The 2016 Pinot Noir Ferrington Vineyard is another attractive wine in this range. Hints of earthiness and game add complexity to match the energetic, focused feel of a bright, nuanced Pinot loaded with class and personality.

A compelling combination of well-integrated oak spices and forward, opulent fruit flavors make this full-bodied wine almost irresistible. It has a smooth texture, layered and concentrated notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, new leather, wood smoke, cooked cherries and ripe plums supported by moderate tannins and good fruit acidity.

Well-structured, offering a firm mix of raspberry, licorice, dusty herb and cedar flavors, with the structure and density making this a candidate for short-term cellaring. Best from 2019 through 2026. 413 cases made.

The 2015 Pinot Noir Ferrington Vineyard, from a site in Anderson Valley, is wonderfully lush, aromatic and expressive. All of the natural richness of the vintage comes through in this ample, voluptuous wine. A rush of succulent red cherry, blood orange, spice, star anise and rose petal builds into the powerful, flamboyant finish. What a gorgeous wine this is.

Soft, seductive and focused, this best of the best from the appellation is lengthy and complex, with tension on the palate. Dark cherry, wild cinnamon, crushed rock and black tea mingle effortlessly around a rich, dense roundness that never loses its balance or sense of delicious purpose.

Light toasty oak casts a mix of caramel and cedar notes, joining a mix of elegant cherry, berry, graphite and spice flavors, ending with fine-grained tannins. Best from 2020 through 2027. 1,472 cases made.

The 2017 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard shows the more finessed side of the Arista house style. Orchard fruit, white flowers, lemon confit and white pepper give the 2017 a striking register of brightness to play off the rich, viscous fruit. This textured and super-explosive Chardonnay has a ton to offer.

The 2017 Chardonnay U.V. El Diablo Vineyard brings together all the best elements of the Arista house style. Rich, bold and luscious, with no hard edges, the 2017 is a real showstopper. Apricot, honeysuckle, orange confit, wildflower, butter, tropical fruit and honeyed notes all race across the palate in this deep, stunning and creamy Chardonnay.

The 2017 Chardonnay Banfield Vineyard is powerful, but also tightly wound, with a lot of energy to play off of the rich, luscious fruit. The Banfield has a real phenolic feel of structure. This is the coolest site Arista works with for Chardonnay. I would give it a few years in bottle to come around, as it is a bit austere, its considerable richness notwithstanding.

The 2017 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) is rich, bold and luscious - all qualities that make it an excellent choice for near- and medium-term drinking. Apricot, tropical fruit, lemon confit and white flowers give this bold, textured Chardonnay tons of personality. This is an especially flamboyant style.

The 2017 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is bold, luscious and easy to drink. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, licorice and orange peel add nuance to this super-expressive Russian River Pinot. I would prefer to cellar it for a year or two. It is a stellar wine at the appellation level. There is a lot going on in this wine of great aromatic presence.

The 2017 Pinot Noir Ferrington Vineyard shows gorgeous presence and terrific depth, but it is also a touch reduced at this stage. Ripe red cherry, pomegranate, espresso, mint, spice and hard candy are front and center. This is an especially lush Anderson Valley Pinot.

Well-structured, with notes of underbrush to the burnished dried cherry and berry flavors. Minerally midpalate, revealing a long, rich finish that features a savory focus. Powerful yet elegant. Drink now through 2025.

Contoured, with a svelte structure to the pure-tasting flavors of Fuji apple, Bosc pear, peach tart and quince, layered and filled with toasty accents. Wet stone notes show midpalate, leading to a finish that lingers with light buttery details and rich spiciness. Drink now through 2026. 357 cases made.

Big, complex and rich-tasting, with ripe apple, baked pear and quince paste flavors, offering curry spice accents. Toasty notes glide across the palate on the plush, buttery finish. Drink now through 2025. 210 cases made.

Powerful, with intense toasty accents to the lithe, pure and structured flavors of fresh-cut Gala apple, lemon curd and dried mango. Exotic spice details show on the creamy, complex finish. Drink now through 2025. 324 cases made.

Arista Winery was founded in 2002 by Al and Janis McWilliams but is run today by their sons Mark and Ben, who took over the reins in 2012. They’ve brought on board winemaker Matt Courtney, revamped vineyards, and renovated the cellar, all of which appears to have paid off as they’ve fashioned some of the top wines in this report. Readers looking for the next superstar estate are advised to get on the bandwagon...

From a famous site in the Russian River, the 2016 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard spent a year in one-third new French oak followed by six months in tank. With a ting of green in its gold color, it has more Chablis-like lemon drops, white flowers, and lemongrass aromatics to go with a marine-like salinity and obvious crushed rock minerality. It's rich, deep, and concentrated on the palate, with a beautiful texture, as well as bright, integrated acid.

Seeing the same elevage (12 months in one-third new oak followed by six months in tank), the 2016 Chardonnay Banfield Vineyard has a more savory style with notes of baked apple, honeyed minerality, brioche, and some toasty, nutty notes. It's beautifully balanced, has a rich, textured mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's another brilliant wine from this estate.

The largest production Pinot Noir is the 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, and it was all destemmed and brought up in French oak, 20% being new. Its medium ruby color gives way to a ripe, exuberant, flashy Pinot Noir that has loads of spice, ripe black cherries, earth, and just a hint of cola. It's textured, balanced, and has tons of charm.