The 2019 Chardonnay Brosseau is quite understated, but time in the glass brings out all the savory, mineral qualities that are such signatures. Readers should expect a powerful Chardonnay with quite a bit of structure, but less in the way of overt fruit. As always, the Brosseau is very distinctive.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale is terrific. Deep, dense and beautifully balanced, the 2018 captures all the stylistic signatures that make the Arrowood Cabernets so appealing. Black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate are wonderfully fused together. Give this powerhouse a few years to soften.

The 2019 Chardonnay Gold Run is an airy, gracious and wonderfully finessed wine. Pear, white flowers, mint and candied lemon peel all run through this classy, superbly polished Chardonnay. The silky, caressing finish is a thing of beauty.

The 2019 Chardonnay Red Point is a bright, piercing wine. Crushed rocks, lime, slate, menthol, white flowers and sage lend notable volume. There is good depth in the glass and plenty of texture too, but the 2019 is very bright and intensely saline, with all of its energy seemingly directed inwards.

The 2019 Chardonnay Broken Road Vineyard is wonderfully deep and layered. Candied lemon peel, honey, tangerine oil and white flowers add an exotic quality to the 2019 that is quite appealing. This dense, phenolic, richly textured Chardonnay has a bright future. It's a gorgeous, inviting Chardonnay from Stonestreet.

The 2019 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard is weightless and wonderfully nuanced. Tangerine oil, mint, crushed rocks and chamomile are all finely sketched. Time in the glass brings out attractive tropical overtones, but the Upper Barn is really a wine of energy more than anything else.

The 2019 Chardonnay Skycrest is a knockout. Bright, floral and energetic, the 2019 is wonderfully detailed and nuanced. Lemon confit, almond, sage, mint and dried flowers lend striking complexity. The 2019 is wonderfully vibrant and sculpted, with exceptional balance, the 2019 is an absolute winner.

The 2019 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard is another incredibly distinctive wine in this range. Candied ginger, passionfruit, lemon confit, white flowers and tangerine oil give this mid-weight Chardonnay tons of character. Bright acids lend freshness and verve to a Chardonnay that is very much on the exotic side of things.

The 2019 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard is marked by soaring, lifted floral aromatics and mid-weight structure. White flowers, mint, lime and green pear lend
brightness throughout. The style is airy and understated. All the elements are so nicely balanced.

The 2019 Chardonnay Stone Côte Vineyard is quite delicate, with a lovely mix of floral accents and the more mineral signatures that are so typical of this site. Orchard fruit, apricot, mint, tangerine oil and hints of pastry all grace this exquisite understated Chardonnay from Hartford. This is very nicely done.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Truly Rita, from Dierberg-Drum Canyon in the Sta. Rita Hills, is a big, potent wine. Huge tannins wrap around a core of blue/purplish fruit. Lavender, mocha, spice, chocolate, gravel, incense and licorice add to the wine's brooding intensity. Give this muscular Pinot a few years to soften.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Jennifer's is a potent and incredibly distinctive wine. Poor soils in a very cool site yield a Pinot full of game, leather, blood orange, spice and earthy notes complement a core of dark red/purplish fruit. A Pinot of power and breadth, the Jennifer's is not especially subtle, but there is a real feeling of energy here that is undeniably appealing.

Hartford's 2019 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard offers up an explosion of crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon, rose petal and cedar. This fruity, aromatic Sonoma Coast Pinot is a real charmer. It will drink well with minimal cellaring, but also has enough energy to develop positively for a number of years.

The 2019 Syrah Sea Lift is packed with blue/purplish fruits, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice, black pepper and mocha. Pliant and deep, with striking depth, the 2019 has a ton to offer. I imagine it will benefit from a few years in bottle, which should help the reticent aromatics open.

The 2019 Chardonnay DuPratt is layered and super-expressive right out of the gate. Orchard fruit, white pepper and flowers are some of the many notes that grace this delicate, understated Mendocino Chardonnay. I especially admire the energy and persistence here.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Crown is a very pretty, perfumed wine that shows the more elegant, aromatic side of Knights Valley Cabernet. Sweet floral and spice top notes lend finesse to this deep, structured Cabernet, with hints of blood orange, dried herbs and red berry fruit that linger.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Smothers-Remick Ridge is a classic Sonoma Valley Cabernet loaded with strong savory/mineral accents. Plum, black cherry, gravel, licorice, incense, chocolate and sage open with a bit of time in the glass. This powerhouse Cabernet just needs time to soften.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Cougar Ridge offers a compelling mix of opulence and hillside structure. Super-ripe red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, mint, sweet spice and blood orange all meld together. This is an especially overt, racy style, and yet there is plenty of supporting structure here.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard is one of the most distinctive wines in this range. Then again, Van der Kamp is an incredibly singular site. Bright floral and mineral accents complement a core of sweet red berry fruit in a beautifully layered, vibrant Pinot that impresses with its balance and persistence. Give the 2019 a few years to come together.

The 2019 Chardonnay (Alexander Valley) is one of the hidden gems in this range, as it so often is. Rich and tropical, but also light on its feet, the 2019 is a total knockout. All the elements are so nicely balanced. There's terrific complexity and plenty of character. The purity of the flavors is compelling. A hint of new oak frames the finish nicely.

The 2018 Merlot Jackson Park Vineyard offers notable freshness and energy, which works so well in complementing the natural plushness of Merlot. Black cherry, gravel, spice, menthol and licorice lend nuance throughout. This is such a classy wine.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Afleet is a very pretty, gracious Pinot. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, sage and rose petal meld with whole cluster overtones that lead through to the bright, saline finish. I especially like the vibrancy here. This, too, needs quite a bit of air to show at its finest.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Stormin' shows plenty of dark cherry, plum fruit along with the body typically associated with the 777 clone that is at the core of this blend. Ample and creamy, with striking depth, the Stormin' has a lot to offer. Give it a year or two to soften.

The 2020 White Pinot Noir is an unusual, creamy wine. Orchard fruit, dried flowers, mint and chamomile all grace this delicate, incredibly distinctive wine. In 2020, some of the edges are a bit evident, but I suspect most of that has to do with the conditions of the growing season.

The 2019 Chardonnay Jennifer's is a wild, exotic wine that combines heady, tropical inflections with strong phenolic character such that it could be easily confused with a red wine. Apricot, chamomile, spice and tangerine oil give this Chardonnay tons of personality. Intensely cool, coastal air extends the growing season, yielding a wine of notable distinction.