I recently had the pleasure of sitting down to lunch with James Hall, cofounder and winemaker at California’s much-esteemed Patz & Hall winery. For more than 20 years, James and his partners Donald Patz, Anne Moses and Heather Patz have focused exclusively on making Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They use grapes from many of California best vineyards in the Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Mendocino, Sonoma Coast and Santa Lucia Highlands to produce their small-lot and single vineyard wines.

The results are really quite something — if you haven’t had any of these wines, I encourage you to check them out. No, they’re not cheap. But the quality — and consistency — that they offer are virtually guaranteed to please.

CHARDONNAY:
Patz & Hall 2008 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast ($35). Lovely, fresh green apple, white nectarine and green melon aromas and flavors are accented with silky cream and tangerine, with a long, generous, mouthwatering finish. Very nice. Ready to drink now and over the next 6-7 years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Patz & Hall 2007 Chardonnay Napa Valley ($38). Creamy lemon curd aromas and flavors mingle with tropical fruit, pie crust, and ripe apple and pear. With a long, appealing oak-spice finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Patz & Hall 2007 Chardonnay Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch ($39). Loads of structure here, with layers of exotic tropical citrus, ripe melon, lime pie, and generous oak influence — cream, butter, toast, vanilla, baking spice that lingers on the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Patz & Hall 2007 Chardonnay Carneros Hudson Vineyard ($55) Rich butterscotch, cream, baking spices and buttered toast accent red apple, pineapple and peach flavors, with a welcome touch of citrus, and a big, lush, ripe finish that seems to go on and on. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

To learn more about Patz & Hall’s approach to making Chardonnay, click here.

PINOT NOIR:
Patz & Hall 2007 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast ($42). Rich with ripe red raspberry, strawberry and cherry flavors and aromas laced with savory smoke and exotic spices. Full-bodied, with a long, ripe, focused finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 2-3 years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Patz & Hall 2007 Pinot Noir Carneros Hyde Vineyard ($60). Exuberant, ripe, smooth black cherry character strikes an elegant balance with hints of dark chocolate, raspberry liqueur and a delicate rose floral note that emerges on the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 7-8 years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Patz & Hall 2007 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Jenkins Ranch ($45). Delicate tea aromas and flavors accent soft, rounded raspberry and red cherry fruit, picking up baking spices, toast, light floral notes and fresh acidity through the pretty finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Patz & Hall 2007 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Chenoweth Ranch ($55). Ripe red cherry and raspberry fruit is full-bodied, lush and heavily accented with vanilla, chocolate and pie crust notes, with baking spices and bright acidity accenting the long, rich finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 5-7 years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

To learn more about Patz & Hall’s approach to making Pinot Noir, click here.