Fine-grained, featuring muscular dark currant and plum flavors, flanked by mineral and black pepper accents. Firm tannins show on the finish, with bittersweet chocolate notes. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Drink now through 2023.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2018 VintageMade by Greg Brewer, the 2018 Syrah from Ex Post Facto was entirely whole-cluster fermented and aged in very old barrels. It has a medium to deep ruby-purple color and pure scents of cassis, cedar, graphite and bay leaves with touches of milk chocolate and violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied with Goldilocks ripeness and gently savory undertones, finely grained and fresh with a long finish.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2018 VintageThe 2018 Pinot Noir 459 has a medium ruby color and a nose of crushed red and black berry fruits with notes of blueberry, violet and Earl Grey tea leaves plus an undercurrent of angostura bitters. Medium-bodied, it's silky with slowly expanding, super spicy fruits cutting through with juicy freshness, and it finishes long and nuanced.

2018 Santa Lucia Highlands: What a Difference a Year MakesDark, vibrant red. Spice-accented raspberry, cherry cola and potpourri scents take on a smoky aspect as the wine opens up. Thanks to a core of juicy acidity, this wine conveys an impressive blend of power and delicacy to its sweet red and blue fruit, floral pastille and spicecake flavors. Fine-grained tannins come in late on the finish, which hangs on with strong, red-fruit- and floral-tinged persistence.

2018 Santa Lucia Highlands: What a Difference a Year MakesLimpid ruby-red. Vibrant red and dark berry, cherry and floral scents are complemented by hints of pungent flowers and allspice. Sappy and penetrating in the mouth, offering bitter cherry, raspberry and floral pastille flavors that show very good depth and take on a hint of licorice with air. Smooth tannins frame a persistent, spicy finish that leaves black raspberry and candied rose notes behind.

The nose is lean, crisp and resinous lemon enveloped in dry mineral and crushed nuts. The palate entry is a bright and extracted citrus that persists in the core with lengthy acidity that goes a long way to sculpting the character. Finishes with pineapple and pink grapefruit. Drink 2020 - 2027.

The nose takes on a nuttier, richer feel without heaviness. The palate entry is bright green apple, toast with a core of fresh pear. Beautiful, lively texture of fresh acidity and citrus. Drink 2020 - 2027.

Juicy, slick, creamy.Flying under the Jackson Family Wines umbrella (Kendall-Jackson et al) this Chardy, was sourced from multiple vineyard locations, the Ferrington Vineyard, which comprises the majority of the fruit, incorporates separate lots crafted from the Robert Young and Wente clones. It was barrel fermented and aged in 98% neutral (French 95%, American 3%) oak; 2% was new French.Golden fruits and toasted nuts, vanilla, browned butter and baking spice aromas lead to a sensual, creamy palate. Slick and concentrated it tasted of apple butter, warm buttered biscuits and toasty spice, which trails on the finish. Excellent.

Hickinbotham’s Bordeaux varieties are made by Napa Winemaker Chris Carpenter. The latest Merlot is up a quality notch from most Down Under. A mélange of cherry, licorice and scrubby Mediterranean herbs and spices is coated in a cola-driven sheen of polished oak. Lighter than others under this label, this is nonetheless a big wine which captures the juicy red fruit via lifted acidity and well-structured, savory tannins. Drink now–2028.

Freemark Abbey traces its history back to 1886, when it was one of the original 13 wineriesoperating in Napa Valley. The 2015 vintage was produced by winemaker Ted Edwards, whorecently retired after working at Freemark Abbey for 40 years. Full-bodied and richlystructured, this is a serious expression of cabernet, with a core of dark fruit, firm tannins and apersistent finish. It’s built to last. Drink now to 2035.

This is a beautifully composed, ripe and delicious California chardonnay that marries fruit purity and judicious oak. The nose is ripe yellow pear and melon with some florality and lemon. Oak toast, spice and some sap fit in well. It is full bodied yet fresh with fine lemon/orange acidity and some alcohol warmth (14.2%). The finish is dry, the flavour depth is excellent to outstanding.

Rich and luxurious, featuring a full, velvety frame, oozing with notes of milk chocolate, coconut cream pie and nutmeg. The core is fresh and juicy, with cherry flavors. Shows plenty of spice on the long, expressive finish.

Intriguing lines of chamomile, light honey, pear flesh, mandarin pith and wet stone show on the delicate nose of this appellation blend. The palate zings right off the bat with racy acidity and fresh flavors of lemon flesh, baked orange and sliced apple and pear.

Light, shimmering yellow. A highly perfumed nose evokes fresh melon, Meyer lemon, pear nectar, vanilla and succulent flowers, and a smoky mineral nuance emerges as the wine stretches out. Sappy, concentrated and incisive on the palate, offering intense citrus and orchard fruit flavors and chamomile and buttered toast flourishes. A dusty mineral element adds vibrant lift and cut to the impressively long, penetrating finish, which leaves behind a suave floral note. 55% new French oak.

Brilliant straw-gold. Fresh pear, tangerine and melon aromas are joined by ginger, honeysuckle and mineral notes that build in the glass. Juicy, penetrating and focused on the palate, offering concentrated, well-balanced citrus and orchard fruit flavors and suggestions of sea salt and bitter quinine. Shows an intriguing blend of richness and vivacity and finishes with outstanding clarity and strong, mineral-driven tenacity.

Bright ruby-red. Cherry, musky red berries, pungent flowers and a hint of vanilla on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering cherry cola, raspberry and mocha flavors and a subtle touch of savory herbs. Pliant tannins add subtle grip to a very long, penetrating finish that echoes the cherry and floral notes.

Dark garnet. Smoke- and spice-accented red berry, mulberry and rose pastille scents pick up suggestions of allspice and cola with air. Appealingly sweet and seamless on the palate, offering energetic raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors that show building spiciness and a refreshingly bitter edge. Shows fine delineation and finishes with strong, spicy cut and silky, slow-building tannins that fold smoothly into the vibrant fruit.

Deep, glistening garnet. Ripe red berries, candied rose and oak spice on the perfumed nose, along with a smoky element that emerges with aeration. Velvety, sweet and seamless on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors complemented by vanilla and mocha nuances. In a seamless, forward style, showing impressive clarity and smooth, rounded tannins on the long, floral-tinged finish. 63% new oak.

Deep scarlet. A highly aromatic bouquet displays lively raspberry, boysenberry, baking spice and incense qualities, and a sexy floral nuance builds as the wine opens up. Conveys a deft blend of depth and energy, showing seamless texture and vibrant red and blue fruit, rose pastille and spicecake qualities on the palate. Finishes very long and smooth, with discreet tannins and lingering floral and berry notes.

Bright magenta. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, succulent flowers and exotic spices, and a cola nuance emerges with air. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering appealingly sweet cherry, raspberry and boysenberry flavors that are lifted and sharpened by a gently spicy flourish. Finishes very long and smooth, with well-judged tannins and lingering florality.

Glistening ruby. Highly perfumed, mineral- and spice-tinged red berry, cherry cola and incense aromas, joined by a slowly emerging floral nuance. Seamless and nicely concentrated, offering intense black raspberry, bitter cherry, spicecake and rose pastille flavors and a sweetening touch of vanilla on the back half. Finishes spicy and long, displaying a repeating floral note and harmonious tannins that lend subtle grip.

Seductive, generous, supple.This seductive bottle comes from the portfolio of more than three dozen (worldwide) wineries owned by Jackson Family Wines. One harvested primarily from Oakville Reach (Oakville), Keyes (Howell Mountain), Stage Coach Vineyard (Atlas Peak), Bosche Vineyard (Rutherford) and the Sycamore Vineyard (Rutherford) in Napa Valley; it was aged 28.6 months in 60-gallon French oak barrels (35% new). The blend is 75.8% Cabernet (by law to be labeled as such it must contain 75%+ Cabernet Sauvignon) with descending amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc.Freemark Abbey is a generous red, it doles out inky aromas of intense cassis, vanilla, black cherries, licorice, purple floral notes and baking spices. Just as concentrated, the palate delivers dusty dark fruit, savoury spices, toasted oak and chicory with bittersweet cocoa and espresso lingering on a persistent finish. This wine has it all; balance, structure and authority.

Serenely pale lemon in color, richly seductive in aroma and beautifully flavorful on the palate, Matanzas Creek’s 2018 Sauvignon Blanc is wondrous indeed. Its cornucopia of elegantly balanced fruit flavors includes peach, citrus and pineapple plus a thread of stony minerality, while delicate acidity is the quiet but all-important thread stitching everything together. This blend of 89% Sauvignon Blanc, 7.3% Semillon and 3.7% Sauvignon Musque offers pure pleasure.

The 2016 Château Lassègue Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is an fantastic showing which shows a wonderful combination for ripe fruit and earthy twrroir driven character. It begins with a beautiful aromatic profile of ripe blackberries, dark cherries, loam, exotic spices, herbs, and hints if cigar bix that all take shape. On the palate this is medium to full-bodied and nicely structured with gorgeous polished tannins that create a wonderful texture. It goes on to display excellent depth, with a ripe core focused around dark fruit and exotic spices that continue to expand beautifully into the supple finish. While this is absolutely delicious now, it also has plenty of potential to age gracefully for years to come.

This very dark ruby and slightly opaque Merlot based wine from Lasseque is a big boy. It opens with a pomegranate, mild cedar, wet stone and black currant bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced and savory. The flavor profile is a mineral influenced black currant with notes of cedar and black cherry. The hints of anise, black tea and a touch of Alessi Balsamic reduction sauce. The finish is dry and its tannins build-up and last for a very long time. It reminded me of a very good Petit Verdot even though there is none in it. This wine needs to be decanted in the near term. You can then serve it with a well-marbled steak or Roy’s rib roast.