Medium deep crimson. Fragrant pure blackberry, musky plum aromas with underlying vanilla notes. Well-concentrated and ultra-ripe blackberry, spicy/ hint of clove flavours, some stone fruit notes, fine loose knit chalky textures, very good mid-palate volume and underlying vanilla, mocha complexity before finishing slinky and long. Plush fruit, elegant structure; a fascinating wine. Drink now–2030.

This charming, nutty Chardonnay from Gran Moraine makes a strong case for white wine in winter. It features hazelnut and butterscotch aromas, juicy peaches and cream flavors, punchy minerality, and lovely oily texture. Pair this bright gold stunner with a succulent halibut bake.

Obtained from the grapes of the Valadorna and Capraia vineyards, Tenuta di Arceno's Valadorna is mainly a Merlot (with small additions of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon), aged for 12 months in barriques, mostly new. Its aromatic baggage is wide and varied which refers to black fruits, cedar, aromatic herbs, tobacco and spices. In the mouth, the sip is juicy and well profiled, with a resolved and basically fine tannic texture, solid and enveloping development and a deep, persistent and balsamic finish. Near Castelnuovo Berardenga, the "capital" of the southernmost sub-area of ​​the Chianti Classico appellation, is the Arceno Estate (92 hectares of vineyards for a total of 250,000 bottles), owned by America (Kendall-Jackson Group, who acquired it in 1994 among the first realities outside California) and with Bordeaux technical guidance with some Californian nuances in the hands of Pierre Seillan - creator of Verité Winery in Sonoma and first active in Saint-Emilion - and of the Italian-American Lawrence Cronin. From here come well-centered labels of impeccable workmanship: from the Chianti Sangiovese declined with a soberly modern style and with the centered objective of not distorting their personality and character, to the Bordeaux-style blends and purities, made with equal restraint and refinement, as well demonstrate our taste.

Christmas Cheer in a Bottle
From an estate newly promoted to Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé status, an elegant wine worthy of any festive board.

The 2020 Syrah from Ex Post Facto is lovely at this youthful stage, made without new oak and sourced mainly from the Santa Maria Valley (although moving forward, winemaker Greg Brewer says fruit will come instead from the Sta. Rita Hills). Medium ruby-purple, it offers blackcurrants, dried red cherries and incredible natural spice, like black licorice, cocoa powder, cracked pepper and lilac. The palate is stunning, offering powerful, spicy fruit supported by generous freshness and powdery tannins, and it finishes with great length and definition. Wow!

The Diatom 2021 Chardonnay has inviting poached pears, quince and lemongrass aromas with touches of baker's yeast, honeycomb and acacia. The medium-bodied palate balances generous, exotic fruits and a touch of textural grip with bright waves of acidity, finishing long and flavorful. This Chardonnay is dynamic and so delicious!

The 2020 Chardonnay 3D features delicate, precise aromas this vintage: lemongrass, candied citrus and white peach are complemented by deeper wafts of matchstick and honeycomb. Medium-bodied, its generous, ripe citrus flavors are enlivened by bursts of mouthwatering acidity and anchored by a gentle textural grip, and it finishes with exotic, alluringly herbal flavors and great length. Such a singular expression this vintage!

Medium ruby, the 2020 Pinot Noir Machado is scented of pomegranate and blueberry with tones of aniseed, prosciutto, bergamot and cracked pepper. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh with concentrated fruits and lots of layers across the finish. It feels a bit wound and fruit-forward at this early stage and will benefit from a few more years in bottle.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Hapgood is especially elegant this vintage. Pale ruby-purple, it features red cherries, blood orange, lavender, tea leaves and prosciutto on the nose. Light-bodied, fresh and energetic, the palate offers loads of layers and powdery tannins, finishing long and detailed. It may have more to give with another 2-3 years in bottle.

The 2020 Chardonnay Machado opens slowly to pretty notes of matchstick and lime leaves and needs a bit of aeration to give up nuances of lemongrass, saline, apricot and chalk. The palate is bursting with concentrated, ripe citrus fruits and offers mouthwatering acidity that calls you back to the glass again and again. It has a streak of herbal exoticism that adds to its appeal, a bit of anchoring textural grip and a long, evolving finish.

The 2020 Pinot Noir 459 has a medium ruby-purple color and an alluring blend of deep red and blue fruit: boysenberry, dried cranberry and dried red cherries open with time to cola, lemon peel and black tea. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with bursting red fruit character and a juicy, citrus-laced finish.

Medium ruby, the 2020 Pinot Noir 3D features very pure, ringing aromas of pomegranate, red cherries, orange zest, charcuterie and earth. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and fresh with chalky tannins, mouthwatering acidity and generous red fruit, finishing very long and layered. What an elegant expression!

This is my last bottle of this wine that I purchased way back in 2010, a couple of years before I launched my blog and, according to my notes, for which I got 15% off based on watching a podcast from Sadat X (the details are at best, blurry). I also opened another 2008 Clos Pepe, one from the mother ship (Clos Pepe Vineyards), and I have to say that this Siduri showed much, much better. Luscious fruit, balancing tannins, a hint of earth, and a whole lot of verve. I only have two more bottles left from the Adam Lee run Siduri, and that honestly makes me more than a little sad. Outstanding.

Medium ruby-purple, the 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills, made with a high proportion of whole clusters, is scented of cranberries and raspberries with nuances of Earl Grey tea leaves and loads of spicy accents. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and bright with delicate flavors and an uplifted, citrus-tinged finish. This is very easy to drink!

The 2020 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills begins with a touch of matchstick reduction, requiring plenty of aeration. It unfolds slowly to warm white peaches and singular wafts of lychee and dried tarragon, an intriguing interplay of exoticism and savory reduction. The palate is still youthfully coiled with linear acidity, anchoring texture and an evolving finish that hints at more to come. Give it a few years in bottle to unwind.

The 20 Best Red Wines for Christmas
We’re really into the higher price points now where any wines have to really prove their worth, and this wonder certainly does because it’s one of the best we’ve had the joy of experiencing. The ultimate dreamy date-night Tuscan red, it’s an Italian French love affair with rich tannins and magically intense dark fruits. These seductively tangle with indulgent dark chocolate, ripe cherries, raspberries rolled in black pepper and dark, juicy plums. So much has been experienced before the embracing finish of cherry compote and warming cedar spice that echoes and echoes in the mouth. Pure romance, pure excellence. Save this special wine for an equally special night and you won’t be disappointed!

About $35, distributed in Illinois by Romano Brothers Beverage. Learn to love merlot again! Once America's top-selling red, the grape was pillaged by overplanting and an unfortunate rant in "Sideways," "I will not drink *#@* merlot!" This Merlot, along with the classic Bordeaux blend including cabernet sauvignon, was long-ripened to modify the grape's vegetal bitterness into pleasing mint, green tobacco and forest floor accents, enveloped by black cherry and plummy fruit. The soft entry extends on the palate to a pleasingly firm finish. The label represents the Roman Faunus (the Greek Pan), half man/ half goat, god of forests and fields, bringer of merriment and mischief. It also represents the duality of Tuscany's tradition paired with a modern "micro-cru" concept, i.e., pairing each grape with specific vineyards, which are vinified separately to express the unique expression of the land.

Slightly darker in colour, fuller in body, and a touch more on the dry side, this Pinot still qualifies as medium-bodied but carries more weight with plenty of black fruit on the nose. The flavour is a complex melange of sweet and sour cherries along with raspberry and that characteristic metallic finish. Its well-structured and lasting acidity would cut the richness of mushroom risotto or grilled pork beautifully.