Deep scarlet. Spice-accented cherry and blue fruit aromas pick up cola and floral accents with air. Juicy, seamless and nicely concentrated, offering lively black raspberry, boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that show fine definition and smoky back-end thrust. Finishes long and lively, with lingering red fruit, spice and floral notes and rounded tannins that make a late appearance.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyFrom a site on the eastern end of the Sta. Rita Hills, the 2018 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard shows the more savory, spicy, marine-like style of this appellation. Lots of mulled red and black fruits, new leather, spice, and forest floor notes all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, textured, and balanced.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyThe 2018 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard was all destemmed and brought up in 65% new French oak. It has a pure, clean bouquet of black raspberry fruits, spice box, dried herbs, and loamy soil. Playing in the medium-bodied, elegant end of the spectrum, it has solid balance, nicely integrated acidity, and a clean finish.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyBrioche, honeysuckle, white flowers, and ample buttered stone fruit notes all emerge from the 2018 Chardonnay Nielson Vineyard, a rich, concentrated, medium to full-bodied Chardonnay with some obvious oak, lots of texture, good balance, and a clean finish. It's terrific today yet should keep for 4-5 years.

Glistening magenta. Fragrant, oak-spiced cherry, black raspberry and violet scents are complemented by suggestions of vanilla and candied licorice. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering ripe red and dark berry and cherry cola flavors that become livelier through the midpalate. Finishes long and smoky, with a resonating floral note and steadily building, gently chewy tannins. 25% new oak.

Limpid ruby-red. Lively and focused on the nose, displaying mineral-tinged scents of juicy red and dark berries, allspice and candied flowers. Gently sweet and seamless in texture, offering spice-laced raspberry, cherry and musky rhubarb flavors that deepen slowly with air. Shows fine definition and finishes spicy and long, with discreet tannins and lingering red fruit and floral nuances.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyAnother smaller production release from this estate, the 2017 Pinot Noir Signature Collection Barbara's 667 comes from the same vineyard (Julia's) and is all clone 667 that was destemmed and aged 18 months in new French oak. It displays lots of oak as well as notes of spiced black raspberries, toasted spice, dried herbs, and new leather. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it has solid mid-palate depth and enough tannins and acidity to warrant 2-3 years of bottle age.

This is one of the best values around in high class Bordeaux from a good vintage. A blend of 90 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc, Les Cadrans is the second label of Chateau Lassegue, the Right Bank property guided by the estimable Pierre Seillan. This vintage is plush and supple, showing aromas of black cherry, red fruits and wood spice, with nicely integrated tannins and impressive length on the finish. Drink now or over the next eight to ten years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyMoving to the reds, the 2016 Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco was all destemmed and brought up in 36% new French oak. Impressive black raspberry and mulberry fruits as well as plenty of spice and incense notes emerge from this beauty, which is medium-bodied and has a supple, fruit-forward style that's a joy to drink. Enjoy bottles over the coming 3-5 years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountySpiced peach and white currant fruits as well as some toasty notes emerge from the 2018 Chenin Blanc Jurassic Vineyard, a medium-bodied red with good purity, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a terrific example of Chenin Blanc from California that should drink nicely for 2-4 years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyPeppery herbs, green olives, violets, bacon fat, and ample darker, almost blue fruits emerge from the 2018 Syrah Ex Post Facto. Medium-bodied, with a juicy, elegant, Saint Joseph-like texture and a clean, lengthy finish, it's a classy, character-filled Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years.

Shimmering ruby. Oak-spiced aromas of dark berries and cherry cola take on a floral overtone with air. Supple and expansive on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry, cola and rose pastille flavors and hints of mocha and spicecake. Shows strong, spicy lift on a long, spice-driven finish shaped by even, slow-mounting tannins. 37% new French oak.

Glistening ruby-red. Fresh blackberry, cherry liqueur, mocha and a spicy nuance on the deeply perfumed nose. Sweet, palate-coating red and blue fruit and cola flavors pick up floral pastille and smoky notes with aeration. Shows smooth, velvety texture and turns spicier on the long, youthfully tannic finish, which echoes the mocha note.

This dark red and translucent Pinot Noir from Copain opens with a fragrant and appealing spiced plum and vanilla oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and little juicy. The flavor profile is a tasty red plum and red raspberry blend with notes of gentle oak, vanilla and mild minerality. We also picked up some hints of cranberry and red cherry mixed in as well. The finish is dry and its flavors mild warm tannins linger nicely. The Panel suggested pairing this very nice Pinot with roast pork loin.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyLastly, the 2017 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills shows the appellation character as well with its spicy, briny, marine-influenced notes of mulled black cherries, shrimp broth, dried flowers, and forest floor. Nicely textured, medium-bodied, and elegant on the palate, it has light tannins and lots of upfront charm, yet I suspect it will keep for a solid 4-5 years as well.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyFrom the Santa Lucia Highlands (and primarily the Boekenoogen Vineyard), the 2017 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands was all destemmed and spent 14 months in 32% new French oak. It's a bigger, fruit-driven effort (which this appellation delivers in spades) and has rocking blackberry and strawberry fruits, plenty of spicy herbs and earth, medium to full body, and a ripe, rounded, nicely textured style on the palate.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyAll Syrah, the 2018 Syrah Jackson Estate Santa Barbara County Alisos Hills comes from the Barham Vineyard in Santa Barbara County and was brought up mostly in used oak. Deep purple-colored, with a peppery, spicy bouquet of beautiful red and blue fruits, it's medium to full-bodied, has a fresh, focused texture, lots of Syrah character, and the balance and depth to keep for 5-6 years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyMoving to the reds, the 2018 GSM Blend Jackson Estate Santa Barbara County is a blend of mostly Grenache and Syrah brought up in a mix of French and American oak, almost all older barrels. It has a juicy, blackberry, peppery, spice character as well as medium to full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and a charming, undeniably delicious style. It reminds me of a solid Côtes du Rhône. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyA good value, the 2017 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard has a complex, nuanced style that carries lots of spiced red and dark fruits, leafy herbs, forest floor, and underbrush notes as well as medium-bodied richness on the palate. Nicely textured, balanced, and already drinking nicely, it should keep for a solid 4-5 years. You're getting a hell of a lot of wine for the price!

Deep magenta. Spice-accented dark berries, cherry cola, mocha and rose oil on the fragrant nose. Sappy, palate-coating blackberry and bitter cherry flavors are joined by a smoky nuance that emerges with air. A hint of dark chocolate sneaks in on the persistent finish, which is framed by dusty, mounting tannins. 29% new oak.

Full ruby. Deep-pitched cherry and dark berry liqueur aromas pick up suggestions of mocha and vanilla with air. Broad and fleshy on the palate, offering oak-spiced blueberry and cherry compote flavors that show serious heft. Finishes broad and chewy, with an emerging licorice quality and chewy tannins that add closing grip. This wine doesn't act much like Pinot but there's plenty of ripe fruit going on, for sure. 54% new French oak.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyComing from multiple sites in Santa Barbara County and brought up in a mix of stainless steel and neutral oak, the 2018 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County offers a big, slightly buttery bouquet of orchard fruits, honeyed flowers, brioche, and spice. This rich, medium to full-bodied, textured Chardonnay delivers lots of pleasure and is ideal for drinking over the coming year or two. It's a terrific value.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyThe 2017 Chardonnay Arroyo Seco is also solid, with a rich, medium-bodied, mouthfilling style that carries plenty of buttery stone fruits and spice, good overall balance, and a clean finish. Drink this fleshy, textured Chardonnay over the coming year or three.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyBrought up mostly in barrel (10% was in tank), the 2018 Chardonnay Monterey offers lots of honeyed melon and tropical notes as well as a medium-bodied, juicy, nicely balanced style on the palate. It's another good value from this estate.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyPretty apricot, tangerines, peach, and floral notes emerge from the 2019 Viognier Tepusquet Vineyard, which is medium-bodied, has good purity, and delivers a clean, balanced style on the finish. It's a rock-solid example of Viognier to enjoy over the coming year or so.