It is time for another edition of “Random Samples”–I occasionally get samples from marketing agencies and/or producers. These can often be grouped together into some sort of over-arching theme: Drink Them and It Will Come, Summer is Here, So That Means (More) Rosé, If It Doesn’t Sparkle, It Doesn’t Matter.

Other times, I get just a bottle or two that do not have any apparent connection or link. Instead of holding on to those bottles until the “right” combination comes along, I decided to link all these “random” bottles together, making their own category (and, being the math geek that I am, “random sample” has a bit of a double entendre).

2023 Barra of Mendocino Chardonnay Reserve, Mendocino County, CA: Retail $25. Very Responsible Bottle (496g; 17.5oz). Stupid synthetic stopper. I am a fan of Mendocino, even a big fan, and I always love tasting these wines from Barra. This Chardonnay is a solid effort. Lemon curd, a touch of oak, some floral notes, and a touch of crushed seashell on the nose. The palate is round and full, but there is ample tartness to balance out that roundness, and for the most part, it succeeds. Buttery, a tad oaky, but far from the cougar juice that defined California Chards for years. This is a fun quaff and worthy of attention. Very Good. 89 Points.

2023 Cattleya Chardonnay Alma de Cattleya, Sonoma County, CA: Retail $30. Very Responsible Bottle (493g; 17.4oz). Under DIAM5. I would have to do a deeper dive to make sure, but I believe this is the seventh straight year I have reviewed this wine, which I think is a record (for me) and I couldn’t be happier. All the vintages have been Excellent (or above) and this wine remains an unbelievable bargain at thirty bucks. Medium straw color in the glass with hints of Honeycrisp apple, a touch of lemon zest, and white honeysuckle blossom on the nose. The palate is silky and demure with an initial tartness followed rather quickly by subtle but ample fruit. This is really a wine geek’s wine as it gets even better as it warms, revealing more depth, complexity, and elongating the finish. I have never met Bibiana, the winemaker, but should I ever have the privilege, I would thank her for sharing her beautiful wines with me. At least that is how it goes in my head. Likely, I would just sit there silently like an idiot, but that is another story. Outstanding. 93 Points.

2023 Cattleya Pinot Noir Alma de Cattleya, Sonoma County, CA: Retail $35. Very Responsible Bottle (493g; 17.4oz). Fruit mostly comes from the Russian River Valley Appellation. Fairly dark, particularly for a Pinot, but it still manages to maintain Pinot’s “tart and earthy’ reputation. Dark and brooding, nearly opaque in the glass, and on the nose this lovely elixir eventually produces some lovely black, blue, and red fruit. The palate is tart, a tad earthy, but otherwise focused on the all those berries. The acidity does an admirable job keeping up with the fruit, but this is a wine that celebrates California sunshine. While the French like to complain that California Pinots deviate too far from what they are “supposed to be”, every Burgundian winemaker would kill to get this kind of gorgeous fruit in their wines. Outstanding. 93 Points.

2023 Cattleya Syrah Alma de Cattleya, Sonoma County, CA: Retail $30. Very Responsible Bottle (476g; 16.8oz). 100% Syrah. Dark. Very dark, inky dark in the glass, with, as one would expect, really dark fruit notes on the nose: blackberry, cassis, plum. I looked for that Syrah characteristic spice, but largely came up empty (outside of a hint of black pepper). The palate is dark, too, but less than the nose did portend. The fruit is still the dominant element, though, with wave upon wave of dark berries. The tartness is the other main marker here, which is a lovely balancing aspect. A lengthy finish, well, finishes the wine with a dash of that spice I was seeking; a real dark fruit lover’s delight. Excellent. 90 Points.

2024 Kendall-Jackson Chenin Blanc Vintner’s Reserve, California: Retail $15. Very Responsible Bottle (480g; 16.9oz). Under screw cap. When the fine folks at K-J asked if I wanted to try their new Vintner’s Reserve Chenin Blanc, I did not hesitate. Heck yeah, I do! The Vintner’s Reserve Pinot has always surprised (in a very good way) at my annual Blind Pinot Tasting here in Houston and delivers incredible value. I also am a huge fan of Chenin; while most of my experience with the variety has been from the Loire Valley in France, I have enjoyed Chenins from around the world, notably South Africa and California. So, I naturally assumed that this inaugural vintage of the K-J Vintner’s Chenin would be tasty. And it is. Barely a pale straw in color with tons of lemon curd and pear on the nose, the palate is delightfully fruity (and not overly so), with a nice jolt of acidity on the mid-palate for balance. No, this does not quite match up with some of the better wines I have had from Vouvray and Savannières, but few do. This is tasty, refreshing, and imminently quaffable. Very Good. 88 Points.

2024 Matanzas Creek Winery Chenin Blanc, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $20. Very Responsible Bottle (482g; 16.9oz). Under screw cap. You know, Matanzas Creek does not get enough credit, at least in my book, for its influence in the history of Sonoma County wine. Founding winemaker? Merry Edwards and David Ramey was also a winemaker at Matanzas Creek; two legendary figures in Sonoma County. Add that the winery was instrumental in creating the Bennet Valley AVA, and well, the history of wine in Sonoma just can’t be told without at least a chapter on Matanzas Creek. Jackson Family Wines bought the property in 2000, and the family has managed it since, maintaining the high standards set since its founding in 1977. So when this Chenin Blanc, which I feel is one of the most under-appreciated varieties in the world, and is barely present in California, landed on my doorstep? Giddy-up. Great tree fruit and hints of citrus on the nose with a dab of minerality and a dose of florality, and wait, this is twenty bucks?? The palate is fruity and focused but also round and robust, this is a delightful representation of the variety and a testament to the fact that Matanzas Creek is still a leader in Sonoma County. Bravo. Excellent. 91 Points.