Deep red-purple colour with a sweetly ripe, charmingly fragrant bouquet, the palate backing up with good intensity of flavour and rather firm, taut tannins imparting a solid grip. A robust wine with a future. Right now, it needs some protein

Sublime. What a gorgeous Grenache! Prettiness and class all in one package. Sourced from the certified organic and biodynamic block adjacent to the famed High Sands, the vines were planted in 1946. Fermented in ceramic eggs and on skins for 176 days, this is Grenache purity at its best. Glorious fruit, sizzling weight, it's just marvelously executed. Easily my favourite Grenache in the Yangarra Estate range, juicy raspberries run riot with flashes of blueberries. Superfine exotic spices frame the edges and push long to a persistent and ever moreish finish. So bright and vibrant in the glass, it feels so luxurious with its silky touch. The High Sands is the flagship of the range but I'd easily take three of these to one of those. Just brilliant! Drink to eight years.

Blended with 21% Merlot, this wine shows lots of varietal character, nuanced in red fruit, toasted oak and compelling baking spice. Elegant throughout, it conveys power within the context of sophisticated complexity and mannered tannins. Plenty of structure allows the wine to age further. Enjoy best from 2029–2039.

From a site at an 1,800-foot elevation, this wine is oaky and spiced, with an opening of lush apple, nutmeg and tropical flair. Minerality enters in the form of crushed rock, with well-hewn structure and high acidity at play.
A note of butterscotch lingers on the finish

This concentrated and complete wine offers luscious dark cherries, red plums, dark chocolate and an intricate layering of subtle spices including nutmeg, cinnamon, cedar and mint. These start in the nose and last through the velvety palate and lingering finish. Grown at a 2,800-foot elevation, the wine should drink best from 2025–2035.

Brooding and intense aromas of cassis, plum and asphalt are dark yet not overly ripe on the fresh nose of this bottling. The palate also exhibits that intense concentration without being too ripe, offering fresh purple fruit and flower flavors as well as light spice.

Savory in black pepper, smoked meat and cigar box, this wine is high-toned aromatically, with lovely hints of violet and dried herb, sage and bay leaf. Mountain-sturdy tannins give it structure, power and room to age, with lasting acidity to keep it fresh. Enjoy best from 2029–2039.

Made from the producer’s estate Monument Ridge, blocks that rise from 400 to 2,400 feet, this balanced, elegant wine is refined and savory, with classic structure. Crushed rock, mountain sage, pine and dusty tannin support a core of juicy currant and cassis.

Made in a hearty, tannic and concentrated style, this wine nonetheless captures the variety’s ability to project the environment in which it’s grown, which in this case means sage and freshturned earth. Black fruit, iron and oak dominate but show the ability to integrate over time. Enjoy best from 2029–2034.

This stainless-steel, no malolactic fermentation wine sourced from Chalk Hill Vineyard showcases the floral earthiness of the variety. Woody cedar and dried herb, with just a hint of bell pepper, accent dense red currant and
balanced acidity.

This wine is elegant and austere in style, refined in tannin and blue fruit. The oak is subdued and adds spice to the other earthy notes of dried herb and clove.

Light and acid-driven, this wine is subtle in style, with layers of wet stone, lemon zest and forest. It shows varietal integrity and lasting notes of black tea and baking spice.

Leading in savory red fruit, cedar and clove, this light-bodied wine offers persistent freshness and edgy flavor.

Aromas of fresh Asian pear, Meyer lemon, and hints of bread dough are followed by flavors of Granny Smith apple, lime, and hints of pie crust. The 2017 vintage from Saralee’s Vineyard presents balanced acidity and a mouthwatering finish

A monument to the grape and its mountainside vineyards. Deep black-purple color; intense and concentrated, cassis, blackberry and blueberry; whole dimensions of graphite, dust and loam; piercing minerality above lavender and licorice, deeply rooted elements of hillside herbs and flowers, briers and underbrush; terrific impact on the palate yet beautifully balanced and integrated. 14.5 percent alcohol. Try from 2023 or ’24 through 2031 to ’34. Consistently one of the most powerful, complex and long-lived merlots made anywhere. Exceptional.

Opaque black-purple infused with magenta; tremendous in power and poise, revealing its mountain origin in notes of sage, thyme and heather; dusty graphite, oolong tea, forest floor; raspberry, blueberry and smoked plums; a core of lavender, licorice, violets and bitter chocolate; huge presence, lithe and supple; a thread of granitic minerality and notable tannins expands through the finish. 14.5 percent alcohol. Consistently one of the best merlots produced in California. Try from 2024 through 2030 or ’32. Excellent.

Made with fruit sourced from vineyards across the Russian River Valley, this chardonnay has an ambience of warmth, opulence, and richness, making it an apt choice for cold weather. I like the silky palate, supported by firm acids, and the enduring finish.

A fleshy, textured chardonnay with aromas of apricots, honeysuckle, nutmeg, toast and persimmons. It’s medium- to full-bodied with bright acidity. Balanced, layered and very drinkable. Hints of flint at the end. Drink now.

From the historic Stonestreet estate vineyard in Sonoma’s Mayacamas Mountain, and named after the founder, Jess Stonestreet Jackson, Stonestreet Estate Chardonnay brings the rusticity of the mountainous vineyard, delivering structure and texture to the wine, with juicy, fruit-forward flavor. Layers of ripe white peach and apricot meld with tropical mango and pineapple. The fruity layers meld into toasted nutmeg, hazelnut, and allspice, with a nice bite of crushed stone minerality, ensuring a textural, multi-dimensional flavor that is easily enjoyed sipped after sip.

This is the pinnacle release for one of the most exciting wineries in Tuscany. While Sangiovese is what you’d expect from this area, Tenuta Di Arceno have taken an evolutionary spin on one of the world’s most famous winemaking regions. Cabernet Franc is placed in the spotlight, creating a wine that is so beautifully unique to this region. Innovation meets heritage as the two worlds intertwine, resulting in a ripe dark plum, mint, sage and thyme nose. The palate is explosive with black cherries, white pepper, truffle, strawberries and licorice. Cedar oak jumps out with burnt toast and a delicate raspberry lingers on the finish.

As one of Napa Valley’s most prized wineries, Cardinale has been creating a storm of wonder since its first vintage release. This wine encapsulates everything that is extraordinary about this region and leaves me wanting more every time I taste it. The hefty Bordeaux blend showcases 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot with 22 months in French oak barrels. The result? A dollop of 70% dark cocoa, rounded out by blackberries, black cherries and blackcurrants, tobacco, cedar oak and a kiss of rose petal on the finish.

This has to be one of my top finds of 2022. Produced from a 15-acre parcel of rolling hills this wine is driven from clones of the world renowned Pommard amongst other incredibly rare vineyards. It’s like a love affair between Burgundy and Sonoma with a distinct Santa Barbara twist. Expect ripe cherry, rhubarb, cola nut, black berry, allspice and black tea all wrapped up in a refined, savoury and textured treat.

While Napa Valley is typically known for its beautiful expressions of Chardonnay, Santa Barbara doesn’t often get as much praise. I can tell you wholeheartedly, this is one of the best Chardonnays coming out of California. Perched within the Santa Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara, Brewer-Clifton has been producing world class wine since 1996. Over three decades they’ve perfected their craft which has led to this triumphant expression of one of the world’s most famous grape varieties. The ocean air brings a slight salinity, alongside lemon curd, minerals and a rich texture that hugs your tongue from the moment it greets your lips. Intense, complex and destined for greatness.

20 Most Dazzling Sparkling Wines For The Holidays
Gran Moraine Yamhill-Carlton Brut Rosé
This sparkling wine from Oregon may just transport you to Champagne. The Gran Moraine Brut Rosé is a blend of multiple vintages – with each vintage adding distinctive qualities to the final blend. It is the epitome of style, grace, and elegance made using the traditional méthode champenoise. Pop open this dazzling Brut Rosé to enhance the already joyful mood of your holiday party.

This is a fine, glossy, full flavoured chardonnay from the Russian River Valley. There is a real sense of elegance here. The nose is generous with hazelnut, dried flowers, custard and peachy fruit. It is very smooth, somewhat sweet and intense. So rich! Excellent to outstanding length.