The 2017 Realm Cellars Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from California, USA, is a true masterpiece. On the nose, this wine presents a bold and complex bouquet of dark fruits, including blackberry, cassis, and plum, intertwined with notes of cedar, tobacco, and vanilla from 22 months of aging in French oak barrels. The deep ruby color is alluring, hinting at the wine's rich and robust palate. On the palate, this full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a symphony of flavors, with layers of ripe blackberry, dark chocolate, and spice, balanced by firm tannins and a long, silky finish. This vintage showcases the exceptional quality of the renowned To Kalon Vineyard, and it is a testament to the skill and dedication of Realm Cellars. Enjoy now or cellar for years to come.

The 2018 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III is a true representation of the stunning terroir of Napa Valley, California. With a deep, opaque ruby color, this wine exudes elegance and power. The nose is an aromatic bouquet of ripe black cherries, cassis, and dark chocolate, with subtle hints of cedar and tobacco. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and velvety, with layers of blackberry, plum, and espresso flavors that linger on the finish. The tannins are well-integrated, providing structure and balance to the rich fruit flavors. The 2018 vintage showcases the exceptional quality of the grapes from this renowned vineyard, and the skilled winemaking of Schrader Cellars. This is a truly exceptional wine that will continue to evolve and improve with time.

William Kelley is better known as the Wine Advocate's mould-breaking wine critic. Yet he is also a very gifted winemaker and now, winegrower. Kelley’s micro-Burgundy project released its first wines from the 2019 vintage, and the ambitious pricing has not dampened the fervour—the wines are as remarkable as they are rare. Yet Kelley’s first foray into winemaking did not start in Beaune, Pommard or Gevrey-Chambertin but in the quiet, pastoral AVA of Clarksburg on the outskirts of Sacramento. Rolling back to 2016, Kelley recalls that he and friend-slash-business partner Frank Ingriselli were looking for organically farmed old vines in Californian sub-regions where variety aligned with climate, which led them to Chenin in Clarksburg. “We then applied artisanal French winemaking techniques and sort of waited to see what happened,” he recalls. What happened is that Beau Rivage promptly reset the conversation around the potential to craft world-class Chenin Blanc from Californian soils. Made in Calistoga, this increasingly impressive Chenin Blanc is drawn from some of Clarksburg’s oldest vines, planted in the 1960s and sourced from a long-term organic grower. The grapes are picked in two lots: those from the sunny side of the vine were crushed to release extract, while fruit from the shadier side was pressed as whole clusters using a very long, firm cycle. The musts are fermented with indigenous yeasts and were raised in eight-year-old, low-toast Burgundy barrels. William Kelley uses more and more solids each year, with the wine building texture and drive from its time on lees. Expect a tension-filled and chalky white marrying the engaging texture of well-ripened Chenin Blanc with lovely clarity, fine-boned texture and impressive length. It doesn’t seem too early to call this out as a new Californian benchmark for the variety.

Murphy-Goode Pinot Noir comes from vineyards up and down the coast of California, including Arroyo Seco, Santa Maria Valley, and Monterey. Cool conditions in these prime growing spots keep grapes at a perfect balance between vibrant dark fruit character and bright acidity. Notes of vanilla from aging in French and American oak add complexity to the intense black cherry aromas and flavours.

This wine is made with the thought of coming home from work, putting your feet up, and relaxing with a refreshing glass in hand. It's 100% chardonnay and is fruit-forward, clean, and has benefitted from barrel ageing which helped to round the wine and add just a touch of richness. A burst of apple, lemon curd and classic Californian vanilla oak flavours is a just reward for a hard day's work.