Young and vibrant with elegant ripe fruit. Aromatic and nuanced with a savoury earthy tang. Fruit underpinned by fresh acidity. Drink 2023-2030.

Freemark Abbey is on a roll under the Jackson Family Wines banner and winemakers Kristy Melton and Ted Edwards. In 2019 this Napa Valley cabernet opens with rich dark baking chocolate and blackberry. Similar flavours mark the palate with some espresso and reasonably bright acidity that lends a fresh, juicy character to what is a youthful red. It was a mostly perfect year for Napa cabernet, and this warm, spicy red is all you can want at this price point. The final mix is 90% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 2% petit verdot, 2% malbec, and 1% cabernet franc. The fruit comes from all over Napa Valley, led by 33% Okaville, 20% Atalon, 5% Keyes, 2% Sycamore and 40% purchased fruit. It aged 24 months in French oak barrels, of which 41% were new.

The nose is lead pencil, juniper and hard cherry. The palate entry is concentrated black plum with a polished core of baking spice and blossoms finishing with fine acidity. Drink 2023-2028.

The nose is direct, silky mint and tart red fruits. The palate entry is packed with green garden herbs leading to a concentrated day and tobacco core finishing with black cherry and polished acidity. Drink 2023-2028.

The nose is lavender and Luxardo cherries with faint sources of menthol. The palate entry is silky-textured with a polished core of dark fruits accented with herb and blossoms. The finish is tight with graphite and hard plum. Drink 2023-2028.

The nose is subtle wet stone underbrush and juniper with crunchy blueberry. The palate entry is bright and sleek leading to a robust and polished core of plum and cool forest floor finishing with a punctuation of herbal acidity. Drink 2023 – 2028.

The nose is lavender and strawberry with deep silkiness. The palate entry is densely packed Luxardo cherry, herb leading to a velvet-like core of jasmine and tea-like grip. Beautiful wine. Drink 2023 – 2027.

The nose is dusty herb, rose petal and soaked cherries. The palate entry is supple spice, layered cherry, plum and tart cranberry that continue through the core finishing with a dry pink grapefruit. Drink 2023 – 2028.

The nose is crisp, perfumed red fruit backed by notes of buttercream. The palate entry is light and fresh with pomegranate, cranberry and strawberry in the core that are luxuriously interwoven. It finishes with mouth-coating rhubarb and herbs. A very solid wine! Drink 2023 - 2027.

The nose is warm blueberry and plum-filled pastry with baking spice. The palate entry is lithe watermelon, peach and plum with a textured core of baked stone fruit, finishing with silky acidity. Drink 2023-2028.

The nose is briary mineral, rhubarb and spice-kissed blossom. The palate entry offers vibrant red raspberry leading to a savory core of tobacco and brown spices that persist through the finish. Drink 2023-2028.

The nose is rhubarb and plum with notes of graphite. The palate entry is fresh and lively with cranberry crispness leading to a core of wild cherry and tobacco and finishing with a sleek polished feel. Drink 2023-2028.

The nose is concentrated plum, black pepper and cedar with hints of cocoa dust. The palate entry offers youthful acidity to a chocolate and spiced plum core. Overall, the wine is tightly structured with well-integrated tannins. Spit-roasted goat would be great with this. Drink 2023-2030.

The nose is licorice. blueberry and menthol. The palate entry is rich black plum and cherry with a supple core of tobacco and dried plum finishing with silky red fruits. Drink 2023 - 2027.

The nose is a seductive black plum and cherry with a lingering orange-chocolate feel. The palate entry is firm and lengthy with well defined polished red berry acidity in the core. Drink 2022 - 2028.

The nose is cranberry and strawberry with underlying dried herb and licorice. The palate entry offers beautifully-balanced red plum, velvet-like core of black cherry and spice leading to a long, tapering finish. Drink 2023-2032.

The nose is ripe peach and pear with hints of crème brulee and sweet lemon. The palate is rich and vibrant, lemon and butterscotch. The core is an oily textured nut and grain finishing with ripe pear and crisp grapefruit. Drink 2023-2027.

Coastal vineyards from Mendocino and native fermentation produce a concentrated and balanced expression of mountain Zinfandel. Aromas of Christmas spice, cinder and baked blackberry tart introduce this rich Zinfandel from small growers throughout Mendocino County. Lushly fruited, the palate shows concentrated

Dark for a pinot with a candied nose of darker red fruit and a bit of earth. The palate is nicely balanced and finishes well. Very Nice. Excellent. 92 Points.

Fairly dark, with lots of fruit on the nose, rich, dark, and deep. Nice. The palate is loaded with fruit, but the acidity is initially lacking. It comes in on the finish, though, rounding out the wine nicely. Excellent. 92 Points.

This seamless blend of red and white grapes glides across the palate, spreading raspberries, red cherries and red-tea flavors amid subtle acidity and light tannins. The wine has a charming, lively quality that will be easy to pair with food. —J.G.

2021 was a cool vintage in McLaren Vale and this “egg” wine takes its time opening. When it does, the perfume evokes fresh blue and red berries, dried florals, some peppery spice and an autumnal, just-fallen-leaves vibe. The succulent, silky palate is framed in fine, talc-like tannins that never overwhelm the berry fruit or spice. A lift of acidity and long finish take this cool-edged wine to a place that suggests that more time in bottle will reward. Sovereign Wine Imports. Cellar Selection. —C.P.

This complete and well-balanced wine is a pleasure to drink soon, but will also develop more nuances for a few years. Fresh blackberries and blueberries are accented by light vanilla and cinnamon-scented oak spices on a lightly tannic texture. —J.G.

Appetizing aromas of Marcona almond, Greek yogurt and Parmesan cheese immediately waft out of the glass. This varietal Pinot Noir made in the style of a white wine has a unctuously rounded, fleshy body with vivacious acidity that cuts right through the center. The palate adds notes of Meyer lemon, mango, honeydew melon, honeysuckle and agave nectar. Editors’ Choice. —S.B.

This wine lives up to its song name with pronounced, layered aromatic intensity that reverberates with red and black cherry, cacao, crusty toast, red and black plum and black pepper spice. Fine-grained, sandy tannins create a pleasing mouthfeel, while joyous acidity uplifts the nuanced flavors, adding rose and violet potpourri, forest floor, dried wood and nutmeg to the chorus. And with that long, lingering finish— unforgettable, indeed. —S.B.