The Santa Cruz Mountains are the home to many of my favorite Chardonnays and this is definitely one of them.  Light gold in color with some hay yellow swirls, clear and bright.  The nose is big but lovely with lemon peel, slight lime, slight apples, vanilla, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Creamy texture countered with crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is crisp, satisfying and delicious.  Deep and complex, it unwinds with a bit of air in the glass.  Flavors of lemon peel, slight vanilla, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own but better with food.  This would work so well

This continues to be my favorite Chardonnay!  It drinks great young and ages nicely.  With just a kiss of vanilla showing, there is some oak but not enough to be an issue even for many of the most oak adverse drinkers.  Light green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lemon creme, a touch of vanilla, spice and slight char.  Full bodied.  Very light tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Great texture.  Flavors of lemons, slight cooked apples, vanilla and spice.  A bit of char on the long finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with

This is 100% Nebbiolo from the Piedmont in Italy.  This is a soft accessible version of Nebbiolo.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries along with some mustiness, ash and mint.  Soft texture but firm tannins.  It comes alive on the palate with cherries and a hard cherry candy note along with a slight earthiness.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Very open and drinking well.  This was a hot vintage but the fruit is not raisined or under ripe.  It drinks well on its own but will be better with food.  A great choice for a weekday pasta or pizza night.  Drink over the nex

As temperatures rise, the Finger Lakes is positioned well to make very good Pinot Noir's on a more consistent basis.  The biggest challenge is having to deal with late spring frosts and early autumn hail.  This one is good if not great.  From what I have been told, this  was a cool, wet vintage in the Finger Lakes.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  It looks to already have some bricking.  The nose has cherries and a curious dandelion note.  Light to medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, a bit of cherry fruit with a fresh plantlike green streak.  It would undoubtedly work bet

Impressive Rosé from Provence.  It is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Tibouren.  Medium Salmon Pink with some orange swirls in color, clear and bright.  The nose is powerful with cherries, strawberries, pomegranate, and slight thyme notes.  It has a very nice texture.  Plush but firm with a slightly viscous feel.  On the palate, the wine is dry.  Flavors of cherries, strawberries, and slight blood orange.  There is also a minerality to this wine that is very nice.  Good finish.  This is a wine that flaunts its serious side.  It is nice on its own but also will work well

This is a very nice Rosé from Provence in the south of France.  It puts me in the mood for late spring and summer!  It is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Rolle, and Cinsault.

Another great consistent value wine.  This is Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley.  Light golden in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has nice minerality with a bit of peach.  Light to medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, mineral, and lemon with some peach coming out later especially on the finish.  This is tasty and easy drinking on its own but also very food friendly.  It would work nicely with Salade Niçoise.  Drink over the next three to five years.

This is a go to house for value in Bordeaux while still getting quality and terroir.  This vintage is a 70/30 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  Purple in color with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dust, cigar box, black cherries, and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, cassis, tobacco, black cherries, slight dark chocolate and char.  Long finish.  This is still youthful but drinking well.  Some complexity now and more as it ages.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own but evenbetter with food.  Slow cooke

Having tasted this as a barrel sample, it was nice to get to taste this from bottle.  Of course, it is young, but at age six, it is showing very well.  Purple  in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is concentrated but big with cassis, slight graphite, char, and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Good energy.  On the palate, cassis, graphite, chocolate, spice and char.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but it will easily go another ten to fifteen more years.  Great on its own, this will work well with big meat or roasted vegetables.  

This is Chenin Blanc from South Africa.  it is excellent and a great value.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with oranges, orange rind and minerality.  Also, some salinity.  Medium bodied.  Good balance and acidity.  On the palate, the minerality dominates but the citrus gives it some lift and energy.  Long finish.  This is great on its own but also great with food.  This would go very well with grilled Tuna Steaks.  Drink over the next ten years.