Notably rich without seeming overly sweet, oaky, or manipulated, this is among the most enduringly enjoyable Chardonnays in its price category. The fact of being a certified sustainable wine is a strong plus, but the highlights here are the fruit notes recalling white peaches, dried apricots, and ripe pears.
Just-squeezed lemon is sweetened by honeysuckle and ripe pineapple. Refreshingly tart and crisp, with a salty, stony character that awakens the palate with a zest of grapefruit on the finish.
A seductive blend of 35% Bobal, 18% Petit Verdot, 20% Syrah, 15% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc. Coffee, mocha, and violets are stunning aromatics. Suede tannins support an intense array of flavors: melted dark chocolate-cherry with a coffee backing. Bold and beautiful, with boysenberry and blue flowers igniting the senses.
A rustic red from 100% Bobal, with grainy tannins and deep, resonant flavors of graphite, leather, balsamic, and black currant. Broad notes of roasted coffee, soil, and black fruits paint the palate. As it opens, the fruit ripens and lends a salty tone to the finish.
Well-developed, broad strokes of black currant, dark chocolate, and tree bark unleash layers of character. Deeply shadowed, with tobacco, but assisted with good acidity and salty mineral tones. This Pinot Noir morphs from beast to beauty.
The liquid glides into a depth of black-peppered boysenberry. Deep, dark, and mysterious, it lines the mouth with velvet tannins. Dynamic and rich, it exudes notes of pennyroyal – a hint of iron and mint – with a swash of black coffee. It satisfies with an overtly bold – and beautifully balanced – persona.
Fruit is sourced from 85% Santa Barbara County, 10% Monterey County, and 5% Sonoma County. Rich peach and melon shine, along with salted celery, vanilla bean, and ripe pear. Minerality and acidity beam brightly.
Grapes are sourced from Sonoma County (47%), Monterey County (35%), and Santa Barbara County (18%). Cocoa nibs and black cherry generate a medium weight on the palate that is creamy but not overly dense. Its espresso expression ties in with an earthy quality, and unites dark fruit with savory tones of cured beef and soy sauce. Intriguing.