The nose is rich pineapple and sticky candied lemon peel. The palate entry is fresh, ripe peach and mango leading to a core of supple orange blossom and focused acidity. Drink 2022-2025.

Aromatically expressive with scents of red and black cherries accented with spicy undertones and a note recalling tomato plant leaves that often results from some whole cluster fermentation. Stylishly light in color and weight, this still offers plenty of flavor, though thankfully without any excess oak, nor any sweetness that doesn’t seem to emanate from the fruit

The 2020 Chardonnay Silene comes mainly from the young vines in Fijnbosch (32% of the blend) mature in French oak for ten months (30% new). It has an attractive, classically styled nose with scents of dried honey, praline and hints of grilled hazelnut. Fine delineation. A little fume in style. The medium-bodied palate has a light tropical-tinged entry with touches of pineapple and passionfruit, leaning slightly towards California. Fine weight, with just a hint of orange rind towards the finish; for the price, this represents great value for money.

Shy but with promising aromas of ripe dark fruits, pure and precise. On the palate it is forward, dense and silky with excellent concentration of fruit, rounded tannins and balancing freshness with a drying finish.

The Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay from the 2021 vintage is undeniably complex and delicious. Elegant notes of lemon creme are braced by a nutmeg spice and vanilla note that is complementary and far from overpowering. The palate offers plenty of fresh acidity, honey, lemongrass, bee pollen, and citrus, all combined for a tremendous value and Chardonnay that will shock many in a blind tasting.

From Santa Barbara County comes a mineral-driven Pinot Noir with less fruit and more stone components. The aromatics of smoke, wet cement and crushed chalk are reflective of the wine. Green tea leaves and white pepper frame the stony mineral character on the palate. A real exercise in terroir.

Ripe red and black berry fruits show the aromas of this Anderson Valley bottling with lots of Edmeades Vineyard fruit. This area was the birthplace of Siduri when Adam Lee conceptualised it. The palate is marked by ripe fruit and spice; the black tea character shows along with a Christmas spice carrying to the ripe finish.

From a 1ha vineyard on the west side of Santa Rosa, California, in the Russian River Valley, this Pinot is a riper, classically California-styled wine. Sweet cherry aromas leap forth with a kiss of savoury herbs and mint. The palate is ripe, with smoky cherry notes, ample oak influence and, in turn, almost jammy. Ripe, robust and with heat on the finish.

The 2020 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard was matured for 10 months in 40% new oak. It feels reticent and coiled at this stage, with delicate notes of burnt lemon peel, iodine, apricot and flint. The light-bodied palate has delicate, zesty flavors and some leesiness on the finish. Drink it over the next few years. 804 cases were made.

From 30-year-old vines on the Willakenzie Estate, the 2021 Gamay Noir Flavorscape pours a medium ruby hue and needs a little air on opening before revealing ripe mixed red and blue berries, red flowers, and a hint of cracked pepper. Bright and medium-bodied, it offers a silky mineral texture, with a clean finish, and is fresh with poppy fruit throughout. It’s refreshing and perfect for youthful drinking with a light chill.

Hints of lime and shortbread, aromas of blanc de blancs Champagne on the nose.
Dried mango, fresh fig and lemon peel on the palate. Concentrated, creamy yennot heavy. Drink 2023-2029 Alc 12.7%

The 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley pours a dark but transparent hue and is ripe and forward with blackberry fruit, turned earth, and purple flowers. Medium-bodied, with ripe fruit and a modest finish, it lifts cleanly off the palate with a bit of earthy texture on the finish. Drink 2023-2028.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate Cuvee pours a deep ruby-purple hue and offers aromas of ripe red and black berries, dusty earth, and pine. Generous and rounded in its fruit, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a supple texture, sweet tannins, and notes of mocha on the finish. It is a nice lens into the estate's ripe style to enjoy over the next few years.

The dark ruby 2021 Pinot Noir Aliette takes on toasty and ripe aromas of wet asphalt, toasted baking spices, black cherry pie, and purple flowers. Full-bodied and loaded with ripe, sweet black and blue fruit, as well as ripe tannins, it has modest acidity but nice lift on the finish, although a touch of sweet fruit edges just shy of cloying. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.

Pouring a ripe yellow hue, the ripe and juicy 2021 Chardonnay Willamette Valley is forward with aromas of honeysuckle, ripe pear, and lemon custard. Full-bodied and generous, with a creamy texture and notes of vanilla oak spices lasting on the finish, it’s a seductive style to drink over the next few years.

Seared pineapple and lemon peel aromas draw the
nose into this bottling. The palate is tight at first
and then opens toward popcorn, buttered peach and
sea-salt flavors. —M.K.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County is an
up-front, total charmer offering attractive red and
black cherry fruit, some spicy, herbal nuances,
medium body, and a soft, elegant texture. Drink
this undeniably delicious, impeccably made Pinot
Noir over the coming 4-5 years

Ripe strawberries, framboise, spring flowers, and spicy underbrush notes all emerge from the 2021 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard, a beautifully textured,medium-bodied, elegant Pinot Noir. It's already
hard to resist, and I see no need to delay
gratification.

All varietal, the 2022 Viognier Tepusquet Vineyard is terrific as well, with a light hue as well as perfumed, exotic notes of sappy, minty herbs, lemon pith, and orange blossom in a clean,medium-bodied, vibrant profile. It’s an outstanding example of the variety to drink over the coming year or so.

Juicy and direct, with tasty plum compote and black cherry preserves mixed with light bramble and sweet spices on the flattering finish. Drink now through 2025. 353 cases made.

Quite deep in color and rich in black fruits, the wine wraps blackberries and blueberries in moderate tannins and a full body. It will be fun to glug this hearty, fruity wine with pizza, burgers and barbecue. —J.G.

A deep but transparent red, the 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is floral and juicy with ripe red and black berries, forest floor, and cinnamon spice. Medium-bodied, it offers tangy berries, tea leaves, and dark mineral earth, with green herbs on the finish. Drink this over the relative near term.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley pours a deep red, with ripe and expressive
aromas of classic appeal, including cola spice, saturated black cherry, and damp forest floor. Ripe with red plum that is forward on the palate, it reveals a note of black tea, angular, ripe tannins, and turned earth. It’s ripe and meaty, with a good sense of place. Drink it over the next few years.

Ripe and generous, the 2021 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast pours a shimmery golden hue and delivers honeysuckle, candied lemon, and ripe green apple aromas. This rounded, fullbodied white is approachable with ripe melon, frangipane, and baking spice. It offers a good balance between richness and freshness and is perfect for youthful drinking. A lot of wine for the price, the consistency La Crema achieves at this scale is genuinely impressive, with 672,000 bottles produced.

The 2021 Chardonnay Anderson Valley offers up ripe notes of pear, candied orange, and white flowers. Full bodied, an initial note of hazelnut, waxy viscosity, and a soft
mouthfeel are given a bit more lift on the finish, with a light touch of saline in its
otherwise rounded sweet melon fruit, with ripe peach and delicate sweet baking spices.Drink it over the next few years.