(100% cabernet sauvignon) Good deep ruby. Cassis, violet and licorice aromas are complicated by oaky torrefaction and lifted by a peppery element; darker and more brooding than the basic bottling. A step up in depth and sweetness but this is still a baby today. This, too, has the stuffing to support its tannins. Finishes with very good energy and length.

Bright ruby. Aromas of blackberry, violet and licorice pastille, with a subtle meaty nuance. Juicy, minerally and penetrating but tightly coiled and on the youthful side, with medicinal red and dark fruit flavors showing a slightly bitter edge. Finishes on a note of licorice, with excellent clarity and serious grip.

Bright ruby. Seductive aromas of red and dark berry preserves, cola and smoky herbs. Sweet, sappy black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors are framed by velvety tannins and gain weight, spiciness and a licorice pastille quality with air. The spice and cola notes carry through a long, alluringly sweet, youthfully gripping finish. I'll bet this will be better with a few more years of aging.

Bright red. Cherry-cola, raspberry and vanilla bean on the nose. Smoky dark berry flavors are enlivened by zesty minerals and pick up a candied floral quality with air. This packs a lot of flavor, but needs time to stretch out. Becomes deeper and chewier with air and finishes with solid grip and powerful thrust.

Deep red with a bright rim. Intensely aromatic bouquet shows red berries, cherry jam, Indian spices and smoky minerals. Deep and juicy, with pliant, medium-bodied red berry flavors, silky texture and a strong jolt of red licorice on the close. Tannins slowly build on the long, sappy finish, but don't detract from the pure, sweet red fruit. The spiciness of this wine is compelling.

Dark red. Deep cherry and dark berry aromas show rooty, cola and herbal qualities reminiscent of a wine from Morey-Saint-Denis. Suave bitter cherry and blackcurrant flavors are framed and enlivened by juicy acidity. Fleshes out on the finish, with the cherry and cola qualities repeating. This is the most backward of this impressive set of pinots.

Dark red. Deep cherry and dark berry aromas show rooty, cola and herbal qualities reminiscent of a wine from Morey-Saint-Denis. Suave bitter cherry and blackcurrant flavors are framed and enlivened by juicy acidity. Fleshes out on the finish, with the cherry and cola qualities repeating. This is the most backward of this impressive set of pinots.

Enticing aromas of orange zest and minerals. Juicy, tightly wound and sharply delineated, with flavors of lemon drop and minerals firmed by ripe acids. Finishes vibrant and quite long. This should age nicely for five to seven years.

The 2022 Matanzas Creek ‘Bennett Valley’ Chardonnay offers nutmeg drenched pie crust and shades of peaches on the nose. This comes off juicy and round with good freshness considering the heat of the vintage. Drink 2025-2031

This 2022 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon delivers good mouthfeel and flavor density, with concentrated dark currants and black cherry flavors that mingle well with dried herbs on the palate. Really well-done, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031

The 2022 La Crema ‘Fog Veil’ Pinot Noir offers lifted red florals that mingle well with cranberry and strawberry notes on the nose. The palate is soft and juicy with loads of texture and minerality. Drink 2025-2031

 The really good 2022 La Crema ‘Saralee’s Vineyard’ Chardonnay offers peaches and apricot on the nose alongside pastry crust notes. This is soft and delicious with a smooth mouthfeel on the palate. Drink 2025-2031

From the North Coast AVA, the 2022 ‘Taylor Peak Vineyard’ delivers cran-cola on the nose with freshly tilled soils and wild blackberry. This is soft, elegant, and marvelously salty – ideal for current enjoyment. Drink 2025–2031.

Moving to the appellation wines from Siduri, the 2023 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a youthful ruby color. It’s bright and spicy on the nose, with ripe red cherries, bright stemmy spices, forest herbs, and a fresh rosy perfume. Medium-bodied, it’s elegant and ripe, with a savory spice feel on the palate and a clean, structured finish. It’s a refreshing vintage of this wine to drink now or over the coming 5-6 years.

The 2021 Petite Sirah Field Stone is an inkier purple color. Coming from old vines, it benefits from air on opening and boasts a ripe feel with notes of tarry earth, dark compact black fruit, peppery spice, and pressed floral notes shining through. It’s full-bodied and has a broader-shouldered feel, with more richness and chewy texture, but it has the acidity to keep it well-balanced. Drink 2025-2032.

The 2022 Merlot Alexander Valley pours a dark inky red color and is ripe on the nose but a bit shy to open initially, gradually unraveling to notes of graphite, black plum, olive, and forest earth. The palate is structured and rich and has a heartier feel, with more rich tannins coming through the midpalate and finish, and it has a freshness of acidity that keeps it from feeling dense. Drink 2025-2032.

The 2023 Chardonnay Alexander Valley was fermented in French oak for 10 months, with 15% new. The nose brings forward balanced intensity and is lifted in the glass with aromas of honeyed citrus, lemon curd, vanilla, poached pear, and fresh, delicate notes of honeysuckle. Floating on the palate with a medium-bodied feel and a lovely, rounded texture, it has a suggestion of being full but stays light on its feet. It’s a gorgeous wine to drink over the coming 5-6 years. I love the freshness it brings now, though it should continue to drink well.

A jeweled ruby color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Fog Veil opens to notes of ripe black cherries, forest f loor, ripe floral perfume, a dark woodsy spice. The palate is silky and round, with ripe, medium to full-bodied richness and a plush, even, ripe feel through the finish. Drink 20252030.

A bright medium yellow hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is highly expressive and opulent on the nose, with decadent aromas of custard, ripe peach, vanilla, and citrus marmalade. Aged entirely in French oak with about 35% new, the palate is full and supple with a fruity feel, and it has good underlying freshness that keeps things from feeling overly heavy, even in this warm vintage. Drink 2025-2030.

This wine is bright, with aromas of citrus, green papaya, pineapple, dried herbs and honeycomb on the nose. The flavors on the palate are quince, white nectarine and pomelo zest interwoven with dried bay laurel, Himalayan salt and dry, supple finish. Pair with procioutto-wrapped Charantais melon.

Aromas of roasted cherry and raspberry dominate the nose of this wine. The palate displays rich flavors of dark cocoa, plum and earth that linger across a long finish. Enjoy with roasted pork and mushrooms.

The 2022 Siduri Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County reflects a coastal sensibility with a lifted, savory edge. Matured for 10 months in 25% new French oak, it shows subtle aromas of raspberry leaf, red cherry, and sea breeze. On the palate, wild strawberry and tart plum meet earthy nuances of dried brush and chalky terrain. Light on its feet but nicely shaped, the wine threads freshness and spice in equal measure. An easygoing yet refined Pinot that captures the cool tones of Santa Barbara in a quietly compelling way. About 15,000 cases produced

The 2022 Siduri Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley draws from multiple vineyard sources across the AVA, capturing the region’s signature plushness with admirable lift. Aged for 10 months in 30% new French oak, it leads with aromas of pomegranate, bergamot, and a touch of forest underbrush. On the palate, juicy red cherry and rhubarb are laced with crushed sandstone and hints of damp earth. The wine walks a fine line between richness and vibrancy, offering clarity despite the warm vintage. Subtle savory accents and refined acidity bring a finishing edge to its rounded frame. 3000 cases produced.