Distinctive for the jazzy, toasty, mocha-laced oak, yet the rich, polished fig, nectarine, white peach and tangerine flavors are equal to the wood. A remarkably seductive Chardonnay.

Plush, with loads of richness to the well-honed flavors of beeswax, baked pear and lemon tart.

Lots of vitality emerges from the zesty core of tangerine, nectarine, citrus and green apple flavors, picking up a light spicy oak edge and ending with a long, persistent finish.

Balanced and fruity, with juicy apricot, pear and guava flavors.

This shows good length and depth to the suave pear, apricot and ripe apple flavors that are accented by floral and spicy notes. The creamy finish offers toasty and buttery accents.

Plum sauce and crushed cherry flavors glide through, lined with mocha and toasted vanilla notes. Polished finish. Offers a nice texture and pretty fruit, but stays short on energy and depth. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Fruity, with flavors of baked apple, ripe pear and ginger that are well-balanced. Savory and buttery notes show on the finish.

Pure and clean, with a touch of pithy rawness from the tannins. The stars are the core flavors of citrus and green apple. Moderately intense and persistent.

Offers flavors of apple, pear and allspice, with oaky overtones.

Presents a tasty mix of floral, perfumed apple blossom, pippin apple and pear flavors. Pure and direct. A touch pithy, with a citrus skin texture.

Very deep, dark red/purple hue, with a complex, serious bouquet displaying more oak than the pure cabernet sauvignon of the same vintage: subtle spice, herb and black fruit aromas augmented by gently toasty oak. The palate is full-bodied and well-endowed with firm, authoritative tannins, but not heavy. A powerful, statuesque red wine, with tremendous intensity and elegance, balance and style, and it should last for 35 years-plus if well-cellared. (approx half and half cabernet and shiraz. 370 cases made)

Very deep, bright red/purple colour, with a superbly ripe, fruit-driven bouquet displaying ripe mulberries and blackberries, with traces of raspberry and violets - and barely a glimpse of leafy pyrazines, although the ripe fruit conveys undeniable cabernet varietal character. The palate is medium to full-bodied and firm of tannin, a thread of sinew, with all things in perfect balance. Superb cabernet.

Very deep, bright red/purple colour, the bouquet a beautifully balanced mixture of red and darker berries, spices and pepper, plus some earthy, mineral notes. It's medium to full-bodied and smoothly-textured, not tannic or alcohol-hot, but harmonious. Intensity with elegance is the key. A delicious drink, the tannins fulfilling their structural role with traces of ironstone and graphite.

Deep red colour with a tinge of purple, the bouquet smoky, oaky and savoury, the classy oak adding an aromatic floral lift. The wine is elegant in the mouth, medium-bodied and with the lighter tannins slightly firm on the after-palate. Bucket loads of raspberries. A delicious merlot.

This is a zesty sauvignon blanc with notes of grapefruit, melon and edgy lemon-grass. Bright acidity. This sauvignon blanc has a big personality. Tasty. 3½ stars.

Light greenish gold in color, this wine smells of cold cream and buttered popcorn. In the mouth, wonderfully saline flavors of melted butter, lemon curd, and pastry cream have a silky aspect and filigreed acidity. While I wish there were just slightly higher acidity here, there's no denying the deliciousness of this wine. Positively gulpable, with the wood only barely peeking through the long salty lemon finish. 9.0-9.5

The Stunning Spire Collection Estate in Calistoga This 2014 Capensis Chardonnay was exquisite, hands down the wine I was most excited to try for the first time. I fell in love with it. It was extremely clean and light with just a touch of malolactic flavoring, but more of a Burgundian White style than a typical, overly creaky and oaky California Chardonnay. The price tag at $80 per bottle makes this a wine I would treasure for a special occasion and not just drink daily.

Uncorked: Spire Collection a portfolio of all stars Grown in three vineyards at 2,483 feet, 1,720 feet and 570 feet on the Western Cape of South Africa, Capensis Chardonnay 2014 comes from winemaker Graham Weerts. It’s a full-bodied Chard with stone fruit, vanilla and Meyer lemon flavors. There’s a toasty marshmallow note and hints of butterscotch as well. Fermented in 50 percent new French oak, this is a complex, long-lasting Chard with stunning flavors and textures.

Refreshing rosés for hot weather Here are my favorite Pinot Noir Rosés:...Barrymore Monterey County, plush and spicy; La Crema Monterey, soft, hints of cream and spice; Cambria Santa Maria Valley, juicy with cinnamon…

Wines of the Week Cambria Winery is located on the Santa Maria bench in California’s Santa Barbara County. This cool coastal growing area is excellent for the production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. A perennial favorite with my tasters, their Benchbreak Pinot Noir is a combination of different clones and vine ages yielding a rich, dark wine with ripe berry and earthy mineral flavors – a great complement to salmon from the grill.

One aspect often overlooked by many people is how long it truly takes for a specific wine to be created. I’m not talking about aging or vine maturation but rather the formation of a soil composition which ultimately impacts the terroir evident in a wine. is keenly aware of what lies beneath their vines. Fossilized seashells, shale, limestone, and sand all make up the bench on which the vineyard sits. This idyllic location overlooks the Santa Maria Valley and the Sisquoc River. Within these plots, several Pinot Noir clones are sustainably grown for use in Cambria’s Benchbreak wine. The Benchbreak Pinot Noir showcases bright red fruit upfront with raspberry, cranberry, and rhubarb. These are accented by earth tones, orange rind and a light herbal quality. Raspberry is joined by pomegranate on the palate followed by a fine minerality and touches of oak.

American Dream The cool climate of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Maria Valley ensures that this beautifully crafted Pinot Noir is awash with lots of red fruit — rich cherry and raspberry with notes of vanilla and spice. Perfect for a special occasion.

Refreshing rosés for hot weather Here are my favorite Pinot Noir Rosés:...Barrymore Monterey County, plush and spicy; La Crema Monterey, soft, hints of cream and spice; Cambria Santa Maria Valley, juicy with cinnamon…

American Dream Sideways may have shunned Merlot, but this beautiful Pomerol-style Merlot is a stunner. With an intense aroma of ripe plums, cherries and a touch of spice, this beautifully structured wine is rewarding on the palate. Worth every cent.

Gold Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards 2017 Ripe black fruit, graphite notes, gentle, spicy, ripe tannins and well-integrated oak. The palate is ripe, juicy and floral, with layers of blackberry fruit, fantastic complexity and great length.