The variety offered in an appellation blend is fun for Kate Ayers. "There are times where I say this is a better wine, as it showcases an entire appellation rather than one single vineyard. It blows up the Willamette Valley picture really big, and that's cool." Darker fruit shines here, loved the tannins and their intensity that surrounded the fruit.

Strand Sarah Wuethrich on a desert island and she wants unlimited Chablis. "I know I could never replicate that, but if you see perfect fruit, then use minimal intervention. Chardonnay is as complex as any pinot noir or red wine grape." Grown at a higher elevation with bud wood from sister winery Stonestreet's excellent Upper Barn Vineyard, it has flavors of honeysuckle, pear, lemon, lime, warm rock and chalk.

California sunshine provided winemaker Gianna Kelly with plenty of tropical fruit flavors. There's a fresh-cut grass, green herb note and mossy rock note that keep things crispy and fresh.

Earth, dark cherry, tea, herbs and spice in this pinot that leans toward full-bodied with firm tannins and lingering finish. Very good.

Full cork-stoppered bottle 1,445 g. From a cooler year for the Clarendon Vineyard, planted in 1971. Chris Carpenter and Peter Fraser are said to be breathing new life into the property. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon from Blocks 315 and 316 and 40% Shiraz from Blocks 221 and 222 – the finest blocks on the estate apparently, picked on 6 and 4 April respectively. Aged for 15 months in 100% new oak. Just 120 cases made. Luscious fruit with black pepper and a saline quality on the nose. Composed and still a little tight on the finish but obviously very carefully made. Just a little minty at the moment but you could certainly enjoy it now.

Hand-picked Gingin clone (some small berries) grown at 130–210 m on grey clay loam over granite and ironstone next to Yarra Yering. All spontaneous fermentation in 500-litre French puncheons and whole-bunch pressed. No malo, no lees stirring. Aged for 10 months in French oak (20% new). Tight nose suggesting complexity to come. Introvert and more burgundian than its peers tasted alongside with everything tightly reined in for the moment. The acidity tastes wholly natural and there's a little chew on the finish. This may become seriously interesting.

California Dreaming…for the 4th of July!Easy-Drinking ChardonnayFor over three decades, Kendall-Jackson has remained unremittingly dedicated to producing fine-quality wines from grapes grown in California’s cool, coastal vineyards. The first release of this famous, come-hither Chardonnay from a hugely popular American wine brand was in 1983 (the first case was sold at the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station), when it became the first winner of a Platinum award for an American Chardonnay at the American Wine Competition. It’s a really lovely, accessible, pretty, yet fulfilling newly-landed release. All the good stuff is here: Pineapple, papaya, vanilla, nutmeg, peach, ginger, honey and apple tart; the oak is integrated and balanced; the finish fresh. Barrel-fermented largely sur lie, it was then aged seven months in French (5% new) and American (7% new) oak. It’s well-shaped, textured and politely powered, but chiefly it’s just exquisitely drinkable. Quality rarely looks this stress-free! California dreaming.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: Reds Winemaker’s Notes:The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is located in Santa Barbara County between the towns of Lompoc and Buellton. It is the only East-West Valley on the north coast of North America. This unusual geography funnels the wind and fog in directly from the Pacific Ocean to the vines and makes this one of our coolest grape growing regions. The soils in our Sta. Rita Hills vineyards are also unique as they possess an extremely high amount of calcium. This combination of unique geography and soils yield smaller berries which leads to our most concentrated, structured, and dark colored Pinot Noirs.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: Reds Winemaker’s Notes:This Merlot-led blend is sourced primarily from the Valadorna and Capraia blocks, which produce the estate’s most complex and mineral-led expressions of this variety. The wine exhibits high-toned aromas of ripe black cherries, vanilla bean and cedar. With bright acidity, the wine expands quickly on the palate. Plush tannins carry through the center with a fine, tingling finish. The palate shows flavors of tart cherry pie, dried red berries and black licorice, with a long finish of white pepper, dusty roses and stony minerality.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: Reds Winemaker’s Notes:This Pinot Noir opens with a complex, site-driven aroma profile characterized by expressive dark fruits interwoven with classic notes of black cherry, black raspberry, baking spices and traces of forest floor.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: RosésWinemaker’s Notes:The 2020 Rosé is refreshing and sophisticated in style. This wine exhibits notes of passion fruit, citrus blossom, guava and watermelon rind. Those flavors carry through to a palate that is energetic, lively and well balanced.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: RosésWinemaker’s Notes:The 2020 Rosé has aromas reminiscent of strawberry, grapefruit, Mandarin orange, white peach along with delicate kiwi and floral hints. The fruit flavors lean towards ruby grapefruit and cranberry with a subtle mineral and refreshing acid component that brings complexity and a food-friendly character to the wine. Enjoy our Rosé at cellar temperature (54? F) for maximum complexity or chilled on a hot summer day as an aperitif.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: RosésWinemaker’s Notes:Presents aromas of strawberry, white raspberry, and mandarin orange followed by flavors of cran-raspberry, blood orange, and flinty minerality. On the palate, the 2019 vintage is delicate, crisp, and vibrant.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: SparklersWinemaker’s Notes:On the nose, aromas of white flowers, Braeburn apple and crushed oyster shell. Flavors of lemon meringue, wild strawberries and fresh ginger on the palate. A lively core of acidity is followed by a vibrant lingering finish.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: WhitesWinemaker’s Notes:This highly textured wine displays aromas of yellow apple, honeysuckle and tangerine skin. Fresh flavors of Granny Smith apple and Meyer lemon are intertwined with layers of spice and crystallized ginger. A rich and weighty mid-palate is followed by a very long exotic, mineral-infused finish.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: WhitesWinemaker’s Notes:Aromas of Meyer lemon, gala apple, and Jasmine are followed by flavors of pear, Cara Cara orange, and lemon meringue pie. On the palate, the wine is concentrated and juicy with a lingering finish.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: WhitesWinemaker’s Notes:On the nose, this wine shows white flowers, orange blossom and stone fruits. On the palate, you’ll find a generous burst of Meyer Lemon is backed by pineapple with hints of brioche and vanilla, all interwoven on a long, succulent finish driven by vibrant acidity.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: WhitesWinemaker’s Notes:This Chardonnay is energetic and balanced with notes of lemon zest, sourdough bread and a hint of mustard seed.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: WhitesWinemaker’s Notes:Aromas of orange blossom, warm pear and ruby red grapefruit with integrated flavors of white peach, pomelo, crisp apple and baked lemon tart on palate. Balanced acidity and texture invite your next sip.

Summer Wine Guides 2021: WhitesWinemaker’s Notes:This wine is meticulously blended from nearly all parts of the Anderson Valley: from the Skycrest Vineyard located on the eastern ridgetop at 2200 ft. elevation to the softer soils at Ferrington Vineyard on the valley floor near Boonville. And to far reaches of the Anderson Valley appellation of the historical Dupratt Vineyard up high on the western ridgetop at 1600 ft. elevation

Wine of the WeekThis moderate priced Bordeaux is ruby red in color with ripe, red fruit flavors along with hints of spice and nutmeg. Silky smooth tannins and a long finish.

Favorite Finds: June 2021La Crema RoséI’ve been on a personal quest to find the best Rosé this summer (it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it…) and La Crema’s 2019 Monterey Rosé is near the top of my list. It is deliciously smooth. Perfect for sharing with a friend on the patio, sipping poolside, or pairing with a grilled dinner. At $15-16 bucks, it’s also a great value (especially compared to the price of a glass of wine at a restaurant or bar – did NOT miss that while staying home over the past year!) La Crema is easily found in most wine/liquor stores too – give it a try!

Wine of the WeekThe aroma of this very nice Pinot Noir displays the classic Central Coast characteristics of green herbs, dried spices, and the wine has an entry that’s rich and medium bodied. The aftertaste shows good acidity.

Ripe and a touch figgy. Similar on the palate with dark chocolate bitter sweetness. Fresh but a little tough on the finish.

Silly heavy bottle. Very dark purple. Sorry but this is really most unpleasant on the nose. SO overripe! So sweet and over the top. Really I can’t see the point of coming to Bordeaux to make this sort of wine (Jess Jackson’s Bordeaux outpost). So sweet and overblown it may as well be a Russian relic. Sorry, I know this sounds harsh and I have no axe to grind but this is one of the most unpleasant bordeaux I have ever tasted.