USA

Zephyr translates from Greek as a (westerly) gentle breeze, and that gives you an idea of the forested valley vineyard here in the West Sonoma Coast. This is flavour packed, with a notable richness but stays on the more savoury and structured side of things. Tight, sea-kissed lime citrus and blossom, crisp white fruits, fresh herbs and some phenolic grip. We expect this has some way to develop ahead of it! 2024-2032

A blend of five different vineyards, which will likely be produced separately in the future, depending on vintage. There is something classically firm and old-school about this, offering a saturated nose of raspberry, cassis, and blackberry fruits, fine wood spice, pencil shavings, and an impression of small stones. Bright and lively, full of drive, flavourful, poised, and notably refined. Not what you might expect of Californian Cab and shows what the cool Sonoma coast and mountains can do. 2026-2040+

From gentle hillsides that face the ocean, a few kms inland from the Pacific, named after Gard Hellenthal who owns and farms the vineyard which he planted in the late 1970s. Sandstone soils and old vines produce wines of great concentration and finesse, offering an approachable structure, with amazing intensity. Super aromatics of pine and cedar, earthy loganberry, pressed dark flowers and bright red fruits, this is full of energy and fills out a little with time too. It should age well. 2025-2035+

Elliott Vineyard is found close to Hellenthal and lies on a ridge, giving both north and south aspects, as such they make many passes to pick at optimum maturity, to best express the schist/shale and light clay soils. There is power here, intense dark berry fruits and exceptional mineral expression, it is generously proportioned and yet it is truly elegant, perfumed and precise with a moreish crunch to the fruit. A structured and notably fine Pinot that will reward some patience. Drink 2026-2036+

A pure Cabernet Sauvignon release in 2020, aged for 14 months in older French oak barrels, boasting a forward, fresh and redder side of the variety. Notes of raspberry and cranberry alongside cassis and blackberry fruits, pencil lead and capsicum, and a little bloomy herb and earth. Good freshness, fine grippy tannins a mineral flourish. Drink 2024-2028

88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot aged for 16 months in French oak (20% new). Attractive notes of small red berries, chocolate-covered cherries, and fragrant pomegranate. This sits on the full side of medium-bodied, with good weight of fruit and plentiful, finely grippy tannins, good length and a crisp finish. Drink 2025-2032+

95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc aged for 18 months in French oak (40% new). Good aromatics, offering a floral edge, notes of exotic tea and a pure quality of cassis and rich blue fruits, with a little raspberry lift and some underlying leather. Full bodied but elegant with a velvety quality, more dark fruits and supporting notes of mocha and toast. Delicious. Drink 2025-2035+

Very fresh with a core of succulent peach, toast and a rich mealy nature. Delicate aromas give way to richness and texture on the palate undulating between ripe nectarine and fresh pink grapefruit. A long dissection on the finish of mineral with a citrus tang and salty notes. Wow!

This demonstrates real purity of red fruits with great elegance. The oak is kept to a minimum of 10% new here to allow the fruit to show through. It's wonderfully poised and balanced with length and complexity.

A blend of 65% Zinfandel, 16% Carignan, 14% Petite Sirah, 5% Mourvèdre aged for 12 months in mainly old American oak barrels. Rather than a single vineyard expression, this fruit for Three Valleys is sourced from several quality Sonoma AVAs. Espresso, blackberry and raspberry, a hint of sweet tea and fennel, mocha, and baking spices. Medium bodied, ample and juicy, with a Rhône-like garrigue character, supple grainy tannins, and a long fruity finish. Drink 2024-2030+

100% Petite Sirah aged in mainly older American oak barrels for 16 months. This is unashamedly rich and deep, boasting gorgeous blue-black fruits, a little mint, notes of ink, liquorice, and leather, with lots of dark flowers and herbs, toasty oak, sweet spices, and gravelly earth. Powerful and tempting, and very full-flavoured! 2025-2035+

A blend of 67% Zinfandel, 20% Carignan, 10% Petite Sirah, 3% Mourvèdre aged in a split of one-, two-, and three-year-old American oak barrels for 16 months. Fresh and animated with a core of sweet black cherry fruit, red cherry and raspberry highlights, baking spices, dark flowers, a certain wildness, and toast. Lively but supple, plenty of concentration and a long, tantalising finish. Drink 2025-2035+

A blend of 67% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah, 11% Carignan, and 3% Alicante Bouschet raised in mainly older American oak for 16 months. Richly fruity, a host of brambles and berries, laced with tea and sweet spices, flowers and fragrant herbs. Great acidity gives a brightness and energy, and while this will be approachable with just a couple of years in bottles, it will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2025-2035+

With just 30% of the rainfall of an average year, the production of Monte Bello was down by around a third of the norm for this 2021 release. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, aged for 19 months in new oak (92% American, 8% French), this is exceptionally concentrated and offers deep aromas and flavours of blackberry and cassis fruit, a host of pressed dark flowers, exotic spices, wild herbs, and sweet oak. Great levels of fruit, a certain richness but also a purity – great mineral presence and freshness, a pleasing firmness, and a long finish. Drink 2030-2050+

This very limited release of Monte Bello is comprised of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, raised in mainly new American oak, and comes in at 14% vol. Great aromatic quality, floral with a well-defined mix or red and dark berry fruits, cedar, tobacco, and mocha. Structured but the tannins are so fine and polished, the whole is beautifully balanced and shows tremendous length. Monte Bello is always deserving of long-term cellaring. Drink 2030-2050+

A blend from the property, so including various soil types, aspects and clones aged mainly in old French oak. It has soft fruits, great freshness and balance and is very long and has great energy.

Bentrock is on gentle slopes at over 500 feet above sea level, comprising 92 acres with 13 planted to Chardonnay. 40% new French oak, 60% old, with lees ageing. It shows ample fruit on the palate with good richness and great length. It has wonderful freshness and is superbly poised between the fruit and the fresh, mouthwatering salinity on the finish.

As with the Chardonnay, the Bentrock vineyard gives good weight and concentration of fruit. This has a wonderful soft texture with good, ripe tannins on the finish and great length. 25% new oak.

This is the highest of the Hilt vineyards at nearly 700 feet on poor, rocky soils with cold winds too. These factors determine the character of the wine which has a real steely edginess to it, wonderful purity of fruit and great length. From 85% old oak this is a wine with almost electrifying vivacity.

Lemon zest and green apple all showing on the nose with stone fruit and hints of orange peel powering through on the palate. Fermented and aged in 15% new oak barrels with 10 months sur lie to provide texture to the fine creamy fruit.

Bright cherry and wild strawberry leap from the glass along with plenty of sweet spice and freshly cracked black pepper. Fresh acids give blueberry compote notes to finish and there is great purity from fermentation in stainless steel.

Powerful blackcurrant and sweet black cherry with grapefruit peel and vanilla, all bound to the core of fruit. There is great texture with rich aromatics and floral elegance, all building to a beautiful Pinot Noir which is more than the sum of its parts. 95 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous 96 Points, Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate.

Pure raspberry and blackcurrants are complimented by blood orange notes and gentle cardamom spice. The tannins are velvety and generous with 11 Pinot Noir clones giving complex layers of black fruits and acidity. 93 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

Fresh, crisp acidity with delicious white peach and generous stone fruits. A blend of four clones gives complexity and delicious creaminess to finish. 94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous 98 Points, Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate.