This is only the third vintage?of this stellar chardonnay. Sourced from four vineyards, these bottles present a luscious white wine made entirely from chardonnay grapes aged in French oak for 10 months. Very ripe fruit with lemon curd notes and bright acidity define this chardonnay.

Black-ruby with a lighter purple rim; wow! iodine and ink, lavender and bittersweet chocolate; ripe blackberries and black currants nestled in brambles, briers and underbrush; savory hints of bay leaf, sage and rosemary, with a touch of the latter’s resiny woodiness; leather and loam; a deep, almost primeval tannic and mineral structure; surging acidity cuts a swath; bastions of oak will require a few years aging to soften. Try from 2021 or ’22 through 2029 or ’30. A monumental model of the grape with a price to match. Excellent.

Super Tuscan blend, merlot, cab franc, opulent, deep, enchanting.

We also liked the juicy North Coast sauvignon blanc that is mostly stainless-steel fermented. Peach and pear notes dominate the palate.

Murphy Goode Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. This producer has had its shares of ups and downs but today it represents value. Using the broad “California” appellation, Murphy Goode strikes a fruit-forward personality with all of its wines. This cabernet sauvignon had a medium body with black cherry notes and hints of chocolate and vanilla.

9 Perfect Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings Mars Bars + Pinot Noir The red fruit notes make the nougat and caramel combination in Mars Bars pop, explains La Crema Head Winemaker Craig McCallister. The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir has aromas of pomegranate and sweet tobacco, followed up with berry fruit and plums with subtle hints of spice and toast. Wine pick: La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

9 Perfect Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings Butterfinger + Chardonnay Chardonnay and bite-sized Butterfingers are a dream team. The acidity in unoaked Chardonnay stands up well to the sweet caramel crunch of the candy, says Randy Ullom, winemaster for Kendall-Jackson Wines. But for a decadent pairing, go with an oaked Chardonnay, which has creamy, buttery notes to complement Butterfingers. Kendall-Jackson 2017 Vintner’s Reserve also adds vanilla and honey aromas to the treat. Wine pick: The classic Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay

3 Wines To Enjoy While Sampling Your Kids Halloween Candy For an exciting finish, pair decadent dark chocolate with vibrant Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. More red-fruited than your average pinot noir, the bouquet of aromatics and the fine-acid finish is the ideal contrast to sharp dark chocolate, creating our most complex and luxurious pairing

3 Wines To Enjoy While Sampling Your Kids Halloween Candy To satisfy your candy cravings, uncork a bottle of La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. It’s spiced plum, cassis and red raspberry notes compliment the sweetness and fruitiness of Skittles, Airheads or Starburst, and blend beautifully to create a sensory explosion.

3 Wines To Enjoy While Sampling Your Kids Halloween Candy Their buttery Cambria Clone 4 Chardonnay with notes of baked apple is a perfect complement to the smooth, rich chocolate; our choice, Reese’s Pieces. The acidity cuts through the richness of the milk chocolate, marrying the creamy texture of the chardonnay and chocolate.

25 Amazing Sonoma Wines to Drink Right Now In 1994, Texas natives Adam and Dianna Lee founded Siduri Wines. Today, their red-cap labels are a source of high-quality Pinots of extreme value. If you’re in Healdsburg, head to the Siduri Wine Lounge and take full advantage of these creations, like this rich, black-fruited, and juicy Pinot that reveals a silken medium-bodied texture with loads of deep earth notes and spice.

A medium-bodied zin with red and black fruit. Nice and dry, this savory zin has notes of cedar and licorice. Firm tannins. Bright acidity. Solid. 3½ stars.

Uncorked: A stunning introduction for La Crema It was a bold entrance. The La Crema Brut Rose, the first such bottling in the winery’s 40th year, is classically made and hails from one of California’s top growing regions. Its release comes just in time for holiday celebrations. But, why wait for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s? For a wine made in the traditional method, from Russian River Valley vineyards, it’s a bargain at only $50. Its winemaker, Jen Walsh, said she tends to drink sparkling wine at home; she showed her skills with this bottling... The hard work in the cellar was rewarded as the La Crema Russian River Valley Brut Rosé has strawberry, Rainier cherry, ginger and the slightest hint of the soft, buttery, flaky top of a brioche bun.

Cherries and orange on the nose and palate, touch of peach and minerals. Good acidity, lingering finish. Good plus.

The Freemark Abbey winery was originally founded in St. Helena, in the Napa Valley in 1876 by Josephine Tychson, one of the first women winegrowers on record. A revival of the winery after prohibition saw the current name created by partners Charles Freeman, Markquand Foster and Abbey Ahern – a combination of their names. The flavorful 2015 Merlot offers classic cherry, berry, milk chocolate and spicy oak.

Gold Medal

Gold Medal

Trophy Red Wine of Show

Napa Valley's top Cabernet Sauvignons A delicious symphony of mountain grapes from all of Napa Valley’s mountain AVAs. Very nuanced and long, with flavors that exude spiciness, savoriness, and minerality.

Deals $35 & Under A rich, supple classic with lovely apple tart flavors, a creamy middle, and a long lightly toasty finish.

Wine of the Week It's practically dessert in a bottle. Flavors of crisp Golden Apples, crushed wild straw, and hints of lemon meringue pie make up the flavor profile of La Crema Russian River Valley Brut Rose. An outright steal at $45 a bottle, this California sparkler is made in the traditional method, which means that the wine receives its secondary fermentation right in the bottle and is allowed to age to its moment of perfection before it is released. The result is a splendidly flavorful and refreshing sparkling wine that is perfect for a lazy afternoon brunch or a light aperitif before dinner. Its also perfect for pairing with a variety of soft cheeses and desserts. Most people think of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir when they think of Sonoma County's Russian River Valley, but La Crema is proving that the region is also capable of creating a really intriguing delicate wine, by combing the two (73% Pinot Noir, 27% Chardonnay), creating a sparkling wine that is perfect for the lighter type of fare that is now favored by millennials. Imagine it with Oysters on the Half Shell, Ceviche, Spicy Salmon Sushi Rolls, Thai Basil Shrimp, Lamb Kabobs, or Kung Pao Chicken. The exotic flavor combinations are endless.

Masterful single vineyard Chianti, explosive, dense with tart herbal notes.

A round and aromatic Chianti with generous flavors, floral and spice notes.

What to Drink Now: California A decided lover of mountain fruit, Jess Jackson began his Legacy Winery in 1990 to highlight the best mountain fruit on his Stonestreet Estate in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley. The wines represent the land and all of Mother Earth’s splendor. Legacy Red Blend reveals the rusticity, with a bold, robust palate thanks to a hearty percentage of Petit Verdot (about 9% in the latest release) with floral, wild herb notes from 13% Cabernet Franc, blending into tobacco, cherry, and leather filled Cabernet Sauvignon.

11 Excellent Unconventional Wines to Pair with Thanksgiving Dinner If you’re looking for alternative reds to serve with Thanksgiving dinner, “you practically have to bring old vine Grenache into the equation,” says Milliorn. He recommends an Australian Grenache—one grown in sandy soils. “Aromatic, orange rind, spice and subtle fruit, these are remarkable wines,” he says. This cranberry-and-spice laden offering from the McLaren Vale region of Australia is an affordable stunner.