The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc is hugely inviting, with a gorgeous combination of varietal notes and textural richness. Melon, grapefruit, white flowers and mint are all given an extra level of perfume with the addition of 10% Semillon. Drink this expressive Sauvignon Blanc over the next few years.
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve delivers tons of Sonoma County personality in its distinctly savory/mineral profile. Red stone fruits, flowers, herbs and ferrous notes add considerable character to a Cabernet Sauvignon that impresses for its distinctive personality.
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Justi Creek Vineyard is the richest and inkiest of these three wines. Blue and black-toned fruits, lavender, smoke, violets and leather all blossom in a rich, pliant Cabernet. The Justi Creek is quite a bit sweeter and opulent through the mid-palate and finish. This opulent, intense Cabernet should offer a wide window of fabulous drinking pretty much upon release.
Hartford's 2013 Pinot Noir Jennifer's is endowed with a lovely sense of energy and vibrancy. Graphite, black cherries, plums and smoke are fused together in an energetic, cool-climate Pinot to drink over the next 7-8 years.
Silky tannins and expressive, perfumed aromatics are some of the signatures of the 2013 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard. Bright red stone fruits, blood orange, raspberry and savory/floral notes are all nicely lifted in the glass. The personality of this cool site near Annapolis comes through in spades.
Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, mint and cinnamon are laced together in the 2013 Pinot Noir Marin County. This floral, savory, mid-weight Pinot is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years.
Hartford's Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard is one of the more expressive and unique wines in this lineup. Ethereal and lifted, with an understated personality, the 2013 stands out for its balance and sense of completeness. The flavors are bright and aromatic throughout. Lemon curd, jasmine and sweet spices linger on the expressive, layered finish.
Pineapple, mint, butter, orange blossom and wild flowers are some of the signatures in the 2013 Chardonnay Jennifer's. This silky, perfumed Chardonnay should drink well for a number of years. The Jennifer's is one of the more overt, racy wines in this range, with flavors that tend towards the more tropical end of the spectrum, which is quite unusual considering the cool micro-climate in this part of the Petaluma Gap.
The 2012 Merlot Alexander Valley is dark, rich and powerful, with plenty of savory/mineral overtones. This is another energetic, intense wine built a sense of pure energy. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco and new leather add multiple shades of dimension. The French oak is a bit evident today, but that is a small quibble for a wine that delivers so much personality.
The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley presents a deep, textured set of varietal aromas and flavors. Lime, slate, smoke and mint are nicely delineated, but it is the wine's mid-palate depth that stands out above all else.
The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Bennett Valley is distinguished by its soft contours and soft, supple personality. Here the style favors texture over the greener, grassier notes that are found in some of the other wines.
Dark and brooding to the core, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Alexander Valley is another wine with a strong, distinctive personality. Dark red and black plum, mocha, oak and mineral notes are quite expressive in a rich, fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon. Savory notes lurk in the background, but the style here emphasizes power and intensity.
Silky, polished tannins give the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Hawkeye Mountain much of its considerable appeal. The flavors are bold, ripe and pungent with plenty of mountain character. Today, the French oak is a bit prominent, but otherwise, this is a very pretty wine with a lot to recommend.
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Napa Mountain emerges from the same property that informs the Lokoya wines. Huge and intense on the palate, the 2012 possesses tons of richness and depth. Black fruit, smoke and French oak are some of the signatures. The mountain tannins have largely been tamed, which does give the wine a bit more early accessibility at the expense of site-specific character.
Kendall-Jackson's 2013 Chardonnay Stature emerges from vineyards in Santa Maria and Los Alamos. Lemon pit, almonds, smoke, white flowers and French oak are all layered together in an impeccable, harmonious Chardonnay. The viscous, resonant finish is hugely appealing.
Arrowood's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County is plump, juicy and forward, with lovely depth and terrific overall balance. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, chocolate, spices and new leather flow through to the effortless, gracious finish. Dollops of Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc round out the blend in this stylish red.
Juicy dark cherries, plums, spices, new leather and menthol jump from the glass in the 2013 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard. This is a relatively exuberant, fruit-driven style for the true Sonoma Coast.
An addition to the range, the Pinot Noir Muldune Trail emerges from a site in Anderson Valley near Booneville. Floral aromatics meld into expressive dark red stone fruits in an expressive, mid-weight Pinot with plenty of personality. This cool-climate Pinot is a bit compact, especially through the mid-palate, but quite pretty just the same.
The 2013 Pinot Noir Hailey's Block is a young vines bottling from Arrendell, which here means an average age of around twenty years. Centered, poised and expressive, the 2013 is all about focus. Dark red purplish stone fruits, graphite and smoke add considerable nuance in a Pinot endowed with considerable personality.
The 2013 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard is quite pretty and lifted in style. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper open up nicely in a persistent, beautifully focused Chardonnay. The Fog Dance has a little less mid-palate pliancy than some of the other wines in this range, but it is highly appealing just the same.
The 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous entry-level offering from Stonestreet. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, new leather and baking spices meld together in a soft, open-knit Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next decade or so. Expressive floral and spiced notes develop in the glass, adding perfume and lift. Dollops of Merlot and Malbec round out the blend.
The 2013 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Anderson Valley is one of the highlights in the range. Pliant, aromatic and impeccable in its balance, the 2013 boasts notable energy and tension. Rose petal, violets and sweet red cherries add nuance to the delineated finish. This is a terrific example of Anderson Valley Pinot.
Kendall-Jackson's 2012 Merlot Grand Reserve is dark, rich and explosive, with gorgeous intensity through the mid-palate and terrific overall balance. Mocha, plums, smoke, tobacco and dark spices all flesh out in the glass. This is one of the more explosive, powerful wines in the range.
The 2012 Meritage Red Wine Grand Reserve is terrific. Impeccable in its balance, the 2012 is racy and expressive from start to finish. New leather, smoke, menthol and grilled herbs wrap around a core of generous dark fruit in a wine that offers plenty of up-front appeal.
The 2013 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Seco Highlands is a real stand out. Exotic aromatics with Riesling-like overtones open up in the glass, followed by precise, crystalline fruit in a wine that impresses for its deft balance of power and more eccentric qualities. This Seco Highlands Chardonnay is one of the many highlights in this range.