USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A barrel sample, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard gives up a gregarious nose of crushed black and red currants, warm plums and charcuterie with touches of truffes, dried herbs and black soil. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and chewy with loads of expressive black fruit and savory layers, finishing on a mineral note.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A barrel sample blended of 88% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec, the 2017 La Muse is very deep purple-black colored and reveals a compelling nose of warm plums, crushed cherries and mulberries with hints of rose hip tea, tobacco and tilled soil. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and chewy with a lively line supporting the taut, muscular fruit, finishing long.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2017 Chardonnay (no malolactic fermentation) offers notes of fresh pineapple, honeydew melon and lemon tart with touches of allspice, shaved almonds and lanolin. Medium to full-bodied, the fruit hits the palate with amazing freshness and vivacity, sporting loads of citrus and spice notions and finishing long.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Blended of 90% Merlot, 5.5% Petit Verdot and 4.5% Tannat, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Merlot Howell Mountain struts out of the glass with vivacious notions of preserved plums, Black Forest cake and blackberry compote with touches of baking spices, black soil, truffes and licorice. The palate is full, rich, concentrated and earthy with firm, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and earthy.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The medium to deep ruby-purple colored 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Fog Dance Vineyard simply sings of black cherry pie, freshly crushed blackberries and pomegranate with hints of spice cake, dark chocolate and sassafras. Medium to full-bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, it fills the palate with decadent black berries and a velvety texture, finishing on a lingering peppery note.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Hailey's Block has a medium ruby-purple color and features exuberant notes of Black Forest cake, kirsch and wild blueberries with hints of baking spices and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with juicy red, black and blue fruit layers, framed by plush tannins and finishing on a spicy note.

Coming from the Santa Maria Valley (this label is by and large focused on the Sta. Rita Hills), the 2017 Chardonnay Katherine’s just jumps from the glass with a perfumed, tropical bouquet of ripe citrus, spice, dried pineapple, and mango notes. Showing more and more classic salinity and oyster shell characteristics with time in the glass, it’s medium-bodied, has bright acidity, a layered, viscous texture, and a beautiful finish. It’s going to evolve for 8-10 years at a minimum.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Kiser en Bas is a little closed to begin, giving glimpses of red currants, pomegranate and black raspberry scents with touches of forest floor and fungi. Medium-bodied, firm, fresh and elegant in the mouth, it has a plush texture and wonderful freshness framing the intense red berry flavors, finishing long and earthy.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Syrah Brosseau Vineyard (100% Syrah) comes charging out of the gate with vibrant black plums, black berries and wild blueberries scents plus touches of spice box, underbrush, violets and tapenade. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a taut, grainy texture and fantastic freshness lifting the peppery black fruit to a long finish.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Cenyth Red Wine Blend is blended of 50% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with expressive baking spices, fragrant earth and vibrant red and black currant scents with touches of underbrush, pencil shavings and tar with a waft of charcuterie. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and wonderful freshness framing the densely packed red and black fruit layers, finishing long.

From a cool climate site in the Sta. Rita Hills, the 2015 Pinot Noir Rita's Crown delivers beautiful minerality as well as elegance in its medium-bodied, seamless profile. Black raspberries, gunpowder, crushed rocks, and ample forest floor notes develop beautifully with time in the glass, and this beauty can be drunk today or cellared for a decade. This cuvée spent 16 months in 57% new French oak.

The 2016 Pinot Noir 3D is one of the more marine-influenced wines in the lineup. Coming from a 10-acre site and a mix of clones, its light ruby color is followed by a beautifully complex bouquet of forest floor, shrimp broth, iodine, and loamy earth. It has a wonderful core of sweet red fruits, moderate acidity, and a layered, nuanced style. It's already drinking beautifully but it's also going to keep for a decade or more.

Italy, Tuscany: Chianti Classico (New Releases) Warm aromas of dark fruit, potting soil and moist chewing tobacco rise from the bouquet of the 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva. This is an extremely territory-driven wine that emits aromas that recall the red clay soils and warm summer breezes of the Castelnuovo Berardenga area to the southern side of the Chianti Classico appellation. This is a soft and enriched red wine (made with 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) that produces sweet textural richness and plenty of ripe fruit packed within that generous fiber.

Deep bright red. Musky dark berry cherry cola and floral oil aromas are complemented by smoky mineral and exotic spice flourishes. Broad and sweet on the palate offering intense black raspberry cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Shows outstanding energy and floral lift on the strikingly long seamless finish which betrays just a hint of fine-grained slow-building tannins.

Limpid ruby. Heady aromas of black raspberry, cherry cola and candied rose, plus exotic spice and vanilla flourishes. Sappy and impressively concentrated, offering cherry liqueur, dark berry and spicecake flavors complemented by sweet suggestions of mocha and cola. Comes off rich as well as lively, with no rough edges. Tightens up slowly on a sweet, extremely long finish shaped by smooth tannins that add gentle final grip.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Composed of 82% Merlot and 18% Malbec, the 2016 Merlot Mt. Veeder has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with sexy spiced plums, warm blueberries and potpourri scents with hints of fragrant earth, violets and dark chocolate. Full, rich, firm and oh-so-plush, it has a decantently fruited palate and a very long finish with some licorice hints coming through.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Fog Veil has very pretty notes of cranberries, Bing cherries and pomegranate with touches of black pepper, lavender and cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied and offering a firm, plush frame and oodles of freshness, it gives tons of seductive yet elegantly styled fruit in the mouth, with a long mineral-laced finish.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard features bold apricots, guava and pink grapefruit scents with nuances of fresh ginger, nutmeg and baking bread plus a waft of marzipan. Medium to full-bodied, the stone fruit and tropical flavors fill the mouth, supported by a creamy texture and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy.

Bush vine grenache from a block planted in 1962. 10% whole bunches. Matured in Burgundy-coopered barrels. 473 dozen made. Smooth as silk, ripped with spice, pulled more-or-less taut through the finish and yet various flavours remain free to flow like the outreaches of a flag. You get spice drenched length, you get florals, you get a core of succulent raspberry and anise. In short, you get a textbook example of quality McLaren Vale grenache.

Opaque ruby. Spicy rich blackberry with a chocolate note on the nose. Lovely balanced palate with bright notes that lift the wine. Bright fruit with good depth and earth notes. Fresh balanced and very flavorful. Delicious long finish. A powerhouse.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters rocks up with boisterous notions of crushed black raspberries, blueberries, red plums and black cherries plus hints of cloves, cinnamon stick and chocolate box. Full-bodied, plushy textured and decadently fruited in the mouth, it delivers mouth-filling black fruits and spices, finishing long.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Sevens Bench Vineyard exudes beautiful lemongrass, lime leaves and fresh grapefruit scents with hints of yuzu, wet slate and croissant. Medium to fullbodied, the palate gives a cerebral, mineral and earthy character with a citrus core and fantastic vibrancy, finishing long and chalky.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard gives up beautiful lemon curd, peach preserves and guava scents with suggestions of pineapple, allspice and brioche. Full-bodied, rich and seductive, it delivers mouth-filling stone fruit and tropical layers with a satiny texture and a long, ginger-laced finish.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A blend of 75.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.9% Merlot, 7.3% Petit Verdot, 6.1% Cabernet Franc and 1.6% Malbec, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is deep garnet-purple colored and reveals open-knit, expressive cassis and baked plums scents with hints of pencil shavings, menthol, dark chocolate and damp soil plus a waft of unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied, concentrated and giving mouth-filling black fruits and savory layers, it finishes with a provocative grainy texture.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A barrel sample blended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 La Joie sings of red and black currants, black cherries and black raspberries with hints of cedar chest, pencil lead and iron ore with a touch of tar. Medium to full-bodied, firm and packed with tight-knit, elegant fruit, it finishes on a provocative earthy note.