The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1986. Matured for 20 months in 46% new French oak. It floods the senses with pure scents of cassis, licorice, sage, violet, pencil shavings and exotic spices. The full-bodied palate is bursting with generous, open-knit flavors. It’s framed by powdery tannins and refreshing acidity and has a long, mint-laced finish. It should be long lived in the cellar. 497 cases were made.

The 2022 Chardonnay Upper Barn Vineyard was matured for 10 months in 38% new French oak. It has slowly unfolding aromas of matchstick, baked peaches and apples, fresh bread, honey and spice. The full-bodied palate is ripe and concentrated with flinty flavors and generous yet well-integrated oak. It’s balanced by vibrant acidity and has a long, spicy finish. 423 cases were made.

This delicate and perfumed pinot is a blend of equal parts from five single-vineyard
bottlings. Aromas of maraschino cherries, crushed stones, hibiscus, violets and flowers.
The palate is mid-weighted with tightly wound tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of
blackberry bushes, blueberries, red apple skins and spices. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

A blend of lots from five single-vineyard bottlings, this chardonnay sits on the edge of
reduction, with aromas of flint, phosphorus, lemon pith, grapefruit rind, chalk and orange
blossoms. The palate is mid-weighted and textural, with a strong mineral drive and a high
level of polish, leading into a mouthwatering finish. All the flashiness of the single-vineyard
wines at a more approachable price. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Juicy and vivid with energy and aromatic complexity, hibiscus and blood oranges riding above forest floor. The mineral-seamed, bright and concentrated core of forest berries and wild strawberries is spiced with star anise, finishing with a sweep of salinity. Drink or hold.

The presence of approximately 90% stems is clear on the nose and palate, the resulting grip making for an impressively structured appellation cuvee. Yet the fruit is juicy with cherries, cherry pits, tealike tannins and aromatic woodsy spices with rose hips and juniper, all singing through the midpalate and finish. Drink or hold.

Pristine aromas and flavors of lemons, limes, crushed seashells and a saline character through the tart green-apple finish. Liquid sunshine and energy. Drink or hold.

Wild strawberries, rhubarb and red tea are carried on an elegant, vivid and lengthy frame, the tannins tingling with minerals and licorice. A bit of Earl Grey tea sweeps in on the savory, mouthwatering finish. While delicious already, it promises many years of evolution ahead. Drink or hold.

Enveloping aromas and flavors of black raspberries and Amarena cherries with a dusting of pepper are joined by mocha, loamy earth, star anise, steeped tea and a core of minerality. Very well-balanced acidity with a long, sappy finish. Drink or hold, but patience will be rewarded.

The 2023 Siduri Zena Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley is crafted from
the 667 clone and matured for 14 months in 30% new French oak. It shines with a glowing
ruby-blue center and a vivid red rim. Aromas unfold with wild huckleberry, dried herbal
tones, holiday spice, purple blossoms, and a subtle earthy undertone. The palate delivers a
saline edge that frames the vibrant blue-toned fruit, adding complexity and lift. Firm yet
approachable tannins and moderate-plus acidity shape its medium-bodied profile, giving
both precision and length. 235 cases produced.

The 2023 Siduri Barbieri Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley spent 20 months
in 25% new French oak and shines a vivid ruby hue. Aromas of black raspberry, mulberry,
and dried rose interlace with notes of cedary herbs and cracked pink pepper. On the palate,
layers of red currant and spiced plum unfold, accompanied by savory undertones of sea
spray and herbal depth. Medium to full-bodied, the wine exhibits brisk acidity and wellstructured tannins that frame its richness. 335 cases made

The 2023 Siduri Bloomfield Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast, aged 10 months in
40% new French oak, reveals a glowing ruby-purple hue. Aromas of crushed cherries,
hibiscus, and lavender mingle with hints of wet stone and saline mist. On the palate, the
wine feels energetic yet layered, with red currant, pomegranate, and subtle savory spice
unfolding over a mineral-driven core. Medium-bodied yet expansive, it boasts polished
tannins and lively acidity that guide the flavors into a long, graceful finish, marked by a
lovely blue-fruit tone across the mid-palate. A little over 200 cases produced.

The 2023 Siduri J. Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills was aged 10
months in 30% new French oak, with a touch of whole cluster included for added lift. It
shines with a medium ruby-cherry core and a glowing pink edge. Aromas of violet, ripe
blueberry, spiced licorice, and herbal tones emerge from the glass, layered with a touch of
warm spice. The palate is generous and full, delivering plush fruit framed by supple, sweetedged tannins. Bold yet balanced, this single-vineyard Pinot shows both richness and
finesse, carrying through to a long, flavorful finish. About 500 cases made.

The 2023 Siduri Parsons Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley comes from
clones 115, 777, and Pommard, with 10% whole cluster included, and was aged 10 months
in 35% new French oak. It presents a medium to deep ruby-purple hue with a lighter red
rim. Aromas unfold with ripe blueberry, black cherry, dried sage, licorice, and hints of
baking spice layered with cedar. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and concentrated,
framed by fine-grained tannins and moderate-plus acidity that keep its richness in balance.
235 cases made.

The 2023 Siduri Perilune Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills comes from sandy soils
and spent 10 months in 20% new French oak. It reveals aromas of dark cherry, wild
raspberry, crushed violets, and hints of savory herbs layered with spice and damp earth.
The palate is medium in weight yet carries striking poise, offering ripe fruit framed by
polished tannins and lively acidity. Subtle floral and herbal tones weave into the finish,
which is long and refined. Texturally smooth with impeccable balance, this single-vineyard
Pinot finishes strong. A little over 200 cases made.

This red has the energy and structure for the cellar, but enough fruit to make it hard to resist in the next few years. Bay laurel and mountain scrub notes are spiced with cracked pink peppercorns and layered with Rainier cherries, black raspberries, cocoa powder and hibiscus. Terrific complexity. Drink or hold.

The 2020 Ovitelli Blanc is today five years from its harvest, and the fruit has moved into a
floral, waxy, highly attractive space. Context is important, and it is good to taste the 2020
alongside the 2024. It appears to be aging very slowly, and while it is developing some nice
bottle-derived complexity, it hasn't moved much in the freshness stakes. It is composed of
50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 12% Clairette, 9% Piquepoul and 4% Bourboulenc.

The 2024 Ovitelli Blanc is led by Grenache Gris (31%), Grenache Blanc (28%) and Clairette
(22%), with the balance Roussanne. The season here was warm and dry, however
widespread rains in January positively set the tone for the season. The wine here is
perfumed and floral, with mineral/rock-based phenolics that shape the flavors across the
palate. Winemaker Pete Fraser credits the heightened aromas here to the increased
quantity of Grenache Gris in the blend. A tremendous wine, it is elegant and sophisticated,
and the experience is predicated on skin/fruit tannin.

For something approximating the quality of Lokoya's Mount Veeder bottling at a fraction of
the price, sharp shoppers should check out Mt Brave's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt.
Veeder. It does include small percentages of blending varieties (6% in total), which no
doubt contributes to the wine's complex scents of dried sage and violets alongside ripe
black cherries. Full-bodied, it's rich, ripe and rounded but concentrated, flavorful and softly
tannic, with a long, gently dusty finish that adds a seductive hint of anise. It's a terrific
value, and with 4,701 cases produced, consumers may actually be able to get their hands
on some

A blend of 37% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Malbec, 16% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot, Caladan's 2022 Red Wine delivers ripe cherries accented by hints of sage and bay leaves. It's full-bodied, really smooth and silky in feel—almost creamy across the mid-palate—then long and suave, with lingering tannins on the finish

Elegant aromas of eucalyptus, cloves, bark and vibrant fresh cassis. The palate shows ripe, velvety tannins that are almost silky, with integrated acidity and a full body. Toasty yet balanced finish with a hint of warmth. Plenty of cabernet franc character. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.

Ruby/plum-hued, the 2023 Pinot Noir Perilune Vineyard offers gorgeous aromatics of redcurrants, framboise, spring flowers, spice, and hints of loamy earth and forest notes. Based on clones 114 and 828 with 10% whole clusters and aged 10 months in 30% new French oak, it's medium-bodied, pure, and wonderfully elegant, with silky tannins, a pure, layered mouthfeel, and outstanding length. This classic Pinot Noir is on another level compared to the appellation releases and will drink beautifully over the coming 8-10 years. Drink 2025-2035. 

As with all the Pinot Noirs from this talented winemaker, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills was
not destemmed and was aged all in 100% neutral oak barrels. Medium ruby-hued, darker berries
and redcurrants intermixed with rose, damp forest floor, and subtle spicy, meaty nuances all
emerge from the glass. It's remarkably pure and medium-bodied, with a pure, seamless, layered
mouthfeel and ultra-fine tannins. This is classic Greg Brewer brilliance with Pinot Noir. Drink
bottles any time over the coming decade. Drink 2025-2035

The 2023 Pinot Noir Hapgood is 100% Pinot Noir that was not destemmed and spent 15 months
in 100% neutral oak barrels, and it represents a more savory, complex expression of the variety.
Medium ruby in color, it offers layered notes of savory red and black fruits, baking spices, rose
petals, and subtle marine-like nuances. Those flavors carry onto the palate, where the wine is
balanced and medium-bodied, with savory yet ripe tannins and a beautiful finish. Give it a year or
two in bottle and drink bottles over the following decade. Drink 2027-2037.

Aged nine months in 100% neutral oak barrels, the 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers crushed citrus, oyster shell, white flowers, and a kiss of salty minerality. It's medium-bodied, has remarkable purity, vibrant acidity, and a great finish. As I've written many times, this appellation release can stand toe to toe with any Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County. Drink 2025-2035.