Outstanding.

Yangarra’s new ‘heat-resistant’ blend called Blanc an Australian first Yangarra Estate Vineyard has released a new ‘heat-resistant’ blend of white varieties sourced in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and grown on newly planted cuttings on the estate. Yangarra 2018 Blanc is a blend of Grenache Blanc (35 percent), Clairette (30 percent), Roussanne (20 percent), Picpoul (10 percent) and Bourboulenc (five percent).

A new direction for McLaren Vale wine Here’s a brand new blend for Australia: a push into realms paler than that posh pink above. Convinced that his upland old vine Grenache indicated a very special affinity between Yangarra and the north-west Mediterranean, winemaker Peter Fraser has spent 10 years importing the white varieties of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This wine is a certified biodynamic/organic blend of Grenache Blanc (35 per cent), Clairette (30 per cent), Roussanne (20 per cent), Picpoul (10 per cent) and Bourboulenc (5 per cent). It was made with indigenous yeast in 675-litre ceramic fermenting eggs...

A Veritable Treat These wines, however, are not in the Screaming Eagle mold. Jackson’s original “vision and concept” was for a Merlot as good as Petrus, but while showing his Merlot blend to Jackson, Seillan also produced a Cabernet Sauvignon blend, and now there are three wines: La Muse, which is Merlot with, in 2014, 10% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec; La Joie, 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot in 2014; and Le Désir, 61% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Malbec in 2014. A crucial point is that Seillan eschews acidification, and so the wines have intrinsically better balance as well as a sense of coolness. Alcohol levels are around 14.5%, and about 1,000 to 1,500 cases of each are made each year and sold through the Bordeaux Place, so any wine merchant with connections there should be able to source the wines.

A Veritable Treat These wines, however, are not in the Screaming Eagle mold. Jackson’s original “vision and concept” was for a Merlot as good as Petrus, but while showing his Merlot blend to Jackson, Seillan also produced a Cabernet Sauvignon blend, and now there are three wines: La Muse, which is Merlot with, in 2014, 10% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec; La Joie, 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot in 2014; and Le Désir, 61% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Malbec in 2014. A crucial point is that Seillan eschews acidification, and so the wines have intrinsically better balance as well as a sense of coolness. Alcohol levels are around 14.5%, and about 1,000 to 1,500 cases of each are made each year and sold through the Bordeaux Place, so any wine merchant with connections there should be able to source the wines.

A Veritable Treat These wines, however, are not in the Screaming Eagle mold. Jackson’s original “vision and concept” was for a Merlot as good as Petrus, but while showing his Merlot blend to Jackson, Seillan also produced a Cabernet Sauvignon blend, and now there are three wines: La Muse, which is Merlot with, in 2014, 10% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec; La Joie, 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot in 2014; and Le Désir, 61% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Malbec in 2014. A crucial point is that Seillan eschews acidification, and so the wines have intrinsically better balance as well as a sense of coolness. Alcohol levels are around 14.5%, and about 1,000 to 1,500 cases of each are made each year and sold through the Bordeaux Place, so any wine merchant with connections there should be able to source the wines.

All four wines have screw cap closures, and all are excellent wines. The 2016 RRV is a luscious, complex wine that is full bodied, velvety in texture, moderately rich, and lightly oaky wine with a long finish. In aroma/flavor, it tastes of black cherry, raspberry, plum, black tea, and spicy oak. 4 stars, excellent.

All four wines have screw cap closures, and all are excellent wines…The 2016 Willamette Valley is a medium rich, complex, lightly tannic Pinot Noir with cherry, plum, herb, pepper, vanilla, and oak aromas/flavors, and a very long finish. Can be aged further. 4+ stars, excellent.

All four wines have screw cap closures, and all are excellent wines…The 2015 Sta. Rita Hills is equally good: a supple, full, rich, and somewhat rugged Pinot Noir with intense black cherry, kola nut, black tea, plum, and spicy oak aromas/flavors, and a long, full finish. Excellent; needs modest aging. 4 stars, excellent.

All four wines have screw cap closures, and all are excellent wines…Lastly, the 2015 Santa Lucia Highlands is a very fine Pinot Noir: full bodied, concentrated, complex in flavor (blueberry jam, plum, herbs, dried fig, cedar, spicy oak), and long and lightly tannic on the finish. 4+ stars, excellent.

This is a striking pinot noir with complex aromas and flavors. It has impeccable balance, and pretty red fruit —wild raspberry and a hint of rhubarb. Its earthy notes give the pinot depth, and it's absolutely lovely. Well crafted. 4 stars.

...The wine list is varied and offers some interesting choices, both French and otherwise. I am, of course, on the company dime, so I passed up the Bordeaux and headed to a more moderately priced pinot noir by Siduri. This 2013 Santa Rita Hills red has lots of fruit and a touch of violets. It was delicious on its own and paired particularly well with a filet mignon.

Very fine quality, this is a full bodied, well structured mountain Cabernet, with complex aromas/flavors (cedar, black cherry, cassis, red licorice, tobacco, herbs), excellent balance, and a long, somewhat tannic finish. Needs aging. Great value. 5 stars, exceptional.

A Whole Lot of Rosé Thanks to a wet winter and much needed rain in La Crema's Monterey vineyards, the cool-climate appellations are tailor made for their new rosé. Both bright and exotic, this 100 percent stainless steel fermented rosé at $25 per bottle, has a balance of acidity and fruit—perfect to pair with just about anything, from grilled octopus or halibut ceviche, to a selection of artisanal cheeses.

Very light in colour, show ing fine red cherry and floral scents together with a whiff of herb on the nose. Pleasantly ripe refined cherry flavours persist on the palate with a touch of spice and a light splash of milk chocolate.

La Crema consistently crafts good and reasonably priced pinot noirs from cool climate appellations. This offering from Monterey showcases a very refreshing pinot noir that delivers a tart, bright-acid style with a mélange of cherry, cranberry and a hint of rhubarb. Very easy to drink but comes alive with fish and chicken dishes.

A Whole Lot of Rosé Don't be fooled by the pale pink color; this rosé is bright in flavor, jumping right out of the glass with notes of crisp grapefruit, strawberry, fresh-cut watermelon and hibiscus. Primarily from the cool Monterey and Mendocino coasts, this Pinot Noir is also stainless steel fermented, retaining the bright fruit character.

Pair These Wines With These Hotly-Anticipated Fall TV Shows Pair: Murphy Brown (CBS) With: Reserve Pinot Gris Honoring Candice Bergen's return in this investigative journalist sitcom that went off the air back in 1998 calls for a reserve classic bottle of vino.

Our Favorite Wines to Sip This Autumn Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon opens with deep black cherry, blackberry, and cassis flavors. Intense, round, and well-structured tannins lead to a strong backbone throughout the middle and finish.

What to Drink Next: Trust These Names in Wine It’s a safe bet that most of the millions of fans of Kendall-Jackson’s Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay don’t realize exactly how many wineries this Sonoma-based family (now headed by the late Jess Jackson’s wife, Barbara Banke) owns. The answer is 40, making wines from $13 a bottle to almost $400. The secret to their sustained quality? The family’s seemingly unerring eye for winemaking talent.
 Bargain: 2016 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay 
 $16 Winemaster Randy Ullom’s latest release offers all the richness and lemon cream flavors fans of this wine expect.

What to Drink Next: Trust These Names in Wine It’s a safe bet that most of the millions of fans of Kendall-Jackson’s Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay don’t realize exactly how many wineries this Sonoma-based family (now headed by the late Jess Jackson’s wife, Barbara Banke) owns. The answer is 40, making wines from $13 a bottle to almost $400. The secret to their sustained quality? The family’s seemingly unerring eye for winemaking talent.
 Splurge: 2015 Hickinbotham The Revivalist Merlot
 $75
 Winemaker Chris Carpenter’s superb Australian Merlot is savory, almost gamey, and full of black cherry fruit.


Earthy, complex flavors of dark fruit and herbs. 2½ stars.

The 30 Pinot Noirs to Drink If You Want to Be a Real Expert From a breathtaking coastal vineyard planted next to a Redwood grove, comes an equally breathtaking Pinot Noir. The chilly climes of Seascape Vineyard often push ripening all the way back to November, preserving mouthwatering acidity and adding depth. This is full of generous red and black fruits, savory herbs, silky tannins, and the unique imprint of this impressive terroir.

From Spring Mountain District a 2017 Galerie Terracea reflected a fruity profile.

South Africa 2018 Special Report 2015 Capensis Chardonnay, Western Cape – Jackson Family Wines and its South African winemaker Graham Weerts set out to make a top of the range Chardonnay, using fruit from vineyards in Stellenbosch, Overberg and Robertson. This is the best release yet, with a winning combination of stone and citrus fruit, subtle oak and a taut, mineral-edged finish.