If sparkling wine is more your style, “this premium sparkling Brut Rosé from La Crema is the perfect glass of bubbles to quench your thirst in the summertime heat,” Cohen says. Family-owned and operated La Crema might be better known for their chardonnay and pinot noir, but its high time their bubbly blend had its moment in the sun. “Made from pinot noir and chardonnay in the traditional method of Champagne [that’s made in that region of France], this serves up luxury all the way. This wine has bright red fruit notes of summer strawberries and raspberries,” Cohen explains.

Dark ruby in the glass, this wine smells of roasted figs, cocoa powder, and dried cherries. In the mouth, minty flavors of smoked meat, roasted figs, dried cherries, and cocoa powder have a faint salinity to them as powdery, mouth-coating tannins add structure to the wine. Hints of raisins and prunes linger in the finish, but the acidity keeps things quite fresh.

Very dark ruby in color, this wine smells of black cherry and prunes. In the mouth, prunes, raisins, and dried black cherry flavors are enveloped by a plush, powdery cloud of tannins. Good acidity. Slightly tired at this point, but still pleasurable.

In the glass La Muse is ruby-garnet colored with a purple rim. It is composed of 90 percent Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Malbec. It has heady aromas of black raspberry jam, red plum and saddle leather. There’s a seamless transition to the palate with ripe fruit flavors and touches of flint, mocha and tobacco leaf. The tannins are pleasantly grippy with balanced acidity. Drink now or over the next 20 years.

Winemaker Chris Carpenter turns out one hit after another for this property, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary. Not many winemakers can produce a cabernet franc that can stand on its own without massive support from other grape varieties. But from the cabernet franc grown in mountain vineyards, he gets concentration, complexity and depth. Violet and dried herbal aromas give way to blackberry and black cherry flavors with a touch of kirsch.

Indulgent and rich, this deep garnet coloured wine completely fills the mouth with notes of dark chocolate, sweet oak, black fruits, mocha and a touch of earthiness. Velvety smooth, delightfully complex and with a satisfying drying finish, get this lots of air and have it with food. Sublime.

This Pinot Noir has a plush, rosy nose with wild strawberries, cherry and a combination of lofty floral notes and a slight earthiness. Easy-drinking and supple, the berry flavours really stand out in the most moreish way.

The single vineyard Pinot Noir is her brainchild and more than justifies its punchy price tag. A lauded Aussie Pinot, this wine boasts complex notes of sour cherry and cranberry on the nose, moving to softer, spicy plum and cherry, with a hint of coffee bean on the finish. Glorious.

The hit of fresh fruit is instant and carries over into the palate. Think white peach, zesty lemon, Granny Smith apples and pear. The oak is soft and the acidity is poised in this masterful, Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay.

The grapes come from blocks grown at 400-1800 feet above sea level. The prevalent oak tones mellowed after a day, letting the pretty lemon tones and white orchard fruits shine. Anise notes, creamy and lactic, a pleasant and not overdone interpretation of Sonoma Chard.

Full and waxy, a little Chenin-like. Tropical fruits hit the palate first then lemon compote layered with some buttery tones. Rich mouthfeel, similar to wines coming produced from fossil-rich, limestone parcels. At 14.5%, the alcohol is a little evident, but mitigated with a pasta and mushroom cream sauce dish.

Cola, bright, juicy, fine tannins.

Juicy, long, intense, fine tannins, fresh

I had the chance to sit down with winemaker Kristy Melton to talk about her philosophy of making wine last May. Her wines are beautiful and this one was delicious, nuanced, and elegant. I tasted notes of dark berry, dark chocolate, cherry cordial, herbs, oak, cedar, and spice.

A quintessential Napa Chardonnay has lots of depth and layers. I got notes of baked apple, tropical fruits, candied citrus, Asian spices, and stone fruit with a touch of vanilla.

Now to the wine, a lovely combination of ocean-cooled crispness, elegant, sunny fruit, creamy texture, old-vine complexity and flavours of lemon zest, crunchy ripe apple, cashew nut and sourdough toast.

Falling at the lighter end of the red wine spectrum, pinot noir is like a little black dress: ideal for any season. This one is particularly perfect for spring since “there is no excess to this wine,” according to [Luke] Wilmoth. “Everything is exactly as it should be; it has grace, elegance and classic beauty. Close your eyes and envision Audrey Hepburn at the Oscars. This wine is timeless just like that.” The freshness and vibrancy hits you with the first sip, Wilmoth adds, along with flavors of pomegranate and ripe bing cherry. Near the finish, you’ll discover a hint of “briny savoriness that helps the wine's versatility with most any food pairing,” Wilmoth says.

The 2018 Lassègue has a deep garnet color. The bouquet shows notes of cassis and violet. The palate reveals lots of red and black fruit, and silky tannins evolving in a long, complex finish.

Lassègue may not be a lauded château but this is a beautifully rich, silky, floral claret, steeped in blackberry. An indulgent treat.

The sun hits early at Applejack Vineyard, causing full ripeness of both stems and fruit. This creates ideal conditions for the generous use of whole bunch in the blend. Thus making this pinot a savoury bomb of mushroom and truffle notes with incredible earthiness.

From the main course to dessert, you need this handy. Choosing this bright, crisp Chardonnay is ideal for light meat turkey and lighter fare sides and perfectly pairs with your second, third, or fourth (no judgments here) slice of pumpkin pie. A glass of this wine could be dessert all on its own with aromas of baked apple, graham cracker, and meyer lemon, followed by flavors of Asian pear, and notes of minerality.

A total crowd pleaser as is, this Pinot Noir will complement any dish on the menu. With aromas of blackberry, cherry, leather, and tobacco with flavors of red cherry, raspberry, and boysenberry. Subtle hints of espresso and cocoa nib underpin notes of exotic spice and toast. The inherent earthiness and spice are a natural pairing with horderves as much as the mains. Perfect for celebrating another year with your lover, we recommend pairing this Pinot Noir with bacon-wrapped stuffed dates or a light and airy chocolate mousse.

Napa Valley’s La Jota released a 2019 blend of 81.5% Merlot, 11.5% Petit Verdot and 7% Tannat, from a vintage with “uneventful” autumn weather than allowed for longer hang-time for the berries, spending 21 months in 62% new French oak, coming in at 14.5% alcohol.

A 2019 Mt Brave Merlot is based on a grape that is known for its softness by its nature, and this three-year-old was velvety and fruit driven, having spent 21 months in barrel, then bottled without filtration, which preserved elements of flavor that might otherwise be lost.

La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, with its plum, blackberry, toasted coffee bean, was more elegantly structured, where the tannins were silky, and the fruit flavors flowed right over them. It was amazing the amount of flavors on display for such a young wine.