“Spine-tingling acidity and a creamy, viscous texture make for a heck of a nice combination. This wine has aromas of yellow apple, pear tart, butterscotch and treacle. Frisky little bubbles attempt to emerge from thick flavors of lychee and pear gelato, with a touch of cinnamon.”

“Darrin Low blends this organically farmed fruit from two estate vineyards—Walraven in the hills above Boonville (61 percent) and Dach, surrounding the winery in Philo (39 percent). The wine ferments without added yeasts in barrels (10 percent new), then ages in them for 10 months, where the flavors concentrate into an earthy, airy, long and graceful chardonnay at 12.5 percent alcohol. The fruit has a range of citrus notes, from orange zest to lime pith and light, dusty tannins carrying notes of lemon meringue, giving a sweet and savory end. Pour it with roasted wild mushrooms, like chicken of the woods.”

Juicy and open-knit, this friendly style leads with plum compote and cherry preserves, backed by hints of anise and hibiscus on the finish. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2029.

“Sports vivid, punchy boysenberry and mulberry fruit, along with a burst of hibiscus throughout, all framed by a sleek, toasty edge that holds sway through the finish. Shows focus and energy, just needs time for the fruit to push through the authoritative wood treatment. Best from 2024 through 2030.”

“I was able to taste the 2020 Château De Pez on multiple occasions, and it never failed to impress. This outstanding Saint-Estèphe reveals a semi-opaque purple hue as well as textbook aromatics of ripe black and blue fruits, truffly earth, violets, and leafy tobacco. Medium-bodied on the palate, it has a silky, elegant mouthfeel, light tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and outstanding length. It lacks a touch of oomph, but this balanced, graceful, incredibly pure 2020 will benefit from just 4-5 years of bottle age and should see its 20th birthday in fine form.”