Three To Try - Great value pinot noirs (from the New World)
This garnet gem delivers bright cherry and raspberry fruit with elegant earthy notes. Pairs well with beef, game and poultry.

Visit the tropics with a bottle of Hartford Courts Four Hearts. I enjoy this, 93 McD for its trop fruits, citrus, toasty, buttery, hazelnut profile.

This dark ruby colored Cabernet from Kendall Jackson is very good. It opens with a black cherry and blackberry bouquet with a hint of peppermint and dark chocolate. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with nicely integrated acidity. The mouthfeel is round and balanced. The flavor profile is a mineral influenced black currant with notes of oak and blackberry. I also detected some hints of blueberry and cola. The finish is dry, and its fine tannins and flavors fade away nicely. This Cab would pair nicely with a filet mignon.

Oranges, tangerines peach, hazelnuts and mildly grassy licorice. This is a pleasant, everyday Chardonnay.

A mix of red and black fruits, dense in a good way, with savory brambles and a granular, lean finish.

Like several Bordeaux wineries, Lassègue does both late and later releases, so you can often find multiple vintages available. This one is perfect for a bloody steak – fresh but rounded flavors of cherries and cassis blended in with tastes of leather and aging barrels.

Never shy when it comes to the embrace of acidity, this Oregon sparkler made in the traditional method was like a bite of sea salt on a strawberry. There's a creamy mouthfeel, yellow apple, pear and lemon zest on the finish. A flaky croissant and toasty brioche note come through, as well.

In between, are the sophisticated La Crema Sonoma Coast 2019 Chardonnay with its pear and lemon meringue pie profile and the classic Cambria 2019 Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County.

In between, are the sophisticated La Crema Sonoma Coast 2019 Chardonnay with its pear and lemon meringue pie profile and the classic Cambria 2019 Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Freemark Abbey Napa Valley 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is high-end California red at its best.

For example, the popular Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve 2019 Chardonnay is approachable and affordable at $21 and is made from grapes grown in vineyards up and down the California coast in Monterey, Santa Barbara, Mendocino and Sonoma.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most finessed wines I have ever tasted here. That seems to be the direction Chris Carpenter is pursuing of late. So more than a vintage or place (Cardinale is a blend of hillside and valley floor sites) what comes through is the wine's finesse. Floral overtones lift a core of red cherry fruit, pomegranate and blood orange. I imagine the 2019 will enjoy a long life based on its spectacular balance.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is one of the most distinctive wines in this range from Lokoya, but it is also the most backward. Huge beams of tannin give the Veeder Cabernet energy and shape. It will be at least a few years before the fruit starts to fully emerge, so a measure of patience is essential. Iron, red plum fruit, sage, mint and white pepper lend striking brightness to this gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from Lokoya and winemaker Chris Carpenter.

In 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is entirely from W.S. Keyes ranch. A huge, statuesque wine, the 2019 possesses tremendous intensity right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit, gravel, menthol, licorice and spice build in an opulent, dramatic Cabernet that hits all the right notes. This is such a classic expression of Howell Mountain.

The 2019 Red Wine, Caladan's Merlot-based blend, is flamboyant to the core. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and sweet oak are all kicked up in this decidedly exuberant wine. Winemaker Chris Carpenter opted for hillside sites for this blend, so there is plenty of supporting mountain structure lurking beneath all of that fruit.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic Mount Veeder wine loaded with strong savory and mineral accents. Black fruit, graphite menthol and licorice lend complexity to this huge, explosive Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are pretty fierce at this stage, so readers should plan on being patient.

The 2019 Cabernet Franc marries density, energy and varietal character in a huge mountain wine that is going to need a number of years to come together. Cedar, tobacco, licorice, coffee and dark-fleshed fruit infuse the 2019 with tremendous character. The 2019 is a powerhouse. Give it a few years to soften.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain is the most elegant, nuanced wines in the Lokoya range. Bright red cherry, red plum, blood orange, mint, cinnamon and rose petal lend brightness to this big, potent Cabernet Sauvignon. The Spring Mountain is differentiated in this range for its distinctly red-tone fruit, floral top notes and silky tannins. In 2019, the wine is a blend from Wuerder and Everdon.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain is a huge, strapping wine packed with inky black fruit, graphite, crushed rocks, menthol, bittersweet chocolate and espresso. This huge, virile Cabernet packs a serious punch in its first impression. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of floral and savory notes that are so typical in wines from this appellation. Give the potent tannins a few years to soften.

A huge, dense wine, La Jota 2019 Merlot W.S. Keyes is sourced from vines planted in 1982. Blackberry jam, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves are all kicked up in this sumptuous, exotic Merlot. The 2019 is deep, full-throttle and so exciting.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is another superb wine from La Jota. Rich and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous density and plenty of mountain power. A rush of black cherry, blackberry, licorice, spice and menthol builds into the huge finish. This is a fabulous vintage for the La Jota Cabernet.

The 2019 Malbec is a real head-turner. Ample and explosive on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2019 packs a huge amount of fruit into its full-bodied frame. Red plum, pomegranate, rose petal and spice are all kicked up in this flamboyant, exuberant Malbec. In a word: stunning.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard is rich and expansive from start to finish. Succulent red cherry, plum, mocha, espresso, licorice and dried herbs flesh out in an ample, large-scaled Cabernet loaded with class and personality. There's a lot of wine here.

The 2019 Chardonnay W.S. Keyes is fabulous. Bright and translucent in the glass, the Chardonnay from Keyes is so distinctive. Crushed rocks, mint, white pepper and lemon peel all grace this exquisite, wonderfully nuanced Chardonnay. There aren't a lot of white grapes left on Howell Mountain these days. The Keyes Chardonnay shows how distinctive whites can be here.

The 2019 Cabernet Franc is fabulous. Rich, deep and soaring in its aromatics, the Franc is loaded with pedigree. Readers will find a potent, structured wine that needs a lot of time. The 2019 is a blend taken from both the W.S. Keyes and La Jota properties.