This fresh and zippy Chard brings aromas of fresh lemon, tart pineapple, and green apple on the nose. The palate delivers bright acidity with flavors of Meyer lemon, lemon verbena, brioche, and zesty lime through the finish.

Cinnamon- and vanilla-spiced baked apples reflect the oak that’s still being absorbed, yet with plenty of potential for the future. A solid spine of acidity and minerality rides alongside lemon pith, papaya and a hint of hazelnuts through the finish. Best after 2026.

There is a saline freshness to this otherwise ripe wine, that counterpoint resulting in a lovely sense of tension through tropical and stone fruits layered with vanilla, almond wafers and citrus oils. Drink or hold.

This Cabernet teams with 19% Merlot for a wine that is sinewy and crunchy with a plethora of flavors, from rose petals and cassis to cranberry and a touch of sweet jerky. A final dusting of powdered chocolate offers a chef’s kiss. Tannins are sprite and drying, with a rustic quality. It is understated and delicious.

Retail $20. Very Responsible Bottle (482g; 16.9oz). Under screw cap. You know, Matanzas Creek does not get enough credit, at least in my book, for its influence in the history of Sonoma County wine. Founding winemaker? Merry Edwards and David Ramey was also a winemaker at Matanzas Creek; two legendary figures in Sonoma County. Add that the winery was instrumental in creating the Bennet Valley AVA, and well, the history of wine in Sonoma just can’t be told without at least a chapter on Matanzas Creek. Jackson Family Wines bought the property in 2000, and the family has managed it since, maintaining the high standards set since its founding in 1977. So when this Chenin Blanc, which I feel is one of the most under-appreciated varieties in the world, and is barely present in California, landed on my doorstep? Giddy-up. Great tree fruit and hints of citrus on the nose with a dab of minerality and a dose of florality, and wait, this is twenty bucks?? The palate is fruity and focused but also round and robust, this is a delightful representation of the variety and a testament to the fact that Matanzas Creek is still a leader in Sonoma County. Bravo.

Leads with a burst of open-knit but persistent red and black cherry compote flavors. Modestly juicy energy keeps the fruit going, while subtle notes of cedar, iris and iron peek through the understated finish. Drink now through 2035.

The 2022 Cabernet Franc was blended with 15% Merlot and matured for 12 months in 25% new French oak. It has slowly unfurling aromas of red and black cherry and currant, garrigue, cigar ash and herbal undertones, plus well-integrated new-oak spice. The medium-bodied palate pairs concentrated, nuanced flavors with fine-grained tannins and refreshing acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish. It will benefit from some time in a decanter.

Bright cranberry character and earthy spice drive the nose of this wine. The palate brings pithy black cherry, plum skin, cinnamon, and rose petal flavors that lift and come into sharp focus on the finish

Redcurrants, red plums, peppery herbs, violets, and subtle marine-like nuances all emerge from the 2023 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills, a 40/40/20 blend from John Sebastiano, Perilune, and Hapgood vineyards. Aged 10 months in 25% new French oak, it’s medium-bodied, with a supple, nicely balanced palate, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. This is another complex, satisfying release in the lineup that's best enjoyed over the coming 5-7 years. Drink 2025-2032. 

This is well-focused, with up-front but defined boysenberry and blackberry fruit backed by singed apple wood and balsam wood hints. Offers juicy energy and just enough fruit to work through the finish. A solid effort for the vintage. Drink now through 2033

The 2022 Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton opens with notes of licorice and dusty rose, complemented by dried strawberries. Lifted and graceful in feel, it offers cooling acidity and silken textures that usher in ripe red and blue fruits. A gently chewy sensation and sweet tannins remain as sour citrus refreshes the palate.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Kiana bursts from the glass with an expressive mix of crushed raspberries, lavender and spice. Cool-toned and pliant, it offers ripe wild berry fruit propelled by fresh acidity. Liquid violet tones linger as the 2022 finishes with gently grippy tannins.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley mixes wild strawberries with savory herbs and nuances of white pepper. Soothingly round and cool-toned, it offers perfumed red and blue fruits swirling throughout. The finish tapers off with medium length, a licorice twang and chewy persistence.

Raspberry, strawberry, violet and lavender aromas are well balanced on the lush nose of this appellation cuvée. Purple fruit and flower flavors are cut by decent tension and refreshing acidity on the palate

A fresh set of aromas that includes newly baled hay and quinine water garnished with a lemon wedge will grab your attention before allowing you to move on to tart and puckering lemon, lime and white grapefruit flavors. The wine’s acidity borders on jolting, which only adds to its sense of absolute tartness and twang. Let this wine cut through a bowl of cheese puffs.

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.