Notes of lemon confit and almond shortbread sprinkled with elderflower and salt make for a confident, sunny yet characteristically refined expression of Anderson Valley Chardonnay. Mouth-filling acidity and a gliding texture accented by green pear, donut peach, and orange carry through to the notably fresh finish.
Aged 10 months in (21% new) French oak, this wine shows polish and complexity well beyond its price point. On the nose, russet apple and bruised peach ring clear with equally precise hints of honeyed pine nut, toast point, and even Chinese five-spice and basil; on the palate, more peach coincides with orange-zested green olive and a slightly woodsy note. Somewhat waxy in texture, it strikes a winning balance between luxuriousness and savoriness.
Spice is nice and this red is “jam”-packed with wild strawberry and cherry. Oregano, clove, and cinnamon are enveloped by soil notes, earmarked with roasted coffee and fennel. A burst of acidity and a line of salinity form on the lengthy finish.
Spontaneously fermented in (60% new) oak followed by ten months of barrel aging and five more in stainless steel, this just-plain-delicious wine hails from a certified-organic block in one of Domaine Anderson’s coolest estate sites. Vibrant scents of lemon curd and pear are oh-so-subtly tinged with salt-flecked fresh corn and just-ripe pineapple, while golden apple pops up with sprightly acidity on the slightly creamy palate before brûléed grapefruit invites another sip.
Following an alluring nose of pear-hazelnut crumble, ripe honeydew melon, and grapefruit peel, this wine from a certified-organic and -biodynamic vineyard performs a remarkable balancing act between crunchy pear and creamy lime curd on a palate that’s gorgeously textured, almost sculpted, by round acidity and a long, chalk-dusted finish.
Golden baked apple and opulent flavors of candied pineapple, honeysuckle balances the indulgence of a hedonistic nectar with the freshness of its satisfying finish.
Amplified notes of spiced cherries in clove and rosemary are brightened by a keen acidity. Hibiscus and peonies are sweetened by vanilla and red licorice. Earthy cranberry fills the mouth on the juicy, expansive finish.
With a stint of 15 months in (55% new) French oak, expressive flavors of an earthy wine cave come to mind. Wild strawberry, leather, and molasses mark this juicy red, seasoned with cinnamon and white pepper. A hint of iron and cured meats acknowledge a savory persona with a side of minerality.