On the nose, Giant Steps Pinot Noir mixes herbs with juicy cherries and a touch of earthy mushroom. On the palate, cherries and red berries mingle with spiced oak and fine tannins, creating a complex flavour profile. It’s elegant and quite light, with a long, juicy finish, making it a good summer wine choice to enjoy in the sunshine.

On the nose, fresh fruits dominate, with apples, pears, and peaches mixing with a hint of citrus. On the palate, the fruits mingle with the oak of the barrels and vanilla sweetness before giving way to a long finish with well-balanced acidity throughout. A very nice chardonnay to enjoy chilled on a summer evening.

Offers a bright, floral-tinged mix of pomegranate, cherry and raspberry fruit, with dried violet and iris hints racing along the edges. A subtle sandalwood thread curls around and knits up the finish. Drink now through 2032. —J.M.

Steeped boysenberry and mulberry fruit is succulent and focused in this vivid and fresh version, while light notes of anise, hibiscus and singed black tea fill in through the finish. Drink now through 2032. —J.M.

Wonderfully seamless and complex, offering notes of apricot pastry, baked apple and fresh, juicy nectarine. A drizzle of honey mingles with fresh ginger and orange blossom details on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. 451 cases made.

Shows a lovely mix of candied ginger, lemon bar, caramelized pineapple and peach cobbler on a smooth, lush and mouthwatering frame, with accents of nutmeg and clove. Drink now. 700 cases made.

One of the interesting things about Siduri is its pricing. The single vineyard designates are for the most part $75, and the appellation wines are $40 to $45. But, in some of the appellation wines, the fruit comes from those same single vineyards. This, to me, signals that the appellation wines are potentially a great bargain. This wine for instance is $40 and was sourced from three prestigious vineyards: John Sebastiano, Hapgood, and the Perilune Vineyard, —all of which are also used by  Siduri for single vineyard wines. The light body and the fresh fruit flavors of the wine coupled with the lingering finish makes this wine drink above its price level.

100% destemmed and fermented in 1800 Litre stone amphorae on skins for 5 months. Matured for a further 15 months in said amphorae. If you take all the exquisite aromas of your favourite cool climate light to medium bodied red wine, you'll most likely find most of them here. Wild strawberries, juicy mulberry, blood plums and red cherry. There is raw coffee bean, cocoa pods, rosemary flowers and lilac. Shiso leaf and gentian root. A silk sheet of dry tannins and astute acidity. A millpond of mouth watering moreishness. This is the next level Australian grenache, it's delicate and powerful, seductive and confident. It’s drinking like a dream! Serve with crispy salt and pepper whole quail and check you are still breathing, cause you might just be in heaven.

Predominantly grenache blanc and roussanne with additions of grenache gris, bourboulenc and clairette. All varieties were fermented in ceramic eggs and matured after blending for 4 months. 59% of the final blend was skin contact. Pomelo segments, white nectarine and cucumber jelly. Almond syrup, halva and soft coconut flesh. Poached pear, frangipani and jonquil. A lick of salt spray salinity and white tea tannins. Remarkable how these varieties manifest into such purity. This wine reminds me of Mexican limestone cenotes. It's seemingly endless with crystal clear clarity and definition. Lemon zest unfurls on the finish. A suburb wine that attracts your attention and then captivates you in a beguiling stare. More wines like this, please, now and forever. Drink now with sliced pearl meat.

When it comes to Chardonnay, Australia hits the ball way out of the park. The sheer number of exceptional Australian Chardonnays is amazing. This is one of them. The Giant Steps’ “Sexton” Chardonnay opens with enticing aromas of homemade bread coming out of the oven. From there, the wine is rich, earthy, savory, and has wave after wave of flavor. The finish is beautifully long. If you love opulent Chardonnays that are refined too, this is for you.

15% whole bunch and on skins for 20 days. Matured in French and Austrian oak for 18 months. On lees for 6 months island in foudre for an additional 12 months. Fluorescent in beetroot tones in the glass. Hawthorn, blackcurrant and kalamata olive brine. Allspice and juniper. A trio of peppercorns, black truffle and potting soil. A stony character to the fine gritty tannins and elongated acidity line. So youthful you’ll check the vintage multiple times. This is bright and fresh now but will age gracefully with that perky black fruit spectrum. Give it another 4-8 years in the cellar. A wonderful wine to serve with medium rare steak, something with a bit of chew.

Made in a definite Burgundian style and sourced from the prime growing area in Sonoma, there are predominant aromas and flavors of raspberry, enhanced by rose petal and cedar notes. Jammy flavors abound, including plum and black cherry with hints of mocha and silky tannins on the finish.

Impressive for its intensity and harmony, with caramelized pineapple, ripe Bosc pear, papaya and apricot flavors at the core, accented by touches of wildflower honey, brown sugar and vanilla. Mouthwatering acidity keeps everything in focus. Drink now. 60,000 cases made. From California.—M.W.

Appealing for how all of its pieces fit together, offering notes of salted butterscotch, peach preserves, mango and orange blossoms, with a thread of baking spices. Shows vibrant acidity and a seamless texture on a generous frame. Drink now. 347,082 cases made.

Offers bright and expressive flavors of lemon meringue, peach preserves, white nectarine, pineapple and ripe melon on a smooth frame, with a touch of vanilla crème anglaise on the finish. Drink now. 31,028 cases made.

Succulent, vibrant notes of butterscotch, lemon curd, dried mango and orange blossoms are woven with a fresh thread of acidity. Offers a pretty, lingering hint of nutmeg. Drink now. 650 cases made.

This is appealing for its focus on fruit flavors, with guava, pineapple and peach notes backed by juicy acidity, with accents of lemon zest and green tea, plus a lingering note of lemon balm. Drink now. 221,396 cases made.

There's an appealing fresh-cut apple flavor at the core of this firm and juicy white, with notes of tangerine, mango and lemon peel, plus hints of spices and toasted brioche. Drink now. 750 cases made.

Trying the wine, I found it surprisingly assertive for a Pinot. On the nose and particularly on the palate, it hits big, bold, and almost burly, with ripe blackberry, black pepper, and pomegranate along with a touch of tart cherry. I might have guessed this was a Syrah if I tasted it blind. The wine has high acidity providing much needed structure that keeps the fruit in check, and its gentle tannins provide a good mouthfeel. This wine was a surprise, but a welcome one, and it could be the bottle that converts fans of Cabernet and other heavy reds into lovers of Pinot Noir.

La Crema is a third-generation, women-led winery. Barbara Banke, chairman and proprietor, is the mom of three (she also is a lawyer who has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court). Hailey Jackson Hartford Murray is co-proprietor and a third generation winemaker, and she also is the mom of two. This Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect wine to toast mom and to toast the upcoming summer.

Brewer–Clifton is a champion of the much-heralded Sta. Rita Hills appellation and winemaker Greg Brewer and his team work under the doctrine of discipline, neutrality, and deliberate intent. Only neutral barrels are used, and the fermentations are all whole clusters complete with fully ripened stems to allow for a well structured, earthy wine to offset the big fruit. In 2021, the fruit comes off three sites, 3D, Machado and Hapgood, bringing a rich selection of clones including Swan, Pommard, 667, and the Merry Edwards clone. This was just tasted last month, so no big changes, although this bottle is singing. A lot of work goes into getting the most finesse they can from this wine, which they have done, but make no mistake, this is a powerful pinot. The nose is a dusty mix of red fruit and tea leaf, with an intense earthy forest floor and baking spice palate that finishes long and warm. The bigger the food here, the better. Peking duck would be a treat, or an even more decadent pork dish.

The 2019 Fijnbosch Chardonnay greets with oaky and flinty nuances, accompanied by notes of nuts and lees. Expensive oak wafts from the glass with hints of graham crackers, yellow apples and popcorn kernel. Medium to full-bodied, the wine expands on the palate to reveal great complexity and freshness, with hints of wild brush and citrusy blossoms. Impressive weight and longevity are apparent, with a long, spicy finish. Yum! This wine is collectible stuff!

The 2019 Chardonnay reveals luscious notes of yellow apples, lees and oak tones with elegant aromas of Asian pear. It is fresh and precise, balanced and complex. With a medium to full body, the wine presents succulent acidity and oak spiciness that lingers on the palate, promising to remain food friendly for years to come. Age this wine for best results. Only 6,450 bottles were produced.

In reviewing the previous vintage, the 2020 Chardonnay Silene has certainly earned its "+" rating. Showing more oak and baking spices with waxy melons, plus apples and lemons, the wine is balanced, fresh and complex, with nutmeg notes and graham cracker tones and a long, lingering finish. 19,800 bottles were produced.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Lassègue rolls out with eager-to-please scents of kirsch, fresh blackberries, and raspberry coulis leading to hints of spice cake and Sichuan pepper. The medium-bodied palate has a lightly chewy texture with appealing freshness, finishing on a mineral note. The blend is 50% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, with pH 3.70.