Yangarra’s third vintage of Roussanne aged in concrete egg is a distinctive bottling that shows the purity of the variety. It’s pale yellow in hue, and the nose is perfumed like lavender hand soap, grilled pineapple and ginger. There’s a purity of fruit and acidity on the palate, amid a rich, creamy texture and streaks of salty mineral nuances. Don’t make the mistake of drinking this too cold—just a quick cooldown in the fridge is all it needs. Drink or hold.

This widely available wine is compelling on many fronts. Strong aromas of Key lime pie, Anjou pear, grapefruit pith, chalk and buttercream lead into a generous palate of white peach and smoked nectarine. It’s rich but balanced.

A rich juicy blend of nearly equal parts Merlot, Petite Sirah and Syrah, this wine is generous in cedar, oak and lively black, jammy fruit. Lush on the palate, it’s a crowd-pleaser, outdoor barbecue-kind of red.

This appellation wine impresses in its delivery of supple herbal, earthy and high-toned flavor. Dipped in rhubarb, pomegranate and strawberry, it has the richness of cola and a spicy hit of cinnamon beneath its dense layers of cherry pie.

Julia’s Vineyard was named for Julia Jackson back in 1988, 20 years after the original fog-covered Pinot Noir vines were planted at the Santa Maria site on ancient soils full of fossilized seashells, shale, limestone and sand. The vineyard site is unique in that it boasts one of the longest growing seasons in California, and with that comes consistency of quality. The fruit is always forward here with bright ripe black raspberry and blueberry aromas striped with cranberry, pomegranate, and sweet brown baking spice. A hedonistic, California Pinot Noir that entertains rather than confounds. Salmon, mushroom risotto, roasted chicken all work here. It’s a mix of clones including 4, 2A, 23, 667, 115, 777 and 828 that are barrel-aged for 8 1/2 months in French oak, 31 per cent of which is new.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Lots of red cherries, kirsch, and blackberry notes emerge from the 2018 Pinot Noir Siduri Perry Ranch Vineyard, which shows plenty of stem influence, medium body, bright acidity, and a clean, moderately lengthy style. It builds nicely with time in the glass and is a Burgundian, vibrant Pinot Noir that will be better in 6-12 months and drink nicely for 7-8 years or so.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018There are two releases from Oregon. Starting with the 2018 Pinot Noir Siduri Gran Moraine Vineyard, it has a medium ruby/translucent color to go with a vibrant, juicy array of red plums, violets, candied orange peel, and spice. It's nicely textured, medium-bodied, and has wonderful purity of fruit. Drink it any time over the coming 7-8 years or more.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018More lightly colored, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley comes from a mix of sites in the Russian River and was 80% destemmed and brought up in 25% new French oak. Spiced strawberries, potpourri, candied orange, and lots of spice notes emerge from the glass of this elegant, medium-bodied, nicely textured and fruit-loaded effort. It's ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Light gold-hued with lots of lemon zest, white grapefruit, and a touch of crushed rock-like minerality, the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Knights Valley hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, nicely integrated acidity, and a clean, balanced style. It's not the most complex Sauvignon Blanc in the lineup yet has a classic, balanced, impeccably made style. It's going to shine on the dinner table and should have 2-4 years or more of longevity.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Alexander Valley (89% Sauvignon Blanc, 7% Semillon, and the balance Sauvignon Musque) offers more melon, white peach, and pineapple notes in a richer, more fleshy, textured style. It still has good acidity, terrific purity of fruit, and a deliciously balanced profile that's already a joy to drink.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Slightly more expensive, the 2018 Chardonnay Alexander Valley offers a more pure, classic, and medium-bodied style with impressive white peach, crushed stone, spice, and white flower-like aromas and flavors. It has beautiful balance, good acidity, and a clean finish.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Coming from a handful of sites in the Russian River and brought up in 34% new French oak, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley offers textbook Russian River notes of mulled red and black fruits, spice box, cola, black tea, and autumn leaves. Rounded, medium-bodied, and supple on the palate, with beautiful fruit, drink it over the coming 4-5 years or so.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Moving to the Estate Collection Series, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estates Collection Alexander Valley is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot all from the Alden Park Vineyard in the Alexander Valley. Aged 19 months in 97% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by a structured, medium-bodied Cabernet that has plenty of black cherry and blackcurrant fruits, some spicy oak, plenty of tannins, and outstanding length. It's going to integrate some tannins with 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for a decade.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018Just slightly more expensive, the 2018 Chardonnay Grand Reserve comes all from Santa Barbara County (Los Alamos and Santa Maria) and was basically all barrel fermented and brought up in 76% French and the balance American oak barrels. More Meyer lemon, orange blossom, and honeysuckle notes emerge from the glass, and it has a rich, textured, yet balanced mouthfeel as well as a clean finish. It's another high quality, rock-solid effort from this estate.

Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018White grapefruit, lemon curd, and a kiss of minerality all emerge from the medium-bodied 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Pine Mountain, which has a balanced, elegant texture, good acidity, and a clean finish. It's a quality, satisfying Sauvignon Blanc to enjoy over the coming 2-3 years.

Chardonnay is the second most-planted variety in Napa, following cabernet sauvignon, which represents 40 per cent of total production in the valley. This complex and easy-to-appreciate white draws upon chardonnay grapes grown in different parts of Napa, including cooler sites in Carneros and a higher elevation property on Howell Mountain. The result is a rich white wine that offers vibrancy and refreshment along with its creamy and honeyed character. Drink now.

Winemaker Randy Ullom does an admirable job with this label that graphically is even more boring than its Vintner’s Reserve moniker. That said, it’s a wine that has evolved over the decade and now is very reflective of the new California Chardonnay style and its top-flight fruit sourcing. Don’t worry, it is still lush and sweet-smelling with ripe peaches, a touch of caramel candy and buttercream, but it’s the acidity that sets the tone for the palate and its pineapple, peach, Meyer lemon flavours. Pair with lobster, crab, baked salmon or butter chicken.

This pitch-black colored Cabernet Sauvignon opens a black currant bouquet with hints of black olive, blackberry and black tea. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied, nicely balanced and silky smooth. The flavor is a refined graphite with notes of black olive, black tea, oak and blackberry. I also detected hints black currant mixed in. The finish is dry and its fined grained tannins stick around for quite some time. This Cab benefits from some aeration, so decant it for a bit before enjoying with a well-marbled ribeye over the next couple of years.

Medium ruby color. Bright and fresh aromas of wild raspberries and strawberries, some spice pepper, rose hips and tobacco. Medium-bodied, silky tannins, this has a fresh, crunchy, pretty feel. Vibrant red fruits (raspberries and strawberries) mix well with floral and herb tones (rose petals, clove, bay leaf) with some clay and earth undertones. Vibrant, accessible, yet complex, too. Fermented and aged in concrete, a process I’m a big fan of. It gives this wine airy, lifted aromas and keeps away the coffee and vanilla that would make this wine taste just like 100 other California Pinot Noirs. From winemaker and Siduri founder Adam Lee, this is well-done, exciting stuff for a great price.

Sleek and steely in structure, with precise black cherry, anise and pepper flavors that build toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2025.

Brooding and concentrated, with deep blueberry and blackberry flavors that build tension and structure, accented by stony mineral and sage details on the way to well-buffed tannins. Best from 2022 through 2030.

The grapes for this multi-vineyard bottling come primarily from the Sta. Rita Valley, whose east-west orientation is rare in California where most of the valleys run north-south. Sta. Rita’s orientation allows cool Pacific Ocean influences to reduce temperatures, especially close to the coast, making it an ideal locale for growing Pinot Noir, a grape that prefers lower temperatures to higher ones. Siduri’s Sta. Rita bottling is a fine contrast to their other two, falling somewhere in the middle. Slightly riper and more full-bodied that their Willamette offering, it is more restrained compared to the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, reflecting its cooler environment. This is a great trio. Thanks to Siduri for reminding us that France does not have a monopoly on terroir.

This dark red colored Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley opens with a mild red raspberry and faint Dr. Pepper bouquet with hints of cedar shavings. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, nicely balanced and very smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty red plum with notes of red currant and pomegranate. We also detected some hints of dried herbs. The finish is dry and its flavors and gentle tannins fade away nicely. The Panel suggested pairing this Pinot with a garlic and rosemary pork chop or veal milanese.

This outstanding-barrel selection from the winery is sourced predominantly from the producer’s Alexander Valley estate. Bright, sweetly fleshy peach and candied lemon highlight a robust core of oak and softly integrated tannin, finishing in spice and power.

Made predominantly with Napa Valley grapes, and a supporting cast from Alexander and Knights valleys, this hearty red overdelivers on its price point, offering thick, dusty tannin structure and well-integrated oak. Cedar, tobacco and crushed rock provide earthy, savory elements from which its richness of black cherry contrasts and complements.