USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Slope has a nose of wood smoke, smoked meats, potpourri, black pepper, blackcurrants and black cherries—this is very savory and Syrah-esque! Medium-bodied, it packs in the blue and black fruit layers in the mouth, wonderfully sweet and ripe, with savory/earthy layers of turned earth and pipe tobacco. It's framed by firm, fine, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and sweetly fruited. This is great!

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2014 Pinot Noir Slope is a little closed at this youthful stage, o􀃗ering glimpses of black raspberries, wild strawberries and pomegranate with suggestions of fertile loam, dried leaves, moss and truffes. The medium-bodied palate is firm and broody, revealing glimpses of the fragrant earth and red fruit layers that should blossom over time, which are now firmly encased by chewy tannins and racy acid.

Pale to medium garnet-purple, the 2015 Grenache Ovitelli reveals a stunning nose of kirsch, dried roses, cinnamon stick, sandalwood and Sichuan pepper with hints of lavender and Marmite toast. Medium-bodied, taut and very Finely structured in the mouth, the perfumed red berry flavors are textured by soft, fine-grained tannins, and it finishes with great persistence.

Medium garnet-purple in color and intensely scented of kirsch and warm red currants with an alluring peppery undercurrent, plus suggestions of dried roses, cloves, garrigue and dusty earth the medium-bodied 2011 High Sands Grenache is still a little angular in the mouth at this youthful stage with chewy tannins and crisp acidity supporting the pronounced pepper and spice flavors. It finishes with excellent persistence. Drink it 2015 to 2022+.

A reserve label made only in the best vintages, the 2010 High Sands Grenache has a deep garnet-purple color and expressive notes of blackberry, black cherries and roses over touches of peppered salami, fertile loam and yeast extract. Medium to full-bodied and packed with muscular fruit, it has a solid backbone of medium to firm grainy tannins and refreshing acid, finishing long and layered.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Ironheart Shiraz offers up notions of crushed black cherries, mulberries and plums with hints of chocolate box, licorice, tilled soil, cardamom and Provence herbs plus a hint of black olives. The medium-bodied palate is both harmonious and vivacious, packed with youthful blackberry and exotic spice flavors and a good backbone of ripe, rounded tannins. It finishes long with a pepper and herbal lift.

Rich smelling wine - licorice, black fruit, raspberry liqueur, fragrant dried herbs and spice, meat and chocolate. Medium to full bodied, chocolaty and meaty,even acidity, pulls and grips a bit with powdery tannin, especially on the dry mineral finish. A muscular-raise-one-eyebrow kind of GSM. Yes.

Grenache 54%, Shiraz 28% and Mataro 18%. It says on the back label that the Grenache was planted in 1946. Rich smelling wine - licorice, black fruit, raspberry liqueur, fragrant dried herbs and spice, meat and chocolate. Medium to full bodied, chocolaty and meaty,even acidity, pulls and grips a bit with powdery tannin, especially on the dry mineral finish. A muscular-raise-one-eyebrow kind of GSM. Yes.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2012 Small Pot Whole Bunch Shiraz presents aromas of blueberry compote, prunes and preserved black cherries with nuances of mocha, dried Provencal herbs and underbrush. Medium to full- bodied with muscular blackberry and earthy flavors, it has a firm structure of grainy tannins and balancing acid through the finish with excellent length. Drink it now to 2022+.

Only four barrels of the whole-bunch fermented 2010 Small Pot Shiraz were made. It casts a deep-purple color and gives a wonderfully perfumed nose of sweet cherries, crushed blueberries, lilacs and baking spices with hints of chocolate and cloves. Big, densely packed and full-bodied in the mouth, its opulence is well contained within a tight frame of medium to firm grainy tannins and crisp acidity, finishing with great persistence. Drink it 2014 to 2024+.

The 2014 Chardonnay Russian River Valley has lemongrass, orange blossoms and cedar notes over a core of white peaches, grapefruit and green mango. Medium to full-bodied with a gorgeously creamy textured and mouth-filling stone fruit and citrus layers, it has a racy backbone and a very long finish, with some toasty notes coming through.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two The 2016 Pinot Noir Pierre Leon is pale to medium ruby-purple in color with a wonderful deep nose of ripe red and black fruits with notions of dried cranberries, macerated warm black cherries, exotic spices, cardamom and savory hints of leather. Medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with ripe fruits, savory/spicy layers and notions of floral perfume. It has fine, grainy but powerful tannins and juicy acidity to carry the long finish. Give this a couple years in bottle, and it will really shine.

Full bright ruby. Very reticent but pure aromas of cassis, licorice, violet, espresso and spices. Penetrating, tight wine with terrific energy to its intense flavors of blueberry, boysenberry, minerals and licorice. But still extremely unevolved and not yet showing its inherent complexity. Finishes with serious, firm-edged tannins that still need time to soften. The least yielding of the three Vérité 2007s, and the least sweet. But this very long Médoc blend has all the elements for a long and glorious evolution in bottle.

USA, California, Northern California: Napa & Some Sonoma New Releases Made of 100% Cabernet aged 20 months in 47% new French oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith opens with bold notions of black cherry preserves, black raspberries, blackcurrant cordial and mocha with hints of tar, licorice, wild sage and cedar chest. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated and built like a brick house with firm, grainy tannins and great freshness supporting the generous fruit, finishing long and earthy.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point Vineyard opens with compelling savory notes of smoked meats, truffles and black olives over crushed black cherries, plums and black berries with a touch of bay leaves. Medium-bodied with plenty of juicy black and red fruit supported by ripe, grainy tannins and compelling freshness, it finishes long and earthy.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall Vineyard has a warm black currant cordial and preserved plums-based nose with touches of new leather, spice box, chargrill and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate provides generous, mouth-filling black fruit and savory layers, framed by firm tannins and finishing on a fruity note.

The smallest production cuvée is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith (200 cases), which comes from a vineyard of the same name planted at a 1,750-foot elevation. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was aged 20 months in 70% new French oak. An opaque purple color is accompanied by notes of charcoal, graphite, blackcurrants, blackberries and background toast, and a full-bodied, powerful, highly extracted mouthfeel with no hard edges or angularity. This 2012 Cabernet is still an infant, but it should evolve beautifully for 20-30 years.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall is a big, tightly wound wine. Dark red raspberries, mint, white flowers and spices emerge from this energetic, vibrant Cabernet. The Rockfall impresses for its power and sheer drive. A complex, multi-dimensional finish leaves a striking last impression. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021.

Another massive, highly extracted monster that begs for a decade of patience is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon West Ledge. (234 cases produced). It should last for 50 years. These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines I have ever tasted.

These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines I have ever tasted. Kudos to proprietor Jess Jackson and winemakers Graham Weerts and Marcia Monahan for exploring this high elevation terroir. This has been a work-in-progress for Jackson, and he has finally hit paydirt with the following wines. Readers need to pay attention as there are some amazing Chardonnays as well as red wines emerging from Stonestreet. The relatively limited production, opaque purple-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 21 months in French oak) is a tannic, massive beast of a wine. Extremely full-bodied, dense, extracted, and backward, this 40-50 year wines requires at least 8-10 years patience. I'm not sure how many consumers have the requisite discipline for wines such as this, but it's good to see they are still being made, and future generations will appreciate the effort.

The 2005 Legacy Proprietary Red, a nearly 1,500-case cuvée, is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged 17 months in 91% new French oak. The wine tastes incredibly young. It feels more like a three- to four-year old North Coast Cabernet than one that is about to pass ten years. Very dense purple to the rim, its opulent, generous, open-knit bouquet of lead pencil shavings, blackcurrants, cedar wood, vanilla and spice, good acidity, sweet tannin, and full-bodied, voluptuous body give this wine tremendous appeal. Still, there is serious upside that remains. Although quite accessible already, it promises to be even better in another 3-4 years and should keep at least three decades.

USA, California, Northern California: Napa & Some Sonoma New Releases Fermented and aged for 11 months in French oak (44% new), the 2016 Chardonnay Broken Road Vineyard delivers ripe apricots, pineapple paste, apple pie and allspice scents with hints of honeycomb and toasted almonds. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs a wallop of intense flavors with layer upon layer of tropical fruit and spices, complemented by a creamy texture and finishing long and toasty.

At present, the 2013 Chardonnay Broken Road is tightly wound and austere, yet it also appears to be holding back much of its potential. Sage, mint, pine and a host of savory/mineral notes are woven throughout a core of distinctly stony, yellow-fleshed fruit. Lifted, floral aromatics add the final layers of complexity to a Chardonnay that is going to need time to fully blossom.

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Pratt Vineyard Sexton Road features gorgeous crushed black cherries and black raspberries scents with nuances of violets, wild thyme, lavender and iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate features a fantastically refreshing backbone juxtaposed by wonderfully velvety tannins and amazing black berry intensity, leading into a very long floral finish.

Santa Cruz Mountains and the Santa Lucia Highlands From the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2016 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard saw one-fourth stems and 15 months in 50% new French oak. It's always a richer wine and the 2016 is no exception, offering notes of black raspberries, crushed rocks, vanilla bean, and spice. Deep, pure and powerful, yet still with a beautiful sense of elegance, drink it any time over the coming 10-12 years.