Muscular and firm in structure, with brooding black currant, mineral and savory anise flavors that build tension toward broad-shouldered tannins.

Mixed cherries and forest berries are plush and supple in texture. Yet that pliancy doesn’t detract from the bones, the polished fruit, the carob and the gently aromatic lift that stretches with generosity, minerals and well-calibrated acidity. Drink or hold.

This has a succulent texture, remaining pure and long throughout. Salinity, minerals and springtime blossoms stay taut alongside lemons and crunchy orchard fruit with a lingering kick of tactile melon pith. Drink or hold.

Anise-lifted mixed cherries and berries follow through to a generous yet precise palate. A dusting of crunchy minerals over turned earth, hibiscus and red tea, along with a zip of blood-orange acidity, leaves a bracing impression. Drink or hold

Seamed with saline minerality and fleshed out with mixed cherries and thyme, this silky pinot shows just how detailed appellation-labeled wines from Santa Barbara can be. The finish lingers with brambleberries embraced by tealike tannins, ending on a savory note. Drink or hold.

Hibiscus and herbal aromas mark this detailed pinot noir, following through to a palate of definition, length and mineral bones that frame cranberries, pomegranate, red cherries and their pits. Rose hips rise through the finish, a zip of orange zest on top. Drink or hold.

The 2023 Siduri Chardonnay from Sonoma County was aged 10 months in 20% new French
oak with a small portion in stainless steel, giving it both freshness and subtle richness. It
shows a glowing pale core with a silvery edge, elegant in the glass. Aromas of yellow peach,
pineapple rind, and wild blossoms are layered with stony mineral undertones. The palate is
silky and expressive, finishing with lingering stone fruit that carries brightness and charm. A
beautifully made Chardonnay that overdelivers. 100 cases produced.

The 2023 Siduri Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands was aged 10 months in 25% new
French oak, bringing refinement to its lively fruit. It displays a pale ruby-purple core with a
faint blue-tinted rim. Scents of boysenberry, citrus peel, and cedar spice emerge alongside
dried herbs. The palate emphasizes blue-toned fruit and floral lift, balanced by firm yet
polished tannins and a streak of brisk acidity. Medium in weight but layered in character,
this Pinot offers freshness and depth with an elegant finish. 360 cases produced.

Not far behind the superlative 2021, Mt Brave's 2022 Cabernet Franc Mt. Veeder delivers
notes of blackberries, sage and bay. It's not that floral, but it's intricate and herbal, with a
silky, medium- to full-bodied feel on the palate and a long, concentrated finish.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is more than 90% Cabernet Sauvignon,
with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Twenty-two
months in 77% new French oak has given a cedary veneer to the ripe cherries and hint of
pine on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is plush and velvety without being soft,
approachable but with enough substance to keep things interesting sip after sip, with a
long, richly textured finish.

La Jota's 2022 Merlot Howell Mountain includes 14% Petit Verdot, something winemaker
Chris Carpenter describes as "a yin and yang combination." Scents of ripe cherries, pine
needles and mocha appear on the nose, while the medium- to full-bodied palate is rich,
velvety-textured and tannic. It's a powerful, concentrated Merlot, with a long, flavorful
finish.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana was matured for 15 months in 85% new French oak. It has slowly unfurling scents of blueberry, black cherry and blackcurrant plus nuances of cigar box, graphite and violet. The full-bodied palate is powerfully styled with concentrated, spicy flavors and generous new-oak character. It’s framed by abundant, grainy tannins and bright acidity and has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar.

Made from 100% Pinot Noir that was completely destemmed and aged just three months in
neutral barrels, the 2024 Pinot Noir boasts a ruby, semi-opaque color and gives up juicy
blackberry, mulberries, peppery herbs, and sappy, floral-driven notes. Medium-bodied, pure, and
juicy on the palate, it has an incredibly supple, seamless mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and
ripe tannins. This is one heck of a value, offering plenty of richness and ripeness while staying
balanced, light on its feet, and weightless. Drink 2025-2030.

Based on 100% Syrah that was not destemmed and was aged in neutral barrels, the 2023 Syrah Perilune is medium to full-bodied, bright and juicy, with cool-climate black and blue fruits, pepper, sappy green herbs, and sage. It's fresh, focused, has ripe yet present tannins, and outstanding length. Give it a year or two to round into form and enjoy bottles over the following decade. Drink 2026-2036.

A pure Swartland Syrah from three blocks on the granite-dominated soils of the
Jakkalsfontein vineyard, this was fermented with 20% whole bunches before ageing in
neutral oak. Structured, racy, pure and intense, it has layers of clove, pepper and hot
stones and a core of blackberry and liquorice. 2

Silene uses grapes from three comparatively cool sites in Stellenbosch and is the cheapest
of Capensis' outstanding range of Chardonnays. Fermented in 30% new oak, as well as
Austrian foudres, it has subtle wood spices, some cream from full malolactic, peach and
citrus fruit flavours and a balanced finish.

The 2024 Viognier Tepusquet Vineyard has tons of character. Exuberant floral top notes, perfumed orchard fruit and deep mineral tension join together in harmonious fashion, while mouthwatering acids enliven the finish. The 2024 boasts truly impressive complexity for the variety. Very well done.

Supple yet elegantly structured, offering savory ripeness. The vibrant acidity is framed by raspberry, guava, orange peel and dusky spice notes as this gathers richness and focus on the finish. Drink now through 2033.

The 2024 Chardonnay is, yet again, a gorgeous, singular wine with so much regional identity and soul, especially at its ridiculously low price point. There's fabulous weight and density here, eschewing varietal signature in favor of floral lift, creamy, oily yet weightless textures, and a long, salt-lick of a finish. This is such an impressively high-quality wine at this scale of production (40,000 cases).

The 2023 Pinot Noir Perilune delivers lifted red fruit, cranberry, spice and blood orange tones. Suave and sophisticated, it washes across the palate with precision and breadth, finishing cleanly with a marine-inflected note of Japanese nori. This is very classic Sta. Rita Hills, accented by an extra push of bright fruit.

The 2023 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is open-knit,

The 2023 Chardonnay Hapgood opens with bright, focused, crystalline aromas of grapefruit peel, lemon oil, chalk and white flowers. Saline energy accelerates down the centerline of the mid-palate, driven by a spine of tense, focused acidity. The balance here is unquestionable.

Sweetly aromatic with freshness and florality, with cherries, some green herbal hints and a touch of tar. The palate is very bright with a juicy quality to the sweet berry and cherry fruit, with some silkiness as well as a hint of greenness on the finish. Powerful but still vibrant.

Nice dense, sweet spicy berry and cherry fruits. Has some warmth with a touch of blackcurrant character. Dense and quite well structured with a core of sweet fruit and some warm, slightly dusty spiciness on the finish, which is a little warm. Developing in a nice way.