The 2018 Santa Cruz Mountains pinot from Alesia is a touch lower in octane than the Anderson Valley bottling this year, coming in at 13.2 percent. The wine is really, really deep and refined on the nose in 2018, offering up a complex blend of sweet dark berries, cassis, espresso, fresh thyme, a fine base of minerality, bonfire, bitter chocolate and a touch of new wood. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and sports outstanding mid-palate depth and transparency, with fine-grained tannins, superb balance and grip and a long, complex and utterly refined finish. This year, the Santa Cruz Mountains have a leg up in the Alesia pinot noir sweepstakes!

The 2018 Alesia Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains is immediately wide open on the nose, with pretty aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, red licorice and wild herbs. The palate is svelte and solid, braced with quenching and delicious acidity. On the finish, a mild, understated tannin structure gains sturdiness with air while remaining seamless and inviting. The style here hints at what one finds in the single-vineyard wines at Rhys but remains relatively ready for consumption. (ML)

Made from a selection of grapes from various estate vineyards. Smells of dusty road, cranberry and raspberries. Very pretty raspberry fruit flavours mix with a hint of cedar and forest floor as orange-peel notes and dried herbs creep into the finish. Lithe and well balanced. 17.5/20 points (AY)