The 2013 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard is one of the leanest and lightest of these white wines. From a ridge top west of the town of Occidental, facing Bodega Bay and the Pacific Ocean, this wine sees about 43% new oak, and comes across as Chablis-like. Medium-bodied with fresh apple blossom, crisp red currant and quince notes, it is a fresh, lively, cool-climate Chardonnay that, despite its new oak aging, has a naked appeal and flavor profile. Drink now-2022.

Bright floral notes lift from the glass in the 2012 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard. This is one of the more perfumed, brighter Chardonnays in the Hartford range. Pears, lemon, white flowers and spices are beautifully delineated in the glass.

The 2012 Chardonnay Four Hearts Vineyards comes across as a bit dense and compact at this stage, but there is plenty of power lurking in the background. Apricot, tangerine and Chamomile notes are all highly expressive here. These old vines, planted in 1975 (old by California standards) is felt in the wine's depth and resonance.

Hartford's 2011 Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard comes across as quite reticent and inward. Apricots, nectarines, butter, honey and spices meld together in the glass. The 2011 needs time, but it is full of promise. Today, the 2011 is quite a typical wine from the true Sonoma Coast. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021.

The 2011 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard is laced with citrus, matchstick, white flowers, crushed rocks and mint. Bright, fresh and totally articulate, the Fog Dance is another superb wine in this vintage. Floral notes reappear on the finish, adding a vibrant, saline-infused brightness. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.

The 2011 Chardonnay Stone Cote Vineyard, from a parcel within Durrell, is one of the softest, most textured Chardonnays I tasted from the 2011 vintage. Nectarines, orange blossoms, butter and sweet spices all meld together in the glass. The 2011 isn't a huge wine. It remains oily and lush on the palate, yet not at all heavy. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.

The 2010 Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard shows the energy and drive of this site north of Fort Ross in the upper reaches of the west Sonoma Coast. At the same time the Hartford style is evident. Brisk saline notes provide the backbone in this aromatic, varietally expressive Chardonnay. Sweet hints from the oak linger on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.

The 2010 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard shows a little more focus and cut than the Stone Cote. Here the aromatics show the higher-toned side of Chardonnay. White flowers, lemon and crushed rocks are very nicely layered in this focused, taut Chardonnay. I especially like the energy here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.

The 2007 Chardonnay Laura’s is still in barrel, but it almost came across as tannic. However, it is loaded with crisp white peach, white currant, and quince aromas accompanied by strong mineral undertones. It is medium-bodied and more backward than its siblings. All of these Chardonnays have 4-6 years of aging potential, perhaps even longer.

Underwent a very late malolactic fermentation and was about to be bottled when I tasted it in early March, showed a spectacular nose of nectarine, orange blossom, pineapple and minerals and a creaminess on the palate that was buttressed by juicy acids.

The Largest Blind Tasting of American True Rosés  - Flights 10-12 Very light pink. Quite floral with subtle strawberry. On the palate, finespun, but exquisite fruit, great acidity. Lovely. Outstanding.

Good deep ruby-red. Cool aromas of blackberry, black olive, menthol and licorice. Offers enticing sweetness to the flavors of candied cherry, currant and tobacco accented by flowers, menthol and cedar. Has more texture to support its rather velvety, building tannins than the basic Napa Valley cabernet. The candied cherry quality carries through to the persistent finish. Perhaps not quite as deep as the 2009 version but a very good effort. The most recent replantings here were in 1991 and 1996.

Thoughts on a Surprising Bordeaux En Primeur Pretty core of black fruits enveloped in a ball of tight yet muscular tannins. Solid concentration, but it’s married with acid drive and finesse.

With American Jess Jackson's first venture into Bordeaux, he has shown that, along with his top-flight French winemaker, Pierre Seillan (of Verite fame), he is capable of achieving immediate success. This is a relatively hot micro-climate, and the vineyard is well-situated on both limestone and sand, several miles from Pavie and Larcis Ducasse. The 2003 was a good beginning, and the 2004 Lassègue, a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, is meant for patient connoisseurs. There are 4,500 cases of this deep ruby/purple-colored St.-Emilion. Its powerful, sweet nose of cassis, licorice, smoke, and damp earth is followed by a medium-bodied, tannic effort that is best cellared for 4-5 years. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020+

Saturated red. Lively, focused nose displays spice-tinged aromas of raspberry and fresh flowers, with a mineral element adding vivacity. Smoky and gently sweet on the palate, offering nervy red and dark berry flavors that open slowly with air. Shows very good vivacity on the finish, along with easygoing tannins and an echo of floral pastilles.

Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Very shy nose upon opening and somewhat reserved on the palate initially. I was disappointed until I re-tasted this wine the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle when it really charmed me. Aromas of darker berries, shrub and iron led to a mid weight palate of darker red and purple berry fruits including ripe strawberry. Somewhat rustic and earthy with a riff of exotic spices in the background. A unique wine that offers plenty of discovery for the adventurous. Patience advised.

.medium to full-bodied, elegant wine with high tannin, plenty of power and richness (primarily minerals and cassis), but it is unevolved and extremely backward. This wine has impressive raw materials, and should round into shape with another 5-7 years of cellaring. It will no be the most flattering style of Cabernet, but for true wine aficionados who have the discipline to wait, it holds considerable promise.

Bright ruby. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of black raspberry, star anise, vanilla and smoky minerals. Sweet, seamless and expansive, offering lively red fruit flavors and a touch of candied rose. Open-knit and very fresh, with strong finishing cut and sneaky, fine-grained tannins adding grip.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2017 Vintage in Santa Barbara County Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard opens with a touch of rubbery reduction, giving way to blackberries, damp earth, tree bark and spicy touches with notes of rhubarb and pomegranate. The light to medium-bodied palate is broody with earth-tinged fruits, a firm frame of grainy tannins and good freshness, finishing earthy. This will require another year in bottle or a long decant.

Vivid red. Musky cherry and dark berry aromas are complicated by licorice, underbrush and woodsmoke nuances. Bitter cherry and dark chocolate flavors show a slightly clenched quality, picking up spiciness and smokiness with air. Finishes with building tannins, chewy persistence and lingering notes of cracked pepper and licorice. Give this one some time to open up.

This is a juicy, easy-to-like red. Fruit-forward, raspberried/blackberried, deceptively tannic and with attractive mineral edges. Excellent length. Perfectly well balanced. Has a sweetness to it but it’s not a heavy or syrupy style; it’s more like an old McLaren Vale Burgundy style. Spice notes top it off. Light-ish but good.

The 2010 Roussanne is intensely scented of clover honey, apricot and allspice with jasmine, ginger and mandarin peel nuances. Medium bodied, dry and with concentrated spiced peach flavours, it has a good line of medium-high acid, a pleasant suggestion of silkiness to the texture and a long honeyed finish. Drink this one now to 2015+.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard is a bigger, darker, more structured wine with firm tannins as well as outstanding purity in its blackcurrant-like fruits as well as notes of candied violets, tobacco, and gravelly earth. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and tannic, hide bottles for 4-5 years.

Italy, Tuscany: Chianti Classico New Releases & A New Wave of Italian Icons This wine just jumps at you with immediate notes of ripe cherry, chocolate, tobacco and toasted espresso bean. The 2017 Chianti Classico is robust on every level, a very modern and contemporary take on this Italian classic. There's a lot of sunny heat and energy in this vintage, a great choice for a cheerful plate of Tuscany's pici al buristo. The blend is 85% Sangiovese and 15% Merlot. With 95,750 bottles produced, you cannot beat this terrific value.

USA, California: More Napa & Sonoma New Releases Pale to medium ruby-purple colored 2017 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard opens a little broody, slowly revealing notions of black tea, tar and tilled soil over a core of black raspberries, Black Forest cake and dried herbs plus a waft of yeast extract. Medium-bodied, the palate takes a little dip in the middle with a light chew of tannins and finishes on a savory note.