Deep garnet-purple in color, the single-varietal 2019 Monolith Cabernet Sauvignon is a little shy to begin, needing some coaxing to bring out notes of fresh black and red currants, boysenberries, and bay leaves followed by hints of crushed rocks, mossy tree bark, and iris bulb. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly wound and minerally, with firm, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and earthy.

The 2021 Gravel Bench Chardonnay scoots out of the glass with eager-to-please notes of lime blossom, fresh pineapple, and lemon meringue pie giving way to touches of sea spray and marzipan. The medium-bodied palate delivers great tension and a compelling grippiness to the texture with intense citrus and tropical layers, finishing with a skip in its step. 209 cases were made.

Intense notes of lime cordial, fresh grapefruit, and yuzu hop from the glass of the 2021 Broken Road Chardonnay, leading to hints of brine, almond croissant, and wet slate. The medium to full-bodied palate is super-intense and taut, with a crisp backbone and wonderfully creamy texture to counter, finishing long with a zesty lift. 340 cases were made.

The 2022 Three Jacks Vineyard Chardonnay bursts from the glass with bold notes of apple sauce, poached pears, and nutmeg followed by hints of ginger snaps and honeycomb. The medium to full-bodied palate is so creamy and spicy, with well-knit freshness and a long and gingery finish. This wine was barrel fermented and aged in French oak. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. Three Jacks Vineyard Chardonnay is sourced from a small vineyard in the heart of the Green Valley in the Russian River Valley AVA. It was planted in 1995 to four clonal selections: Old Wente, Rued, Dijon 95, and Clone 15.

The 2022 Stone Cote Vineyard Chardonnay prances out of the glass with showy notes of honey-drizzled peaches, ripe apricots, and honeycomb with wafts of candied ginger and wet pebbles. The medium to full-bodied palate is packed with orchard fruit flavors supported by a refreshing line and silky texture, finishing on a chalky note. This wine was barrel fermented and aged in French oak. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. Stone Cote is sourced from a block within the Durell vineyard planted to Upper Barn selection and UCD 4. The site is an uplifted river bed.

The 2022 Sevens Bench Vineyard Chardonnay sashays out with gregarious notes of apple butter, ripe peaches, and pear tart followed by nuances of lemon drops and honeysuckle with a touch of lime blossom. The medium to full-bodied palate has a crisp backbone and decadently oily texture with a long chalky finish. This wine was barrel fermented and aged in French oak. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. Sevens Bench Vineyard is sourced from blocks planted on eroded and rocky Haire Clay Loam soils in Carneros. The wine is a blend of UCD 27, Batto, Calera, and Long selections.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Seascape Vineyard Pinot Noir struts from the glass with forthright notes of black cherries, black raspberries, and orange peel followed by hints of black pepper, juniper, and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush and vibrant, with perfumed black and red berry layers, finishing long and fragrant. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. Seascape Vineyard is located on a panoramic ridgetop west of the town of Occidental, facing Bodega Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Outer Limits Vineyard Syrah prances out with pretty notes of crushed black cherries, fresh blackberries, and black raspberries leading to hints of cracked black pepper, tar, violets, and garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate is beautifully fragrant, with a firm frame of rounded tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and peppery. This is sourced from a south-west facing block located on a mountain ridge north of Fort Ross on the Sonoma Coast.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Old Vine Zinfandel flies out with profound scents of baked blackberries and plum preserves followed by hints of raspberry leaves, dried herbs, and cracked black pepper. The full-bodied palate is both refreshing and rich, with plush tannins and a long, earthy finish. This is a blend of six Designated Vineyard properties - old-vine, dry-farmed and low-yielding vineyards from the Russian River Valley AVA. The vines are more than 100 years old on average.

The 2022 Muldune Trail Pinot Noir is medium ruby-purple in color. Wonderfully fragrant notes of red roses and cinnamon toast give way to a core of kirsch, raspberry pie, and allspice with a hint of forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft and juicy with a racy line to support, finishing long and spicy. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. It is sourced from an estate vineyard at the southern end of the Anderson Valley, located atop a 1,600-foot ridge.

The 2022 Maclean's Block Pinot Noir is medium ruby-purple in color. Scents of ripe blackberries, mulberries, and boysenberries leap from the glass, followed by nuances of licorice, tar, and underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is bursting with blackberry and savory layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and a lively line, finishing earthy. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. It is named after Don & Jennifer Hartford's son MacLean. MacLean's Block is on a vineyard located on a gentle east-facing slope, east of the town of Occidental.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Hailey's Block Pinot Noir opens with evocative notes of wild thyme, dried lavender, damp soil, and moss leading to a core of redcurrants, orange peel, and black pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate has firm, fine-grained tannins and a racy backbone providing a firm structure for the bright, muscular fruit, finishing long and tangy. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. From a very cool spot in Green Valley, Hailey's Block lies within the Arrendell Vineyard and is named after Don and Jennifer Hartford's daughter.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir shimmies out of the glass with energetic scents of Bing cherries, fresh strawberries, and mulberries followed by hints of roses, forest floor, and blood orange. The medium to full-bodied palate is very tightly wound, with impressive tension and a very long minerally finish. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. It is sourced from a block located on a mountain ridge north of Fort Ross on the Sonoma Coast. The well-drained soils at an elevation of 800-1000 feet produce wines with a great sense of focus and minerality.

The 2022 DuPratt Vineyard Chardonnay springs with vivacious notes of lime leaves, orange blossom, and Granny Smith apples followed by suggestions of fresh grapefruit and yuzu zest. The medium-bodied palate is tightly knit and lively, with energetic citrus layers and a zesty finish. This wine was barrel fermented and aged in French oak. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. The DuPratt Vineyard, planted in the early 1980s, is nestled among coastal redwoods at 1,500 feet, in the Mendocino Ridges AVA.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Arrendell Vineyard Pinot Noir slowly reveals notes of black cherries, fresh raspberries, and redcurrant leading to suggestions of bay leaves, mossy tree bark, and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush and refreshing, with loads of savory sparks and a long lifted finish. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. Arrendell is a vineyard planted in 1975 to the heritage Martini clone. The vineyard, one of the coldest in the Russian River Valley, struggles to ripen less than one ton per acre of Pinot by Halloween most years.

The 2022 Winberrie Knolls Old Vine Zinfandel is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It bounds out of the glass with exuberant notes of juicy plums, boysenberry preserves, and fruitcake plus hints of Indian spices, dried mint, tobacco leaf, and potpourri. The full-bodied palate is jam packed with black fruits and exotic spices with a racy line and lightly chewy tannins, finishing very long and earthy. The vines are more than 100 years old.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Jolene's Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel bursts with bold notes of Morello cherries, rosebud tea, hoisin, and unsmoked cigars giving way to hints of rose oil and sandalwood. The full-bodied palate has great tension and wonderfully velvety tannins, with a compelling mintiness lifting the concentrated black fruits, finishing long and spicy. It comes from head-trained vines planted over 100 years ago.

The leading release of Pinot Noir from Giant Steps in this vintage is the 2022 Pinot Noir Primavera Vineyard. Beautifully perfumed, it teases as it opens up with subtle aromas of potpourri, fennel seed, dark cherry and warm earth. Elegant and ethereal, it delivers wild and intriguing flavors of strawberry, aged meats and spice, with herbal undertones. The finish exceptional and promises to offer plenty more with time in the cellar.

The most complete of the Giant Steps Chardonnay this vintage, the 2022 Chardonnay Sexton Vineyard, from a lower north facing slope, offers up a rich core of powerful nectarine and spiced pear lifted by French nougat and gentle oak spice. It displays an excellent volume of flavor, with a fresh line of acidity and superb balance- a hallmark of a long, silky and stunning finish.

Deep and bright red-purple colour; the bouquet has a patina of meaty reduction at first, then terracotta earthiness, nicely ripe berry and plum aromas with it. The wine is intense and powerful, with a good backing of firm tannins which harmonise well, the finish long and balanced. Good now and has potential for the future.

Fresh red and black fruit backed up by a crushed stone character. This is a full-bodied wine but with smooth tannins. It exhibits good balance and tension, with multiple layers. Ends with a long, savory finish. This is a wine not to be missed. Try after 2026.

The nose of orange peel and lemon zest gives way to a creamy texture with very fine bubbles. Outstanding length and focus. This is serious sparkling wine with a dry and delicious finish. Mostly stainless steel and some neutral barrels. Dosage of 3 grams per liter. Disgorged August 2023. 191 cases made. Drink or hold.

As its name suggests, this wine is deep, dark and steep, full of powerful black fruit backed by firm but fine-grained tannins. Dense and saturated, with hints of graphite, cocoa and oak char that layer between the velvety tannins. Made from certified sustainable grapes. Tempting to drink soon with a grilled steak, but best from 2028.

Barbara Banke, like her late husband, Jess Jackson, left law to focus on building their vast vineyard estate, with a side-hustle in thoroughbred race horses. Maggy Hawk was one of those horses, as well as a property Banke purchased in 1994 with the last legal fees she collected before retiring from the profession. The Jackson Family team planted the site in 2000, 58 acres of vines in the far northwestern corner of the Anderson Valley. Sarah Wuethrich has made the wines since 2017, after seven years as assistant winemaker to Well Guthrie at Copain. Afleet is one of four selections from the property, a delicate wild-mountain-strawberry essence in the scent, fat and fleshy in the finish as its darker cherry scents deepen and lengthen out. There’s beautiful earthiness integrated into the fruit, leaving a sense of refinement. What pinot should be. The wine feels healthy and ready to cellar. (150 cases)

A superb vintage for this, the the finest iteration of Ovitelli Blanc thus far. Aromas of freshly made lemonade, herbal tea, salted quince and raw almonds, with a bitter kick of quinine at the finish. Full-bodied with just the right amount of pucker and a salty lick at the end. A brilliant expression that should age very well indeed. Drink or hold. Screw cap.