Firm and direct, with accents of graphite and gunflint to the structured dried currant and cherry flavors. Taut finish, with minerally richness. Drink now through 2024.

Fleshy, with hints of hazelnut to the baked apple and ripe pear flavors, which feature concentrated cooking spice accents. Offers buttery and toasty richness on the finish. Drink now through 2024.

Steely and tart, with tightly focused cherry, crushed stone and dusky spice flavors that build tension toward lively tannins. Drink now through 2029.

This bright medium yellow colored Chardonnay from Kendall Jackson opens with a under-ripe pineapple bouquet with hints of Anjou pear and lemon. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied with medium acidity. The mouthfeel is round, bright, and balanced. The flavor profile is a mild oak influenced gentle pineapple with notes of cantaloupe. I also detected hints of butterscotch and vanilla. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Chard is made in a crowd-pleasing manner. It is versatile and will pair well with many food. I would pair it with pasta carbonara.

One of my favorite Pinot Noirs has for a long time been the La Crema from Russian River, and once again it does not disappoint. This is a classic style Pinot Noir from one of the premier vineyard areas in the entire country. It is pretty hard to beat Pinot Noir grown in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley! The nose is elegant with the scent of both black and red fruits fresh from the orchard. The rich flavor suggests plum, blueberry and dark cherry, with a touch of chocolate toward the finish, which has just a hint of oak. This one certainly begs for another sip! The alcohol content is 14.5%, and Norm’s score is 90. We have enjoyed this wine many times in the past with grilled meat, and it is also a great match for grilled salmon.

California meets Saint-Emilion in this broad-shouldered Merlot/Cabernet Franc-dominant blend. The unnecessarily heavy bottle predicts the wine’s style. Though mostly black fruit-driven at this stage, a lovely mineral tarriness appears in the finish. I suspect more complexity will appear with bottle age. For now, this voluptuous wine has a suave and supple texture that makes it a good choice for current consumption with a steak for those who gravitate to that style.

Perfumed nose showing summer fruits, crushed violets and a bit of vanilla. Lively acidity supported by ripe concentration.

Lovely floral aromas, black cherry and strawberry, mushroom and earth. A rich and powerful style with seamless tannins.

This wine from Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, a relatively new DOCG, seems to be a tip of the hat to the new world, showing a little more oak and a little more ripeness than the regular Chianti Classico specs allow. “Strada Al Sasso” is a very sexy wine, with a rich midpalate and a long, fruit forward finish. It’s quite approachable now after a good decant, and it will certainly reward some additional bottle aging.

Bold extraction and a fair amount of oak take centerstage here, with black cherry, sage, charred oak and brown spice aromas and flavors. This will need a long decant near term, or age long term for full enjoyment when the oak folds in. Black tea-like tannins require food; no surprise there!

Firm, with a flinty aspect to the dried dark fruit and cooking spice flavors, framed by medium-grained tannins and leafy accents. Loamy finish. Drink now through 2023.

Crushed cherry and raspberry tart flavors are lively and open-textured in this fruity style. Red licorice hints emerge on the zesty, lightly spiced finish. Drink now through 2023.

Fresh and fruity, with buoyant raspberry and cherry flavors, backed by crisp acidity. The lithe finish offers light mineral and spice notes. Drink now through 2023.

Well-built and elegantly focused, with expressive raspberry, sweet anise and black tea flavors that take on richness toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2026.

Seeing 20/20 – Sonoma & Anderson Valley New ReleasesThe 2017 Pinot Noir Parsons' Vineyard is a supple, fruity and easy-going wine with all of the soft curves and overall approachability that are typical of Russian River Pinots. Dried cherry, dried flowers, spice, mint and cedar meld together in an open-knit, curvy Pinot to drink now and over the next few years.

Seeing 20/20 – Sonoma & Anderson Valley New ReleasesThe 2017 Pinot Noir Lingenfelder Vineyard is pretty and fragrant, if a touch lithe in this vintage. My impression is that this fruit might have been picked just a touch early, as the 2017 lacks some mid-palate presence. On the other hand, it is fresh and not at all cooked, so that is a positive.

Seeing 20/20 – Sonoma & Anderson Valley New ReleasesIn the 2017 GSM, kirsch, hard candy and sweet floral notes are front and center. Medium in body, this supple, easygoing wine will drink well upon release. There is lovely aromatic lift here, but the fruit profile leans decidedly toward the riper end of the spectrum.

Seeing 20/20 – Sonoma & Anderson Valley New ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley) is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Soft, open-knit and inviting, the Santa Maria Chardonnay offers lovely immediacy. Pineapple, passion fruit, apricot, orange peel and a touch of new French oak grace this creamy, inviting Chardonnay from Kendall-Jackson.

Seeing 20/20 – Sonoma & Anderson Valley New ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Sable Mountain Vineyard emerges from a site in Anderson Valley and is a new wine in this range. Creamy, open-knit and supple, the 2018 is forward and inviting. Tropical accents and a kiss of new French oak add to the wine's immediate appeal - which is considerable.

Seeing 20/20 – Sonoma & Anderson Valley New ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve, the Kendall-Jackson flagship, is gorgeous. Pretty tropical accents add complexity to a core of citrus and floral notes. Orange confit, white and yellow flowers and mint all grace this delicious, inviting Chardonnay. This is such a pretty wine.

Seeing 20/20 – Sonoma & Anderson Valley New ReleasesThe 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak) is the first wine from the estate's vineyards. Lemon confit, mint, sage, tomato leaf and white flowers all add nuance. The 2018 offers lovely textural depth and impeccable balance.

Seeing 20/20 – Sonoma & Anderson Valley New ReleasesThe 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Knights Valley) is a very pretty wine. In this vintage, the Knights Valley Cabernet is decidedly medium in body because it was made only from pre-fire lots, where ripeness levels were naturally a bit lower, but that also makes it easy to drink. Wild flowers, mint and red berry notes lead into the finish.

This midnight purple colored Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a black cherry and milk chocolate bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced and smooth. The flavor profile is a mild oak, black cherry and blackberry blend with notes of faint minerality, anise and black tea towards the end. The finish is dry and its medium tannins stick around for a quite a while. This Cabernet does benefit from a little air. So, give it a good swirl or decant it before serving it with grilled steak tips.

This dark red colored Pinot Noir from Copain opens with a strawberry and pomegranate bouquet with notes of oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and easy to drink. The flavor profile is a mild strawberry and gentle oak blend with notes of red plum. I also picked up hints of red raspberry and red cherry at the very end. The finish is dry and fades away nicely. This Pinot, while not complex, will be a crowd pleaser and not last long. It is quite versatile and will pair with many foods. I would pair it with grilled mahi-mahi.

Golden, toasty, spiced. Golden and toasty, roasted nuts and yellow apples, spice and buttered toast aromas lead to a fresh palate with sweet golden fruit, buttered warm brioche and spiced nut flavours. Good length, structure and balance--a solid Chardonnay for Chardy lovers.