The 2017 Estate Chardonnay has a fresh, well-defined bouquet of citrus fruit complemented by subtle scents of brioche and almond. The palate is taut and crisp on the entry with a twist of sour lemon. Very saline in the mouth, not powerful but full of tension. The aforementioned saline tang lingers on the aftertaste. Superb - one of the best Estate releases in recent years. Tasted at the Kumeu River Chardonnay vertical in London.

Enticing and very fresh nose of sliced pears and flowers with hints of almonds and vanilla. A great combination of vibrant fruit and silky texture, this tightly wound, medium-bodied chardonnay is just beginning to unfurl its long banner. Great mineral freshness at the pristine finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Kumeu's estate Chard is a blend of six different sites. Despite a few years in bottle, it's still relatively closed, showing a restrained toasty character along with red apple, pineapple and orange rind. The palate is more generous in a satiny texture and seamless backbone of acidity, accompanied by tangy, citrusy flavors and woody undertones. Drink now–2022.

Mid crimson. Bottled. Lovely fresh lightly stemmy red fruit. A hint of white mushrooms. Tangy and deeply fruited on the palate, the roundness of the tannins accentuating the lovely fruit character, which is ripe but fresh. Chewy and generous.

From one of the Grand Cru sites in the Russian River (although it's a big, diverse site), the 2017 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard saw the standard 12 months in one-third new French oak followed by six months in stainless steel. Buttered pineapple, nectarines, honeyed flowers, almond paste, toasted bread, and honeysuckle notes all emerge from the glass, and this beauty is full-bodied on the palate and flawlessly balanced. The purity of fruit is just about off the charts, and it has good acidity as well as a great mid-palate...

Moving to the reds, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley was all destemmed (as are all the Pinot Noirs here) and was brought up 11 months in just 20% new French oak. Its ruby/plum and translucent hue is followed by a savory nose of mulled black cherry and currant fruits interwoven with lots of spice, forest floor, earth, and bouquet garni. Textured and medium-bodied, with good acidity and great balance, I suspect it's going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age and should have a decade or more of overall longevity.

This is very exciting with cassis-bush and plum character and very pretty rose-stem and leaf undertones. Full-bodied, layered and focused. Solid. Try after 2021.

Tangy and full of floral, creamy peach and hazelnut flavors, shaded by vanilla and toasty oak notes. Racy and mouthwatering on the bracing finish, with alluring aromas and subtle length. Drink now through 2028. 600 cases made, 85 cases imported.

This sleek white exhibits fine intensity, with a honey note adding interest to the peach, lemon tart and mineral flavors. Balanced, verging on creamy in texture, offering a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2024. 3,500 cases made, 500 cases imported.

This is rich, evoking lemon cake, green apple and pastry flavors. Backed by vibrant acidity, this leaves a cleansing impression on the long finish. Drink now through 2024. 625 cases made, 20 cases imported.

Made from estate-grown grapes, this wine opens in soft, sup-ple tannins and a wealth of powerful black fruit. Expansive and weighty on the palate, it unfurls integrated acidity throughout. Black pepper, dried herb and crushed rock components give it an endur-ing earthiness. Enjoy from 2026–2036. Cellar Selection.

This vintage Blanc de Blancs from this iconic Napa Valley sparkling wine house is 100% chardonnay. It shows notes of crisp green apple and lemon, a hint of bread dough and a fresh, lively mousse. In other words, it's another winner from Schramsberg.

The 2017 Noi4 is a bold, exuberant wine that shows the natural intensity of the year in its racy, exotic personality. A rush of black fruit, espresso, licorice, leather and dark spice fleshes out in the glass. Today the tannins are a bit imposing. A year or two of bottle age and/or a healthy decant will help.

Silky and creamy, with gorgeous texture, the Hyde shows all of the richness this site is known for yet retains terrific energy and verve as well. Bright floral and mineral accents perk up the pear, lemon confit and light tropical fruit.

Broad and low-toned, its flavors of dried cherry layered with notes of underbrush and warm spice.

Beautiful, sweet and ripe fruit on the nose with hints of wildflowers. It’s full-bodied with soft, round tannins that caress the palate. Long, flavorful finish. Gorgeous finish. A hint of chocolate nicely complements the fruit here.

Hints of fresh tobacco and soft green herbs accent this wine’s flavors of black raspberry and dark chocolate. Firmly tannic, with appealing hints of graphite.

This medium amber-colored wine comes from the famous Mézes Mály vineyard. It has amazing aromas of lanolin, honeysuckle and beeswax with just a whiff of iodine. In the mouth there are flavors of orange zest and white peach. It has good weight on the palate with balanced sweetness and acidity.

Amber colored in the glass, this single-vineyard Nyulaszo wine has aromas of jasmine, orange zest and freshly picked apricot. In the mouth there are flavors of orange marmalade, white peach and apricot with a good balance of sweetness and acidity.