The Grand Reserve Chardonnay is made from 100% estate sourced fruit from Santa Barbara, one of California's coolest grape growing regions. Perfectly integrated tropical fruits compliment floral notes, a hint of spice and vanilla as well as nice minerality from the calciferous soils in the Santa Maria and Los Alamos Valleys.

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.

The 2018 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Colesworthy Beckstoffer Las Piedras is a bold and powerful expression of California Cabernet Sauvignon. Grown at an elevation of 1500 meters in the prestigious Beckstoffer Las Piedras vineyard, this wine exudes elegance and complexity. The deep ruby color allures with its rich hues. On the nose, it reveals intense aromas of black currant, blackberry, and dark cherry, complemented by subtle hints of vanilla and cedar. On the palate, this full-bodied wine delivers a seamless integration of flavors, with layers of ripe dark fruit, mocha, and earthy notes. The tannins are firm yet refined, providing a balanced structure and a long, lingering finish. This 2018 vintage is a testament to Schrader Cellars' commitment to producing exceptional wines that showcase the unique terroir of California. Enjoy now, or cellar for years to come.