On the full side, this is quintessential Cali Chard with its nose of cream, pineapple, vanilla, mango and fig. The palate adds a creamy texture and tropical fruit as well as an interesting black olive note. There is also some heat. Great length.
Shows subtle, mellow citrus, vanilla and hazelnut scents with rich-yet-refined nutty lemon-citrus flavours, well-balanced acidity and a discreet touch of oak on the finish. A fine example of Burgundian finesse wedded to exceptional New-World terroir.
One of my favourite California Chardonnays because it’s in Burgundy style. Pale straw in colour with a spicy, apple nose and well-integrated oak; full-bodied, dry, elegant and rich apple and lemon flavours, beautifully balanced, with great length.
Fruit from the acclaimed Chardonnay vineyards of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley is used to craft this poised and well-structured white. Toasty and buttery for sure, but kept in check by some pear, acacia and clove overtones. Mid-weight with a creamy palate, it offers up restrained pear and lemon notes, cleansing acidity and a touch of spice on the finish.
Though it might still be fashionable to do so, don’t give up on New World Merlot! This sample from Simi has it all wrapped up with aromas of sweet dark plum, sandalwood, vanilla, mocha and allspice. Rich, warm, perfectly balanced and, well, just yummy. Mind blowingly complex? Maybe not. But impossible to put down? Pretty much.
Ancient landslides and earthquakes yielded both the name “Landslide” and the three distinct sections that make up the vineyard. This is a very pretty wine indeed, with bright aromatics laced with dark plum, cassis, cedar, mild tobacco, with some floral/herbal nuances. Fresh, ripe black cherry, blackberry, some toasty new oak nuances and a grind of pepper on the long, supple finish. Perfectly balanced, this wine is approachable but should develop further with mid-term cellaring.
Sourced from the eponymous To Kalon vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon dominating (plus a sprinkle of Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot), this 50th anniversary release, from the “epic” 2013 vintage. Cassis and dark chocolate on the nose with a trace of graphite, lavender, black olive and a trace of menthol. Very rich and dense in the mouth with dark fruit, anise, tar, mocha, and very subtle mint. In any case, this is still very much a baby and will likely need another five years before it starts to really show itself. It should age gracefully for a least a couple decades.