Very well made SB, smooth with perfect bracing acid, bright flavors.

We may be going back a bit into the Global Masters archives, but with California Wine Month well under way, we wanted to celebrate a brilliant bottle that’s distinctly Golden State. This wine hails from our Sauvignon Blanc Masters in 2015, where it took the position as the outstanding sample of the day, becoming the only entry to gain the title of Master: the ultimate accolade for the very best examples of their type. The wine was from Stonestreet Estate Vineyards in Sonoma, a property spread across the Mayacamas Mountains on California’s north coast, and one that’s best known for its seductive and refreshing results with Chardonnay as well as Cabernet. But, as we discovered that day, this estate, with vineyards at around 300 metres above sea level, also produces first-rate Sauvignon Blanc in a similar mould to its other wines, and by that, I mean a style that is rich, but also bright. Indeed, this particular wine, a top-end, barrel-fermented Sauvignon, is more like a great white Bordeaux from Graves, with peach, passion fruit, and a touch of cleansing pink grapefruit, complemented by a lovely creamy taste and texture, along with a hint of vanilla. Think of a freshly prepared salad of citrus and yellow fruit, topped with a touch of ice cream, and you can imagine the flavour combination – this is a wine that is both indulgent and cleansing, and, in terms of foods, a brilliant match for a range of demanding ingredients, from herbal garnishes such as dill, to buttery sauces on a wide array of dishes, from fish to white meats, or vegetables such as asparagus or artichoke. The wine we awarded was from the 2012 vintage, and the current release is 2015, as this is a wine that benefits from a bit of time maturing in bottle before consumption. In terms of the technical details, the Sauvignon for the Aurora Point comes from north east facing slopes at 300m elevation, and the grapes are harvested by hand, pressed gently, and then fermented in oak puncheons (500 litre barrels), followed by seven months ageing in “neutral oak” puncheons, before bottling in April. Fewer than 300 cases are made of this wine. Finally, for those of you who might be surprised at the decision to ferment and age a Sauvignon Blanc in wood – after all, the grape is associated with linear, lemongrass and lime-zest whites – it follows a long tradition of marrying this grape with oak in both Bordeaux but also California, where Robert Mondavi coined the term Fumé Blanc in the 60s to reflect the smoky, toasty, dry, fresh character of first-rate barrel-influenced Sauvignon – differentiating it from lesser-quality, often sweet examples (the grape had come from Bordeaux to California in the late 1800s).

Beyond Biodynamics: 6 Sustainable Wine Brands To Try 1/6 Who said sustainability has to feel austere? This merlot-dominant Bordeaux blend from Jackson Family Wines of California’s Sonoma County was created to rival Pomerol’s Pétrus. With its luscious red cherry and undergrowth aromas (and the knowledge that it comes from a low water-usage, largely solar-powered winery), it will make you feel simultaneously indulged and deeply virtuous.

Forward, but not without focus; burly, but not without beauty. B+

Cherry, pencil and spice on the nose and palate. Lingering finish. Very good.

Off the vine: A case of pinot envy Ripe, fresh raspberry, red plums and strawberry along with hints of cedar. Finely textured with silky tannins that compliment the spicy finish.

Off the vine: A case of pinot envy Ripe plum and cherry aromas along with a hint of blood orange construct subtle layers of spice. The bold red fruits of this wine pairs nicely a bacon-wrap or a light and airy chocolate mousse.

Off the vine: A case of pinot envy Beautiful with blackberry, plum and licorice flavors that are complemented by subtle layers of ripe fruit and toasty oak. Full bodied and yet so elegant with a long, persistent finish.

This domestic producer offers a lot of fruit in the nose and mouth of their rosé . Notes of strawberry and citrus dominate this luscious wine ending with a pleasant mouth filling experience.

Gamay Noir Wine Is a Cult Classic That’s Here to Stay For a version that shows darker-toned fruit, this wine is still nice and zippy. It’s still plenty fresh, despite being in the bottle for a couple of years.

The Case for Chardonnay Back in Healdsburg, right off the main square, Valette is the namesake restaurant of hometown chef Dustin Valette, It’s a must-visit for dinner, not only for its excellent house-made charcuteries and dishes like coriander-crusted local duck breast but also for the superb, Sonoma-centric wine list. Get a bottle of Stonestreet’s elegantly floral 2015 Upper Barn bottling, from one of California’s most storied Chardonnay vineyards.

Among the reds, it is worth noting that Tuscany offers an enormous amount for the fine wine lover, with greatness found in the famous names of the area: Chianti Classico, Montepulciano, and Montalcino, as well as wonderful offerings beyond the established – the IGT classified wines can really deliver. And, as we are focused on the latter, one name that attracted plenty of praise, picking up three golds, was Arcanum, for its wonderful, structured reds employing Bordeaux grapes. Using fruit from the southeast corner of Chianti Classico, this brand – which is owned by Jackson Family Wines – specialises in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, not Sangiovese, hence its wines are classified as IGT Toscana. All the labels from this name were delicious, but the most impressive was the Merlot-dominated Arcanum ‘Valadorna’ from the 2013 vintage, with layers of fleshy ripe Morello cherry, sweet balsamic, vanilla and plenty of firm tannins to clean the palate. Delicious now, but with great potential to age and develop greater complexity over time.

Among the reds, it is worth noting that Tuscany offers an enormous amount for the fine wine lover, with greatness found in the famous names of the area: Chianti Classico, Montepulciano, and Montalcino, as well as wonderful offerings beyond the established – the IGT classified wines can really deliver. And, as we are focused on the latter, one name that attracted plenty of praise, picking up three golds, was Arcanum, for its wonderful, structured reds employing Bordeaux grapes. Using fruit from the southeast corner of Chianti Classico, this brand – which is owned by Jackson Family Wines – specialises in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, not Sangiovese, hence its wines are classified as IGT Toscana. All the labels from this name were delicious, but the most impressive was the Merlot-dominated Arcanum ‘Valadorna’ from the 2013 vintage, with layers of fleshy ripe Morello cherry, sweet balsamic, vanilla and plenty of firm tannins to clean the palate. Delicious now, but with great potential to age and develop greater complexity over time.

Among the reds, it is worth noting that Tuscany offers an enormous amount for the fine wine lover, with greatness found in the famous names of the area: Chianti Classico, Montepulciano, and Montalcino, as well as wonderful offerings beyond the established – the IGT classified wines can really deliver. And, as we are focused on the latter, one name that attracted plenty of praise, picking up three golds, was Arcanum, for its wonderful, structured reds employing Bordeaux grapes. Using fruit from the southeast corner of Chianti Classico, this brand – which is owned by Jackson Family Wines – specialises in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, not Sangiovese, hence its wines are classified as IGT Toscana. All the labels from this name were delicious, but the most impressive was the Merlot-dominated Arcanum ‘Valadorna’ from the 2013 vintage, with layers of fleshy ripe Morello cherry, sweet balsamic, vanilla and plenty of firm tannins to clean the palate. Delicious now, but with great potential to age and develop greater complexity over time.

Uncorked: A New Wine Just in Time for Summer Picnics Have you tried the 2018 Kendall-Jackson Avant? This wine is fully unoaked and cold-fermented in 100% stainless steel. Avant captures the purest expression of the Chardonnay grape. This is perfect for summer picnics. WHY an Unoaked from Kendall-Jackson? By adding this new Avant the diverse Kendall-Jackson portfolio, they now showcase the full spectrum of Chardonnay -- from Avant’s crisp, vibrant unoaked profile, to the beloved Vintner’s Reserve with its creamy, barrel fermented sur lee flavor domains -- and demonstrate Kendall-Jackson’s versatility with Chardonnay. 2018 Kendall-Jackson Avant - Sourced from coastal vineyards in Mendocino, Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties, Avant is cold fermented in stainless steel tanks, sees no oak at all, and offers crisp apple and pear flavors with hints of tropical citrus. Available nationwide, and www.kj.com. Avant is youthful and lively, providing a superb affinity for food. Avant’s vivacious character will attract consumers seeking a bright portrayal of Chardonnay, in an unexpected and refreshing style.

La Crema 2017 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast, Ca.) offers moderate oak spice, butterscotch and vanilla, but plenty of bright apple fruit with lemon, too.

Fortress Cabernet Sauvignon – Mighty Tasty Well-built and strongly satisfying Cab from Sonoma County, the Fortress Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 Fortress Cabernet Sauvignon begins with very pleasant aromas of blackberry and vanilla along with some lovely baking spice notes and hints of smoke. Tasting reveals similar flavors on the palate with some nice chocolate and sweet tobacco notes underneath. It’s balanced, smooth and has great depth. The wine ends dry, grippy and long with lingering oaky spice and juicy dark fruit. It’s really good right now, but will probably get even better over the next few years. This is a wine with the unmistakable character of Sonoma/Napa Cab aged for a significant amount of time in oak and that’s a very good thing! Highly Recommended.

A great example of this is the La Crema Chardonnay 2017 from the Sonoma Coast. It is a great wine for summer because it is so crisp and refreshing, but it is a white wine you can drink all year long because of the rich fruit and complex flavors. Above all, it is a round, balanced wine with concentrated flavors of lemon, apple and apricot. A crisp acidity gives it a lively and lingering finish.

Wine of the Week This pinot is a standout because of its complexity and the purity of its fruit, all riding on crisp acid. It’s elegant like a French Burgundy, but you can’t deny its California leanings. What’s remarkable about this Old World/ New World pinot noir is its pitch perfect balance. It’s impressive, a steal for the caliber of pinot. 4½ stars.

Sourced from coastal vineyards in three Cailfornia counties, this unoaked and cold-fermented chardonnay has crisp apple flavors with a touch of lemon and pineapple. It is quite a contrast to the delicious but oaked 2017 Grand Reserve chardonnay we tasted alongside of the Avant.

Sourced from coastal vineyards in three California counties, this unoaked and cold-fermented chardonnay has crisp apple flavors with a touch of lemon and pineapple. It is quite a contrast to the delicious but oaked 2017 Grand Reserve chardonnay we tasted alongside of the Avant.

Pair this rich and creamy dish with Byron’s 2016 Nielson Vineyard Chardonnay. The Chardonnay vines in their Nielson Vineyard feature cuttings from the original “Wente” clones. The clusters they selected contain an optimal mix of berry sizes: the larger, riper berries provide the wine’s rich stone fruit flavors while the smaller ones contribute to the wine’s firm acidity and underlying minerality. This wine benefits from cool temperature barrel fermentation utilizing native yeast, and the lees are stirred every two weeks for enhanced mouthfeel and texture. Aged 16 months in 45% new French Oak, this wine will go well with the chicken broccoli casserole. Enjoy!

Please The Palate: South African wine redefined Capensis, taken from the Latin word for “from the cape,” is produced from some of the highest-elevation vineyards in the Western Cape. With a love for Chardonnay, Weerts has produced a terroir-driven Chardonnay. With aromas of lemon zest, flowers and vanilla, the Capensis Chardonnay 2015 is a wine that is all about the palate. Lemon, peach, apple and saline notes fill the palate. The wine has beautiful depth and weight on the mid-palate as acidity dances around the rim. The Capensis Chardonnay raises the bar on the quality of wines from South Africa. And to elaborate further on this benchmark, Weerts brought a group of his winemaking friends from South Africa for a tour around the U.S. to showcase their wines. Each of these brands, focusing on a wide range of wines, produce fewer than 1,000 cases, and they are each telling a story about the quality of South African wines.

Appearance: Salmon Nose: Cherries Palate: Soft cherry. Medium plus acid. Refreshing. This is ideal for summer-day quaffing or served with salmon, pork, or light hors d'oeuvres.

The Best American Pinot Noirs Under $30 To Drink Right Now This widely available bottling delivers a quality Pinot Noir, especially at its price point. Ripe red and black fruit, with loads of herbal spice and a hint of vanilla make this a great everyday Pinot.