Ripe raspberry, concentrated cherry, and lemon zest aromas waft from the glass on the nose of this wine. The palate balances zippy acid and plush tannin with flavors of berry coulis, plum jam, cinnamon, and flowers that linger for over a minute on the finish. Drink this just because you can.

Bombastic aromas of black plum jam, boysenberry, and dark chocolate highlight the nose of this wine. The palate balances rich tannin and zesty acidity with flavors of baked cherry, anise, cinnamon, and purple flowers all along the finish.

Deep, concentrated aromas of black currant confiture, boysenberry pie, allspice, orange sherbet and toasty vanilla arise on the nose of this wine. The palate delivers ripe strawberry-pomegranate, rhubarb, orange vanilla cream, cardamom, and a dry finish with grippy tannins. Cellar until 2035 or aerate and enjoy.

Sobranes is a site that abuts Garys’ site, and is farmed by the same families, Pisoni and Franscioni. This is a 667 clone that comes from two blocks, one upper and one below. Matt uses about 10% whole cluster here; it's an accent, not the star. It helps give spice, grip, and tannin to the fruit-centric wines from Sobranes, 25% new French oak for 10 months. Gravel dust, rose petals and sea salt. Ripe boysenberry, and saline, gravelly freshness.

Rosella's from a really mild vintage here; this was picked in early to mid-October. Floral and bright, yet beguilingly intense on the nose. This was from an old block of 828 clone Pinot Noir, with a little bit of lower-slope 115 clones; it sees 14 months in 40% new French oak. Lighter, even Chardonnay-like toasting, intense power, and a core of saline and savoury herbs. Ripe on the palate, with dark berries, smoky Moroccan spice, and crushed stone, with a roasted sea salt finish.

This is from the more elegant vintage. Sobranes bottling comes from Sobranes, a site that abuts Garys'667 clone, which comes from two blocks, one upper and one below. Matt uses about 10% whole cluster. It shows an intensity with dried strawberry fruit leather, candied raspberries, loaded with sea salt and a silken tannin. Delicious and complex with savoury flavours that last a long time.

This wine is a unicorn, it was only made once, in the 2023 vintage, given its elegance, a nod to the regional farmers, the founding winemakers and the long-time fans of Siduri. Elegance abounds with rose petals, smoke and gravelly dust. Salty and sage-driven, with loads of red bramble fruits and amaro herbals.

Garys' is a rare combination of power with balanced acids. There is plenty of juicy fruits, with savoury tannin and the region's signature smoked sea salt. 15% whole cluster 14 months in about 40% new French oak. It's a ripe and bold wine in many ways, given accents of floral and salty minerality that give it a nice crunch and structure. There's plenty of freshness here that balances the region's fruit and power.

From an old-vine, coolclimate vineyard near the Pacific Ocean, this wine offers aromas of red plum, Bing cherry, strawberry, red currant, allspice, and sedimentary rock. Rich flavors on the palate deliver red stone fruit, raspberry, strawberry, plum, and crushed rock throughout the palate. The 2023 vintage in California is one to buy and cherish, Cellar until 2035, or decant and enjoy.

This Zin brings aromas of crushed red raspberry, licorice, and cherry liqueur on the nose. The palate offers zippy acidity and plush tannin, with flavors of berry coulis, purple flowers, and cinnamon on the finish.

Concentrated aromas of red raspberry, cherry liqueur, spiced plum, and toasty spices jump from the glass on the nose of this wine. The palate delivers plush tannin, balanced acid, and flavors of plum compote, cherry skin, licorice, and purple flowers before a long and supple finish.

Originally conceived as a project focused solely on Chardonnay, Capensis has now
introduced its first red wine, the Capensis 2023 Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Silene,
which I tasted at the Cape Town 2025 wine fair. Sourced from Helderberg, located between
Somerset West and False Bay, the wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot
and 6% Cabernet Franc, though it is varietally labeled as Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark fruit
flavors are layered with light spice and a subtle note of grilled herbs or lavender, all carried
by the freshness that defines this maritime-influenced site. Aged for 14 months in French
oak with 35% new wood, the wine reflects a season marked by significant rainfall in 2023,
making careful vineyard work essential on the Helderberg’s wind-cooled slopes and welldrained decomposed granite soils.

Evolving into its own distinct identity within the portfolio, the Capensis 2023 Stellenbosch
Silene Chardonnay reveals zippy acidity, bright tropical fruit and a strong sense of
freshness. The winemaking mirrors the established Capensis approach, with élevage in
larger-format foudre and new vessels being introduced from Stockinger. There is an
immediate reductive snap on opening, reinforcing the wine’s tension and energy, while the
maritime influence and decomposed granite soils of Stellenbosch contribute clarity.
Production will drop in 2024 due to wind damage during flowering. The 2023 vintage proved
terrific for whites, thanks to later ripening conditions, though the season’s rainfall made it
more challenging for red varieties.

Most of the grapes were sourced from vineyards with a maritime influence in Stellenbosch,
producing a Chardonnay that has a fresh aroma with subtle fruit notes and a hint of
saltiness. These saline notes carry through on the palate, where they blend with flavors of
peaches and hints of flowers. The long finish is elevated by herbal touches. Sovereign Wine
Imports. —J.V

Dark and packed with black cherry, blackberry, cassis, iron and tobacco flavors, this red reveals the muscular side of Chianti Classico from a hot, dry vintage. Dissolves into a ripe, well-balanced aftertaste, with a lasting impression of sweet fruit. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2028 through 2043.

Dark and packed with black currant, blackberry, violet, iron and spice aromas and flavors, this red is inviting but nonetheless solidly built, with a layer of dense, dusty tannins plying the finish. Pure and intense. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2028 through 2042.

The 2024 White Blend is a curious blend of 80% Assyrtiko, 19% Sémillon and 1% Malvasia Bianca, all from the Alexander Mountain estate. It’s outrageously distinctive and flat-out delicious. There’s so much texture here. Chalky, grippy, zippy and lifted, the 2024 oozes character. White flowers, sour orange, white pepper and lemon oil pop from the glass. What an expressive, engaging white.

The 2022 Chardonnay Zayante Vineyard is a richer, riper style for the Santa Cruz Mountains, certainly amplified by the warm growing season. Fermented and aged in barrel for six months, then finished in stainless for a further six, the 2022 delivers layers of apricot, orange curd and honeyed tropical fruit. A thin line of mouthwatering acids enlivens the finish, closing with a spark of toasted spice. Very well done, and particularly well balanced.

This is flush with vivid boysenberry and cherry puree notes infused with a violet accent. The finish is pure in feel as this streams through, with a subtle rose hip twinge to keep everything grounded. Drink now through 2031. 316 cases made.

Cherry and raspberry coulis notes are pure, fresh and lengthy as they hold sway over flecks of rose hip and dried anise. A subtle sandalwood frame lets everything play out prettily through the unadorned finish. Drink now through 2031. 164 cases made.

Sports nicely focused energy as its core of cherry, raspberry paste and pomegranate streams along, picking up singed apple wood and rose hip hints. A late accent of hibiscus adds further range, and there’s structure for the cellar. Drink now through 2032. 323 cases made

An expressive style, with a rather showy core of gently mulled boysenberry and raspberry fruit infused with black tea, warmed anise and incense. Sparkly acidity is inlaid nicely, lending this clarity and focus through the finish. Drink now through 2032. 348 cases made.

Bright and succulent, with a mix of vivid boysenberry and raspberry fruit laced liberally with iris and hibiscus notes. The fruit keeps its energy as a gently singed anise detail echoes through the finish. Drink now through 2032. 2,132 cases made.

More earthy and savory than the Sable Mountain Vineyard Pinot, 2023 Pinot Noir Skycrest Vineyard gets more into the gravelly, forest side of the variety, red-fruited and tangy in acidity. From one of the highest blocks of the nearly 2,000-feet elevation site, there’s elegance and prettiness to this medium-bodied wine amidst its complex intensity and length, with only 36% new oak for nine months of aging. I’d give this a few more years in bottle and enjoy best 2028-2035.