A wine of elegance, this Chardonnay bristles with cool sophistication. Like the baseline of a jazz quartet, the flavors build to a lively richness. With some lees contact during the winemaking, the mouthfeel is full-bodied with taut precision. The notes of quince and yuzu and a touch of pastry dough play together harmoniously.
Mulberry and chocolate are amped with red pepper and cardamom. The mouthfeel is silky, with a surge of sweet tobacco and soy sauce. Finishes with blue fruit and spiced cedar. Big-boned, with wonderful dimension and style.
A slick mouthfeel embraces notes of cinnamon toast, lemon oil, and crème brulée. Balanced, this opulent Chardonnay is wrapped in white flowers that undress to reveal a seductive orange cream finish.
My very recent introduction to the excellent Pinot and this Chardonnay puts this producer very near the top of my current list of high-value overachievers. Made with organic grapes sourced from Yountville, this is medium-bodied. It shows outstanding purity of fruit and definition of flavors that include both orchard and citrus fruits. Only 50% of the juice was fermented in barrels, and the cooperage was used, which was a wise choice to enhance the bright, lifted palate impression.
Fine Napa Valley Pinot Noir made with organic grapes for $25 seems too good to be true—and it usually is, except in this case. This is admirably delicate in style, thanks to a cool microclimate in the Block House vineyard in Yountville. Classic notes of cherries and strawberries are enhanced with subtle spice and vanilla accents derived from aging for nine months in 35% new French oak. Remarkable elegance for the price.
Magnetic, this sultry red’s charms show through a velvet mouthful, curvaceous and gracious, with a body built to perform. Blackberry ganache, anise, new leather, dusty graphite, and clove-spiced cedar prove its layered expressiveness.
Made with organic grapes, this is a graceful white, with ethereal notes of white flowers laced with Meyer lemon and pineapple. Acidity is vibrant and allows the liquid to cascade across the mouth with a steely finish.
Aromas of pineapple and kiwi are appealing. This Sauvignon Blanc hits the sweet spot with pink grapefruit and lime chiffon. Honeyed pears glisten on a slightly creamy mouthfeel. Elegant and poised.