Good deep ruby. Crushed blackberry, graphite and licorice on the nose. Lush and seamless in the mouth, but with no easy sweetness to the chewy flavors of black fruits and minerals. The least sweet of these Stonestreet reds but this offers impressive mouth coverage. Finishes with substantial dense tannins that call for at least seven or eight years of cellaring.
(from vines at 1,800 feet): Bright straw-yellow. Nuanced nose offers peach, apricot, lime and anise. Supple and gently fruity, with a glycerol quality leavened by bright acidity. Became silkier with air but without losing its edge of acidity. This highly concentrated and very long chardonnay needs some time in bottle to harmonize its sweet and acid components.
Dark ruby-red. Musky, reduced aromas of black cherry and dark berries. Surprisingly plush and ripe on entry, then tighter in the middle, showing medicinal restraint to the dark berry flavors. This very dry, backward wine finishes with serious tannins that will require patience.
Ruby-red. High-pitched aromas of black raspberry, licorice, bitter chocolate, violet and menthol. Silky on entry, then dry and classic in the middle, with kirsch and dark berry flavors lifted by violet and licorice. Really spreads out and builds on the back. Powerful without being brawny or unrefined, this very young cabernet avoids the hard tannins that characterize so many Spring Mountain reds.
Saturated deep ruby. Crushed black fruits and minerals on the lively nose. The densest and richest of these 2006s, with a compelling sweetness to its extremely primary dark fruit and bitter chocolate flavors. Not yet complex but has terrific stuffing to support its big, chewy, broad tannins. Lay this one down.
Full ruby. Briary dark berries, licorice and tar, lifted by a floral nuance. Impressively concentrated but tightly wound and backward, with powerful flavors of briary berries, chocolate and truffle. Finishes with chewy, firm tannins and excellent aromatic persistence. This has turned out very well, but calls for at least five or six years of bottle aging.
Glass-staining ruby. Brooding dark berry, kirsch and licorice aromas and flavors are enlivened by a zesty blood orange nuance and an intense floral quality. Dense and chewy in texture initially but softens and becomes livelier with aeration. Shows excellent power and focus on the finish, which is firmed by dusty tannins and a touch of smoky minerality. The yield from this vineyard was reportedly under a half ton per acre in 2012.
Bright red. Exotic red and dark berry compote, cherry-cola and potpourri aromas are complicated by smoky minerals and herbs. Fleshy, seductively sweet raspberry and candied cherry flavors are strikingly pure and concentrated, with silky tannins adding support. Gains weight with air and finishes with excellent clarity and persistence. Put this one away for a couple of years, at least.
Deep red. Brooding aromas of cherry pit, licorice, dried rose and dark chocolate. Powerful, palate-coating dark fruit flavors slowly unfold to display sexy baking spices and flowers. The licorice note repeats strongly on the finish, which hangs on with great tenacity. I'd give this some time in the decanter or cellar.
Pale lemon-yellow. High-pitched aromas of orange blossom, lemon and minerals. Bright, lively and intense, with citrus, nectarine and stone flavors nicely framed by strong but well-integrated acidity. Very juicy, tautly structured chardonnay with a youthfully firm, lingering finish. I like this!
This Cabernet Sauvignon begins with earthy notes that lead to a savory palate, where balanced flavors of blackberry jam and hints of oak spice blend to create a flavorful character. Layers of dried herbs emerge on the satisfying, peppery finish. Sovereign Wine Imports.
Lush and fruity, showing plums and black cherries, slightly reductive, with a whiff of violets and subtle spices. Medium-bodied with a supple attack as well as firm, somewhat dusty tannins and long, juicy acidity. Drink or hold.
Oyster shell, honeydew rind, lime candy, and grass aromas make for a complex, zesty nose on this bottling. The palate is zippy and grassy as well, almost like a Sauv Blanc, showing brisk lime zest flavors.
The 2022 Windracer SeaLift Vineyard Pinot Noir from the West Sonoma Coast shows a medium to dark blue ruby core edged by a neon pink rim, with aromas of dried violets, blue plum, macerated strawberries, juniper berries, and a touch of cedary herbs rising vividly from the glass. The palate carries generous blue fruit and tangerine oil notes supported by fine-grained tannins and moderate plus acidity, creating a balanced, expressive finish
The 2023 Siduri SeaLift Vineyard Pinot Noir from the West Sonoma Coast was aged for 14 months in 10% new French oak and reveals a brooding yet elegant personality. Scents of red currant, wild blueberry, and dried sage drift from the glass alongside hints of crushed stone and subtle cinnamon bark. The palate is bold and structured, showing layers of dark raspberry, plum compote, and earthy undertones that unfold with firm but refined tannins. Notes of clove and cocoa linger as the wine tapers to a smooth, savory finish. 154 cases made.
The 2024 Siduri Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley opens with supple poise, its ruby hue leading into notes of mountain blueberry, red currant, crushed thyme, violet flower, and a flicker of white pepper. Medium-bodied and finely shaped, this Pinot carries a savory, lifted freshness through gracious fruit, delicate herbal tension, and a brisk, composed finish.
The 2024 MATANZAS CREEK WINERY Taylor Peak Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County opens with lifted white peach, tangerine peel, and acacia, shaped by a cool maritime snap. A clean, saline thread carries notes of gooseberry, honeydew, and crushed fennel seed through a brisk, polished finish.
The 2022 Matanzas Creek Winery Red Wine from Alexander Valley carries its Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon blend with finesse, moving through black plum, Morello cherry, crushed boysenberry, and clove-laced warmth. Supple and layered, it feels poised rather than showy, with savory undertones, refined tannins, and a graceful finish that keeps unfolding with time in the glass.
The 2022 Matanzas Creek Winery Merlot from Alexander Valley shows a composed, medium-plus frame, shaped by hillside fruit, measured French oak, and a supple core of black plum, red currant, cocoa nib, and bay leaf. Polished and confident, it carries balanced acidity and fine-grained tannins through a rounded finish that keeps the wine generous without losing its poised Alexander Valley character.
The 2022 La Crema Saralee's Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley carries a polished, medium-bodied frame, with fine-grained tannins shaping flavors of black raspberry, pomegranate, Chinese five-spice, and damp, cedary herbs. Its ripe ruby color suggests youthful freshness, while the palate remains graceful and composed, finishing cleanly.
The 2022 La Crema Fog Veil Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley carries its coastal imprint through supple breadth and bright tension, layering black cherry, forest floor, bay leaf, and rose hip across a satin-textured frame. Full-bodied yet composed, it finishes with polished restraint, where cedar, wild plum, and savory herbs gather into a graceful, sea-cooled finish.
The 2022 La Crema Pinot Noir from Los Carneros is polished, carrying black raspberry, red plum, dried sage, and cedary herbal notes over a savory frame. Fine tannins and measured acidity shape the mouth-filling palate, where Morello cherry, blood orange, steeped tea, and cacao move toward a composed, lingering finish.
The 2022 La Crema Tidal Break Vineyard Chardonnay from the West Sonoma Coast opens with a cool, coastal cut, carrying tangerine, quince, and yellow pear through a supple, gently rounded frame. A thread of crushed rock and candied lemon shapes the mouthwatering finish, keeping the wine polished, bright, and delicious.
The 2022 La Crema Saralee's Vineyard Chardonnay from Russian River Valley carries its barrel-fermented richness with poise, framing baked pear, tangerine oil, chamomile, toasted hazelnut, and a cool streak of crushed chalk. Full-bodied and satin-textured, La Crema Saralee's Vineyard feels generous without heaviness, its 35% new French oak adding polish to a rounded, graceful finish.
The 2022 La Crema Kelli Ann Vineyard Chardonnay from Russian River Valley shows a lustrous, full-bodied style, shaped by ripe orchard fruit, baked yellow apple, quince, toasted almond, and a thread of clove. Drawn from Eastside Road vines planted in 1989, it carries its golden richness with clean acidity, finishing with vanilla cream, lemon curd, and a moderate length.