Expressive vanilla and butter aromas lead to butter, fig, coconut and honeydew melon flavors in this soft-textured, lush wine from the estate property of La Crema. —J.G

This beautifully fresh expression of Pinot Noir is just what you’d expect from Mendocino’s Anderson Valley. Find vivacious notes of tart red cherry, wild strawberry, just-ripe pomegranate, basil and toasted wood. Everything is knit together by firm tannins, driven by a solid dose of acidity and incorporates a balanced alcohol to give weight and lift to the midpalate. —S.B.

A beautiful shade of pink in the glass, this bottling shows wet stone, pink rose petal and strawberry on the juicy nose. The palate offers plenty of strawberry cream flavors balanced by a persistent acidity. —M.K.

This is
a bold style of Pinot Noir, starting with aromas of
violet, lilac, black cherry and fennel pollen on the
nose. The palate is ripe and rich, with baked cherry
aromas layered in dried flower and hard-spice elements. —M.K.

Vivid and expressive Pinot, aromas of red fruit, earthy and leafy notes, sage hebs with smoke, cherry and pepper. Good concentration, refinde tannins and pleasant freshness. Drink 2023-2030.

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.

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.

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 wine’s blueberry and hyacinth aromas are nearly eclipsed by a woody-earthy note similar to a post-rain walk through a cedar forest. Flavors like tart black cherries, vanilla and Thai basil are joined by more cedar. The Warrior Princess has modest acidity and supple tannins. —M.A.

Dark plum, cherry and a touch of raisin notes. Rich and opulent with bruised apple, pepper and chocolate.

This is a simply enjoyable Pinot Gris, with lovely notes of lemon, lime, green apple, white blossom, peach and nectarine. It’s the perfect casual sipper, either on its own or with any light-hearted meal. Best Buy. —S.B

Oak tones lead on this darker, fuller-bodied Pinot Noir, with notes of cacao, vanilla, nutmeg and a smoky toast. These continue to black cherry, boysenberry and leather. The wine is woven together by a coarse tannic texture, doused with a modest acidic structure. —S.B.

Bright apple and citrus notes in
the aroma and ripe but slightly tangy peaches and
red apples in the flavor make this medium-bodied
wine an easygoing crowd-pleaser. —J.G.

Juicy aromas of strawberry, cherry and bubblegum show on the nose of this bottling. The palate
is ripe with bold red-fruit flavors, wrapped in ample
texture and acidity to balance the juiciness. —M.K.

A pale, watery lemon hue in the glass, this offers aromas that are as delicate as the visual. Predominantly floral tones waft gently from the glass, recalling white rose, lily of the valley, jasmine blossom, lychee, white grape and wet stone. The palate confirms those aromas and brings along a generous level of acidity. A bit of spritz adds extra energy and jazz to the experience. Best Buy. —S.B

An
overall balanced Pinot Noir, this offers notes of red
and black cherries and plums, cinnamon and licorice. The palate has a good dose of acid, a moderate
amount of tactile tannins and a solid finish. —S.B

A fresh and electrifying Chardonnay comprised of three different Sta Rita Hills sites. Herbal aromatics of sweet hay, wild dill and tarragon meld with notes of grilled orange rind. The palate offers flavours of candied ginger, grilled lemon, orange oil, crushed quartz and chalk minerality.

translucent ruby with generous aromas of red fruit and earthy berry bramble. Flavors include red cherries, blackberries, roses and earthy berry bramble supported by fresh acidity. Tannins are very smooth in a light body.

ight golden with generous aromas of honeysuckle, ripe grapefruit and ripe melon. Flavors include ripe pears, citrus and melon supported by lively acidity. The finish is very long and clean.

Ripe and enticing, with a beam of raspberry and boysenberry coulis streaming through, flecked with light anise and sweet spice notes. Shows a light gloss of toast on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 315 cases made.

This superb, world-class Chardonnay uses grapes from four different regions across the Western Cape - Barrydale, the Overberg, Robertson and Stellenbosch - and is a seamless cuvée of the quartet. Refined, scented and deftly wooded in 50% new barrels, it’s a dry, structured, serious style with toasty top notes, plenty of extract and notes of lemongrass, aniseed and oyster shell. 2023-30

Graham Weerts uses grapes from Capensis' home base in Stellenbosch to produce this superb Chardonnay from a pair of blocks on the property. Combining two different clones - CY95 and 110R - from decomposed granite and sandstone soils, it's a pithy, focused, chiselled white with understated power, a nice interplay between fennel, vanilla and lemon zest flavours and a spicy finish. 2024-30

Silene is the lowest priced of Capensis’ three Chardonnays, but it's a pretty special white in its own right. Partnering fruit from three sites - two on the Helderberg and one in Banghoek - this is way less oaky than it used to be, showing taut, mouth-watering acidity, a dab of crème fraîche, very subtle wood spices and lots of energy, drive and citrus fruit flavours. 2023-29

“Plush yet snappy, with pear, tropical fruit and spice flavors that finish on a succulent accent.”

The 2013 Chardonnay Upper Barn is a stunning, mature Chardonnay from Alexander Valley with plenty of life ahead. Matured for 11 months in 49% new oak, it takes plenty of time in the glass to reveal dried apples, mixed nuts, mushroom paste, iodine and pastry scents. The medium-bodied palate is satiny, mouthwatering and loaded with honeyed flavors, and its savory notes of maturity haunt the long finish. 963 cases were made.