Bright red. Spicy red berries and rose on the nose, with a hint of smokiness in the background. Offers tangy strawberry and red currant flavors and a hint of cola, with a white pepper nuance adding bite. Finishes lively and focused, leaving behind sweet red fruit liqueur and orange peel notes behind. I like the blend of succulence and tanginess here.
Pale gold. Lively lemon and green apple scents are complemented by chalky minerals and tarragon. Firm and juicy in the mouth, offering refreshingly bitter apple skin and lemon zest flavors that put on weight with aeration. Finishes dry and nervy, with strong mineral cut and an echo of tangy citrus fruits.
Vivid gold. High-pitched aromas of underripe orchard fruits, anise, iodine and smoky lees. Offers vibrant pear and Meyer lemon flavors that put on weight with aeration. Distinctly mineral in character, finishing with nervy cut and building smokiness. I like the Old World character of this somewhat un-fruity chardonnay.
Pale yellow-gold. Aromas of nectarine, orange pith and white flowers, with touch of smokiness in the background. Starts off tight and focused, then puts on weight with air, offering juicy pear and pit fruit flavors and a hint of toasty lees. The orange quality comes back strong on the finish, which lingers with very good mineral-driven persistence.
Inky purple. Spice-accented cherry and dark chocolate on the nose, with a bright mineral quality adding lift. In the mouth, bitter cherry and peppery spice flavors become sweeter and broader with air. A subtle herbal quality builds on the smoky finish, which features round, harmonious tannins and lingering sweetness
Pale gold. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh melon, white peach and smoky lees, with a hint of lemon curd adding lift. Open-knit honeydew and pit fruit flavors are given spine by tangy acidity and complemented by suggestions of buttered toast and minerals. Plump, weighty and broad on the powerful finish, with the peachy note repeating.
Bright gold. Exotic perfume of nectarine, poached pear and orange, with a buttery undertone. Juicy, broad and concentrated, offering ripe pit and orchard fruit flavors with a sweetening touch of vanilla. Broader and lusher than the Stone Cote bottling but not lacking for energy. Finishes smooth and long, with building smokiness and minerality.
Deep ruby. Smoke- and spice-accented dark berries on the fragrant nose. Shows brighter red fruits on the palate, which offers juicy raspberry and cherry flavors and a hint of candied flowers. Turns more tangy with air and finishes spicy, focused and long, with dusty tannins adding grip.
Bright ruby. Spicy red fruits, anise and potpourri on the highly fragrant nose, which picks up a bright, minerally quality with aeration. Tight, nervy and pure, offering fresh raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that clamp down on the back half. Closes tight and long, with silky tannins building slowly and adding grip.
Bright ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes dark berries, violet and wood smoke; reminded me of syrah. On the palate, lively, focused blackberry and boysenberry flavors are lifted by juicy acidity. Shows very good energy on the incisive, youthfully clenched finish, which is firmed by dusty, slow-building tannins. Give this one some air to help open things up.
Bright full ruby. Musky crushed cassis, licorice and coffee bean on the nose. Surprisingly glycerol in the mouth for 2011, but also shows the peppery herbal side of the vintage. Ultimately softer than the two earlier vintages and probably best for drinking over the next seven or eight years. Silky in the middle but showing only moderate depth, with the tannins displaying a slight green edge. Production will be only 1,000 cases, or down about 75% from average. Cenyth is a project of Pierre Seillan's daughter Helene and the late Jess Jackson's daughter Julia under the Jackson Family Wines umbrella. Beginning with this vintage, they have reduced the percentage of new oak and the length of elevage; this wine was bottled in June of 2013. And the most recent vintages have featured a majority of cabernet franc.
Good medium ruby. Slightly porty tones to the aromas of black raspberry, coffee bean and flowers. Sweet and ripe in the mouth, with oaky flavors of black raspberry, blackberry, licorice, violet, tobacco and game. Finishes with big, dusty, broad tannins and a slight dryness.
Opaque ruby. Fresh cherry, pipe tobacco and cedar on the deeply scented nose. Smoky and focused, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors sharpened by peppery spices and juicy acidity. Dusty tannins give grip to the finish, which features notes of anise and vanilla.
Bright yellow-gold. Aromas of ripe pit fruits, tangerine and vanilla are lifted by a gingery nuance. Broad and fleshy on the palate, offering poached pear and honey flavors and a bracingly bitter citrus zest quality. Leaves succulent pit fruit notes behind on the smooth, broad finish. Strikes a nice balance of richness and energy, which will help it do wonders with food.
Bright red-ruby. Dark aromas of cassis, licorice, menthol, tree bark and fresh herbs. Spicy, savory and juicy, showing enticing sweetness to its intense black fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes with dusty tannins and slightly elevated acidity.
Pale straw. Intense grapefruit and yuzu scents are complicated by notes of fresh-cut grass, ginger and white pepper. Dry and nervy, with bitter citrus zest and green apple flavors that deepen with air and pick up a subtle floral quality. Shows very good clarity and bite on a finish that attenuates the grapefruit and ginger notes. This would be a fantastic match with sashimi or seafood crudos or ceviches.
Bright yellow-gold. Powerful poached pear and candied ginger aromas and flavors, with a hint of anise adding complexity. Broad and supple on entry, then more tangy and energetic in the middle, offering fresh orchard fruit flavors and a hint of bitter orange pith. Quite lively for its size, finishing smooth, spicy and long. There's 30% new oak here but I barely notice it.
Bright red-ruby. Aromas of dark berries, camphor and pungent herbs. Juicy and intense but quite dry in the middle palate, with the herbal element quite noticeable in the early going. Finishes with building tannins and very good length. Will this put on weight in bottle?
Bright ruby-red. The nose shows a pungent piney high note to the aromas of blackberry and licorice, plus an infusion of aromatic herbs. Spicy and high-pitched, with a strong element of peppery herbs to the flavors of dark berries, candied licorice and minerals. Distinctive if somewhat green wine with good length. These vines were picked in early November.
Light, bright gold. Spicy citrus fruits and chamomile on the delicately scented nose. Light-bodied, dry and nervy, offering juicy Meyer lemon and quince flavors that pick up a white pepper quality with air. Closes with good clarity and tangy cut, leaving a subtle leesy note behind.
Bright yellow-gold. Ripe melon and nectarine aromas are lifted by notes of white pepper and lemon pith. Fleshy and broad on the palate, offering juicy honeydew and white peach flavors with a hint of warmth. Finishes smooth and spicy, with lingering citrus fruit and ginger qualities.
Dark red. Sexy, floral red berry liqueur and cherry aromas are lifted by a note of white pepper. Offers sappy raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors and a tangy jolt of orange zest that adds lift to the back half. Mouthwatering acidity sharpens the persistent finish, which shows prolonged notes of raspberry and white pepper.
Bright ruby-red. Tightly focused aromas of red berries and rose pastille, lifted by a dusty mineral quality. Tangy red currant and bitter cherry flavors become sweeter and spicier with air. In an energetic, precise style, finishing with very good clarity and silky tannins that add shape.
Bright yellow-gold. Intense peach and melon scents are sharpened by notes of lemon zest and minerals. Pliant and broad but lively too, offering sappy pit and orchard fruit flavors that pick up a spicy nuance with air. Finishes smooth, warm and long, with repeating peachiness. These vines are planted on their own roots and went into the ground in 1971, which makes them extremely old for California chardonnay.
Ruby-red. Lively red berry, floral and musky tobacco scents are complicated by a spicy nuance. Silky and open-knit on the palate, offering ripe cherry and raspberry preserve flavors that become sweeter with air. Notes of allspice and nutmeg linger on the supple finish, which features dusty tannins and a warm red fruit compote quality.