This is a complex, impressive white with a creamy lush entry that evolves on the palate to offer crisp fleshy elements of white peach and lime. The midpalate is balanced in richness, leading the way to a bold herbal grassy finish.

Deep purple. Deep aromas of black cherries, dark currants, roasted figs, along with violets, sweet cocoa, mint, menthol and warm clay. Full and rich on the palate with velvety tannins and medium acidity. Flavors of roasted figs, plum cake, black cherries, along with mint, pepper, violets, cocoa. There’s some earthy, dusty, spice rub mixed in here, too. A lot going on, and it’s bright despite its richness and depth. I’d love to taste this in five years. Aged 15 months in 45% new French oak.

Rich yellow color. Nose of apricot, lime, papaya, surprisingly vibrant fruit mixed with honey and orange blossoms. Plump texture, real depth on the palate, yet fresh acidity keeps the wine bright. Apricot, lime, green melon, pineapple, lots of fruit but it’s accented by honey, candle wax, white tea and ginger, notes of hay and salted almond. The balance here is really impressive, and the wine finishes clean and fresh. 13.5% alcohol, 100% Roussanne, aged 7 months in French oak, 10% new.

Yangarra’s first attempt at a proper Chateanuef Blanc style and incorporating varieties that they’ve brought in (hello Grenache Blanc). Round of applause for Yangarra’s effort as a start. The blend is Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, Picpoul, Bourbolenc. Of that lot, the Roussane is picked separately on 6th March, the rest all picked on 18th March and co fermented in ceramic eggs, with no acid or sulphur additions (save for so2 at bottling). Spends a few months on lees in eggs and bottled July 2018. I’m only just geting to it now and it could do with more time to build. This is a gently textural, appley style with a phenolic tang, preserved lemon and grapefruit with a long finish. It’s just a bit neutral for big points now, but all the signs are there for a hero white wine of the future. Best drinking: It could well do with some more bottle ageing. I’d love to see this style with some skin contact and more time on lees. SO much potential. Would I buy it? I’d drink a few glasses easy.

What's most notable for such a big production wine is that it was sourced entirely from two estate vineyards rather than assembled from purchased fruit. Supple flavors of berry, plum and baked cherry spread broadly across the palate, with highlights of cocoa and tobacco. The finish is smooth as silk.

This dark ruby colored Pinot Noir from La Crema is very good. It opens with a cherry and pomegranate bouquet with hints of oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and savory. The flavor profile is an oak and black raspberry blend with notes of stewed plum, red beet and a dash of black pepper. The finish is dry and it shows very nice length for a Pinot Noir. I would pair this Pinot with duck confit.

Offers mouthfilling richness, with flavors of cherry tart, plum pudding and berry pie that feature plenty of pastry notes. The plump finish is spicy and creamy.

This is a tremendous value for the quality, a full embrace of crème brûlée and baked pear that's grainy in texture and bright in acidity. Minimal oak allows for a succulent experience on the balanced palate, finishing in a burst of lemon zest and key lime.

Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, slightly buttery, apple and white peach aroma with hints of honeysuckle, brioche, hazelnut, ginger, and butterscotch; medium to medium-full body; rich, fleshy, apple and lemon-lime flavors with bright acidity, and a slight creaminess in the mouthfeel; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended.

Wines of the Week: Under $20, 90 Points One is drawn in by aromas of blackberries, cherries, and raspberries, accented by elements of clove and cocoa. Flavors of cherry, blackberry, and plum emerge on the palate, followed up by suggestions of toasty clove, earth, and dark chocolate. Offering polished tannins and good fruit character, it’s a wine to pair with chicken fijtas.

This dark ruby and slightly opaque Syrah from Copain opens with an oak and blueberry bouquet with a hint coconut. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and savory. The flavor profile is a tasty boysenberry and toasty oak blend with notes of olive and stewed plum. I also detected a hint of beef jerky mixed in. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins stick around for quite a while. This Syrah would pair well with a Colorado lamb chops.

Rich purple color. Nose boasts tart black cherries and currants, plums, lots of fruit but shows freshness too, and notes of black pepper glaze, violets, Turkish coffee and mint. Full-bodied, velvety tannins, moderating acidity, and plenty of juicy but tangy black and blue fruit (black cherry, cassis, blueberry). Notes of charcoal, coffee, vanilla, along with pepper, scorched earth and mint. Lots of depth and vibrancy in this wine — classic Yangarra style. All Shiraz, aged 13 months in ¼ new French oak.

Among the best wines I’ve tasted from Murphy-Goode in the past decade -- even though it is “just” an entry-level release -- this shows exceptional purity of fruit and very fine structural balance. There’s virtually no discernible oak, just juicy red fruit notes recalling strawberries and raspberries with a little spice around the edges. Refreshing but quite flavorful, this won’t overwhelm even delicate fish preparations, but can hold its own very nicely with a roast chicken.

Let me take you on a Pinot Noir journey California is known for its sunshine in a glass style of wine, which comes into play in many of that state’s Pinot Noir. But elegance, freshness and delicacy balance that fruit forward expression of Pinot Noir at the higher price points. Such is the case with this bottle, which became a Vintages Essential last May. It exudes soft talc and cool cranberry, warm violet and gentle beetroot on the nose. Then, a beam-like entry of cool fruit broadens and begins unfolding with elements found on the nose along with brawny nuances of warm tobacco and toasted hazelnut.

Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, slightly buttery, pear and baked apple aroma with hints of baking spices and lemon curd; medium to medium-full body; fleshy, pear and apple flavors with bright acidity, notes of citrus and vanilla, and a slightly creamy mouthfeel; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended.

This dark ruby colored Petite Sirah from Mendocino opens with a black cherry and red plum bouquet with hints of vanilla and cedar. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and smooth. The flavor profile is a mild mineral infused gentle plum with notes of tea. We also detected some black cherry and dark chocolate mixed in as well. The finish is dry and its moderate dusty tannins linger nicely. The Panel suggested pairing this Petite Sirah with a bacon burger or porchetta. Very good.

A pungent nose is composed by notes of mild reduction, red and dark berries and a whiff of forest floor. The sleeker and slightly better detailed flavors possess good underlying tension on the dusty and focused if mildly austere finish that is slightly more tightly wound.

This pale straw-colored Pinot Gris from Oregon opens with a very fragrant and attractive lime and green apple bouquet with hints of almond. On the palate, this wine is off-dry, balanced and juicy. The flavor profile is a mineral infused walnut and green apple blend with notes of ripe Anjou pear and a touch of ginger. The finish is remains off-dry and refreshing. I would pair this Pinot Gris with swordfish skewers. Very good.

This yellow colored Chardonnay from La Crema is very much a California oak-focused offering. It opens with an appealing oak and pear bouquet with a hint of pineapple. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied and slightly acidic. The flavor profile is an oak influenced pear and pineapple blend along with hints of buttered popcorn and a touch of honeydew melon. The finish is dry and lingers nicely. This Chard would be a nice glass pour option to sip on while chatting with friends at your favorite pub. Very good.

There is enough reduction present to push what appear to be mostly red berry fruit aromas to the background and I would suggest decanting this for 10 to 15 minutes first. Otherwise there is good freshness and verve to the delicious and appealingly textured middle weight flavors that possess a succulent mouth feel before concluding in an acceptably complex and lingering finish. This lightly structured effort could also easily be enjoyed now or held for a few years first.

Bright ruby hue. Like the Julia’s there is just enough reduction to shave the top notes from the red cherry and softly spicy-infused aromas. The satiny and seductively textured flavors possess good verve if only moderate density on the mildly fruity if balanced finale. This should drink well immediately but note that it offers just enough stuffing to reward a few years of cellaring too.

Earthy with tart acidity, this wine is hearty and full bodied, with a depth of concentrated black cherry and pomegranate. It finishes in a dark swath of dark chocolate and coffee.

Warm strawberry and cherry compote on the nose with rose petals, cola, rhubarb and white pepper. Medium-bodied palate, light tannins, medium acidity, this is a juicy and fresh style, full of pleasant red cherry, raspberry, strawberry jam. Secondary notes of clove, cola and rhubarb add some complexity. A juicy and fun style but the freshness keeps it food-friendly and so easy to drink. Aged 9 months in French oak, 13% new.

Moderately light garnet color in the glass. The nose leads with aromas of forest, cherry and strawberry. Heavily infused with oak in a mid weight style, featuring a nucleus of cherry fruit encased in gentle tannins and finishing with a red cherry flourish and a trail of toasty, vanillin oak.

Bright nose of peaches, green melon, lemon, white flowers and honeysuckle. Fresh and bright on the palate, this is pleasantly vibrant on a medium-bodied frame. Lemon, white peach and apricot fruit, accented with flowers, honey and chalk notes. A lively and bright style of Chardonnay at a good price. All stainless steel, 13.5% alcohol.