My trip in mid-February included three Jackson Family wineries I had not visited. At the first, La Crema, I tasted with the winemaker Craig McAllister. I had wondered why La Crema was so much better than when I tasted it years ago. Now I know why – the Jackson Family owns it. All of the Chardonnays are barrel fermented, undergo malolactic fermentation, are aged in 100% French oak and all highly recommended.

My trip in mid-February included three Jackson Family wineries I had not visited. At the first, La Crema, I tasted with the winemaker Craig McAllister. I had wondered why La Crema was so much better than when I tasted it years ago. Now I know why – the Jackson Family owns it. All of the Chardonnays are barrel fermented, undergo malolactic fermentation, are aged in 100% French oak and all highly recommended.

My trip in mid-February included three Jackson Family wineries I had not visited. At the first, La Crema, I tasted with the winemaker Craig McAllister. I had wondered why La Crema was so much better than when I tasted it years ago. Now I know why – the Jackson Family owns it. All of the Chardonnays are barrel fermented, undergo malolactic fermentation, are aged in 100% French oak and all highly recommended.

My trip in mid-February included three Jackson Family wineries I had not visited. At the first, La Crema, I tasted with the winemaker Craig McAllister. I had wondered why La Crema was so much better than when I tasted it years ago. Now I know why – the Jackson Family owns it. All of the Chardonnays are barrel fermented, undergo malolactic fermentation, are aged in 100% French oak and all highly recommended.

The Cure for Rosé Fatigue Is a Juicy, Chilled Red WineExperiment with something like Copain’s P2 2019 (an excellent 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris)…

What To Drink Now: Sensational Sauvignon BlancFor the past forty years, Sonoma’s La Crema Winery has been known for its approachable, balanced, cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Now, they are adding Sauvignon Blanc to the mix with their inaugural 2019 La Crema Sauvignon Blanc. Capturing the abundant sunshine of Sonoma County, the wine shines with tropical fruit notes of mango, guava, and passionfruit, with a subtle, slightly grassy soft herb note rounding out the finish.

Chardonnay? More like Chardonn-yay. This Santa Rita Hills blend is the result of the cool and foggy Pacific climate in Santa Barbara County, making for a crisp and complex wine with tones of walnut, marmalade, and sun-dried honeysuckle.

Bright varietal fruit of dried hay with a trace of green leaves; some citrus notes and a hint of kiwi. Medium-bodied, but dry and food-oriented. Superbly made; very classy and best with poached white fish.

Cool-climate fruit of grapefruit and chamomile tea aroma notes with a texture that’s slightly richer than the next wine. This stylish white actually improved after decanting and indicated that two to three more years in the bottle will make it not dissimilar from a fine white Bordeaux.

This wine comes entirely from within the Russian River Valley AVA, a large region that possesses a myriad of soils, exposures, and unique terroirs that together produce a superb representation of the whole of the Russian River Valley. This 2017 offering showcases this area in all its complexity while also making for a wine that is eminently drinkable now as opposed to much later. It’s juicy with black and red fruit highlighting a weighty, full-bodied and fruit-forward style of powerful flavour. Baking spice and cola round out the profile on the finish.

What to drink this weekend, a chilled red like Les Cadrans de LassegueI often reach for chilled white wine in the type of swelter we've been having the past few weeks. Sometimes, it slips my mind that red wines can be chilled, too. So I'm grateful for the sample of Les Cadrans de Lassègue 2016 I was sent, the reminder that a chilled red is a summer treat, and the pairing suggestion that was spot on.This Saint-Émilion Bordeaux is light, fresh and fruity. A 90 percent Merlot/10 percent Cabernet Franc blend, it's aged in 30 to 40 percent new French oak for 6-8 months. Violets, fruits like cherry and plum, and some herbs and earthiness show on the nose. It's a balanced wine all the way - medium body, acidity and tannins allow the wine's fruitiness to shine when you sip. A fantastic value for its $30 SRP.

It’s no secret that I love wine, food… and all things French. When I received, as a sample, a bottle of Les Cadrans de Lassègue 2016 ($30) located on the Côte de Saint- Émilion, I knew I’d be impressed. This light, fresh wine from Château Lassègue is the estate’s second label launched in 2008 and offers less oak influence than the estate’s flagship wine, Lassègue...Les Cadrans de Lassègue 2016 is a glorious expression of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from 40 to 50 year-old vines grown on clay and limestone soil. On the nose, I discovered intense aromas of blackberries, rich plums, crushed blueberries, black cherries, dried lavender, earth and wet moss. Lush, round flavors of herbs, blue and black fruit, green tea, oak and spice were lifted with bright acidity and soft tannins. A bonus? Its finish offered another beam of acidity and flavor. Aged for 10 months in 20% new French oak, this beautiful, refreshing wine can be enjoyed now or over the next several years.

Let your taste buds do the traveling2016 Les Cadrans de Lassegue Grand Cru (superior grade) is from Saint-Emilion, one of the premier regions of Bordeaux, famous for its merlot blends. Les Cadrans is plush, seductive, and modestly priced for a Bordeaux.

Wine of the WeekMy red Wine of the Week today, Les Cadrans de Lassègue 2016 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, stunningly embodies everything that makes Château Lassègue’s grand vin so special—though in a lighter, fresher expression—and at a price that makes it perfect for everyday enjoyment.

This is a red wine you can chill for a bit, to enjoy during the summer. Even though it’s from the famed Bordeaux region, don’t hesitate to put it in the fridge for a half-hour or so before drinking — as if it just came out of a wine cellar.The wine pairs well with many vegetable dishes such as tomato tarte and fresh mozzarella white pizza. The use of very ripe cabernet franc in the merlot-based blend adds delicacy to this wine. At first opening, there’s a hint of bright herbal garrigue in the aroma. On the palate, velvety red berry fruit is apparent but not overly dominant. The tannins are so fine as to be barely noticeable. With food, the flavors in the wine are enriched. A combination of delicacy and rusticity.

15 Wines That Pair Perfectly With Steaks, Burgers and Everything Else You’ll Grill This SummerA guide to the varietals that you want with you by the grill.From the father-son team of Pierre and Nicolas Seillan, the 2016 vintage of Lassègue’s flagship (60 percent Merlot, 33 percent Cabernet Franc and 7 percent Cabernet Sauvignon) is a study in the balance between generosity and terroir. An alluring nose of violet, dark cherry, cassis and flint aromas underpinned with slate and earth is followed by a juicy and succulent palate. Beautiful dark-berry fruit flavors are delivered with dense, supple tannins that build to a minerally finish.

15 Wines That Pair Perfectly With Steaks, Burgers and Everything Else You’ll Grill This SummerA guide to the varietals that you want with you by the grill.From the dual-continent winemaking team of Chris Carpenter (Cardinale, Lokoya, etc.) and Hickinbotham’s Peter Fraser, this now-iconic Aussie Grenache is lively and beautifully textured, reflecting a cooler year. Anise, earth and cherry compote on the nose lead to juicy dark cherry and berry flavors with an edge of orange citrus.

What To Drink Now: Wines for DadThe other thing he loves is a great Bordeaux, with both of us appreciating the character of Cabernet Franc and Merlot-based Right Bank. St. Emilion Grand Cru Chateau Lassegue, Les Cadrans de Lassegue blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc for a velvety, plush wine showcasing ripe plum and cherry, with beautiful floral aromas of violets, melding with toasted spice and crushed stone.

This wine is sublime and symbolizes the elegance of the great wines of Saint-Émilion. With slightly less Merlot in this blend than the 2012 vintage, it is comprised of 60% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is dark and has an intense cherry red hue. It has a well-defined bouquet of black cherries, cranberries, and violets. The purity of the fruit, the finesse of the tannins, and elegant oaky notes come together to offer a silky palate that expresses the Merlot of this special wine region. The 2016 Château Lassègue will stand the test of time and can age for decades to come.

An ideal blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is rich, smokey and meaty. It is a very deep garnet color with generous black cherries, boysenberry, and spice on the nose. Layers of black fruit coat the mouth. The palate is silky and expressive with supple tannins and great density. Notes of smokey graphite leave a beautifully long lingering finish.

Great for grillingPair this fresh and polished red Bordeaux with barbecue or anything grilled. Combining merlot and cabernet franc, it has notes of black cherry, cranberry and spice.