Under DIAM5. I found this in the cellar, but I had not added it to my inventory. I guess that is a bonus of sorts? I was out of town and my wife picked this up somewhere (Costco?) and apparently put it in the cellar without noting it anywhere. Yeah, that tracks. Pale straw in the glass with lemon curd and vanilla. Yum. The palate is similar, with plenty of fruit and that vanilla aspect, but there is also a boatload of acidity, which serves to hold it all together. Yes, Copain is now part of a corporate conglomerate, but the wines continue to perform at a very high level. Very nice.

This fabled vineyard from the Chalone appellation gave a wine with a lovely scent of sun-warmed berries, strawberries and juice. There’s a back note of black tea and chaparral herbs carried on a mulled-wine texture. A mid-weight red for ribs

There’s a sweet molasses note up front, then the fruit settles into its acid structure, integrated with the tannins. Skycrest Vineyard tops out at 2,000 feet above sea level, a steep hillside providing the fruit for this pinot.

This deep, rich expression of Zinfandel, delivers notes of overripe blueberry and blackberry, black plum jam, Mission figs, black-cherry compote, chocolate, vanilla, black pepper and a hint toasted wood. The voluptuousness of the fruit is well-met by the coarse, mouth coating tannins and elevated alcohol and balanced by a solid acid structure. Best Buy.

You may not know it, but La Crema has been producing wine for over 40 years. This 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is part of that proud heritage. This offers light lemon-lime, quince, honeysuckle, resin, apricot and guava notes. It’s a lighter style wine that makes it inherently better with a diversity of food. The acidity is in check due mainly to the use, predominately, of stainless steel, and just 27% went into neutral oak allowing for a flinty, tactile expression.

Both very well balanced and flavorful, this medium-bodied wine suggests red and black cherries backed by medium tannins for a good, appetizing grip in the texture. It’s a versatile wine for food pairings, and best through 2028.

Seductive and smooth, La Crema’s Sonoma Coast Pinot shows ripe raspberry, plum, sweet spices and a hint of cedar on the nose. The palate highlights La Crema’s softly textured style with layers of refreshing raspberry, dark cherry , and vanilla persisting on the finish. Enjoy this versatile Pinot with bacon-wrapped California Medjool dates, BBQ’d pork tenderloin with a cherry compote, beet salad with goat cheese, or lamb chops. All great pairings with this smooth and inviting Sonoma Coast Pinot. Tasted February 2023

Sophisticated and polished, this Monterey Pinot Noir is brimming with brambly red and black cherry, a hint of tobacco, clove and toast from oak. Features a slightly warming finish but overall very well balanced. Voluminous and with a luxurious feel created by supple but not understated tannins. Very good length. Best now to 2026. Tasted February 2023.

This is a plush and polished style of Merlot with oodles of cherry, cola, beets with their stems, green peppercorn and an olive savoriness. The palate is full figured; the tannins are a touch drying. Cut it with a steak knife, which you can then use on the steak beside it. But peek through the power and gloss to get at the balanced and site-expressive wine beneath. Drink 2024–2030.

A wine that’s been made since 1967, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a beautifully textured, medium-bodied, sweetly fruited charmer that has lots of cassis and redcurrant fruit, some spicy oak, ripe tannins, and the balance to evolve and drink nicely for a decade. I think it’s outstanding.

Deep red-purple colour with a sweetly ripe, charmingly fragrant bouquet, the palate backing up with good intensity of flavour and rather firm, taut tannins imparting a solid grip. A robust wine with a future. Right now, it needs some protein

In case you’re wondering, Siduri in literature is the bartender of the underworld. But winemaker Adam Lee’s Pinot Noirs are always otherworldly. The Oregon soils and climate give the wine aromas of cranberry and plum rather than strawberry. The acidity is bright, with a medium mouthfeel and very soft tannins. WW 91

An elegant white, with lush layers of poached quince and pear fruit, hints of honeysuckle, toast and pastry and minerally accents of graphite and saline. This has a succulent quality to the finely meshed acidity, which keeps this fresh through the long, lightly spiced finish. Drink now through 2026. 1,000 cases made, 800 cases imported.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is bold, punchy and full of mountain character. There is some tannin that needs to resolve, but that should not be a problem in a few years' time. Blue/purplish fruit, graphite, lavender, spice and licorice are nicely pushed forward in this structured, mid-weight mountain Cabernet.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Skycrest Vineyard is a dark, racy wine. Black cherry, cloves, licorice, menthol and leather all run through this potent yet juicy Anderson Valley Pinot from Siduri. The Skycrest is not exactly subtle, but it does offer plenty of pleasure in an immediate, bold style.

The 2019 Syrah High Rock Ranch is dark, pliant and super-expressive. Ripe black cherry, plum, leather, spice and incense all take shape nicely. The High Rock offers
plenty of forward appeal. I would give the tannins a year or two to soften. Ultimately, though, this is a pretty accessible young Syrah.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Maggy Hawk offers up scents of dried cherry, cedar, tobacco, dried flowers, anise and orange peel. The flavor profile is distinctly Nebbiolo leaning, but with sweet Pinot tannins, naturally. All the elements are nicely balanced in this ethereal, understated Pinot.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Edmeades is laced with sweet dried cherry, mint, cinnamon, spice, blood orange and anise. Medium in body and gracious, the Edmeades offers plenty of up-front appeal in an easygoing style. Best of all, the 2019 can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Côte Bannie is gracious, aromatic and nicely lifted. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, blood orange and sweet spice give this airy, perfumed Pinot tons of nuance. The 2019 will drink well right out of the gate.

The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Pine Mountain is bright, airy and effusive. White flowers, mint, white pepper, sage and lemon oil are all nicely lifted. This is an especially aromatic, ethereal Sauvignon, but there is just enough textural depth to pull it all together. A mix of clones yields a Sauvignon Blanc of notable distinction. This is a terrific effort, especially for the year.

With attractive aromas of honey, white flowers and lime, this medium-bodied and complex white displays a mineral texture that carries bright flavors of apple and white peach accented by honey. The finish starts out with a hint of sweetness followed by delicious lime and saline notes

Here's a fine and flavourful well-balanced, savoury and gravelly, dark-fruited cabernet from Knights Valley, one of the top regions in Sonoma for the variety. I like the firm but not unyielding texture, the gritty palate promoted by tannins and acids in unison and balance, and the lingering finish. This wine confirms that quality California red comes at a price - you won't find wines at this level for much less. Drink or hold 4-6 years - no need for deep cellaring. Tasted January 2023.

This is from Knight's Valley, a small enclave in the hills between Napa and Alexander Valleys. It has proven to be fine cabernet country. This pours fairly deep ruby, with lifted almost piquant aromas of blackcurrant jam, pepper, cedary spice, vanilla and fine oregano herbality. It is full bodied, open-knit in that California way yet well balanced, with good density and fine tannin. Some heat in the midst as well. Excellent length. Should prove very satisfying to cab lovers of all stripe. For history buffs, Arrowood was originally a Sonoma start-up in the early 90s by renowned winemaker Richard Arrowood and Montreal born Alis Arrowood. Tasted January 2023.

Engagingly flavoured, dark fruit-dominated, gravelly and well-balanced cabernet here from the Alexander Valley and the ever-reliable and consistent Kendall Jackson Estates. Classic blackberry and black cherry, cassis flavours lead on a backdrop of integrated, high quality oak, while tannins are plush and velvety and acids ripe but juicy. Good length and depth as well. Drink now or hold up to a half dozen years comfortably, even if there's no need to wait too long. Tasted January 2023.

Medium to deep red colour with a trace of purple, the bouquet earthy, dusty and savoury, with intensity and refreshing high acidity. It’s lighter on its feet than the other High Sands vintages - less dense and fleshy, but still with abundant tannins. A very bright, focused, fine grenache.