2017 was a comparatively cool vintage, which has ramped up the elegance and freshness factor on Yangarra’s most premium and renowned wine. Compared with the raw beauty and pure joy of the Ovitelli Grenache (which is half the price), this is a more polished wine, set for time in the cellar but also drinking beautifully now. The floral characteristics shine alongside brambly fruit and soft savory, mineral aromas. The palate is openknit, with juicy berries washing over the tongue, followed by a tug of highly textural and precise tannins. Drink now–2030.

From head-trained vines more than 100 years old, the 2018 Zinfandel Jolene's Vineyard was aged in French oak, 28% new, for nine months. Medium garnet-purple colored, it opens with notions of blackberry pie, fruitcake and plum preserves plus hints of Indian spices, sandalwood and fragrant earth with a waft of black loam. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and chock-full of black and blue fruit, it has a chewy texture and loads of freshness, finishing with epic length.

Don and Jennifer Hartford tend this head-trained, 100+-year-old vineyard in the backyard of their home. The 2018 Zinfandel Hartford Vineyard was aged in French oak, 56% new, for 10 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has a very peppery/spicy nose to begin—cinnamon, cloves and cardamom—with a core of blackberry pie, blueberry compote and warm plums plus touches of hoisin and unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied and laden with exotic spice and black fruit preserves layers, the generous fruit is well supported by velvety tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and opulent.

Coming from vines planted over 100 years ago, which have been trained up to chest level to increase air circulation and sun exposure to the berries, the 2018 Zinfandel Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard was aged in French oak, 50% new, for 10 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, it skips out of the glass with notes of red currant jelly, raspberry pie and wild blueberries plus touches of stewed plums, wild sage and tilled soil with a waft of cast iron pan. Full-bodied, the palate has beautiful elegance and fine-grained tannins with a lively backbone lifting the pure black and blue fruit flavors to a long finish.

Napa Valley’s 2018sPretty, exotic candied orange and floral notes emerge from the 2018 Merlot, which is medium to full-bodied and has a juicy, elegant texture, moderate, nicely integrated tannins, and just a charming, undeniably delicious style. It builds nicely with time in the glass and shows the more pure, elegant, seamless profile of the vintage yet still brings plenty of fruit. It’s ideal for enjoying over the coming decade.

Napa Valley’s 2018sAll varietal, the 2018 Malbec is terrific and well worth seeking out. Sporting a dense purple color as well as impressive notes of spiced red and blue fruits, violets, toasted bread, and herbes de Provence-like nuances, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a rounded, mouthfilling texture, and enough velvety tannins to keep it showing well for over a decade.

Napa Valley’s 2018sIn general, 2018 was a great vintage for this variety, and the deep purple-hued 2018 Merlot is stunning stuff. Lots of cassis, candied violets, scorched earth, and graphite notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, elegant 2018 with polished tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It’s going to evolve for 15 years or more.

Napa Valley’s 2018sThe 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon shows its Howell Mountain terroir nicely yet still has a supple, textured, elegant style that gives it plenty of upfront appeal. Beautiful cassis and darker currants, chocolate, tobacco, and cedar pencil notes emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with present yet silky tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish, where it shows more and more tannins with time in the glass. It can be drunk today with plenty of pleasure, but smart money is on giving bottles 2-4 years of bottle age and following for 10-15.

Napa Valley’s 2018sMade by Gianna Kelly, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair comes from a handful of vineyards and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 65% new French oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by a rich, concentrated, nicely balanced 2018 with loads of ripe dark fruit, chocolate, and tobacco aromatics, medium to full body, a solid spine of acidity, and just wonderful overall balance and purity, which is the hallmark of this great vintage. Building nicely with time in the glass, it shines for its balance, elegance, and purity more so than sheer power, and it’s already a joy to drink. Nevertheless, it should easily evolve for 15-20 years. This smoking value is well worth seeking out.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Malbec, the 2018 Malbec Mt. Veeder was aged for 22 months in oak, 34% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is flamboyantly scented of baked plums, blackberry compote and blueberry coulis with wafts of baking spices and dried Provence herbs. Full-bodied, the palate is packed with concentrated black and blue fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins, going long, lively and with a spicy kick on the finish.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay W.S. Keyes was fermented and aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, 11% new. There was no malolactic. It sashays out of the glass with gorgeous lemon tart, grapefruit and white peach notes plus hints of orange blossoms, fresh ginger and toasted almonds. Medium-bodied, elegant and refreshing, it delivers intense citrus and spice layers with a long, tangy finish.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Stone Côte was 100% barrel fermented in French oak barrels, 32% new, and aged for 15 months. It offers a very pretty perfume of honeysuckle, mandarin peel, candied ginger and lemongrass with a core of white peaches, pears and grapefruit. Medium-bodied, elegantly styled and with great freshness, it finishes long and mineral laced.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Franc is one of the most distinctive wines in this range. Inky dark fruit, mocha, gravel, spice, menthol and licorice are kicked up several notches in this potent, virile Franc. Time in the glass brings out the wine's floral and spice overtones along with distinctly red shades of fruit. There is a bit of oak influence, but the Franc handles it well while retaining quite a bit of varietal character.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain is rich, sumptuous and exotic in its beauty. Inky red/purplish fruit, rose petal, spice and blood orange all build as the 2018 reveals its personality. The Spring Mountain is the softest of the Lokoya Cabernets, in relative terms of course, as all these wines require cellaring.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's Vineyard is a rich, heady wine. Black cherry, blackberry, espresso, menthol, licorice, spice and mocha all flesh out in the glass. I would give the 2017 at least a few years to settle down, as the tannins are quite potent at this stage.

This vineyard is a real Zinfandel treasure – its dry farmed, head trained, hand farmed century old (plus) vines are sourced by several famed producers. Hartford’s offering shows lively black cherry fruit with complementary notes of tea, pie spice and fennel. It’s got great acidity that carries the ripeness of the fruit into the distance. The finish is fully integrated, showing all the components and inviting you back for more. Supple tannins keep the flavors pumping, and there’s an elegance here that is elusive at this ripeness level. This will suit a variety of foods, from a medium strength cheese selection to grilled red meats. Delicious!

Expertly layered aromas of toast, fine-grained oak, smoked apple, nectarine, crushed limestone and light butterscotch make for a nose that should please all types of Chardonnay lovers. The palate is immediately hit withchalky and fresh acidity, leading into lively flavors of sliced Asian pear and finishing with an intriguing hint of spearmint.

A captivating blend of savory characteristics along with great balance and a good fruit foundation make this wine especially interesting. Elements of sage, tobacco and earth mingle with red and black cherries, and are backed by moderate tannins and good, nervy acidity.

Whoa. A bit on the dark side, with a rich and lovely nose. Whoa. As I had hoped, the palate delivers on what the nose suggested. Whoa. Fantastic fruit, balanced acidity, lengthy finish. Whoa again. Excellent.

Napa Valley Cabernet: 2018 vintage reportYear in and year out, Lokoya provides a masterclass in crafting rugged mountain fruit into a svelte package, while always letting its essence come through. Their Diamond Mountain release is wonderfully perfumed and exuberant on the nose, with aromas of lilacs, fresh herbs and orchard blossoms. It is opulent and forward but with considerable lift on the finish. The tannins are prominent and fine-grained, with an impressively long and evolving finish.

Napa Valley Cabernet: 2018 vintage reportThe perennial centerpiece wine from Jackson Family Wines and winemakers Chris Carpenter. Composed around mountain fruit with supporting roles from valley floor vineyards across the valley. Hedonistic and commanding on the nose, with dense aromas of ripe black currants, black cherries, coffee beans and fresh herbs. The palate is svelte, balanced and expansive. The finish is grainy but fine, retaining a core of bright, refreshing acidity. Very much in the style of a modern cult Napa Cabernet but manages to do so with restraint.

The 2016 Mt. Brave ‘Mt. Veeder’ Merlot is a simply gorgeous effort by superstar winemaker Chris Carpenter that impresses now at the four year mark. The complex and hedonistic aromas entice with sandalwood tones that are woven together with kirsch cordial, cassis and graphite with chocolate covered espresso bean that all take shape in the glass. The palate is soft, seamless and very elegant, as this effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. A deep core of dark fruits collide with minerals, pipe tobacco, loamy terroir and suggestions of coffee grounds on the palate. Rich and layered, with tremendous aging potential, the 2016 Mt. Brave Merlot will cellar well for decades to come. Be sure to give this at least an hour decant if enjoying in its flamboyant youth. Drink 2020-2038

Flagship as detailed as the fynbos bordering its Stellenbosch single-parcel source. 15 full gamut of citrus tones (including piquant yuzu), nectarine & spice beguile on nose & palate; present yet harmonious oak (50% new) & vibrant acidity add impressive shape & stature for 5+ years cellaring.

LDR stands for Light Dry Red, a term used by Maurice O'Shea in the '40s-'50s. From three vineyards, one in the Upper Yarra, two in the Lower Yarra Valley, 51% pinot noir, 49% syrah, co-fermented, very little work during fermentation, matured for 5 months in large French oak vats. The bouquet is highly perfumed, rich and spicy, the palate a near identical display of flavours. This blend is here to stay.

In terrific form. It captures you from the outset. Stone fruit, custard powder, toasted bran and cedar spice notes have sparks flying in the glass. Crushed fennel too, particularly through the aftertaste. It attacks with flavour from the start and maintains a good pace throughout. The finish takes care of itself.