Inviting aromas of blackberry preserve on rye toast, cigar box, split pine, dill and black olive show on this single vineyard expression by Billy Wathen. Lifted by a slowly simmering acidity, the palate is earthy and forest-driven, with mushroom, juniper, pine needle, strawberry and dried mint flavors.

Intriguing lemongrass, Asian pear, chamomile, jasmine and pink grapefruit aromas arise on the nose of this dynamic single-block bottling. Tons of energy show on the sip, which is light and yet offers lots of intriguing flavors, from white sesame and chalk to lime peels and grippy yellow grapefruit pithiness.

This is our Reserve Chenin Blanc, barrel and steal fermented for 9 months. Then barrel aged in Acacia and nuetral French Oak barrels for an additional 7 months. Only produced 100 cases of this special Chenin Blanc.

The 2014 Chenin Blanc, which emerges from 50 year-old vines, is rich, phenolic and intense to the core, with a real sense of apricot/peach pit character that dominates. Sweet floral and spice notes add nuance as the wine opens up, but the Chenin remains quite structured and intense, at least today. This is one of the most distinctive Chenin Blancs readers will come across.

The Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir is an assembled wine meant to showcase what the Sta. Rita Hills are all about as an AVA. John Sebastiano Vineyard (2/3 of the blend) brings the lighter, brighter red fruits from the northeastern corner of the appellation. La Encantada Vineyard (1/3 of the blend) contributes the darker, more brooding black fruit from the southwestern edge of the appellation. Drink now through 2024.

An incredible, profound Pinot Noir, Foxen's 2013 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 8 was completely destemmed and aged 17 months in new French oak. Its deep ruby color is followed by sensational notes of sweet cherries, black raspberries, crushed flowers and a touch of licorice. Medium to full-bodied, layered and multi-dimensional, with seamless texture, this is California Pinot Noir at its finest.

From another vintage of Billy Wathen home runs comes this bottling from friend Rick Longoria's vineyard. It shows bramble berries, elderberries, sagebrush juniper and roasting herbs on the nose. Layers of thyme and dried oregano decorate the raspberry juice and pencil-lead palate

Bright, tangy and juicy with red cherry and racy acidity; pure, elegant and lifted with depth, intensity and finesse.

Dessert Style

This Syrah has a deep pool of aromatics: violets, white pepper, lavender and freshly pitted Black Tartarian cherries, and the flavors are a mosh pit of dark fruit enveloped in firm tannins. I would throw this at a pepper and rosemary rubbed ribeye roast. The marbling of the ribeye will work wonders with the tannins. Add a side of gorgonzola potatoes au gratin.

Made from 100% Syrah that was aged 20 months in 30% new French and Hungarian oak puncheons, the inky colored 2013 Syrah Williamson-Doré Vineyard exhibits terrific notes of plums, blackberries, smoked earth, olive and assorted meatiness. Medium to full-bodied, focused, elegant and with awesome purity, it will certainly be an outstanding wine that will have a decade or more of longevity. I continue to be blown away by this estate, which is run by Dick Dore and Bill Wathen, with Bill taking the helm of the winemaking and viticulture.