This has a complex nose with some earthy, hot-stone elements as well as smoked meat and kirsch characteristics. The tannins are finely-etched, effortlessly supporting the cherry and blackberry fruit. As is common with even the most concentrated wines from Vérité, the finish is long and light-footed. 50% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Malbec, aged for 18 months in new oak barrels.

A stunning wine, one of the most accomplished of the series, made from 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec. 18 months of barrel-ageing in new French oak has given spice and a charcoal note to the blackberry fruit. It has a dense, tightly-wound texture with a mighty, magnificent tannic framework of remarkable heft and power. This is superbly concentrated but also possesses overall harmony - a truly sumptuous wine.

A robust and concentrated aroma of ripe mulberries, blackberries, dark chocolate and tar. A generous, intense, and opulent palate with plentiful fine tannin and balanced acidity. It is a bold, full-bodied wine that has been very well-made, and it will cellar long into the future

Aged six months in 6% new French and 7% new American oak, the 2017 Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve opens with scents of applesauce, allspice, beeswax and kettle corn, with a refreshing, medium-bodied palate and a toasty finish. More than 2.6 million cases produced.

Wines of the Week The moment I read the first sentence of Edmeades’ winery philosophy, I knew I would like this Zinfandel. “Mendocino is more than a geographical location, it’s a state of mind.” On a photography field trip from Berkeley in the summer of ’71, I discovered the Mendocino state of mind…but I digress. Look for ripe aromas of raspberry, cassis and creamy vanilla oak. The palate is rich with lots of ripe red fruits, toasty oak and earthy/forest nuances.

There’s Incredible Value in Quality South African Wine – It’s Just Up to the Rest of the World to Notice Jackson Family Wines, the American behemoth behind Kendall-Jackson and a smattering of high-end labels, recently invested in the Banhoek Valley. Today, its Capensis Chardonnay is a graceful, creamy white.

Salut! Best of the Vancouver International Wine Festival BEST CHARDONNAY Chardonnay is undergoing a style tweak globally: the wine is fresher with brighter acidity and there is more lees contact for texture and complexity. The result is a much better wine with food which must be the goal of any wine in our estimation. Don’t worry about the end of that unabashed California Chardonnay style, it still exists and in its best format it is hard not to like. Don’t miss this list of standouts.

Some cabernet sauvignons to pair with your Valentine’s Day meal This is a lot of wine for the money. Bold plum and black cherry flavors with good concentration, texture, and hints of clove and cocoa powder.

Obsession in the Willamette Valley, Part Four Then came the 2015 Block 6, which at this stage was all about the fruit, which was very purple and juicy (meaning great acid), and the tannins, which were nice and long and smooth. Undertones of spice box and tobacco developed with air. The level of structural development this early into the wine is what impressed most.

Obsession in the Willamette Valley, Part Four The first 2015 was a special treat: a new wine called Vista, which will be sent exclusively to Europe. My first note from tasting it was, “God that’s good, I hope Europe knows how lucky they are.” We’re missing out here in America. My second note: “In a year or two this will be truly spectacular.” The structure is near-perfect harmony while starbursts in the mouth between red and black fruit, dirty soil and graphite make for an exciting wine. It is a better match for the European palate than ours in America, so it makes sense why it’s headed there.

Obsession in the Willamette Valley, Part Four The final Zena Crown offering was the 2015 Slope, which stood out as the funkiest pinot in the house. The tannin structure is elegant, and it delivers immediate dark and slightly sweet cherry and plum to go with a variety of savory, salty and gamey notes. A lover of earthy wines would find a kindred spirit with the Slope. This is routinely my favorite Zena Crown wine.

Obsession in the Willamette Valley, Part Four The penultimate pinot was the 2015 Sum. This is done with 50% whole cluster and takes a lot of inspiration from Cristom Vineyards’ approach, a Willamette winery that Shane admires. It is the fullest bodied, darkest, sweetest and most concentrated of the label’s wines. Cherry, raspberry, blackberry, cola and baking spices are in generous supply. Most intriguing, the acid has a slight juniper berry twang. Because of its significant weight, it’s not an everyday wine for our household, but for the occasions where we’d want a bigger wine, this would be a fascinating choice.

Obsession in the Willamette Valley, Part Four The 2015 Conifer was up next. This is Zena Crown’s summer themed wine. Slightly sappy and lighter in tannin than the others, it has elevated acid that delivers ripe fruit, light and sweet tobacco, and a nice depth of mineral tones. I’d compare this to Volnay in style. It seems the most ready to go of the vintage.

Obsession in the Willamette Valley, Part Four The first we tasted was the 2014 Slope, which Shane called a “fireplace wine.” Its luxurious sensation is built around long, lush tannins and substantive weight. The flavors and aromas touch on deep cherry, cola, violets and bitter chocolate mousse at this stage, though the upside here with another five-plus years of aging is substantial.

The Best Wines to Serve on Easter If guests prefer a red wine, Cole suggests this Old Vine Grenache from Australia: "Lighter bodied, with plenty of fruit on the nose, it has an enticing spiciness on the palate to keep you coming back for more. It is bold enough to pair with holiday roasts, but not as aggressive as merlots and cabs. It also comes in at a price point that the everyday wine drinker would not be afraid to take a chance on."

To quote the late, great David Bowie, “leather, leather everywhere…” A-.

Rich and complex, but not skimping on either the energy or the stone fruits. A-.

What to Drink Now: Winter White Wines Slightly savory, creamy and rich, Stonestreet Estate Bear Point Vineyard Chardonnay layers caramel, golden apple, and lemon curd, finishing with a touch of briny salinity.

The Best 5 Wine Pairing That Go Perfectly With These Romance Novels 2. For Feeling Royal and Fancy Without the Price Tag When Countess Viola Kingsley is stripped of her title, she must rebuild her life and reputation—but it's not easy when she's falling for bad boy, Marcel Lamarr. And you don't need class to drink this Siduri Pinot Noir. Harvested between the late Summer months (Aug. 24th and Sept. 23rd, to be exact) you'll find hints of pomegranate, clay, and black cherry. Like, Viola, just because you're not nobility, doesn't mean you can't enjoy an affordable but fancy wine each evening.

Top 14 Wines For February 14th! This wine has amazing concentration and opens up after an hour or two. It has notes of black fruit, menthol, and tobacco with smooth tannins and a balanced finish. This wine can easily age but is certainly drinkable now and would go well with meat sauces, pasta, eggplant parmesan, and more!

‘Highlanders’ like this will make you feel high on life all around. A-.

Hyland Vineyard is one of Oregon’s largest and oldest vineyards. The winery was founded in 1988 by husband and wife team Ron and Lynn Penner-Ash. Penner-Ash Wine Cellars embodies the spirit and passion of a boutique producer specializing in Pinot Noir. This was an exceptional wine that is vibrant and focused with notes of red currant and cranberries.

Black cherry with a zing that had dried herbs and a rich body that finished with a floral lift. Only 190 cases made. Founded in 1998 by wife-and-husband team Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash specializing in Pinot Noir, Syrah and Riesling from the northern Willamette Valley.

The Best 5 Wine Pairing That Go Perfectly With These Romance Novels 1. For Something Light & Bright While You Read About Sweet Things Want something fruity that pairs with the sweet story of Allison Lane, an event planner who finds herself falling in love in Sweet, Texas of all places? While sipping this Pinot Noir rosé, you'll smell hints of crisp grapefruit, strawberry, and white floral notes. Hibiscus will fill your nostrils, allowing you to feel like you're watching Allison's love in real life. Perfect for wine drinkers who love Pinot Noir but might crave something lighter when reading romance novels.

Albertans love California wines. Ripe, rich and bursting with fruit, wines from the sunny state definitely please our palates. This bright Pinot Noir from La Crema, a large Sonoma-based winery founded in 1979, comes from the Monterey County growing region, south of San Francisco. Extremely cold water in the deep Monterey Bay feeds cooling winds up the Salinas River valley, making the growing region ideal for cool climate grapes such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Look for flavours of bramble, black cherry, raspberry, spice, cedar, earth and violet. It’s medium bodied, with lots of fresh fruit flavours and a lovely long finish.