USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Proprietary Red Wine is blended of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot. It opens with compelling chocolate box and licorice scents over a core of black and red currants, warm plums and baking spices with hints of cedar chest and pencil lead. The palate is full-bodied with layers of cassis and kirsch flavors framed by firm, grainy tannins and fabulous freshness, finishing long and spicy.

Why it's an exciting time for Sonoma Cabernet So many layers to this wine, from a year that saw a very late harvest with small concentrated fruits. It took a good 10 years to really open up, but is now displaying black olives, rich black truffles, bilberry, cedar, rich, generous elegant, an upkick of salinity shows it is...

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Deep garnet-purple colored and made up of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain gives up tantalizing notes of licorice, chocolate box and spearmint over a core of crushed blackcurrants, blackberries and kirsch plus wafts of roses and fertile loam. Full-bodied, firm and oh-so-minerally in the mouth, it has a solid structure of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering earthy note.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Franc Howell Mountain (100% Cabernet Franc) gives up exuberant bramble fruits, baked raspberries, mulberries and wild blueberries with suggestions of pencil shavings, kirsch, rose hip tea and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied and with a very firm frame of ripe, grainy tannins, it has wonderful perfume and depth, finishing long and mineral laced.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard is a little youthfully mute to begin, opening out to display gorgeous rose hip tea, kirsch and warm cranberries with hints of dried thyme, black soil and tree bark plus a hint of fungi. The medium to full-bodied palate completely coats the mouth with earth-laced red berry and kirsch notions, framed by very firm, very fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing very long with a compelling herbal lift.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Hartford Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. Wow—the nose is a knock-out beauty of black cherry cordial, blueberry compote, fruitcake and liquid licorice with hints of roses, lilacs, Indian spices and garrigue. Full-bodied and beautifully structured with firm, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, the palate is generously filled with fruit and spice layers, finishing long and perfumed.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Blended of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and is scented of earthy nuances of truffles, dusty soil and underbrush with a core of crème de cassis, black cherry compote and blueberry pie plus hints of camphor and scorched earth. Full, concentrated, rich and densely packed with loads of earth and black fruit layers, it has a firm, ripe, grainy frame and oodles of freshness, finishing long.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A barrel sample blend of 75% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 5% Malbec, the 2017 Le Désir is very deep purple-black in color and sings of crushed black cherries, black raspberries and kirsch with hints of black tea, cigar box, new leather, licorice and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy, the palate offers beautiful depth and perfume with firm, grainy tannins and long, lively finish. One of the few 2017s to rival its 2016 counterpart.

Italy, Tuscany: Chianti Classico (New Releases) The 2013 Arcanum is a blend of 73% Cabernet Franc with smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Franc element is obviously strongest, and you get steely notes of black fruit follow by wild sage and rosemary oil. This is a powerful and thickly layered red wine that pushes the boundaries of extract and intensity, especially for a Tuscan red wine. Off the top of my head, I can count maybe ten wines from the region that take on such a full-bodied and opulent approach. This wine should age forward for many years to come.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2015 Chardonnay Nine Barrels simply sings of honeysuckle, lime blossoms and mandarin peel with a core of pineapple, nectarines, cashews and brioche. Full, rich, concentrated and featuring tons of spice and floral layers, it delivers layer upon layer of bold flavors and a very long finish.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Jennifer’s sashays out of the glass with heart-stopping violets and lilacs over a core of redcurrants, Bing cherries, mulberries and black raspberries plus wafts of underbrush, spice box, black tea and black pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with spice and earth layers, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and finishing very long and mineral-laced.

The 2017 Chardonnay Machado is a sensational effort from this terrific region. From a site right next to Clos Pepe composed of sandy loam soils, it offers a light color yet terrific intensity in its poached pear, citrus oil, floral and salty seabreeze aromatics. Beautiful on the palate as well, with bright acidity giving some cut to what's a rich, textured, concentrated wine, it's going to put on weight with a year or two in bottle and have over a decade or longevity.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Hapgood comes from a site just beside the Machado Vineyard in the middle of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, and as with all these wines from Greg Brewer, it's not destemmed and is aged in neutral barrels. It's always a complex wine and the 2016 is no exception, giving up terrific light red fruits (white cherries, raspberries), Asian spices, salted peach, and exotic flower-like aromas and flavors. This medium to full-bodied beauty has the textbook salinity of the appellation, an expansive, layered texture, moderate tannins, and a great finish. It's just another sensational wine from this estate.

The 2016 Pinot Noir 459 is 100% clone 459 from the Machado Vineyard, and as in most vintages, it’s a more rounded, sexy wine than the more focused Machado cuvée. Awesome notes of ripe strawberries, rose petals, sandy earth, and spicy characteristics all flow to a full-bodied, incredibly seamless Pinot Noir that has nicely integrated acidity, fine, polished tannins, impeccable balance, and a great finish. I love it. This rocking release can be drunk any time over the coming 10-15 years or more.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages One-hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyards reveals loads of red and black currants layers intermingled with notes of black olives, camphor, iron ore and violets plus a hint of cigar box. Medium to full-bodied and displaying loads of wonderful red and black fruit layers, it has beautifully plush tannins and a long, perfumed finish.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The deep purple-black colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Speciale (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) sings of fresh blackcurrants, warm plums, mulberries and black raspberries with touches of cedar chest, pencil lead, underbrush and sautéed herbs. Full-bodied and laden with black fruits and earth layers, it has a grainy structure and a long, earthy finish.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) comes from a vineyard that contains more volcanic rock. Deep purple-black in color, it reveals slightly tarry notes to begin, soon opening out to beautiful black cherry, black berry and warm cassis scents with hints of cigar box, charcuterie, licorice and Indian spices. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and wonderful freshness supporting the densely packed earth layers, finishing very long and savory. This needs time!

Wine of the Week AU Produced from old-vine, dry-grown grenache vines, fermented slowly in a ceramic egg. It is a concentrated, elegant grenache with high-toned aromatics of raspberry, redcurrant and dried cherry, with underlying savouriness enhancing its charm. The palate is youthful, yet approachable, with a long, fine core of acidity. It is a mesmerising grenache showing intense flavours within a refined frame. Amazing persistence and stylish tannin. (Screwcap)

The Peake represents the pinnacle wines from Hickinbotham and this sure does make a statement. A stunning wine ought to be enjoyed on a stunning occasion. Brilliant! A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz (57/43) off vines planted in 1971. The fruit was fermented separately prior to blending. It's not shy but its sleek at the same time. A wine which flows effortlessly delivering presence and charm all at once. Blackcurrants and blackberries, licorice and cloves are on the front foot early. Nestled in closely behind sit dark chocolate, dried herbs and black earth. Oak makes a late run but the word seamless is what keeps bouncing around my mind as this goes through its paces. Over the space of a few days it was absolutely pristine. Buy now and savour later. Way later.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard reveals a beautifully fruity nose of warm raspberries, preserved cherries and mulberries with hints of red roses, underbrush, wild blueberries and cast iron pan with a touch of truffles. Medium-bodied with a solid frame of very fine-grained tannins, the palate delivers vibrant red and blue fruit layers and a long, perfumed finish.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2017 Hartford Court Chardonnay Four Hearts Vineyard has a drop-dead gorgeous floral nose with notes of orange blossoms, honeysuckle and jasmine with a core of preserved lemons, candied ginger, peach cobbler and applesauce. Medium to fullbodied, it has a racy line of freshness and a wonderfully satiny texture, finishing long and citrusy.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard is a little youthfully closed with crushed rocks and chalk dust notes over a core of mandarin peel, Golden Delicious apples, pear tart and lightly browned toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate simply vibrates with electric tension, offering vibrant citrus and apple layers and finishing long and stony.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Medium to deep garnet-purple, the 2016 Hartford Zinfandel Dina's Vineyard comes leaping forth from the glass with arresting, gorgeous floral scents of violets, lavender and roses with a core of cherry cordial, blueberry compote, blackberry tart and dried mulberries plus wafts of spice box and and dark chocolate. Full, firm and with a racy line of freshness lifting the concentrated fruit, it finishes very long with tons of mineral, floral and spicy layers.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A blend of 80.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19.8% Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain is deep garnet-purple colored and offers up Black Forest cake, menthol and licorice scents with nuances of lilacs, red roses, stewed tea and cedar chest plus a waft of black olives. Full, rich and concentrated, it completely coats the palate with black fruit and anise flavors, framed by firm, ripe tannins and finishing with a lingering menthol lift.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Maggy Hawk Pinot Noir sings of lilacs and red roses with a core of warm cranberries, raspberry leaves, kirsch and black tea with hints of underbrush and tobacco. Medium-bodied, it fills the palate with elegant, intense red berry and earthy layers, supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and compelling freshness, finishing very long.