Lots of blackberries, blueberries and hints of crushed stones with some almonds and nuts. Full and velvety tannins with a juicy texture and a long and flavorful finish. Shows length and polish. A blend of 93% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 2% tannat. 674 cases produced. Needs time to soften and come together. Best after 2026.

This is such a beautiful white with sliced apple and pineapple with hints of lemon tart. Full-bodied with creamy texture and a lemon curd, honey, stony and fresh finish. Extremely energetic and long. 450 cases produced. Drink or hold.

Aromas of currants with lead pencil, bark and dried mushrooms. Fresh herbs, too. Full-bodied, with creamy and firm tannins that are polished and give great length. Chewy at the end. So long. Made from 100% cabernet franc. 377 cases produced. Give this three or four years to soften and beyond. One for the cellar.

Aromas of currants and bark as well as redwood and spearmint. Ink and iron. Medium to full body, chewy tannins with orange peel and hints of wood. This will come together nicely with bottle age. Dusty tannins. A blend of 94% cabernet sauvignon and 6% merlot. Better after 2026.

A big wine with layered tannins that give a soft cashmere texture, setting up the wine nicely with dark berries, chocolate, bark and fresh leaves. Full-bodied, chewy and flavorful with some sea shells and spices at the end. Tight. A blend of 54% merlot, 13% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc, 13% petit verdot and 7% malbec. 377 cases produced. Best after 2026.

Love the aromas of currants, sweet tobacco, lead pencil, and hints of redwood. Medium to full body with beautifully integrated tannins that are polished and refined. Fresh and nicely balanced. A beauty. A blend of 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot and 1% merlot. So drinkable now.

Very aromatic and bright with some honeysuckle and lemon with some chalk and stone. Medium body with a creamy texture and a long and flavorful finish. Balanced and delicious. Drink now.

The finest vintage in the region to date, bridling pinot-like essences with a Mediterranean warmth. The tannins, a broad slake of sandy, pixelated grittiness. Vinous and old-vine forceful. Pithy red cherry, tamarind, musk and lilac drawn long, taut and exact. This is a stunning wine. Imperious, even. I'd love to see this in a decade or more. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Clearly Australian, due to the ripeness of the fruit. Kirsch, rose hip and a scruff of dried thyme dousing a broad scape of gritty tannins and maritime tang. Very good. Best after 2026. Alkina Grenache Assembly tasting.

It is basically about the sweetness and how to tame it in the wine, without it going beyond the character of the grape itself. The wine here has an admittedly sweet, slightly jammy nose of plum, cherry, boysenberry and vanilla. But it is not heavy in smell and makes you want to taste the wine, which is soft and has enough acidity to balance the sweetness. The components of licorice, dark berries, chocolate and pepper show that this zinfandel is true to its origins and never goes overboard. An easy-drinking Californian that hits the spot when the spirit of Christmas comes to the table.

The finest vintage in the region to date, bridling pinot-like essences with a Mediterranean warmth. The tannins, a broad slake of sandy, pixelated grittiness. Vinous and old-vine forceful. Pithy red cherry, tamarind, musk and lilac drawn long, taut and exact. This is a stunning wine. Imperious, even. I'd love to see this in a decade or more. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

By some considerable distance, this is the best Pinot Noir release from this Kendall-Jacksonowned Chilean operation. Showcasing the 667 and 777 clones, grown on quartz and granite
soils, it has alluring perfume, layers of juicy, sappy raspberry and black cherry flavours, wellhandled 15% new wood and polished tannins. 2024-29

Tender red fruit aromas. Smooth and quite elegant: raspberries, strawberries and cherries, subtle pepper. Savoury complexity and smoky notes. Drink 2023-2030.

No fewer than four different clones (4, 76, 96 and 548) are used to produce this stylish Itata Valley Chardonnay. Fermented with full malolactic and aged in 15% new wood, it’s a ripe but well-balanced style showing pear, lemon butter and citrus flavours and top notes of vanilla and cinnamon. 2024-28

Young, vibrant, Ripe forest fruit with strong, leafy, vegetal notes. Ceylon tea blends with mellow cherry. Structured and bursting with fruit. Drink 2023-2030.

Youthful, vibrant, ripe red fruit aromas, dried herbs and a hint of spice with lifted toast. Round and creamy with a warm, citrussy concentration layered with ripe, juicy dark fruits and balancing freshness.

A fabulous wine of focus and polish with very fine tannins that caress your palate and give great length to the finish. Medium to full body. The aromas of violets and currants are so beautiful. Dreamy. Best ever? A blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 2% merlot, 1% malbec and 1% petit verdot. A total of 3830 cases produced. Give it three to four years to soften.

Lovely purple fruits with violets, lead pencil, mint, crushed stones, pine needles, resin, and ceramic. Medium to full body with ultra-fine tannins that show a silky beautiful texture. Blend of Stags Leap, Saint Helena, Yountville, and Atlas Peak plus all the mountain vineyards of Cardinale. A blend of 91% cabernet sauvignon and 9% merlot..

Black currant, dried flower, fresh lavender, lead pencil, mint, thyme, and pine cone aromas. Pine needle. Full-bodied with firm and chewy tannins that run the length of the wine but also have a softness to them. Pure merlot. 191 cases produced. Give this five or six years to come together but a star in the making.

Black currant, violet, subtle grape skin, violet and mountain flower aromas. Medium to full body, with super polished tannins that are finely velvety, long and consistent. Sophisticated and complex. Made from 100% cabernet sauvignon.

Black currants and baking spices with sweet tobacco and violets on the nose. The palate is full-bodied with tight-grained and well-integrated tannins that melt into the wine. The pine needle, fresh earth and forest flower character comes through clearly. One for the cellar but it will be beautiful in two or three years. Made from 100% cabernet sauvignon.

Black berry with grapey highlights. The purity of fruit is so impressive. Almost a sense of chalkiness. Full and flavorful. A great mountain malbec.

This is a bigger and broader Spring Mountain cab with terra-cotta, dust and dry earth aromas suggesting its warmer nature. Medium to full body with thoughtful, cut-velvet tannins and a lovely texture at the end. Made from 100% cabernet sauvignon.

The aromas of pure fruit such as blackberries are really impressive with hints of fresh pine needles. Iron. Sea shell. A refined and polished finish. Creamy at the end. Made from 100% cabernet franc.

Insane aromas of black currants, crushed stones, violets, and sweet dark tobacco. Black truffle. Full-bodied with superb depth of fruit and plush and chewy tannins that give tension and length. It reminds me of the 1975 La Mission Haut Brion because of the stone, iodine and purple fruits. Love. Made from 100% cabernet sauvignon. 883 cases produced. Needs four or five years to come together.