You couldn’t be blamed for doubting that Southern California could produce Cab Franc at the highest global level, but this will resolve any doubts. Just a touch lighter and more elegant than Cabernet Sauvignon, with a lightly leafy varietal note, this offers deep flavors structured by soft, fine-grained tannins. A remarkable achievement.
Physically dense, dark, and full of ripe flavors, this is a dramatic wine rather than one situated on the more delicate side of the Pinot spectrum. Its sweet fruit easily counterbalances the wine’s oak and tannins, warding off any astringency or youthful hardness. For those who love fleshy, opulent Pinots, your ship has come in.
Chenin is exceptional as a variety that can retain acidity in warm climates. This first release from Matanzas Creek shows not only promise but secured success, with restrained but notable floral aromas followed by flavors recalling pear and white melon with a squeeze of fresh lime.
Some California Sauvignons fall short by trying to be all things to all people, but this one deftly balances a grassy, citrus-driven style with riper melon flavors. Medium-bodied but still quite fresh without turning overly tart, it is equally well suited to stand-alone sipping or enjoyment at the table with relatively light foods.
Labeled so that a single glance indicates that “Bright” means only 8% alcohol and 80 calories in a five-ounce pour, the question then becomes whether this wine can still prove satisfying as well as conscience-soothing. My answer is yes, thanks to a bit more sweetness than usual for Chardonnay to compensate for the lower alcohol, plus wood that is evident but not excessive for a light rendition of the variety.
) Still on the sweet side but is now a bit lighter than some past vintages and seeming less amped-up and more in line with conventional stylistic expectations for Pinot Noir. The arguable down-side of that is that this release barely has enough richness to support its sweetness.
A voice for the Mendocino Coast, the dry-farmed vineyard sits 2,000 feet above sea level just 3.5 miles from the Pacific. This fresh and vibrant Pinot Noir opens with sea breeze acidity and seashell minerality. Cranberry and cinnamon-spiced tea leaves add a platform for earthy tones of mushroom and umami to peek through.
A wine that screams for seafood, the flavors mount on a bed of stone fruit and saline. Delicate and fresh, basil and thyme are balanced with an enduring crispness. A Spanish grape on American soil, the wine is aged briefly in French Oak. The result is a success, with a mouthwatering yumminess.