From a fogshrouded vineyard nearly 1,500 feet above sea level, this wine features lively stone fruit, citrus, and savory herbs on the nose. Subtle flavors convey apple, white nectarine, cinnamon, orange-vanilla cream, and racy acidity to finish.

From a high-elevation vineyard, this wine offers aromas of dark cherry, plum, citrus, and vanilla spice on the nose. The flavors on the palate are rich, evoking Bing cherry, black raspberry, orange zest, allspice, and cocoa, with a dry finish.

This wine is concentrated, with aromas of blueberry, dark cherry, and cardamom. It is full bodied in flavor, with black plum, violets, and allspice intertwined with orange vanilla cream, espresso, and bittersweet chocolate, leading to plush, silky tannins. Long ago, I created a story about this wine, imagining mythical sisters who lived in the forest.

This Chardonnay, crafted predominantly from Stellenbosch vineyards, offers a delicate
nose with notes of lime and spices. The textured palate offers a subtle mix of floral notes,
quince, and lemon, creating a pleasant, balanced character throughout. Sovereign Wine
Imports. —J.V.

2019 was a warm vintage in South Australia. It was a drought vintage as well, and the wine is so dark and dense. I was about to attribute this character the vintage, then winemaker Chris Carpenter reminded me that this was the year that the late Yangarra winemaker Pete Fraser made very specific winemaking decisions in the winery regarding his vision for the tannins. This is substantial, grainy and layered with black fruit and exotic spices. The 2019 The Peake Cabernet Shiraz comprises 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Shiraz. The 2019 was blended right on the cusp of the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

A gorgeous new vintage Champagne, the 2015 ‘Brut’ is near equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir coming from only premier cru and grand cru sites. This saw more than eight years on the lees prior to disgorgement, opening with honeysuckle, toasted almond and shades of baking spice laced shortbread on the nose. The palate is round and generous with terrific freshness, texture and overall balance. Delightful now, enjoy over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036-

The 2023 Chardonnay Broken Road Vineyard comes from the Alexander Mountain estate at 1,800 feet of elevation. It’s deftly balances generous, expressive, rounded peach/nectarine fruit with a tense line of minerality. “Polished power” is the phrase that comes to mind. Aging in 15% concrete adds such lift and clarity. The 2023 is a beauty through and through.

The 2022 GSM Hawks Butte is a co-fermented equal-parts blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from a site in the Yorkville Highlands in Mendocino County. It's gorgeously expressive. The Syrah is really out in front today, showing off its violet florals, orange peel and black-licorice-like spices, with a measure of seamlessness and textural polish to the mountain structure that really works. Juicy acids leave the mouth watering on the finish. The Rhônes win the day in the range at Copain this year.

The 2023 Grenache Brosseau Vineyard is beautiful. Kirsch, rosemary, rosewater, slightly candied raspberry fruit and chalk join together effortlessly, cruising across the palate with weightlessness and clear definition. It’s a very precise, pure reflection of place—exactly what wine is all about.

This is ripe and fleshy, with ample raspberry, cherry and boysenberry compote flavors at the core. Hibiscus and iris accents lend range and added detail. Shows solid underlying succulence, carrying the fruit easily through the apple wood–framed finish. Deliciously engaging. Drink now through 2033. 210 cases made.

Offers the juicy succulence of the vintage, which lends the mix of raspberry, boysenberry and pomegranate fruit drive and focus, while singed rose hip and anise notes flicker on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2033. 133 cases made.

A just fantastic cool-climate white, the 2023 Chardonnay Marin County is energetic and textured, with medium-bodied layers of creamy tropical fruit and lovely acidity. From an area just south of Sonoma County, close to the Pacific Ocean, it offers subtle notes of white flower and Meyer lemon, a fantastic wine from this always stellar producer. Drink now through 2033.

From grapes grown at 1,500 feet elevation, the 2023 Chardonnay DuPratt Vineyard is mineral-driven in flinty waves of sea air and dried herb. Citrus forward on the palate, it delivers brightness and lively medium-bodied intensity with aplomb. There's structure from the mountain site, contained by the inherent freshness from the sea air. Drink now through 2035.

This first red release from Capensis is a classy and classical Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon from the Helderberg that is varietally labelled but also draws on the salt and pepper complexity of a 9% Merlot and a 6% Cabernet Franc addition that was matured in French oak, 30% new, for 14 months before bottling. Picked before the rains, this 2023 displays perfumed aromatics of violets and rose petals, sweet cedar and smoky Christmas spices, lead pencils, red and black berry fruits, and subtle notes of graphite and oystershell. In the mouth there is a deliciously fresh acidity that supports lush, supple sweet tannins and a medium weighted, concentrated black berry fruited finish that slowly recedes to reveal a stony, classically dry mineral finish. An excellent debut effort. Drink from 2026 to 2040+.

Vibrant, with youthful aromas of apple, pineapple, and Meyer lemon layered with white flowers, fresh caramel, and crème fraîche. The palate offers pomelo, grilled navel orange rind, crushed clove, sedimentary nuances, and an ocean breeze, culminating in citrus oils and saline zest. Best to cellar until 2035 or aerate and drink now. Pair with poached John Dore, crispy potatoes, and pea tendrils.

Rich aromas of dark cherry, black raspberry, cinnamon, red Darjeeling tea, red licorice, and dried florals. The youthful flavors include black strawberry, black plum, allspice, brûlée, pink grapefruit peel, and white pepper, finishing dry and savory. Cellar until 2035 or decant and enjoy.

A lighter hue in the glass, this is a wondrous Pinot Noir, starting with earth-laced aromas of cherry sorbet, cola and porcini dust, pairing savory edges to the ripe fruits. The palate is very complex, showing rooibos tea, sage brush, and red-plum flavors that work into elegant harmony.

Bold and potent aromas of black plum, blackberry, and baking spice are layered in savory smoked-meat elements on the nose of this bottling. The palate shows a range of red fruits, from baked cherry to ripe watermelon, with nutmeg and clove spicing up the midpalate as orange peel enlivens the finish.

The 2023 Chardonnay Broken Road Vineyard comes from the Alexander Mountain estate at 1,800 feet of elevation. It’s deftly balances generous, expressive, rounded peach/nectarine fruit with a tense line of minerality. “Polished power” is the phrase that comes to mind. Aging in 15% concrete adds such lift and clarity. The 2023 is a beauty through and through.

The 2022 GSM Hawks Butte is a co-fermented equal-parts blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from a site in the Yorkville Highlands in Mendocino County. It's gorgeously expressive. The Syrah is really out in front today, showing off its violet florals, orange peel and black-licorice-like spices, with a measure of seamlessness and textural polish to the mountain structure that really works. Juicy acids leave the mouth watering on the finish. The Rhônes win the day in the range at Copain this year.

The 2023 Grenache Brosseau Vineyard is beautiful. Kirsch, rosemary, rosewater, slightly candied raspberry fruit and chalk join together effortlessly, cruising across the palate with weightlessness and clear definition. It’s a very precise, pure reflection of place—exactly what wine is all about.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota is darker, more plush and more put together than the Montana, but it’s also a very young, inward wine. Layers of mocha, asphalt, crushed rocks, bay laurel, espresso bean and blackberry fruit present a smooth, unified front. There’s a lot of power beneath the surface, but the 2022 will undoubtedly need several years to blossom. This is a very attractive wine that ticks all the right boxes.

The 2024 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard, from the far reaches of the West Sonoma Coast, is a standout in this range. Subtle coastal character leads the charge, delivering lifted notes of crunchy pomegranate fruit, salty sea air, ripe orange zest and chalk. The mid-palate benefits from a bump of fruit richness, all riding atop a wave of measured acids as everything tightens up and gains focus on the long finish. This is a beauty.

The 2023 Chardonnay Fog Dance is exuberantly aromatic and absolutely delicious. A sweet, plump mid-palate meets with a wash of gently salty acidity as nuances of toasted spice, ginger, golden apple and tarragon gently broaden in the glass. The deft juxtaposition of freshness against weight here is a cut above. 

The 2023 Chardonnay Sevens Bench Vineyard, from Carneros, kicks off with a flicker of struck-match reduction before settling deeply into the palate with a complex array of orange curd, walnut oil, ripe golden apple and chamomile tea. The acidity is nearly buried by the textural heft, and yet the wine keeps marching ahead slowly and intentionally, never once feeling weighed-down. Ultimately, the 2023 is on the understated side aromatically, built more on textural intrigue and internal balance than anything else. It's a style I find wildly attractive.