A very enjoyable sipping Pinot with a nice, but light, cherry flavors – a companionable drink that doesn’t try to overpower.  

The wine showed a pale straw color. Apple, lemon, peach and oak all arrived on the nose. Apple, lemon curd and honey led off the rich palate followed by notes of pear and oak. The wine exhibited bright acidity and good balance. It was light-bodied and demonstrated good length. This wine would pair very well with a Thai green curry with shrimp.

This wine hails from the Sonoma Mountain AVA and the high elevation gives it great acidity and structure. The nose is high-toned, with aromas of cherries, earth and leather. The palate is medium-bodied and grippy, with an upright, sturdy finish perfectly showing off the terroir of this region.

The Saralee Pinot opens with a deep, elegant and generous aroma of dark berries and cherries intertwined with oriental spices on the nose. Medium bodied and
silky on the palate, this is a juicy, intense and elegant Pinot with soft tannins and a long saline finish. This modern, well-made Pinot is open and ready to drink upon release.

From one of Sonoma County’s pioneering wineries the Matanzas Creek Merlot opens with an engaging, charming nose of blueberry, plum and cedar aromas. The palate is slender and elegant, with an impressively vivacious touch of acidity running through the refined, graceful finish. This should drink well for a decade with proper cellar treatment.

Dry to off-dry white, medium lemon color. The medium-intense nose sits delicately in the glass with scents of a fresh summer garden (fresh flowers and fruits), orchard fruits (apples, pears), sweet vanilla and a bright note of fresh lemons. On the palate, this wine brings a lovely blend of apples and pears with a bit of sweetness and a creamy, slightly buttery edge of vanilla or butter which has the aroma of soft cheese. Full-bodied with medium acidity, the wine is nicely balanced and finishes with just a touch of toasted oak (leaving hints of buttered toast on the tongue). Lemon curd can be tasted on the initial flavors as well as on the finish where it lingers with honey, lively fruit and some floral notes. This Chard really hits above its price point and pairs exceptionally well with creamy or fried foods. It’s surprising to find a “general” California with such a balance of flavors. Try it out if you’re a fan of Chardonnay! Very good!

Tenuta di Arceno is in Castelnuovo Berardenga near Sienna in Tuscany. The area has been well known for winemaking since the 16th century because of its proximity to two rivers, the Ambra and the Ombrone. The estate makes wines with both Chianti Classico DOCG classification and Toscana IGT designation. Grapes to make this stunning 100 percent Cabernet Franc are sourced from 12 different blocks and blended together. The 2020 has aromas of peppermint, vanilla, sweet red pepper, and dark cherry. It has silky, yet powerful tannins and flavors of rose petals, red cherry, and red raspberry. Pair this with grilled bistecca alla Fiorentina.

Screw cap. Excellent Pinot Noir, in a supple, fragrant style. It has distinctive floral-fruity character (rose petal, cherry, strawberry), with toasty, herbal overtones, some richness, good balance, and a lingering finish. Very approachable now; drink into 2025.

Screw cap. Tremendous Chardonnay at the price: full bodied, complex in flavor (pineapple, white peach, candied lemon, toast, spicy oak), well balanced, and medium-long and zesty on the finish. Remarkable value. Drink into 2026.

Now, this is something special. Setting the benchmark for the Western Cape (one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world), the ancient vineyards of Stellenbosch, Overberg and Robertson have come together to create this beautifully layered expression of the land. Pure, vivid citrus and rich minerality are the driving forces behind the liquid, carrying with them a typhoon of creamy tropical notes and electric zesty lemon on the finish. A true showcase of high-end chardonnay and the region.

Setting the benchmark for ‘Cali chard’, Brewer-Clifton is always reliable, and this Santa Rita Hills wine is seductively expressive and complex from the off. The winemaker’s fermentation and oak barrel ageing rounds off the profile satisfyingly. The bright lemon-gold pour opens up inviting ocean air and lemon notes, and a lemon curd flavour continues in the mouth. Joining it is sweet honey and pineapple, before the return of minerality with a savoury, somewhat salty, kick. The length goes on and on, showcasing the winemaking talent and terroir with every passing second, as salted butter appears to see us off. Lively, smooth and so much fun to explore.

Terrific value, the 2021 Hawkeye Mountain is a very fine mountain Cabernet that is fairly rich and somewhat tannic; a wine that is supple on the palate and both fine and complex in flavor (black cherry, cassis, boysenberry, cedar, vanilla, oak), with a long, firm finish. Drinkable now (because of its texture, richness, and balance), but likely at its best only after 2026, and beyond. 99.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 0.7% Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 months in oak barrels, 96% French, of which 63% is new. 14.5% [2027-2037] 

A rich, full bodied of excellent quality. It is ripe and complex in aroma and flavor (pineapple, honey, peach, candied lemon, tangerine, toasted oak), vibrant and well balanced on the palate, and very persistent on the finish. Opulent; for drinking into 2027. Fine value. Fermented and aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 46% new. Clones: 4 and Wente. 15.4% [2024-2027] 

Screw cap. Terrific Pinot Noir value, the 2022 La Crema Monterey is a fairly rich wine, with intense flavor (cherry, strawberry, vanilla, black tea, herbs, oak), light oakiness, good balance, and a long, full finish. Great value. Better in 2025; can age further. 3-5 day cold soak. Aged 5 months in French oak barrels, 18% new. 13.9% [2025-2026] 

Screw cap. Very fine 2022 Pinot Noir Rose: medium salmon pink in color; very intense in aroma and flavor (raspberry, cherry, white peach), well balanced, and very long on the finish. Has a hint of tannin; very enjoyable now, but can be drunk through 2025. Fine value 100% Pinot Noir. Unwooded. 13.5% [2024-2025] 

Fine quality Monterey Chardonnay from La Crema, and an excellent value. It is ripe and quite rich in flavor (pineapple, apple, lemon peel, peach, banana, toast, oak), smoothly textured, nicely balanced, and very long on the finish. Drink into 2026. Aged 5+ months in oak barrels, primarily French, 16% new. 13.5% [2024- 2026] 

Excellent Anderson Valley Pinot Noir: ripe and complex in style, it is medium rich in flavor (blueberry, cherry, herbs, red currant, tangerine, oak), well balanced, and long and lightly tannic on the finish. Still evolving; likely best in 2025, and beyond. Fine value. Aged 16 month in French oak barrels, 15% new. 500 cases. 13.1% [2025-2028] 

Fine quality Sonoma Coast Chardonnay that is elegant and complex in style; somewhat Burgundy-like. It is round, full bodied, and crisp, with excellent flavor (pineapple, candied lemon, apple, toast, vanilla, oak), and a lingering finish. Drinking very well now; enjoy through 2025. Native yeast. Aged months in oak barrels, 5% new French. Full ML. Clones: 4, 76, 72. 500 cases. 13.3% [2024-2025] 

On the nose, Giant Steps Pinot Noir mixes herbs with juicy cherries and a touch of earthy mushroom. On the palate, cherries and red berries mingle with spiced oak and fine tannins, creating a complex flavour profile. It’s elegant and quite light, with a long, juicy finish, making it a good summer wine choice to enjoy in the sunshine.

On the nose, fresh fruits dominate, with apples, pears, and peaches mixing with a hint of citrus. On the palate, the fruits mingle with the oak of the barrels and vanilla sweetness before giving way to a long finish with well-balanced acidity throughout. A very nice chardonnay to enjoy chilled on a summer evening.