This detailed yet generous vintage of the flagship Chablis from Laroche sings with white peaches, ripe pears, and nectarines, though the quintessential mineral spine that the best Chardonnays of the appellation exhibit is also present throughout. Fine-lees aging has lent is a lovely tactile character.
Sunshine is right. From the light, bright nose of lemon and apple plus hints of oak and tarragon to the bouncy palate, which adds notes of pear and a soupçon of green almond to the mix, this easygoing, medium-bodied wine radiates good energy.
Composed of 62% Pinot Noir, 19% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this warm and cozy wine exudes toasty aromas and flavors of plum, cherry, and raspberry lightly drizzled with vanilla and caramel; taut acidity adds a spark to its velvety mouthfeel.
As cheerful as its name, this Charmat-method blend of 40% French Colombard, 20% Syrah, 18% Riesling, 11% Barbera, and 11% Zinfandel sports scents of watermelon and cherry candy dashed with blood orange, cinnamon, and honeysuckle. In the form of white pepper and dried herb, a similar touch of spice adds a charming little kick to the fruit-forward palate (think Rainier cherry, raspberry, and grapefruit).
Named for his 1-year-old daughter, with lyrics to the Beatles’ “Across the Universe” written in Du reverse on the label, this red reflects the effort and tension Kawa puts into his work and is ultimately a celebration of the life he shares with his family. The wine is creamy and quite approachable in its youth, with notes of boysenberry ganache and dark chocolate dressed in satin.
Winemaker Laurent Montalieu sourced grapes from this 110-acre vineyard planted 23 years ago. Aromas of jasmine, parchment, and raspberries in aspic are stunning, and the liquid is ethereal, accented with white-peppered cranberry gelée, cinnamon-dusted rose petals, savory rhubarb, and bergamot. Boasting dense tannins that will stand the test of time, this wine is sold out, but the 2023 vintage will release this summer.
Between the angel and the devil illustrated on the label, who knows which will steal your heart—but this wine aged nine months in (75% neutral and 25% new) French oak certainly tempts with its earthy nose thanks to whole-cluster fermentation, which also enhanced its texture and intensified the flavors. Notes of heather and basil with volcanic-soil nuances delicately spread across the palate before the finish of blood orange and tobacco leaf derived from Pommard clones.
Justin Wylie crafted a special wine here, with layers of boysenberry liqueur, salted charcuterie, smoky minerality, and seductive hints of cracked pepper atop a velvet foundation. Violets and cassis join in on the aromatics, eventually giving way to a long, cedar-washed finish. Kawa calls it a “wine lover’s wine: a bicycle without training wheels,” adding that the soil is so rocky on this site in the cool southwest part of the AVA that it’s impossible to mechanically harvest the fruit.