Family-owned Cambria Estate showcases cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir produced with passion, approachability, and character. Sustainably-farmed, ensuring the true character of the fruit shines through, Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay is fresh, and floral, showing notes of lemon blossom, honeysuckle, and lime leaf, melding with tangerine and Asian pear.

So many good things going on in this wine, it makes me want to drink more Cabernet from McLaren Vale. Classic cassis, fresh blackberry, and cedar notes on a taut, medium-bodied frame. I sampled with Coravin so I can save for another year. (Won’t happen.)

A reminder why Australian Shiraz was such a success in the first place. Balances ripe black fruits against the grape’s savory, smoky, meaty character. Not overblown or overripe, as some have come to view Aussie Shiraz. Follows the Goldilocks principle of “just right.”

Bright and tense while full-bodied and creamy, offers notes of white flowers, pears, and apples. The intersection of Burgundy and Australia.

The 30 Best Red Wines for 2021I can feel American wine diversifying by the year. More innovation and focus on soil and variety relationships are driving a bright diverse future. But we can’t forget how this all came to be. Founded by Josephine Tychson in the late 19th century, Freemark Abbey survived disease and Prohibition, entering both the red and white categories in the 1976 Judgement of Paris. Dark and brooding, this wine is deserving of aromatic descriptors such as mocha, blackberries, and hints of white and cracked black pepper. It’s still aging with a rustic edge, but is a pleasure to drink now. In a few years, it’ll soften into the legacy it holds.

A small-batch bottling intended as the ultimate expression of the Fijnbosch property. This is all about power – golden in colour, the nose is quite advanced showing marmalade, honey, a particular waxy note plus oak spice while the palate is rich and round, thick textured with tangy acidity lending balance. Makes a huge statement.

40% Fijnbosch, 27% Nooitgedacht, 17% Robertson, 8% Kaaimansgat and 8% Klein Karoo. Matured for 10 months in French oak, 40% new. An exotic nose with citrus, pineapple, vanilla and spice plus leesy complexity. The palate is rich and full – lots of dense fruit to go with vibrant acidity, the finish long and dry. Available in the US at $80 a bottle.

Predominantly from own Fijnbosch grapes plus small portion from Helderberg property Nooitgedacht. A subtle nose with a top note of blossom before pear, citrus, some leesy complexity and vanilla. Quite light-bodied and vivacious relative to its stablemates with bright acidity and savoury finish. Archetypal modern Chardonnay.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day With These Splurge WinesArcanum is the pinnacle of the estate’s Toscana IGT offerings. Based on Cabernet Franc, the true signature of the estate, this remarkable wine is built to age, yet is drinkable young, offering aromas of violets, roses and raspberries, with long and delicate spice notes; it is a wine that is seductive yet subtle. Arcanum is sourced primarily from the L’Apparita and Belvedere blocks of Cabernet Franc. With superb exposure and sandy clay soils, each year these blocks shine to produce the finest expression of the variety, and the leading wine of the estate.

What To Drink Now: Wonderful Willamette ValleySiduri Winery’s Willamette Valley Pinot Noir enjoys 15% whole cluster fermentation, giving a freshness to the earthy, forest floor and wild herb-filled wine. Marry those flavors with red plum, cranberry, and dried herb for a savory selection ideal with anything from roast chicken or pork tenderloin, grilled salmon, or mushroom risotto.

This Oregon white is an impressive New World-style chardonnay that shows that Oregon producers can do for chardonnay what they’ve done with pinot noir.In this, the Willakenzie estate chardonnay isn’t too ripe or too oaky, as might be expected from a similar California product. Look for green apple fruit and some lemon zest, more minerality than I expected in a New World charrdonnay, and even some brioche and yeastiness for those of you who want noticeable oak. The wine should become rounder and more full as it ages; it’s ready now, but will likely be that much better with a couple of more years in the bottle.

Top 10 Wine and Cheese PairingsPinot Grigio Cheese Pairing:Baby SwissPinot Grigio has notes of lemon, apple, and honeysuckle on the nose and a saline quality on the palate. It beautifully complements the buttery, creamy notes of Baby Swiss cheese while offering freshness and a tiny bit of much-needed salinity. Think of it as the crystal salt on homemade butter on bread. It’s a wonderful pairing. Our favorite Pinot Gris for pairing: La Crema.

Wine of the Day: Gran Moraine Yamhill-Carlton Pinot NoirJuicy and fresh, Gran Moraine Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir layers red cherry, crushed raspberry, wild strawberry, and pomegranate with touches of black tea, mocha, and purple wildflowers, finishing with touches of star anise and nutmeg.

Today we stick our nose and tongue into a really good white wine. It’s so good, they’ve incorporated it into the name: Murphy Goode Chardonnay! Located in Sonoma, California, this winery is part of the Jackson Family wine empire, which includes Kendall Jackson.The label gives you a big hint on what to expect: “ripe apple, lemon curd, vanilla.” But describing a wine is a very subjective exercise. Experience can certainly help you identify more aromas and flavours than when you first start appreciating wine. The bottom line is, “Do you like it?” And picking descriptors for the smells and flavours is very personal. It’s what you experience rather than whether you are right or wrong.On the nose I identified tropical fruit, citrus, toasty oak and coconut. When I tasted this golden Chardonnay there was ripe pineapple and lemon zest, butterscotch from the minimal barrel fermentation, and a hint of spice like nutmeg. It's a well-balanced wine with the fruit and the other properties in harmony, a refreshing amount of acid and a long mango finish. Here’s a Chardonnay that works as a sipper as well as a great pairing for seared scallops.

Treat yourself with these winesShowcasing the pinnacle of Kendall-Jackson using grapes that are estate- grown on the mountains, hillsides and ridges of Alexander Valley and Knights Valley. Deep and plush, ample forest and spice notes harmonize with enticing fruit.

Happy Spa-lidays!Make it a big pour!

Their best in recent memory will revive your faith in both Australia & Merlot.

2018 Siduri Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – a strong representation of the Willamette Valley, this wine has notes of cranberry, spice, orange peel, berries, earth, cherry and herbs.

2018 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – such an easy drinking wine with notes of berry, red cherry, rose petal, mushroom, nutmeg and a touch of cedar.

2018 Siduri Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir – this was an elegant and savory wine with notes of cherry, violets, plum, mushroom and herbs with a touch of spice.

Inky garnet in the glass, this wine smells of black cherry, licorice, and earth. In the mouth, fleecy tannins wrap around a core of black cherry and cocoa powder that has a faint herbal bitterness to it. Excellent acidity and lovely sawdusty depths make for complex and delicious wine. Beautifully balanced and graceful to the last drop.

Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of black cherry and chocolate. In the mouth, rich cherry cola and cocoa powder flavors are gorgeously juicy thanks to excellent acidity. Cola nut and floral flavors mix with mouthwatering cherry fruit as gauzy tannins coat the mouth. Fantastically balanced and delicious. Impeccable in every way. Effortless to drink, impossible not to love.

Inky garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry and tobacco leaf. In the mouth, lush, velvety flavors of cherry, green herbs and dark plums are smooth and supple as they move across the palate. Excellent acidity, powdery faint tannins and impeccable balance. This is a poised, regal wine with confidence and grace. Herbal notes linger in the finish with a touch of licorice.

Exceptional.

Exceptional.