The colour is deep, the bouquet is rich in oak-derived chocolate and vanilla, as well as tamarillo, tomato-bushy aromas. It's fleshy and deep; the softest and most approachable of the 2013 Hickinbotham quartet

Warm aromas of Meyer lemon and blistered apples meet with a fresh splash of pink grapefruit on the nose of this bottling. Warm peach flavors arise on the sip, with hints of lemongrass and chamomile adding intrigue.

Freemark Abbey Napa cab is a reserve style red, especially in the outstanding 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. Look for intense, spicy, fresh, juicy boysenberry and bing cherry with milk chocolate, cedar, and garrigue. There is plenty of life here, and there is no rush to drink this wine. The 2016 composition is 75.8 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 16.2 per cent Merlot, 4 per cent Malbec, 3 per cent Petit Verdot, 1 per cent Cabernet Franc. It is a tour of Napa soils, including valley floor well-drained loam and clay; shallow, acidic western mountaintop soils with low fertility; and eastern mountaintop soils that are volcanic based, with poor fertility and incredible minerality.

This pours almost flourescent yellow and the aromas are just as bold. From the cool Pacific-cooled Santa Maria Valley this single vineyard chardonnay has been made in a reductive style to bring some edge to its naturally rounded character. The nose shows a touch of flint and onion, along with considerable oak toast, spice and pineapple fruit. It is medium-full bodied, fairly firm and nicely balanced, with excellent length. Lots going on, quite assertive and lacking some finesse. I would actually age it a couple of years.

Vivid yellow. Ripe, spice-tinged apricot and pear nectar aromas, with a subtle floral note in the background. In a generous, fleshy style, showing good heft to the juicy orchard and pit fruit flavors. A sweetening honey note builds on the persistent finish, which features building floral and gingery spice qualities.

Bright violet. Expressive black and blue fruit aromas are complemented by floral and cola notes and a hint of cracked pepper. Smooth and seamless on the palate, offering juicy blackberry and boysenberry flavors that slowly tighten up on the back half. Finishes on a faintly smoky note, with strong persistence and supple, even tannins making a late appearance.

Creamy, fresh, golden. Yellow with golden glints with and aromas of grilled lemons and young pineapple, toasted cashew, honeysuckle, tangerines, brown spice and vanilla. The palate mimics its nose with melon, tangerine, pineapple, candied nuts and hints of caramel. Creamy yet fresh it has a bold spritz of citrus in the mouth and a lingering oak spiced finish.

The Tenuta di Arceno is located near Castelnuovo Bererdegna at the southern end of the Chianti Classico district. The Castelnuovo area is noted for its fuller flavored wines. The 2017 Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Classico is a lovely example of the beauty of Sangiovese. The nose shows pure red cherry and plum tones with hints of roses, herbs, mushrooms and subtle baking spices. The red cherry and plum fruits dominate the palate and are enhanced by elements of black cherry, earth, raisins and spice. This is exciting Chianti, with the brightness and purity that defines the best of the appellation. The vivid cherry fruit carries through the long finish. With 15% Merlot blended with the core of Sangiovese, this will be a fine match for most anything off the grill.

Aromas of deep black cherries, blackberries and currants, topped in violets, pepper, earth, leather, cocoa. Medium/full-bodied with silky but solid tannins, and fresh acidity balances the wine out nicely. Crunchy but deep plum, currant and black cherry fruit. Pretty, complex elements of smoky earth, cocoa, violets, sage, roasted red pepper. This deserves time, but is already harmonious and balanced. Classic 2016 stuff, here.

This winery has long been known for value, and this vintage of its Sonoma Coast pinot noir is a great example. Modestly priced but ambitiously crafted, it delivers layered aromas of cherry and pomegranate, a subtle note of oak spice and beautifully integrated tannins.

Crisp and clean aromas of strawberry, watermelon, chalk and citrus pith make for a very compelling nose on this bottling. There’s a great snap to the palate, where pure but delicate strawberry flavors leveled by an ashy streak.

Santa Barbara: An In-Depth Look at the 2018sThe 2017 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is marked by strong savory aromatics. Crushed rose petal, cedar, tobacco and dried herbs all open up nicely. Here too, there is some reduction, but it gradually starts to blow off, revealing an ethereal, gracious Pinot. I would prefer to drink this on the early side.

Santa Barbara: An In-Depth Look at the 2018sThe 2018 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is a very pretty, translucent wine. Sweet red cherry, wild flowers, mint, cinnamon and blood orange are all nicelty lifed, but what stands out most about the appellation wine is its superb balance and class. The 2018 is fabulous.

This is one of the best values around in high class Bordeaux from a good vintage. A blend of 90 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc, Les Cadrans is the second label of Chateau Lassegue, the Right Bank property guided by the estimable Pierre Seillan. This vintage is plush and supple, showing aromas of black cherry, red fruits and wood spice, with nicely integrated tannins and impressive length on the finish. Drink now or over the next eight to ten years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyMoving to the reds, the 2016 Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco was all destemmed and brought up in 36% new French oak. Impressive black raspberry and mulberry fruits as well as plenty of spice and incense notes emerge from this beauty, which is medium-bodied and has a supple, fruit-forward style that's a joy to drink. Enjoy bottles over the coming 3-5 years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountySpiced peach and white currant fruits as well as some toasty notes emerge from the 2018 Chenin Blanc Jurassic Vineyard, a medium-bodied red with good purity, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a terrific example of Chenin Blanc from California that should drink nicely for 2-4 years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyPeppery herbs, green olives, violets, bacon fat, and ample darker, almost blue fruits emerge from the 2018 Syrah Ex Post Facto. Medium-bodied, with a juicy, elegant, Saint Joseph-like texture and a clean, lengthy finish, it's a classy, character-filled Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years.

Shimmering ruby. Oak-spiced aromas of dark berries and cherry cola take on a floral overtone with air. Supple and expansive on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry, cola and rose pastille flavors and hints of mocha and spicecake. Shows strong, spicy lift on a long, spice-driven finish shaped by even, slow-mounting tannins. 37% new French oak.

Glistening ruby-red. Fresh blackberry, cherry liqueur, mocha and a spicy nuance on the deeply perfumed nose. Sweet, palate-coating red and blue fruit and cola flavors pick up floral pastille and smoky notes with aeration. Shows smooth, velvety texture and turns spicier on the long, youthfully tannic finish, which echoes the mocha note.

The second vintage of this wine, the 2018 King's Wood Shiraz comes from a single east-facing parcel, includes 25% whole clusters and aged in a 2,500-liter foudre. At only 13.5% alcohol, it may surprise people who are expecting a traditional South Australian style of Shiraz, but it's meant to. Spicy and slightly herbal on the nose, it offers boysenberry fruit and an uncommon sense of balance. Medium-bodied and suave in feel, it's an elegant, refined style of Shiraz that can be consumed over the next 6-7 years.

Toasty nose, fresh, smooth and tangy with bright fruit and good balance, ripe and creamy with notes of vanilla, long and charming.

Medium dark ruby. The Pinot Noir Ewald Vineyard offers earthy aromas and flavors of cherry. pomegranate and smoky spice. The palate reveals brambly notes of blueberry and blackberry with moderate intensity. The wine is well-balanced with good acidity, fine grained tannins, and a persistent finish. Ewald is a 3.1 acre vineyard of clones 115 and 777 located directly behind the Kistler winery in the Vine Hill area of Forestville. Matured in 30% new French oak for 14 months.

The Pinot Noir John Sebastiano displays a medium ruby color and aromas of spicy and brambly red berry fruit. On the palate it is seamless with an elegant texture, good concentration and a long finish. Planted in 2007, John Sebastiano is a relative newcomer to Sta. Rita Hills; it’s located on the eastern end of the appellation with steep vineyards and highly varied aspects, some exposed to strong winds.

The Siduri Santa Rita Hills displays pretty red fruit with a touch of spice. Full in the mouth, it is nicely balanced with good acidity and a pleasant finish. An easy drinking wine.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is medium ruby-purple and dark-fruited on the nose, with black cherries and berries accented by forest floor, mushroom, spices and minty touches. The medium-bodied palate offers bright, earth-laced fruits with a grainy frame, good freshness and long finish.