The 2015 Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County) is fresh, vibrant and very pretty. Lemon peel, grapefruit, mint and white flowers are nicely delineated throughout in this brisk, vibrant Sauvignon Blanc. Best of all, the 2015 is a terrific value.
La Crema's 2014 Pinot Noir, from a late-ripening estate vineyard in Bennett Valley, comes across as a bit compact, with less depth and mid-palate pliancy than some of the other wines in the range, partly owing to the micro-climate in this site. Blood orange, spice and red-toned fruit nuances add aromatic complexity throughout.
The 2014 Pinot Noir Green Valley is supple and forward, with good juiciness to the fruit and lovely overall balance. Sweet red cherry, plum, rose petal and mint are all pushed forward in this tasty, mid-weight offering from La Crema.
Deftly balanced. Though smoky oak notes hold the upper hand for now, there's plenty of well-centered plum and black cherry flavors to fill out the palate.
A tasty, appellation-level offering, the 2014 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) is soft, supple and open-knit, all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years.
The 2014 Chardonnay Saralee's Vineyard offers good depth and balance throughout. Orange blossom, hazelnut and spice are nicely delineated in this pretty, mid-weight Chardonnay from La Crema.
The 2015 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is an attractive, mid-weight offering. Bright red cherry, hard candy, wild flowers and sweet spices are all pushed forward in this succulent Pinot Noir from vineyards in the Petaluma Gap.
The 2015 Pinot Noir Grand Reserve is laced with sweet red cherry, spice, flowers and dried herbs. Supple and open-knit, with lovely inner perfume, the 2015 is best enjoyed over the next year or two, while the flavors remain bright.
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve delivers serious quality for the money. Dark cherry, smoke, tobacco, leather and licorice are pushed forward in this super expressive, budget friendly Cabernet.
The 2015 Chardonnay Avant is soft, open-knit and easy to drink. Candied lemon peel, pineapple white flowers and sweet spice give the wine much of its immediacy. The Avant is done entirely in stainless steel, with partially blocked malolactic fermentation to keep the flavors bright.
Kendall-Jackson's flagship 2015 Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve is a model of consistency. Soft, supple and open-knit, with lovely tropical fruit, white flower and butter notes, the Vintner's Select is a pretty wine to drink over the next 2-3 years.
The 2015 Pinot Noir Land's Edge Vineyards is dark, powerful and brooding. Game, smoke, tobacco and large-scaled tannins give the Land's Edge a slightly burly feel. There is good depth, but this is a pretty rustic style.
The 2015 Chardonnay (Russian River) is a very pretty appellation-level wine. Apricot pit, peach and stone fruit notes abound in a supple, mid-weight Chardonnay that captures plenty of the open-knit style that is typical of the Russian River.
The 2015 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard is another intense 2015 Zinfandel from Siduri. Plum, black cherry and chocolate notes infuse the 2015 and give it much of its darkness and textural richness.
The 2015 Zinfandel Limerick Lane Vineyard is rich, powerful and seductive. Incredibly primary at this stage, today the 2015 is all about fruit, while the more typical earthy and savory notes that are typical of this site still need time to develop. The dark red cherry and plum flavors are nicely pushed forward, and there is good tannic grip in the background.
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve is dark, dense and powerful. Tasted from tank just prior to bottling, the 2014 looks like it is going to need at least six months in bottle to come into its own. There is no shortage of power or intensity today.
The 2015 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is quite rich and ample in feel, with a bit more richness and tropical character than is typical for coastal Chardonnays. Taken on its own terms, the wine is attractive, but readers should expect a fairly unctuous style.
The 2015 Zinfandel (Russian River Valley) is dark, plump and juicy, all of which make it a good choice for drinking now and over the next year or two. Black fruit, chocolate and cloves contribute to an impression of darkness and, at times, also heaviness.
Soft contours and supple fruit give the 2014 Pinot Noir Fog Veil much of its distinctive personality. Sweet spice and dried floral notes add an attractive upper register in this pretty, appealing Pinot from La Crema.
Floral, spice and sweet red berry notes make 2015 Pinot Noir Vintner's Reserve an attractive wine to drink now and over the next year or two.
The 2014 Merlot Vintner's Reserve is soft, fruity and tasty. Black cherry, chocolate and sweet spice make the Merlot a good choice for drinking over the next year or two.
The 2014 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is soft and open-knit, with pretty floral notes and bright, red-toned fruit. The wine's modest structure suggests it is best enjoyed sooner rather than later.
The 2015 Syrah Vintner's Reserve is a tasty, forward wine. Black cherry, lavender, mint, violet and black pepper add aromatic nuance, but this is a bold, fruit-driven style.
Medium straw color; ripe apple, a touch of peach skin. Light citrus, and creaminess in the aroma; medium bodied, nicely layered on the palate; dry, medium acidity, fine balance; ripe fruit flavors, light hit of creaminess; medium finish. This Chardonnay does an excellent job in representing the prime, cooler regions for this grape in the Central Coast.
A flagship wine -- one of Napa Valley's heritage wines -- that simply stuns with depth and staying power with the 2013 vintage. Classic in every sense of the word, it's a wine that I hesitate to give a list of descriptors on. If you'd like to taste a true benchmark wine of the region, this is a great place to start. I dare say it's a bargain at this price. Ted Edwards has been doing this for a long time, and this might be his ne plus ultra moment. Spectacular!