Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part Two The 2016 Pinot Noir 3-D is endowed with lovely fruit presence and impeccable overall balance. Lifted and precise, with lovely mid-palate pliancy and overall depth, the 3-D hits all the right notes. Although not especially complex, the 3-D is curvy and voluptuous, which brings out the red cherry and plum fruit character nicely. Floral notes on the finish add to the wine's considerable immediacy and overall appeal.

2016 PINOT NOIR The nose is a lean cherry, herb, tea leaf and mint. The palate is a supple red fruit, cherry and apple through the core finishing in a focused depth of plum and spiced cherry.

Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2015 Pinot Noir Drum Canyon has notes of warm cherries and black raspberries with hints of sautéed herbs and tree bark plus a waft of fungi. Medium-bodied, the palate is very elegant with finely grained tannins, loads of freshness and great length.

The nose is ripe, soft blueberry, sandalwood and dusty rose petals. The palate has well defined textured and weight on entry with the core filling out with supple red cherry, spice box and cola.

Concentrated savory and spicy notes envelop the dried cherry and plum tart flavors. Features supple sandalwood accents midpalate, with a finish supported by fine-grained tannins and filled with cardamom and chocolate hints.

Complex and subtle, with a firm structure to the mix of dark currant, pomegranate, raspberry and plum tart flavors, supported by medium-grained tannins. Cocoa powder notes show on the finish.

Pale ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Machado is scented of kirsch and pomegranate with an undercurrent of forest floor, sautéed herbs, cinnamon stick and fallen leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate packs in the intense red berry and earthy flavors with a chewy backbone supporting the dense fruit through the long, lively finish.

The 2015 Pinot Noir 3-D shows more of a savory side of Pinot, much of it from the influence of whole clusters. Dried flowers, herbs, mint and tobacco add aromatic nuance that plays off the wine's ample, textured palate feel. Heritage clones, including Swan and Pommard, form the core of the plantings here and contribute to the wine's distinctly savory personality.

Coming from a 10-acre vineyard of sandy soils and four different clones, the 2015 Pinot Noir 3D offers a spicy, sandy, loamy, dried earth character as well as plenty of sweet cherry and framboise fruit, medium-bodied richness and an elegant, ethereal texture. It has the classic saltiness and saline character of the Sta. Rita Hills, stays lively and fresh and has outstanding length. It should be at its best from 2018-2027.

Made from 120 assembled ferments that speak to clones, soils, and clusters both whole and fractional. From the 3D, Hapgood, and Machado vineyards, the generous fruit morphs with savory white pepper into a clove-y spice with soy and salted plum. Its stemmy flavor profile frames a drying persistence.

Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part Two The 2016 Chardonnay Machado is a very pretty wine. Intensely mineral and savory, the Machado is also a wine of notable precision. The lemon confit, almond, dried flower and earthy notes are rather subdued in the Machado, where minerality and overall structure are such distinctive signatures.

The 2016 Chardonnay Machado is the most reserved and austere of these just-bottled offerings from Brewer-Clifton, unwinding in the glass with a youthful bouquet of fresh apple, pear, gooseberry and musky peach. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, tensile and stony, built around a bright line of acidity, concluding with a saline, tangy finish. While some tasters will gravitate toward the more open-knit wines in the portfolio, I appreciated the Machado's uncompromising style.

Complex and well-structured, with pear tart, green apple and ripe citrus flavors that are supported by crystalline acidity. The minerally finish has hints of smoke and plenty of spice notes.

A creamy, ample wine, the 2015 Chardonnay 3-D is quite dramatic. Readers should expect an especially viscous Chardonnay with a structural feel akin to that of a red wine in its phenolic intensity and overall breadth. The 3-D emerges from choice parcels within the broader ranch, most of which is used for the Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay.

The nose is a well focused golden stone fruits, licorice and Meyer lemon zest. The palate is bright and centered with minerally wet stone and lightly toasted grains. Crisp yet lush finish with juicy lemon, toast and grain.

The 2015 Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay is a beautifully made and ageworthy wine sourced from the Machado, 3D and Acin Vineyards. This has a highly perfumed nose with wild mushroom, Golden Delicious apple and ripe pear. Dense and delicious, this wine has flavors of banana, roasted pineapple and suggestions of white tea with gooseberry accents. The weight and texture of this Chardonnay is absolutely gorgeous as this is a stunning effort by the talented hands of Greg Brewer.

A Spotlight on Santa Barbara Still vibrant and fresh, with terrific purity in its apple blossom, citrus and stony, mineral profile, the 2012 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is supple, more rounded and textured than the '11, and has lots of fruit. It's a classic Chardonnay to drink over the coming 7-8 years.

A Spotlight on Santa Barbara Sporting a deeper gold color, the 2007 Chardonnay Rancho Santa Rosa is rich, textured and opulent, yet also fresh and lively. Reminding me of a Grand Cru Burgundy with its buttered stone fruits, hazelnut and brioche aromas and flavors, it has good acidity, plenty of balance and a great finish. Count me impressed with this beauty, which has aged more than gracefully.

One of the newer estates under the Jackson Family umbrella, Bootleg is managed by Kristy Melton, who’s turned out a brilliant Syrah blend in 2015. Made from 85% Syrah and 15% Petite Sirah, its deep purple color is followed by a peppery, meaty, dark fruited beauty that has full-bodied richness, complex notes of olives and spice, sweet tannin, and a great finish. It’s a pleasure-bent 2015 that should keep for a decade.

This opaque and midnight purple colored red blend from Bootleg opens with a blackberry bouquet with a hint of blueberry in the background. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, rich and extracted. The flavor profile is an extracted blackberry jam with notes of boysenberry and oak. I also detected hints of chocolate and stewed plum in the background. The finish, features lengthy tannins that are very sticky. This wine has been recently released and now I know why it was held back. That said, there is no way readers will guess this wine is mostly Merlot. It could easily sit in the cellar for many years. If you are interested in it in the near term, decant it and serve it with Roy’s rib-roast. It was still showing strong on day three.

Publisher's Picks From its caramel-pear nose to its spectacular silky texture, this is certainly a stunning wine from the winery's collaboration with Drew Barrymore. The blend of 79% Pinot Grigio and 21% Chardonnay really addresses its mouthfeel and flavor profile. Crisp white grapefruit, lychee, and peach tones are lifted due to 100% stainless steel fermentation, and white pepper dots the finish.

A mind-boggling effort, the 2007 Pinot Blanc Saralee's Vineyard is one of the finest Pinot Blancs I have ever tasted. Arrowood can perform magic with this varietal, and the 2007 (100% barrel fermented and put through 100% malolactic) must be tasted to be believed. Exotic aromas of honeyed melon, mango, lychee nut, and orange rind jump from the glass of this crisp, elegant, medium-bodied, super-fruity, precise, steely Pinot Blanc. While loaded with flavor, it comes across as delicate yet substantial. Sadly, there are only 250 cases of this big time sleeper of the vintage.

The 2010 Syrah Saralee's Vineyard is another intense, powerful wine loaded with fruit. The addition of 6% Viognier gives the 2010 an attractive lift. Black cherries, savory herbs, licorice, smoke and game all burst from the glass. The 2010 combines great expression of fruit with plenty of cooler-climate aromas and flavors, all supported by firm yet well-integrated tannins. This is a terrific showing from Arrowood. The 2010 is arguably the finest value in this portfolio. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Smothers Remick Ridge Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is deep garnet-purple colored and features open-knit scents of warm cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with touches of dark chocolate, bay leaves and tobacco leaf plus a waft of lavender. Full-bodied and packed with taut, muscular fruit, it has a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of background freshness, finishing long.

This pitch black colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Arrowood really impressed out mini-tasting group. It opens with a black currant bouquet with a hint of oak and faint leather. On the palate, this wine is medium to full bodied, nicely balanced and a little juicy. The flavor profile is very complex with several layers. It starts with a tasty mild black cherry and oak blend with mild minerality mixed in. I also detected hints of olive, before closing with some coconut and black coffee on the after taste. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins build up and stick around for quite some time. This Cab held up very well over a period of three days. I would decant it and pair this wine with a marbled ribeye steak.