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This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous

Welcome to this week's Vinous Top Ten! Each week we compile a list of top ten wines from the Vinous database that you need to add to your wine wish list. With all the various regions, producers, and grapes, no week will be the same! All of the wines listed in this feature are available for purchase on Banquet . This week's must-try wines are from Antonio Galloni’s article Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond . Enjoy an excerpt from his article and his notes for this week's top ten below! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Readers will find a breathtaking array of wines from Sonoma, Anderson Valley and beyond in this report. The 2017s have turned out to be a big surprise given the challenges of a growing season punctuated by three significant heat events. Pinot Noirs and Syrahs are the most consistent varieties, but there are peaks of brilliance in Zinfandel-based reds and Chardonnay as well. As always, the sheer diversity of Sonoma County and its neighboring appellations is truly remarkable.” --Antonio Galloni, Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond, May 2019 1. Anthill Farms 2017 Pinot Noir Harmony Lane 2. Arista 2016 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard 3. Arnot-Roberts 2017 Chardonnay Watson Ranch 4. Bedrock Wine Co. 2017 Zinfandel Old Vine 5. Cep Vineyards 2018 Sauvingon Blanc Hopkins Ranch 6. Drinkward-Peschon 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Entre Deux Meres 7. Failla 2017 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard 8. Hartford Court 2017 Chardonnay Four Hearts Vineyards 9. Kistler 2016 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard 10. Littorai 2016 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard

Littorai

Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016

Delectable Wine
9.4

Littorai's 2016 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is gorgeous, but it also is going to need quite a bit of time to come together, as the tannins are quite piercing at this early stage. Chalk, white pepper, mint, blood orange and red berry fruit give the Hirsch its distinctive aromatic signatures. As promising as the 2016 is, there is not much pleasure to be found today. Readers should plan on being patient. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago

Monika and Joe liked this

Drinkward Peschon

"Entre Deux Mères" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Delectable Wine
9.2

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Entre Deux Mères is a gorgeous, inviting wine. Blackberry jam, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice are all pushed forward in this racy, succulent Cabernet Sauvignon. Touches of rose petal, mint and lavender add further shades of nuance over time. The 2015 spent 22 months in oak, 50% new. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago

Ron liked this

Arnot-Roberts

Watson Ranch Chardonnay 2017

Delectable Wine
9.3

The 2017 Chardonnay Watson Ranch is a gorgeous wine. Apricot, chamomile, dried flowers, sage and dried pear are all laced together in this super-expressive, inviting Chardonnay. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2017, as it is quite closed today. Bright saline notes add freshness and zip to this super-expressive Chardonnay. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago

Kistler

Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay 2016

Delectable Wine
9.6

The 2016 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard, from Steve Kistler's original vineyard on Moon Mountain, shows a real sense of hillside structure in its deep, phenolic personality. There is a feeling of real textural depth and substance that runs through the KV. A whole range of citrus, floral and savory notes give the wine its distinctive character. There is just so much going on. In 2016, I have a slight preference for the KV over the Cuvée Cathleen, which emerges from a separate part of the property. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago

Ron liked this

Cep Vineyards

Hopkins Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Delectable Wine
9.0

The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Hopkins Ranch is bright and focused, and yet also has terrific textural richness that keeps it from being aggressive. This is a fabulous, super-expressive, affordable Sauvignon Blanc from Peay's Cep label. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago

Shaun and Ron liked this

Arista Winery

Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay 2016

Delectable Wine
9.4

The 2016 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is one of the more linear wines in this range, relatively speaking. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and white pepper give the wine a super-distinctive upper register. Aromatic, bright and focused, the Ritchie is refined and loaded with real personality. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago

Hartford Court

Four Hearts Vineyards Chardonnay 2017

Delectable Wine
9.1

The 2017 Chardonnay Four Hearts Vineyards is another pretty, appellation-level Chardonnay from Hartford Court. Apricot, orange peel, spice, chamomile and lightly buttered notes flesh out in this resonant, inviting Chardonnay. My impression is that the Four Hearts will drink best upon release. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago

Ron liked this

Failla

Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay 2017

Delectable Wine
9.0

The 2017 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is one of the deeper wines in this range, and yet it, too, is compact. More than that, though, the Hudson signatures just don't come through when the fruit is picked this early. Apricot, tangerine, dried flowers, honey and chamomile develop in the glass, but the 2017 lacks character, in my view. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago

Ron liked this

Bedrock Wine Co.

Old Vine Zinfandel

Delectable Wine
9.1

The 2017 Zinfandel Old Vine is gorgeous. Fresh, floral and beautifully perfumed, it is light on its feet yet delivers tons of flavor intensity. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, cedar, tobacco and floral notes are all pushed forward. Silky tannins add to the wine's considerable appeal. The 2017 was aged 60% in foudres of various sizes and 40% in smaller French oak barrels. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago

Anthill Farms

Harmony Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Delectable Wine
9.3

The 2017 Pinot Noir Harmony Lane is one of the more open-knit wines in this range. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, rose petal and spice give the Harmony a distinctly exotic feel. Soft curves and silky tannins are nicely complemented by underpinnings of salinity that give the wine a lovely sense of proportion. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 5 years ago