From a cooler, windy site south of Sebastopol, the 2015 Pinot Noir Jennifer's is a bigger, richer, structured effort. Blackcurrants, black cherries, graphite, scorched earth and beautiful violet notes give way to a concentrated, fresh, tannic Pinot Noir that certainly has the fruit and texture to shine now but will be even better in 2-3 years.

Stone Côte is sourced from a block within the Durell vineyard. It receives native yeast fermentation and is barrel fermented in French oak, 37% new, where it ages for 16 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2015 Stone Côte Vineyard Chardonnay offers mind-blowingly gorgeous ripe pineapple, peach blossom and pink grapefruit notes with a gregarious undercurrent of candied ginger, allspice, butterscotch and brioche. Big, rich and full-bodied, there’s a seductive oiliness to the texture with fantastic concentration of a very long finish.

Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche Vineyard, composed of 94.1% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5.9% Merlot, has an expressive, savory nose of black olives, roasted nuts and sandalwood with a core of cassis, blackberry pie and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied and laden with black fruits, earth and baking spice notions, it has a firm structure of grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long. Forget it for 2-4 years and drink it over the next 25+.

Deep ruby-red. Vibrant nose offers cassis, blackberry, licorice, minerals, tobacco leaf and violet. Rich, tactile and deep, offering outstanding energy for the vintage. Boasts a rare combination of explosive fruit intensity and elegance. Builds and echoes dramatically on the vibrant, nuanced finish, which saturates the palate with dark fruits and minerals. This shut down in the glass but my recorked bottle showed uncanny freshness after three days in the refrigerator.

Bright ruby-red. Aromas of crushed cassis, bitter chocolate and espresso called to mind a top Pauillac. Densely packed and sappy, offering outstanding precision of dark fruit and mineral flavors and inner-mouth floral perfume. Still quite tight but the wine's building tannins and palate-staining length suggest that it will go on in bottle for two decades or more.

Black cherries with sweet and savory spices like cardamom and pink peppercorns on the nose. The palate is structured yet juicy and refined, showing approachable red and black fruit flavors and silky tannins. Very lifted and elegant. Drink or hold.

Pure and precise, this is a delicate, light- to medium-bodied wine with sanguine minerality and aromas of wild red berry fruit and red flowers. The seamless palate is very bright and refreshing, with a long, floral finish carrying orange notes. Elegant and drinkable now.

Mount Veeder fruit fills this bottle with the sun in which the vines soaked, the elevation in which the vines cooled, the wood in which it was raised, and it is absolutely delicious. The mountain fruit leads to an elegant yet powerful expression of Cabernet, filled with blueberries, green pepper, and a hint of earthy buckwheat. The deep mouthfeel is framed by grippy tannins and bright natural acidity.

The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain comes from the Quintessence and Shaw vineyards, consistent sources for this 100% varietal wine, so much brawnier and muscular than Jett’s Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet. The tannins are burly and dominant, as are the black fruit, leather, and black pepper notes, all built around a full-bodied concentration of depth and complexity. Give this time; best 2030–2040.

An opulent crimson purple. Explodes from the glass with its aromas of ripe cherries, raspberry coulis, lavender and spice. It's just so brightly fruited and juicy on the palate, too. Balanced acidity and tannins complete a superb and well-priced Yarra pinot to drink now and over the next three to four years. As good a Giant Steps entry point as I have tasted.

A blend of equal portions of all the Giant Steps single-vineyard wines. With its aromas of white nectarine, lemon verbena, a little cashew and attractive marine scents, this is immediately appealing. On the palate it's concentrated with grapefruit pith and lemony acidity on the long finish. A class act to drink now and over the next four to six years.

The 2022 Zena Crown Vineyard Slope Pinot Noir from the Eola-Amity Hills displays a radiant medium ruby center that softens into a delicate pink hue at the edge. Dense and muscular, the palate is saturated with concentrated flavors of marionberry and violet petal that possess a distinctively supple texture. This cuvée underwent 17 months of aging in 69% new French oak, resulting in a complex aromatic profile of tart mountain huckleberry, forest herbs, umami, and sweet spice. Firmly structured yet graceful, the wine is defined by plush, velvety tannins and a persistent streak of acidity that carries notes of crushed stone through the expansive finish. Pair this powerful Oregon red with herb-crusted pork chops, as the wine's iron-like minerality and structural tension cut through the richness of the meat. Almost 700 cases were made. Highly recommended.

The 2022 Gran Moraine Dropstone Chardonnay possesses a golden brilliance that reflects its meticulous 16-month maturation in 20% new French oak puncheons and four-month finish in stainless steel. Its expansive profile leads with a structural tension, where a concentrated, full-bodied palate transitions from ripe nectarine and golden apple into complex notes of volcanic stone and warm sweet Christmas spice. This bottle gains remarkable aromatic momentum with air, unfurling layers of toasted hazelnut and crushed stones that are seamlessly integrated into a creamy, velvety mouthfeel. Vivid acidity provides a persistent counterpoint to the wine's density, ensuring a resonant and lingering finish that suggests a decade of evolution in the cellar. Such a sophisticated and textural white finds its ideal companion in a dish of pan-seared scallops served with a brown butter and sage emulsion, where the wine's nutty undertones and zesty lift cut through the richness of the seafood. Editor's choice.

In its second vintage, this Assyrtiko is already delicious. It’s the only planting of the variety I’m aware of in Sonoma County, high up on Stonestreet’s vineyard in the hills of Pocket Peak. The site’s marginal climate, with ample sun and wind exposure, accentuates the Assyrtiko’s wild, herbal character. Stonestreet had a Greek-born assistant winemaker who helped guide the project from day one, and the result is a wine that’s more aromatically expressive than many traditional bottlings from Greece. The 2024 has 80% of the varietal, resulting in a nose that leads with tart apples and layered citrus, featuring notes of orange oil, lemon pith, and mandarin peel, lifted by a herbal note of bay laurel and early spring chamomile. The palate is stunning, with real structure, vibrant acidity, and a textured, slightly viscous mid-palate. Assyrtiko’s natural phenolics, accentuated by the constant wind on the vineyard, bring subtle grip and shape. A blend of stainless steel and neutral oak preserves freshness and a highly aromatic profile. It’s exciting to see this variety pushed into new territory with such confidence.

Black pepper spice, milk chocolate and ripe blackcurrants. Less ripe and heavy on the palate than the nose suggests, more streamlined with detail to the tannins and purity to the fruit. Built heavily on the concentration but it’s not missing any freshness or brightness. I love the mouthwatering succulence on the finish. A big Merlot but with tons of personality, I think this wine will find a lot of fans! Still quite toasted but that will settle. Great cooling mint on the finish. Owner Jackson Family Wines with director and winemaker Pierre Seillan of Château Lassègue in St-Emilion.

The 2020 The Peake Cabernet Shiraz was picked right before the last of the COVID-19 lockdowns and shutdowns in South Australia, and winemaker Chris Carpenter was able to pick the last of the fruit before he returned to the United States on the last flight out of Australia. We may forget how intense this year was in the context of wine—it was the year the world was turned upside down, and it will forever be a vintage of profound impact, much in the same way as the war years throughout Europe in the early and middle 20th century. The blend contains 52% Cabernet Sauvignon this year—the lowest volume of Cabernet that this wine has ever experienced—and the balance Shiraz. Aromatically, the wine is fresh and leads with dark fruit and spice, chocolate and Christmas cake spices, raspberry seed and tapenade. It is superb. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

This 100% varietal wine is a blend of fruit from Phinny Hill and Andrews vineyards. Aged 20 months in French oak (56% new), the aromas pull you into the glass, with notes of dried and fresh herb, spice, black cherry, espresso, and dark chocolate. On the palate, the flavors are enveloping, going up and down and side to side, showing texture, intensity, and, above all, balance. The fine grained tannins this appellation is known for back it up. There’s pleasing freshness throughout. The finish sails. It’s shockingly good – an accomplishment of a wine – and one of the top offerings from this vintage. Best from 2030 to 2040. 14.8% alcohol. Natural cork. 315 cases produced.

The 2023 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard is chock full of concentration and mid-palate density. Fermented and aged in 20% puncheon, with the rest in standard barrel (30% new across the board), the 2023 is long on texture and palate presence. The acidity is so well-integrated into the wine’s fabric, providing a salty undercurrent of forward motion that gently propels the 2023 across the palate. Notes of baked golden apple, honey, marzipan and orange peel meld together effortlessly. This is a large-scaled, confident, opulent wine, but its balance is absolutely impeccable.

A blend of 90% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec, the 2022 La Muse oozes finesse. Restrained and supremely balanced, it drips with layers of rose petal, tar, bright red cherry fruit and underbrush, with a sense of poise and finesse that is impossible to miss. Aged for 16 months in 95% new French oak, La Muse is already so well integrated and so even-keeled. A spritzy lift of citrus peel rides atop the wine's solid core, maintaining excellent freshness from start to finish. It’s the velvety, supple mouthfeel that impresses most.

A dark and elegantly layered set of cherry, berry, violet, potpourri, and herb aromas introduce the nose to this always excellent single-vineyard expression. The palate holds steady from start to finish, as waves of red fruit, charcoal, pepper dust, and rose hips align expertly.

A blend of Bosche and Sycamore vineyards made with the idea of a classic Rutherford Cabernet, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford is based on 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc and aged 19 months in 56% new French oak. This serious stuff is inky-hued and has terrific aromatics of cassis and black fruits intermixed with graphite, crushed stone, and a Graves-like scorched earth character. It's medium to full-bodied, with a concentrated, deep, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and will see its 20th birthday in fine form. There are 422 cases produced. Drink 2027-2045.

All varietal, the 2023 Malbec shows classic Malbec character in its vivid blue fruits, liquid violet, and some wild strawberry-like nuances. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, pure, focused, and clean, with fine tannins. I suspect it's the finest Malbec in the valley. Raised in 48% new oak, with 259 cases produced, drink bottles over the coming 15+ years. Drink 2025-2045.

Cassis, graphite, and crushed stone all define the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, a pure, balanced effort that's medium to full-bodied and shows the minerality and graphite character that defines the vintage. Based on 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, and the balance Merlot and Petit Verdot, aged in 70% new oak, it has ample tannins and a great finish. There are 4,101 cases produced. Drink 2026-2046.

The ‘Hapgood Vineyard’ is located near Melville winery. The wine is comprised of selections 459 and Mt. Eden. This 2023 Pinot Noir was given a small amount of whole cluster fermentation having amazing weight and freshness, with ultra-pure red fruits alongside orange peel and rose water notes. This is pure Santa Rita Hills.