Although Anaba’s new Vintner’s House is in Carneros, their WestLands Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are blended from very cool vineyards within a few miles of the coast. This is a complex, age-worthy Pinot with intense, bright red fruit—cherry and cranberry—punched up by great acidity and layered with spice and a hint of mushrooms.
13.6 percent ABV, $64
A vintage from Cathy Corison’s old Kronos vines that expresses the full range of fruit flavors she prizes, from red currant through plum all the way to dark berries. As the fruit opens up, so do layers of interesting spice, fresh herbs (mint), leafy tobacco, and earthy loam. This is a year that delivered the velvety tannins Corison strives for, but a vintage that promises a long life in the cellar as well.
13.2 percent, $195
Perched high on the ridge where Sonoma meets Napa, the new-ish Cornell Vineyards should be on your radar. In the hands of consulting winemaker Francoise Pechon (Araujo, Viader, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars …) and director of viticulture and winemaking Elizabeth Tangney, Cornell Cabernet makes the most of its mountain site, with a fresh, complex, structured profile. The 2015 has deep, integrated layers of crushed rock, exotic spices, mint, and orange peel under dark plum and blackberry flavors and high-toned floral aromas.
14.4 percent, $150
This inaugural vintage from the east side of Emeritus’ Pinot Hill Vineyard is bright and savory—far from thin, if that’s what you’re thinking based on the alcohol level. A fresh ocean breeze is joined by savory herbs, white pepper, and loam, followed by lively red fruit (rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry) with a kick of orange peel.
13 percent, $75
No “wimpy Merlot,” this bright and elegant version from Hickinbotham’s winemaker Chris Carpenter (Cardinale, Lokoya) has a firm but integrated backbone of tannin underlying fresh cherry, raspberry, and cassis layered with notes of violets, dark chocolate, and crushed herbs.
14 percent, $75
This Olivet Grange Vineyard bottling from Inman Family has a remarkable sweet-savory balance. Haunting floral aromas are layered with loamy forest floor, while lively strawberry and cranberry flavors taper to citrus and hints of earthy minerality on a long finish.
13.8 percent, $73
Vibrant acidity from a cold site just 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean brightens strawberry and rhubarb flavors in this Kutch Pinot. The fruit is balanced by earthy loam and an herbal character from whole-cluster fermentation, adding structure and complexity.
13 percent, $62
Consider this a sneak peek at a vintage releasing early this spring. Newton’s 2017 Puzzle is a complex, aromatic blend primarily from the winery’s home-base Spring Mountain vineyards but with splashes from their Mount Veeder and Yountville estate vineyards as well. Briary blackberries open on the nose, layered with herbal notes, forest, and mint. A firm tannin structure supports the stamp of the place—fresh berries.
14 percent, $125
From another longtime bastion of balance, this beautiful iteration of Spottswoode’s flagship opens with layers of floral notes, anise, mint, cedar, espresso, and dark fruit. Flavors of boysenberry and dark cherry, backed by magnificent structure, offer the best of both worlds—freshness and opulence—with crushed rock and tobacco bringing up a savory finish.
14.4 percent, $225
The amount of bright, ripe fruit in this Trinity Hill red is remarkable at this alcohol level. Blueberry and plum are layered with wilder Syrah characteristics, including white pepper, black olive and tobacco leaf.
13 percent, $150
This Cabernet Franc–based blend from Vérité offers gorgeous aromatics—rose petals over blackberry liqueur and fresh mint. Juicy dark berry and plum flavors are laced with baking spices, and fine-grained tannins are delivered with perfect tension in this bright, balanced wine.
14.1 percent, $425