The Best $20 Wines For Gift Giving, According To A Winemaker Honey, butter, and tropical fruits give this Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay 2016 a medium body and creamy texture. It’s also America’s top-selling Chardonnay.

Huon’s best Australian wines of 2018

Top 100 Australian Wines of 2018 - #37 The sum is greater than the parts here. Stunning interaction of the two grapes. The shiraz fills and lightens the cabernet just perfectly. Abundant red and dark berries, plums and chocolate. Super fine tannins, too. This is blended to perfection. A brilliant wine. 96 points.

Top 100 Australian Wines of 2018 - #68 A fresh and fragrant cabernet with violets and dark rose-like floras, cassis and blueberries. There is also a decent serving of spicy oak in the mix. The palate is smoothly arranged on sheets of formidably strong tannins, which are carried seamlessly into the finish. A stunning cabernet. 95 points.

Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of rich cherry and cola aromas. In the mouth, cherry cola with a touch of cassis and the toasty vanilla of oak blend together, livened up by bracing acidity that keeps the mouth watering. A touch too much wood for me, but an undeniably tasty wine. A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Shiraz. 9.0

Top Wines of 2018 At the end of each year, I look back over the wines I've tasted and put together a list of the best of the year. The Top 5 Wines of 2017 featured selections from California, Washington, Virginia and Australia. This year's top wines come from California, Australia and Italy. Here they are in no particular order. Australian wine featured prominently in the list of best wines I enjoyed in 2018. Two of the wines on this list came from a producer in South Australia - Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard. The best wine I enjoyed all year was a stunning shiraz from this winery - the 2015 The Peake vinted & bottled by Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard. Although not quite as good as The Peake*, another shiraz from this winery was worthy of this list - the 2015 Brooks Road Shiraz*.

This wine is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (56%) and shiraz (44%). With the varieties fermented separately, the clusters were destemmed and the berries were sorted straight into open fermenters. The cold soak lasted four days; the skins on the shiraz were plunged three times daily and the cabernet was pumped over daily. Both were left on skins for a minimum eighteen days. Following fermentation, the wines were aged for 15 months in French oak barrels before back blending and bottling. The resulting wine comes in at 14.5% ABV. The wine showed a dark ruby almost opaque color. Blackberry, raspberry jam, cassis, vanilla, loganberry and oak all arrived on the rich and complex nose. Blackberry, black cherry, raspberry jam, cassis, vanilla, licorice and oak followed on a palate that showed even more dark berry fruit than the nose had foreshadowed. The wine exhibited great structure and length, along with velvety tannins. This elegant wine would pair well with braised lamb shanks or a dry-aged prime rib.

2015 The Peake Cabernet Shiraz, blend of 56 percent cabernet sauvignon and 44 percent shiraz; impressive concentration of red and dark berries; picks up hints of mocha, herbs and pepper; lively, succulent and complex.

2015 The Revivalist Merlot, welcoming plum and blueberry, complemented with earthy, cedar, tobacco and spice notes; drinks satiny and finishes with nice grip.

Top Wines of 2018 At the end of each year, I look back over the wines I've tasted and put together a list of the best of the year. The Top 5 Wines of 2017 featured selections from California, Washington, Virginia and Australia. This year's top wines come from California, Australia and Italy. Here they are in no particular order. Australian wine featured prominently in the list of best wines I enjoyed in 2018. Two of the wines on this list came from a producer in South Australia - Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard. The best wine I enjoyed all year was a stunning shiraz from this winery - the 2015 The Peake vinted & bottled by Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard. Although not quite as good as The Peake*, another shiraz from this winery was worthy of this list - the 2015 Brooks Road Shiraz*.

2015 Brooks Road Shiraz, lovely juicy red fruits, notes of herbs, tea, anise and black pepper; drinks elegantly but with power.

For the truly indulgent gift, try these 12 luxury wines This Australian producer is making very nice wines in the Clarendon subregion of McLaren Vale. It took a while for this shiraz to open, but finally we were enveloped by floral, violet aromas and dark fruit flavors that weren’t too ripe like so many shirazes. Balanced, complex, fine tannins and long in the finish. Hickinbotham also makes a great Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon that is dense and complex.

Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of cherry and green bell pepper. In the mouth, cherry and bell pepper mix with a touch of herbs and a faint bitter woodiness. Good acidity and tight, muscular tannins that have a drying sensation. Too much oak for my taste. 8.5

2015 Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon, assertive currant and blackberry followed by toasty, savory elements. Hints of wood spice and anise add enticing complexity to this finely tannic wine.

We followed the same program with diverse pinot noir releases from the Carneros to the coast. The 2015 Sevens Bench Vineyard Pinot Noir from Carneros, was lean, but earthy with expressive fruit flavors. The 2015 MacLean’s Block Pinot Noir comes from a small estate vineyard in the Russian River Valley that is surrounded by a redwood forest. Thus, there are forest floor and dark berry qualities on the nose and complex flavors with spice on the finish. From vineyards at higher elevations near the town of Annapolis, the 2015 Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir is the boldest and highest ranked among those produced by Hartford. Acute aromas open for earth driven flavors of fruit and spice that linger.

We followed the same program with diverse pinot noir releases from the Carneros to the coast. The 2015 Sevens Bench Vineyard Pinot Noir from Carneros, was lean, but earthy with expressive fruit flavors. The 2015 MacLean’s Block Pinot Noir comes from a small estate vineyard in the Russian River Valley that is surrounded by a redwood forest. Thus, there are forest floor and dark berry qualities on the nose and complex flavors with spice on the finish. From vineyards at higher elevations near the town of Annapolis, the 2015 Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir is the boldest and highest ranked among those produced by Hartford. Acute aromas open for earth driven flavors of fruit and spice that linger.

2018’s Most Memorable Wines – and Moment Vineyard of the Year Zena Crown Vineyard in the Eola-Amity AVA in Oregon has consistently produced some of Oregon’s most impressive wine for the Good Vitis palate. The 115 acre vineyard, planted in the early 2000s, was more recently purchased by Jackson Family Wines who created a winery, called Zena Crown, to showcase its qualities. Additionally, some fruit from the vineyard is sold to several notable wineries, including Beaux Frères and Soter, not to mention the wineries listed below. The vineyard is planted on a southwest-facing slope of volcanic soil that begins at 300 feet of elevation and tops out at 650 feet. It is divided into 17 blocks, each of which has a unique combination of gradient, aspect, soil depths. Vines include a variety of pinot noir clones. All told, the vineyard is quite capable in producing a diversity of pinot noir wine. In 2018, we were lucky enough to try a variety of wines made from Zena Crown Vineyard’s goods, including some tasted in the region. Not all were scored, but several were written about on Good Vitis, including: 2015 Hartford Family Winery Princess Warrior Block Zena Crown Vineyard – This has a deep, serious nose boasting aromas of briar berry compote, dark dusty cocoa, graphite, lavender, tar and candied red apple. It’s nimble on the palate, exhibiting youthful finesse. The gorgeous tannins provide a sturdy frame, but don’t overpower while the acid is spot-on. Though I wouldn’t call the structure elegant, it has skillfully found a balance between power and finesse that’s intriguing. In the flavor department you get black and boysenberry, very dark chocolate, rose petals, lavender, Herbs de Provence, and wet soil. Though it’s good now, it will be better in five years. 92 points, value: C.

We followed the same program with diverse pinot noir releases from the Carneros to the coast. The 2015 Sevens Bench Vineyard Pinot Noir from Carneros, was lean, but earthy with expressive fruit flavors. The 2015 MacLean’s Block Pinot Noir comes from a small estate vineyard in the Russian River Valley that is surrounded by a redwood forest. Thus, there are forest floor and dark berry qualities on the nose and complex flavors with spice on the finish. From vineyards at higher elevations near the town of Annapolis, the 2015 Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir is the boldest and highest ranked among those produced by Hartford. Acute aromas open for earth driven flavors of fruit and spice that linger.

We began with two chardonnay, one from the far eastern portion of the huge Sonoma Coast appellation and the other, two ridges inland from the Pacific Ocean. Both vineyards are influenced from by rock and fossils. The 2015 Stone Cote Vineyard Chardonnay comes from a block within the Durell Vineyard and its steely, mineral elements are influenced from a nearby river bed. In contrast, the estate 2015 Fog Dance Vineyard Chardonnay originates from the Green Valley of Russian River Valley appellation, near the coast. Although the flavors were a bit rounder with hints of citrus and stone fruits, the mineral finish prevailed.

We began with two chardonnay, one from the far eastern portion of the huge Sonoma Coast appellation and the other, two ridges inland from the Pacific Ocean. Both vineyards are influenced from by rock and fossils. The 2015 Stone Cote Vineyard Chardonnay comes from a block within the Durell Vineyard and its steely, mineral elements are influenced from a nearby river bed. In contrast, the estate 2015 Fog Dance Vineyard Chardonnay originates from the Green Valley of Russian River Valley appellation, near the coast. Although the flavors were a bit rounder with hints of citrus and stone fruits, the mineral finish prevailed.

Try a few sparklers and chardonnays for a light touch OK, Chardonnay requesters, here’s a few for you. Hartford Court Forestville Four Hearts 2015 is ready and findable. RP wrote a 96 in 2015 and it went off the scale, jumping to $48. Time heals, my friends. The wine did a backflip to $41. It is still around now and in its perfect window at $42-$45. Straw- yellow color says, “I can cellar longer if you wish.” Redolent floral nose: orange, honeysuckle and apple blossom, plus citrus and oak aromas. Smooth, medium-full-bodied with tangerine, crème brulée, vanilla, honey, and marmalade flavors. Perfect mineral acidity supports all through a long, nutty finish. Long time since I’ve enjoyed Chardonnay like this.

Always open to syrah, I requested a taste of the 2013 Outer Limits Vineyard Syrah. As a part of the coastal Far Coast Vineyard, the “Outer Limits” comes from a cooler climate. I found a balanced, tightly structured wine with floral laced aromas and dark fruit and spice on the palate.

The 2015 vintage of the Russian River Vineyards Zinfandel was awarded 94-points by Wine Spectator magazine and placed #21 on their 2017 Top 100 list. The 2016 Russian River Vineyards Zinfandel blends grapes from all but one of their six vineyards and delivers integrated flavors of black cherry, berry and spice.

From special 100-year-old vines in the Russian River Valley, the 2015 Hartford Vineyard Zinfandel offers the elegance and complexity that is typically sought out in a good zinfandel.

6 Pacific Northwest sparkling wines to tickle your nose year-round Looking to add a bit of color to your life? Then pour a glass of this coppery-pink wine and watch its glow fill the room. It's another pinot noir-chardonnay blend where some of the wine is aged in French oak barrels to add depth and complexity. This is the sparkling wine to pour for those dogmatic friends who insist only Champagne can taste like Champagne. From the tart red fruit and citrus scents to the fine stream of bubbles and flavors of shortbread and quince, this wine might be able to fool more than a few Champagne fanatics.