The 2022 Chardonnay Pas de Nom slowly develops in the glass as coaxing reveals nuances of vanillin spice, chalk dust and freshly sliced yellow apples. Silken and round, it is almost weighty in feel, with cooling acidity to balance and pure white pit fruits swirling throughout. A hint of almond paste lingers as the mouth waters for more while a subtle sour citrus twang adds a pleasant punctuation.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Zena Crown is dusty and floral on the nose, slowly evolving with nuances of sage and rose petals that give way to crushed blackberries. Lifted and finessed, it offers pretty violet inner florals and ripe red and black fruits elevated by a core of tactile minerals. The finish shows admirable length, a pleasantly chewy sensation and a bitter hint of red plum pinched at the cheeks.

The 2022 Chardonnay Willamette Valley lifts from the glass with a pretty blend of wildflowers, candied lime, chamomile and white peach. Seductively round, it offers a contrasting mix of ripe orchard fruit and salty mineral tones that pepper the senses. Lemony concentration puckers the cheeks and leaves the mouth watering for more.

The 2022 Chardonnay Estate Cuvée is sweetly floral, as a whiff of vanilla custard, white flowers and raw almond gives way to vivid nectarine. Wonderfully pure in style, it sweeps across the palate with silken textures and polished ripe pit fruit, all supported by brisk acidity. A gentle mineral tinge and nuance of tart lime linger, tapering off with excellent length and clarity.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée blossoms in the glass as dried black cherries and raspberries mingle with nuances of blood orange and rosemary. cool-toned and graceful, it displays bright red berry fruits and rosy inner florals, underscored by tactile mineral tones. Balanced structural heft from the tannins and concentration remains as a hint of tart licorice fades.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate Cuvée blossoms in the glass as dried black cherries and raspberries mingle with nuances of blood orange and rosemary. cool-toned and graceful, it displays bright red berry fruits and rosy inner florals, underscored by tactile mineral tones. Balanced structural heft from the tannins and concentration remains as a hint of tart licorice fades.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Conifer opens with alpine freshness, as nuances of freshly
split pine, mint and stone dust complicate dried strawberries. Juicy in character,
it features soft textures that give way to ripe wild berry fruits and violet inner
orals, all supported by tantalizing acidity. Blue and purple oral tones echo as
spice fades through the gently tannic nale.

A robust and confident Cabernet Sauvignon, this offers flavors of dark fruit, dried tobacco and a touch of grapefruit pith, filling the mouth with powdery-fine, palate-coating tannins. Balanced acidity carries the wine into a profoundly long finish. —E.C.B.

Sourced entirely from Clone 1 Sauvignon Blanc, all fruit was picked on the same day. The
lot is primarily estate-grown from St. Helena, with 16% sourced from Longwood Vineyard
just north of Coombsville. As part of an experimental approach, the wine was made
without oak or malolactic fermentation and split into four separate fermentations at
different temperatures to highlight varying levels of fruit ripeness. Bottled just five months
after harvest, the wine shows impressive freshness and clarity. The texture is surprisingly
rich, with excellent depth and a vivid saline-acid mineral tension. Aromatically lifted with
white flowers and zesty citrus, the palate follows through with bursts of tropical fruit and a
long, spicy finish. Balanced and precise throughout.

This year’s blend is composed of 63% Bosche Vineyard and 27% Sycamore Vineyard, aged
for 20 months in 64% new French oak. The wine is especially generous in this vintage, with
tannins that carry a distinctly chocolatey quality—almost matching the darkness of the oak
itself. Cocoa notes wrap around a rich core of blueberry and blackberry fruit, mingling with
espresso bean and a deeply perfumed character on the palate. Ripe fig notes emerge and
carry through the long, polished finish.

Minerally and detailed, with wet stones, graphite, dark cherries, blackcurrants, licorice, cocoa and black olives on the nose. Compact and seamless on the palate, with firm tannins and a dusty texture that leaves a chalky, minerally impression. Focused and balanced. Drink or hold.

Attractive nose of beautiful fruit, earth, spices and a nutty edge. Medium- to full-bodied and intense. It’s not overpowering but laser-focused, with firm tannins pushing through the long, bright and layered finish. Complex and delicious. Drink or hold.

A darkly fruited, graceful wine with structured tannins. Aromas of plums and wild blackberry bush, with juicy flavors of earth and black cherries on the palate. The finish is dry with fine and lingering tannins. Medium-bodied. Drink or hold.

An elegant, complex, medium-bodied and dark-fruited wine. Plum skin, dried cranberries, blackberries and baking spices on the nose. The palate shows flavors of bitter cacao and minerals with silky tannins. Drink or hold.

A scorched apple wood note runs from start to finish along the flanks of a core of steeped blackberry and boysenberry fruit. Licorice snap and tar details pump underneath. Definitely on the toasty/extracted side stylistically, but this offers a rare display of balanced power, depth and definition in this vintage. Best from 2025 through 2036. —J.M.

Offering a dark profile of boysenberry and blackberry fruit, this is fleshy and focused, with anise and apple wood, plus a hint of fruitcake, underscoring the finish. Shows length as the fruit easily keeps pace through the finish thanks to a modest hand with the toast. - J.M.

This is fairly dense in feel, but with energy amid its core of dark boysenberry and blackberry compote. Pretty notes of iris and licorice snap fill in as a strong spine of roasted apple wood provides support, with a subtle twinge of balsam wood along the edges. A strong effort. Drink now through 2037. —J.M.

The estate’s first of two Gran Selezione is born in La Porta vineyard, planted in 1998 with nine different clones of Sangiovese. Poor stony soil is naturally low yielding, giving small, concentrated clusters and berries. True to its signature, the 2022 pours deep, dense ruby. It is just as intense in aroma, dispersing coffee, potting soil, mushroom and black currants. Vigorous and full yet ultimately balanced, the palate boasts a juicy core of toothsome blackberries, and its firm, stony tannins are well polished. Stylised and easy to understand without sacrificing complexity or a certain sense of place, it even evokes a wild dustiness.

The 2022 Merlot from Mt. Brave is a gorgeous Mount Veeder release that's 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 22 months in 74% new French oak. Juicy red and black berries, leafy herbs, resinous notes, leather, baking spice, and hints of chocolate all emerge from the glass. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it offers a round, lush mouthfeel with ample mid-palate depth, impressive purity, and finesse. This beautifully made Merlot will drink well for 15+ years.

The 2022 La Jota Merlot W.S. Keyes Vineyard is a brilliant Howell Mountain release that showcases
the power of mountain fruit paired with a notable sense of elegance and finesse. A blend of 80%
Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 22 months in 77% new French oak, this full-bodied wine
delivers a gorgeous array of red plums, dark cherries, dark chocolate, scorched earth, and baking
spices. It's concentrated and rich on the palate, yet maintains a beautifully balanced, focused, and
elegant mouthfeel. There are plenty of tannins here, but they're matched by the wine's
concentration, richness, and texture. This impressive effort from winemaker Chris Carpenter will
benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and drink beautifully over the following 15 years

Some California Sauvignons fall short by trying to be all things to all people, but this one deftly balances a grassy, citrus-driven style with riper melon flavors. Medium-bodied but still quite fresh without turning overly tart, it is equally well suited to stand-alone sipping or enjoyment at the table with relatively light foods.

The 2023 Chardonnay Sevens Bench Vineyard is a bright golden yellow hue and is another lifted wine on the nose. It has more sunniness in the glass, with hints of corn kernel, smoky wet stones, pineapple rind, honeycomb, and tangerine. Medium to full-bodied with a more elegant, weightless feel on the palate, it floats delicately on the finish with notes of sweet citrus and hints of vanilla. Drink 2025-2032.

Another appellation wine, the 2023 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is a bright golden yellow color and offers notes of poached yellow apples, toasted spice, almond, chamomile, and lemon curd. The palate is full-bodied and elegant, as is characteristic of this vintage, and has an even and floating feel on the finish. It’s ripe and has a more pithy texture, but it’s well-detailed and more immediate. Well-suited for restaurants, it should drink well now or over the coming 5-6 years.

Another Oregon wine from the Eola-Amity Hills in the Willamette Valley, the 2023 Pinot Noir Warrior Princess is a bright ruby hue with a light watery rim. The nose opens to focused and mineral-inflected aromas of wet stones, petrichor, wild raspberries, fresh spices, and floral perfume. The palate is taut and focused, with finely coiled tannins, mouthwatering acidity, and a clean, tapering finish. Drink 2025-2033.

A bright ruby/magenta color, the 2023 Zinfandel Jolene's Vineyard is fresh with notes of wild berries, hints of blue and red fruits, and vanilla spice. The palate is more medium-bodied, with bright acidity and a refreshing feel. Drink 2025-2033.