New Year, New You How Cocooning Can Help You Relax in 2020 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon recommended during the segment.

Top 10 wines for 2020 My taste in Pinot Noir typically resides in the old world Burgundy realm and, as such, I find many California examples a little overripe for my tastes but there are exceptions to almost every rule and this is one of them. Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton founded this winery in 2005 and sold controlling interests to Jackson Family Wines in 2017 but remain on as part owners and winemaking team. This is really impressive Pinot crafted in the Burgundian mould with notes of cassis, dried figs, spice and cranberry. Try it with duck confit, roast chicken and baked salmon.

Anderson Valley is justifiably receiving more attention for their restrained, elegant versions of pinot noir. Located in Mendocino County near the coast this cool climate area produces fine pinot noir that tends to be lower in alcohol and featuring less jammy fruit than some of their more southern cousins. This version by Kendall- Jackson offers delicious strawberry and plum notes and light tannins in a very easy to drink style and affordable style.

Four Expressions of Siduri Pinot Noir The fruit for this wine came from three different appellations in Yamhill-Carlton, Chehalem Mountains, and Eola-Amity. It comes from seven different clones from seven different vineyards. This accounts for the acidity up front and the juicy modest textures in the mid-palate.

Four Expressions of Siduri Pinot Noir The fruit in this wine explodes in the mouth. The tannic backbone creates an enduring sensation on the palate. Best with food, especially pork, veal, duck, rabbit and Asian dishes. Maybe Thai chicken curries'. This wine was fermenting when the winery became surrounded by fires, making it inaccessible for three days, and without power or gas for a week. Despite these hurdles Siduri produced a successful wine.

Four Expressions of Siduri Pinot Noir This example is very Russian River in character with gushing, dominant fruit and approachable tannins. Can be quaffed or served with pink meat.

Four Expressions of Siduri Pinot Noir Ready to drink. This seductive style makes this as good for quaffing in front of a movie as it would be paired with duck, noodle dishes such as Vietnamese vermicelli soups, or grilled pork chops. In fact, pork’s affinity for fruit makes this a liquid surrogate for e.g. apple sauce.

50 Great Wines of 2019 Exceptional

50 Great Wines of 2019 Exceptional

50 Great Wines of 2019 Exceptional

WINE WITH…Potato Gratin with Ham and Cheese A tad sweet, with jammy cherry fruit, this Pinot feels seductively silky on the palate. That sensation, even more than any particular flavor, helped it pair well with the creamy potatoes and gooey cheese.

Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of cherry and raspberry fruit. In the mouth, tightly wound tannins wrap flavors of cherry, cedar, and wet earth. There's a hint of bitter orange as the wine finishes. This one needs a bit of time. 14.2% alcohol. Score: around 8.5.

Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of slightly sweaty socks and cranberry fruit. In the mouth, cranberry and raspberry flavors have a hint of barnyard to them and are wrapped in a gauzy but muscular skein of tannins. Good acidity. 14.2% alcohol. Score: around 8.5.

Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of ripe cherry and cranberry fruit. In the mouth, juicy cherry and cranberry flavors have a nice zing to them thanks to excellent acidity. Powdery tannins creep around the edges of the mouth and a note of black tea and cedar lingers in the finish. 14.2% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9.

Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of struck match and raspberry fruit. In the mouth, raspberry and cherry flavors are bright and dusted with powdery tannins. Good acidity brings a citrus peel quality to the sour cherry in the finish. Decent acidity. The tannins grow in strength as the wine lingers with hints of cedar. 14.2% alcohol. Score: around 8.5.

2016 Chianti Classico Riserva is an expressive and elegant vintage 2016 was an expressive and elegant vintage. There was ample summer sunshine and just enough rain in early September to hold off harvest, giving the fruit more precious time on the vine. Warm days and cool nights produced wines with ripe fruit avors, deep color, vibrant acidity and very precise aromatics. Floral tones of violets and lavender dominate the aromas. Other aromas include blueberries on the vine, vanilla bean and honey. The palate is framed by bright acids with a dense layered center. Flavors of tart cherries give way to a lasting cedar and orange peel finish. This vintage will be remembered well, and has the structure and acids to age beautifully.

Ushering out the Decade with Stellar Holiday Samples I tasted notes of stone fruit, citrus, tropical fruits, apple and a bit of oak.

Halliday Wine Companion Top 50 Wines of the Year - #47

Halliday Wine Companion Top 50 Wines of the Year - #23

Halliday Wine Companion Top 50 Wines of the Year - #7