Sourced from nine different blocks, each broken down further into a variety of small lot ferments. Unusually for the areas, the vineyards do include some basaltic bedrock among the more common sedimental formations. Aromatic, the wine shows red fruit, floral, and spice notes on the nose, supported by an almost oyster-shell mineral character, and a savoriness on the finish. Lighter, and elegant, with more overt structure, tighter tannins, and good length.

The Best for $15 or LessA sunny pinot with earthy tannins framing simple red fruit.

Sommelier Tries 20 White Wines Under $15So next up, we have Kendall Jackson. This is the Vintners Reserve chardonnay and this is from California 2018. This is a name that we all know, it's one of the big players in the wine industry. First off, lots of tropical fruit. Pineapple, papaya, a little bit of green mango. Get lots of like luscious vanilla. And that's due to the oak. It's not over the top buttery and rich in that style. And there's kind of just, just whack, it just like hits you right in the mouth. You know, I think at $11 I think you could find some other great interesting wines at that price point. But if this is your jam, this is your jam and $11, you know, it works.

A very elegant pinot, with dark aromas, silky texture, stunning flavors.

A big ripe cab from one of the leaders in the field, at a great price.

A classic California chard, stylish, with finesse, light oak.

The slice of Cambria Estate Winery dubbed Julia’s Vineyard, named for Julia Jackson in 1986, consists of ancient soils with fossilised seashells, shale, limestone and sand, with fog swept vines that have endured since the 1970s.And Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir is the Californian estate's crowning glory; vibrant garnet in colour with a wonderful swirl of juicy red fruits on the nose. Ripe cherry, bold black grape and strawberry flavours on the palate are complimented by a touch of cinnamon spice and subtle underlying earth tones, followed by a well-rounded, mid-palate and a deftly defined elegant finish.

6 Wines Worth Splurging On This WeekOregon has been on a roll the past few years, consistently producing outstanding Pinot Noirs, one year after another since 2014. This voluptuous 2018 Pinot Noir from Penner-Ash Wine Cellars is another stunning wine from another great vintage. Made with grapes from the Yamhill-Carlton subregion in the widely-respected Willamette Valley famous for its complex Pinot Noirs, this wine hits all the rights notes – bright yet subtle fresh berry flavors, a hint of toasted almond, vanilla and fresh herbs mixed with a dash of roasted figs. An outstanding wine that will drink well for at least the next 10 years.

How old are the vines for the Penner-Ash Wine Cellars Old Vines Riesling 2018? The grapes derived from the Hyland Vineyard in Willamette Valley’s McMinnville sub-AVA, planted in 1971, so for this vintage they were 47 years old. Made all in stainless steel, the wine displays a pale but radiant straw-gold hue and enticing aromas of jasmine, lemon verbena, lime peel and spiced pear, with hints of green apple and slightly earthy flint in the background; a few moments in the glass unfurl notes of quince and candied ginger in nose and on the palate, along with pert citrus flavors animated by crisp and taut acidity; a lithe tide of limestone minerality washes through the finish; every element here is meshed seamlessly in a suave, sleek, silky, scintillating package. 12.9 percent alcohol. Production was 300 cases. Winemaker was Kate Ayres. Penner-Ash was acquired by Jackson Family Wines in 2016.

A terrific value that doesn’t skimp on quality. Classic cherry, and berry notes with a hint of cedar and bit of oak make a great package.

Jackson Family Wines’ mountain portfolio a subline collection from a sublime placeEqually concentrated are the 2017 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon and the firm but succulent 2017 La Jota Merlot, a wine that finally gives credit to an often-maligned grape variety.

Jackson Family Wines’ mountain portfolio a subline collection from a sublime placeEqually concentrated are the 2017 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon and the firm but succulent 2017 La Jota Merlot, a wine that finally gives credit to an often-maligned grape variety.

Jackson Family Wines’ mountain portfolio a subline collection from a sublime placeThe 2017 Mt. Brave Cabernet Franc is a wine with incredible concentration and fresh blueberry and plum notes with hints of lilacs and herbs de Provence on the nose. It isn’t your daddy’s cabernet franc with this structure.

Jackson Family Wines’ mountain portfolio a subline collection from a sublime placeThe absolute killer wine of the bunch is the 2018 Mt. Brave Mt. Veeder Malbec, perhaps the best domestic malbec we’ve tasted yet. Rich, boysenberry flavors, soft tannins and a luxurious mouthfeel with exotic spices, intense aromas and an inky color. Delicious yet powerful.

STA. RITA HILLSCALIFORNIAThe first significant vineyard was planted here in 1971, but budding awareness of how great its Pinot Noirs could be hit in the early 2000’s, and now its wines are cool-climate benchmarks. Try the 2016 Brewer-Clifton Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir to taste the brambly wild berries and faint salinity that characterize these wines.

Appearance: Translucent ruby.Nose: Savory tomato leaf. Black pepper. raspberry.Palate:Medium-plus acid, Heavy mouthfeel. Ripe raspberries. Open fruit. This wine is forthcoming structurally.

COOL-CLIMATE CHARDONNAYCooler regions make Chardonnays that tend to be lower in alcohol with bright acidity and less overtly ripe fruit. Chablis is the touchstone, but regions like Australia's Yarra Valley where the vibrant 2020 Giant Steps Chardonnay comes from are rising fast.

Weighted to red fruit, this pinot has notes of cranberry, pomegranate and cherry, with sage in the mix. Firm tannins. Bright acid and nice length. Tasty.

10 Interesting Wine-Related Discoveries For March 2021This Merlot-led blend is sourced primarily from the Valadorna and Capraia blocks, which produce the estate’s most complex and mineral-based expressions of this variety. The blocks are located within the cooler part of the estate, naturally-irrigated by the stream that undulates through it, and feature sandy brown soils and lower yields than typical. These blocks are often the last Merlot blocks to ripen on the estate. In warm years like 2015, Merlot shows its soft, savory and slightly-racy character.The wine itself exhibits high-toned aromas of ripe black cherries, vanilla bean and cedar alike. With bright acidity, it 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.

Recommended wine and food pairing.

Wines for the Easter MealRemember the film Sideways? That was shot around Santa Barbara in California; the home of soft and silky, coastal Pinot Noirs. Perfumed, elegant and easy to love.

Cali dreamin’I’m nipping to California (if only) to bring you this wine created by winemaker Jill Russell.Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 is a celebration of the delicious journey a chardonnay can take in California. The wine has spent six months in oak, some of it new, but it isn’t shouty.Freshly sliced green apples say hello, then fruits with an apple crumble character raise their hands in greeting. Tropical fruit and citrus notes are pretty keen to be involved in the palate party.The proprietor of Cambria Estate Winery is Barbara Banke; the wine is named after one of her daughters, Katie Jackson; and its made by Jill. Girl power!

Rosella’s vineyard is one of the most well-known farms in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Owners Gary and Rosella Franscioni planted the 50-acre vineyard, which rests along the slopes of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, back in 1996, and produce fruit that is highly sought after.One of the wineries lucky enough to source fruit from this iconic site is Siduri, whose 2018 Siduri Santa Lucia Highlands Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir is simply delicious.It features pretty aromas of red plum and spring strawberry scents on the nose. The flavors of dark raspberry, bright cherry, wild strawberry and wet stone are well-balanced and nicely textured. The supple finish is simply delicious, with a touch of cinnamon for added charm.

Bordeaux 2018 Revisited: Saint-EmilionLassègue (St Emilion; 62% Merlot; 35% Cabernet Franc; 3% Cabernet Sauvignon; aged for 12 months in 60% new oak). A property that has been a steep upward trajectory for a while now. The 2019 may just be better still, but this is already deeply impressive. Plush, plump, rich and very ripe but fresh, bright and energetic too. Silky very dark chocolate notes and freshly ground Arabica coffee beans accompany the intense blue and purple berry and stone fruit, with a suggestion of marjoram and oregano and, with more aeration, cedar and pencil shavings.Glossy, cool and elegant on the attack but there is a considerable tannic presence hence – it is just that the tannins are so ultra-fine grained that it takes a little while to pick them up. As that already suggests, the structure is very impressive and this is very slow to unfurl and express itself across the palate. A vin de garde and of the highest quality with great balance and poise and with sufficient density of fruit to fully enrobe the considerable structure. The oak is a little more prominent at this early stage than you might imagine from the numbers. But give this even a year or two in bottle (and it deserves longer) and it will be seamlessly integrated.

I’ve always loved Brewer-Clifton wines, and I’m not the only one who does. But this sample was showing outrageously well when I had it, with big bing cherries and a note of cigar-box in spite of the fact that the winery states that this wine was aged on neutral oak. Brewer-Clifton prides itself on technical mastery of the winemaking process, including whole cluster fermentation, in which stems are left to be fermented with the grapes. This probably has a lot to do with that cedar cigar box flavor. Whatever… I was rolling my eyes with delight. And that was before I heard the super-value price.