The 2021 Chardonnay W.S. Keyes Vineyard is terrific. Coming from a site on Howell Mountain, it has bright lemon and tangerine fruit as well as some honeyed, flinty mineral, spice, and savory herb notes. It's medium-bodied, has bright acidity, beautiful balance, and outstanding length. It's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age, and I suspect have 10-12 years of overall longevity.

Love the aromas of currants, sweet tobacco, lead pencil, and hints of redwood. Medium to full body with beautifully integrated tannins that are polished and refined. Fresh and nicely balanced. A beauty. A blend of 94% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot and 1% merlot. So drinkable now.

This is mountain Merlot at its best. The grapes were sourced from a vineyard in Napa’s Howell Mountain AVA that sits at an elevation of 1,600 feet. That altitude keeps daytime temperatures cooler, while the location above the fog line leads to warmer evenings, resulting in a long, slow growing season. The long hang time allows the fruit to develop deep and complex flavors while maintaining acidity. This particular bottle has a nose of rich dark berries with a wisp of pepper and baking spices from oak aging. The acidity and slight tannic grip balance out deep fruit flavors on the palate.

The aromas of pure fruit such as blackberries are really impressive with hints of fresh pine needles. Iron. Sea shell. A refined and polished finish. Creamy at the end. Made from 100% cabernet franc.

A balanced and polished red with berries and chocolate with some walnuts and bark. Medium body with juicy tannins. Polished and savory. Drink or hold.

A distinctive version, with a velvety core of blueberry and blackberry notes that show a touch of huckleberry, accented by fresh rosemary, bay leaf and sage notes, plus details of tobacco, salted black licorice and oolong tea that linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2034. 207 cases made, 100 cases imported. -M.W.

The nose smells of chalk and blood oranges with whiffs of saline and mint. The palate entry is sharply defined luscious peach and apricot and a pervasive jasmine in the core finishing with impression of baking spices and silky acidity. Drink 2023-2027.

Opulence meets restraint in this Mt Brave bottling from the high elevation Mt Veeder AVA in Napa Valley. Aromas of spiced black plums, cinder, smoke and dried floral notes are underpinned by an esoteric mint note. The palate is lush, rich and brooding. Dark plum flesh, Christmas spice and blackberries meld together with rich raisin and chocolate notes. There is a savoury balance that brings acidity to lift the proceedings.

Medium color with a very lovely nose of Bing cherry and earth. Nice. The palate is harmonious and tasty with solid fruit and great balance. Whoa. Outstanding.

Bright aromas of cherry and cranberry are underpinned by white pepper, savory spice and a slight meaty nuance, with a stony, mineral core. Succulent red-berry flavors are lifted by tart acidity on the midweight palate, and a line of chiseled, textural tannins weaves it all together. This is a still tightly wound vintage of High Sands that should evolve nicely with time in bottle, for a decade or more. Sovereign Wine Imports. Cellar Selection. —C.P.

This wine has a deep, dark and tempting core of black fruits and oak spices that is surrounded by the velvety, welcoming texture expected from a Merlot. Blackberries, blueberries, toasted wood and cedar bring out complexity on the palate and linger on the finish. Best through 2030. —J.G.

Supersaturated with black fig and dried cherry aromas, this full-bodied wine dives into more deep, pure and ripe-tasting fruit flavors on the palate, accented by dark chocolate and blueberries. Mild tannins and a full body lend a mouthfilling texture that contributes to a lingering finish. —J.G.

At over 730m the, Christopher's site produces concentrated Cabernet with freshness and lift. It is a rugged vineyard site atop the Stonestreet estate mountain complex—aromas of evergreen bough, chicory root, crushed raspberries, and mineral notes of smashed black stone. The palate shows a density of black fruits lifted by bay leaf, Chinese five-spice, crushed stone minerals and pine tar. It's still coming along at nearly a decade.

From the Upper Barn vineyard at over 480m in the Alexander Valley planted in 1982 to Old Wente clone Chardonnay, old vines in this part of California for Chardonnay. Aromas of roast corn husk, peach fuzz, and savoury herbs flanked with a crushed chalk mineral character. The palate is finely etched in its precision, honeyed apricot, lemon cream and candied ginger with a laser-focused minerality. This Chardonnay is evolving beautifully.

A polished Pinot Noir from the Mendocino County Docker Hill site. Savoury aromatics of mountain herbs with cocoa nibs and blue fruits. The palate shows ample elegance, structure and gorgeous texture. A core of blue fruits, evergreen tips, cocoa nibs, and a finish lifted by fresh mint.

A beautiful, elegant Pinot Noir from the Sta Rita Hills site, John Sebastiano. Silky, textured, and fresh, this wine flashes delicate purity and minerality. Pungent floral aromas of dried violets, sois bois and evergreen tips are accented by seaspray minerality. The palate is a study in beautiful blue fruits, crushed stone and grilled orange peel. This Pinot shows ample depth and a true sense of the wonder of the Sta Rita Hills.

A very pretty, properly Oregon Pinot Noir from Siduri, this Zena Crown vineayrd from 2019 is revelatory. Elegant and finely etched, with lovely, pungent floral aromatics backed by red fruit and spice. The palate shows fleshy berries, basalmic umami character, savoury dried fennel, and thyme accents. Elegance and depth are both on display.

A gorgeous Pinot Noir from the Gran Moraine site shows crushed raspberries on hot stone, cassia bark and dusty gravel. The palate is elegant and refined; delicate red and purple fruits are framed by blue florals; there is a depth of umami character marked by soy, balsamic and wet moss. Wonderful.

This vintage of Ironheart is particularly open and fruit-forward. Luscious blueberry and blackberry preserve aromas are in the fore, underpinned by cedar, spice and licorice. The rich palate is equally voluptuous with plush, silky fruit framed by powerful yet fine tannins and lovely acidity. There’s a raw spiciness that seems to come more from variety and site than the well-tucked oak. Drink now with decanter and a rich protein like roast beef, or cellar another 7-10 years. Jackson Family Wines. Cellar Selection. —C.P.

An evolving red, supple and boasting cherry, raspberry, vanilla, coffee and spice flavors. Fresh and harmonious, fluid on the palate, with fine tannins uplifting the long finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2038. 1,393 cases made, 983 cases imported.

The herbal side of Cabernet Franc is on display in this red -- in the best sense. Delivers grassy, bell pepper and rosemary notes that mingle with black currant, blackberry and licorice flavors. Balanced and long, with the fruit extending on the finish. Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 1,744 cases made, 1,402 cases imported.

Silene is the lowest priced of Capensis’ three Chardonnays, but it's a pretty special white in its own right. Partnering fruit from three sites - two on the Helderberg and one in Banghoek - this is way less oaky than it used to be, showing taut, mouth-watering acidity, a dab of crème fraîche, very subtle wood spices and lots of energy, drive and citrus fruit flavours. 2023-29

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's Vineyard was matured in 79% new oak for 20 months. Its aromas uncoil slowly from blueberry and blackcurrant to finer nuances of bitter chocolate, roasted coffee, cigars, thyme and violets. The full-bodied palate is surprisingly youthful and fresh with concentrated, nuanced fruit, gently softening tannins and a long, mineral-driven finish. 502 cases were made.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is blended with 1.5% Petit Verdot and matured for 20 months in 35% new oak. It's bursting with gregarious blackcurrant, blueberry, mint chocolate and lilac plus touches of cigar ash, licorice and coffee beans. The medium-bodied palate is light on its feet despite its deep core of perfumed fruit, with a frame of grainy tannins and juicy acidity that calls you in for another sip. This is wonderfully easy to drink despite offering plenty of complexity. 8,028 cases produced.

The 2019 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard, matured in 50% new oak for 10 months, is reticent on the nose, taking a lot of time to segue from flint to baked apples, panna cotta and toast. The light-bodied palate features savory flavors complemented by lively acidity, and it has an expansive, spicy finish. Give it another 2-3 years in the bottle. 802 cases were made.