 2016 offers terrific drive in a mid-weight, energetic style that holds considerable appeal. Red and purplish berry fruit, rose petal, lavender and mint are all beautifully focused. A touch of whole clusters adds lift without being especially evident.