Late Summer Wines That Keep The Fun Going — A Pinot Noir With Staying Power, Chardonnay Picks and More

Summer is entering the home stretch, but there are still plenty of wines to taste and enjoy. Let’s dive into some worthy picks.

Pinot Power

The 2023 Lynmar Estate Susanna’s Vineyard Pinot Noir kicks off this tasting. This wine, from the Sonoma Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA), will make a favorable impression on admirers of the violet aromas that can be found in pinot noir. That purple flower note is lovely here, along with pencil shavings and forest floor. It carries some spice to the palate that meshes well with the blueberry and black tea notes.

This is a full-bodied wine with a robust and confident finish. Its stats? 14 months in French oak (33 percent new), alcohol 14 percent, 627 cases made. The clones are Calera, Quail Hill Select and Swan. I paired this with a dish of sautéed quail and lamb. Pasta with wild mushrooms and garlic would also make for a fine meal with this wine.

Susanna’s Vineyard was planted in 2006 with 10 acres of chardonnay and 10 acres of pinot noir. Drink this now, or cellar it properly through 2035. It carries a $79 suggested retail price. Find the wine here.

Chardonnay Time

Next, we highlight the 2023 Lynmar Estate Adam’s Vineyard Chardonnay, which hails from Lynmar’s warmest estate vineyard. It is a nine acre parcel, of which two acres are planted to chardonnay (Montrachet and Wente clones are used in this wine). It’s from the Russian River Valley, 403 cases were made and alcohol is 14.2 percent. It carries a $71 suggested retail price.

I drank this wine with a trout cooked simply in butter, with capers and salt and pepper, plus a touch of Italian parsley. The pairing was ideal, as the wine’s lively acidity and briny finish loved the capers’ brightness and trout’s earthiness. Adam’s vineyard, named after the son of Lynmar owners Lynn and Aniysa Fritz (Susanna’s Vineyard is named for Aniysa’s grandmother), was planted in 2013.

Fourteen months in French oak  — 41 percent new — whole cluster, weekly bâtonnage for duration of malolactic conversion. Find the wine here.

The 2024 Dutcher Crossing Abraham Reserve Chardonnay is 100 percent Clone 76, which was developed by Dr. Raymond Bernard of the University of Dijon. The fruit hails from Alexander Valley, an estate vineyard, and the elegance, balance and aromatic profile of this wine are infectious.

I opened this bottle on an afternoon of sampling that included a few other chardonnays, and the opportunity to compare was illuminating. The Abraham Reserve, named after Dutcher Crossing owner Debra Mathy’s great nephew, is 100 percent barrel-fermented and aged for 12 months in neutral French oak. The fruit comes through wonderfully here. A touch of green apple and robust notes of pear mark the aroma. This is a vibrant, fresh, and lively pour.

It has an suggested retail price of $50, 100 cases were made, and alcohol comes in at 14 percent. Pair with monkfish, shrimp, or roast chicken with root vegetables. Find the wine here, or ask for it at your favorite merchant.

Refugio Ranch

The final bottle in this edition of Tasting Notes is the 2022 Refugio Ranch Barbareño. It’s a blend of syrah (90 percent), grenache and petite sirah (5 percent each). This is a powerful, Rhône-style, bold wine that I paired with grilled lamb chops (garlic and rosemary), something I would happily do on a monthly basis from here on out.

Black fruit notes (cherry and blackberries), that wonderful aroma of rain falling on dry rocks, bold tannins and black pepper are all in the glass. This wine definitely deserves, and benefits from, 15 minutes or so — at least — in the glass. Though I first tasted it immediately upon pouring. You might also try decanting it and letting it breathe for a hour or so.

It is a Santa Ynez Valley wine, and 256 cases were produced. It was aged in 61 precent new French oak barrels, and a small amount of whole cluster (6 percent) was utilized. This will age well, and opening a bottle in 2034 will be an adventure. You’ll find this for around $70. Find the wine here.

For more from James Brock visit Mise en Place.