us

this is not a showy wine, but the sense of reserve, good acidity, fresh flavors and good balance form an enjoyable picture that will be versatile with food.

us

the small 2015 vintage didn't give john benedetti much to work with, but he sources 60% from bald mountain vineyard in bonny doon and 40% from split rail in corralitos to deliver this stunner. aromas of marcona almond, buttered croissant and lemon preserves lead into a palate full of acidic energy. salty, savory flavors of roasted nuts meet with warm buttercream and fresh lemon spray on the palate. it provides a full experience.

us

this is a light and lively take on the grape, with dried apple, hay, sour lime and petrol touches to the nose. the palate packs gravelly minerality and a touch of green herb alongside tangy lime peel flavors.

us

from a well-regarded site in the horse heaven hills, this pure malbec is clean and well-proportioned, but a bit on the simple side. plain red fruit flavors, accented with light barrel notes, quickly fade on the delicate finish.

us

an extremely, deep, almost black color is the first sign that something unusual is going on in this bold but not heavy wine. it smells like dark berries and baking spices and tastes like boysenberry jam while staying dry in style. abundant layers of fine tannins make the texture grippy and prepare the wine for the richest proteins on the table.

it

this vibrant red opens with aromas of wet soil, underbrush, cured meat and a whiff of oak. the lively palate offers dried black cherry, cranberry, ground pepper and star anise alongside dusty, almost grainy, tannins that leave a rather raspy finish.

us

this medium-tawny wine made from jacquez offers aromas of dried fig and salty maple-drizzled bacon. the silky, full palate follows suit, with toasted nuts adding an additional savory character. enjoy this nicely balanced wine alongside pecan pie.

it

this expression shows hints of chocolate and cinnamon, wrapped around a core of plum, prune and blackberry flavors.

us

spicy earth meets baked plum and cherry in this medium-bodied wine sourced from multiple sites, including sangiacomo vineyards. mint and lavender scents emerge on the nose before stronger elements of tobacco take over on the finish.

us

simple and sugary sweet with pineapple and mango fruit.

us

ripe pear fruit introduces a full-bodied pinot gris, and carries it through a satisfying finish. it's fruit all the way, dusted with a little taste of cinnamon spice.

fr

finely rounded wine, smoky wood and spice combining well with ripe yellow fruits. the acidity is rather underplayed, but all the other elements are well in place. the aftertaste shows more ripe fruit character.

it

this blend of cab, sangiovese and merlot has a fruity, almost sweet nose that recalls almond paste or amaretto, with tones of blueberry and raspberry in the background. it's a fruitier, more immediate wine with pretty renderings of oak and toasted nut in the background. it's also clean and elegant with good staying power.

au

old-vine shiraz from the valley floor imparts great richness and a creamy texture to this wine's tannins, framed easily by hints of vanilla. yet it's not a simple fruit-and-oak concoction—with time in the glass it steadily unfurls to reveal herbal and spice complexities. marries power and elegance; drink now–2015.

cl

quite oaky and soft, with minty, shoe polish and lemony aromas on top of big, ripe, sweet fruit scents. the palate is sticky and leans up against medicinal, while the flavors of blackberry and plum have a mild candied, baked note to them. just doesn't have the balance and touch of a fine cabernet.

us

sourced entirely from the olsen vineyard, macerated on the skins for six weeks, and aged 10 months in neutral oak, this “orange” wine is bone dry, with head-turning aromas of orange liqueur, rose petals and citrus peel. sip it slightly chilled as a warm weather apéritif.

us

this is an unoaked chardonnay, but it's so rich and forward in fruit, you may not even miss that smoky wood edge. explodes with pineapple, peach, pear, apple, vanilla, honey and dusty spice flavors.

us

more like zin than merlot, a peppery, full-bodied wine with some ripe to overripe blackberry, cassis and raisin flavors. but even if it's not particularly varietal, it's a pretty good wine, with a long, rich finish.

us

sanguine and floral, this soft wine exudes waxy plum and cherry around a midweight core of earthiness. shy in fruit, it finishes with a somewhat diluted character.

hr

dried tobacco leaf, fresh red cherry and a touch of saddle leather adds interest to the fruity flavors of babic. medium bodied, with an exciting astringent finish.