The 2018 Pinot Noir from this great estate is a beauty, and certainly comes close to topping out my scale. Coming all from the estate vineyard in the southern end of the appellation, it reveals a translucent ruby/purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of black raspberries, crushed flowers, spice, violets, and a kiss of wet granitelike minerality. This was a long, even growing season and you see it in the balance, purity of fruit, ripe tannins, and flawless integration of acidity and structure. While it’s supple and forward, my money is on it evolving beautifully for 10-15 years.

One of the best kept secrets in California Chardonnay comes from the Pisoni Family and their estate vineyard in the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Brought up in around 60% new French oak, the 2018 offers a lighter gold hue as well as a stunning bouquet of caramelized citrus, Meyer lemons, white flowers, and a liquid rock-like minerality that’s rare to find in whites from California. Rich, medium to full-bodied, with integrated acidity and flawless balance, I’d put this up against any white out there. It shows the more supple style of the vintage, yet I suspect it will still evolve for 10-15 years.