Sourced from one of the great vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, this starts off with aromas of crushed mint, wet stone, peat moss and dark cherry, as this is distinctively earthy. Fruit drives the mid-palate with lighter earthy and citrus tones rounding it out. Dense, chewy and seductive, this outstanding wine will cellar well over the next ten to fifteen years.

Lurid red. Powerful red and dark berry liqueur, mocha and incense scents take on a smoky nuance as the wine opens up. Fleshy and broad on the palate but surprisingly lively as well, offering intense black raspberry, cherry cola and candied licorice flavors and a hint of allspice. Finishes seamless and very long, featuring an echo of juicy blue fruit and velvety tannins that add gentle grip.

Rich ruby color. Bursting aromatics of dark plums and cherries, a deep, complex earthiness pervades the nose with elements of fall leaves, loam, graphite, and throw in some violets and green herbs. Full on the palate with solid tannins (by no means harsh) but vibrant, crisp acidity. Black cherries and gushing plum fruit, so delicious, mixes with dried roses, pipe tobacco, black olive, and I get some rhubarb and cola notes as well. Complex, balanced, deep, lasting, memorable. Plenty of years of evolution ahead.

An enveloping red fruit, caramel apple across a smoked dried meat and spectrum of dried florals, cinnamon and baked fruit tart. The palate is a hard vitamin, wrapped in deep red berry with a waxy core and a sappy cherry finish.

The Penner-Ash Shea Vineyard Pinot is a meaty red, which Oregon Pinots can be at times. This one has serious depth, with layered red and dark fruits, a strong whiff of wood spice and impressive length. It would benefit with additional cellar time, but is showing well now.

Deep brilliant red. Powerful, spice-accented red and blue fruit and potpourri scents show excellent clarity and pick up suggestions of mocha and cola with air. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering concentrated black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that display appealing spiciness and an energizing jolt of smoky minerality. This concentrated yet elegant wine closes long and sweet, with smooth tannins coming in slowly.

Smooth and luscious with ripe Rainier cherry fruit from what many call the Grand Cru Vineyard of Oregon; rich texture and bright flavors; supple, deep, and balanced.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. An arsenal of dark red cherry and berry fruits emerge over time in the glass. Slow to give up its charms initially but regal and great when tasted later in the day from a previously opened bottle. A mid weight assortment of purple and black fruits are fresh and deep, backed by a taut tannic spine and enough acidity for freshness. The harmonious mouthfeel draws you back to the glass and nuances of spice and earth show up in time. Built for aging, this wine will benefit from more time in the cellar and may be deserving of an even higher score over time.

As with many of the winery's other single-vineyard selections from this vintage, this is strongly scented with fresh tobacco, and brings generous black-cherry fruit to the front and center. The fruit is accented by a wide swath of cola, perhaps Dr. Pepper. The finish continues long, clean and fresh.

Limpid ruby. A complex, deeply perfumed bouquet evokes fresh dark berries, cherry cola and potpourri, and a hint of mocha emerges with aeration. Juicy, expansive black raspberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors stretch out and become sweeter and more lively with air. Shows excellent clarity and breadth on the persistent finish, which is framed by harmonious, slow-mounting tannins. In a decidedly generous style, but this wine doesn't want for vivacity.

Bright ruby. Ripe blackberry, cherry cola and violet pastille aromas are lifted and given focus by a smoky mineral nuance. Suave, alluringly sweet dark berry, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors develop a touch of vanilla with air. Shows impressive depth and power but vivacity as well, finishing with impressive breadth and length and a late jolt of firming tannins.

Oregon: Pinot Still King Even In Hot 2015 and 2014 Vintages This pinot noir shows aromas of cherries, blueberries and licorice. Floral undertones, too. Medium to full body, silky and velvety tannins and a long and deep finish. Drink now or hold.

Ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, cherry cola, candied licorice and mocha take on a suave floral element in the glass. Sweet and broad on the palate, offering intense dark berry and violet pastille flavors sweetened by a building note of vanilla. The cola and vanilla notes come back steadily on a very long, penetrating finish that's framed and given grip by smooth, harmonious tannins. For a rich wine, there's quite good energy here.

Deep red. An explosively perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits and pungent flowers, while vanilla, incense and Asian spice notes add complexity. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering intense black raspberry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors plus hints of mocha and cola. Finishes sappy and impressively long, featuring excellent energy and lift, smooth tannins and lingering dark berry and floral notes.

Firm and peppery, with a sleek core of pomegranate-tinged red plum and floral flavors gliding seamlessly into a long and expressive finish. A graceful style, displaying presence.

Sporting the AVA's classic, concentrated black-cherry fruit, this carries a strong whiff of fresh cut tobacco. Those flavors control the palate, with lemony acids and a light touch of spice.

This appellation blend performs as well as the single-vineyard expressions by the same vintner (at least early in the wine's life). From Adam Lee, this bottling offers fresh blackberry, violet, lilac, lavender, charcoal, beef and white pepper on the nose. The palate is full of peppery, boysenberry-juice flavors, wrapped in an engaging texture.

Peppery, boysenberry-juice flavors, wrapped in an engaging texture.

The 2014 Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard reminds me a top flight Cornas with its black and blue fruits, pepper, bouquet garni and ample minerality. Showing more black olive with time in the glass, drink this medium-bodied, supple, beautifully polished Syrah anytime over the coming 7-8 years. It's another smokin' value released by Adam under his Novy Family Wines label.

Adam Lee's bottling from an iconic vineyard offers thick black fruit on the nose as well as fields of fennel and a dense array of purple flowers including lavender. Ripe blackberry and blueberry fruit make for a warm palate, lifted by roasted fennel and lots of tarragon and wild mint.

The best Syrah from Novy Family Wines in 2013 is the 2013 Syrah Susan's Hill. Coming from a tiny, windy spot in the Pisoni Vineyard, it offers gorgeous notes of cassis, toasted spice, licorice and savory herbs in a full-bodied, elegant, seamless package. I love its purity and balance, and it's incredibly easy to drink. It's a killer value to enjoy anytime over the coming 5-6 years.

Another terrific Syrah, the 2013 Syrah Garys' Vineyard offers rockin' notes of cassis, underbrush, creamy licorice, toasted spice and hints of bacon fat to go with a full-bodied, rounded, voluptuous and thrillingly textured feel on the palate. This is a full-flavored, sexy, yet distinctive Syrah that's guaranteed to put a smile on your face over the coming 5-7 years. At the price, it's a no brainer.

Pinot Noir pro Adam Lee shows his Rhône colors with this cool-climate bottling that offers scents of black pepper, violets, purple fruit and fried pork. It’s both lush and energetic on the palate, presenting dark blackberry flavors but with acidic verve. An exciting look at the grape’s varied potential.

Inky purple. Powerful dark fruit liqueur and potpourri scents are lifted by an exotic Asian spice nuance and a suggestion of smoky minerals. Sweet, seamless and concentrated, with intense dark fruit liqueur flavors offering a suave blend of richness and vivacity. A spine of juicy acidity sharpens the lush fruit on the finish, which lingers with superb tenacity and subtle, sneaky tannins that quickly fade away.