Lovely pink color. Strawberry and red flower. Good acidity, restrained fruit, a bit of spritz on the finish might cause some concern, but tasty nonetheless. Very Good to Excellent.

This is going to sound bad, but I was ready to be less than whelmed by this wine. La Crema has become a brand that is, well, ubiquitous and ubiquity is rarely associated with excellence. Hold on for just a minute. While this will not likely be confused with a vintage Grand Cru Champagne (that cost 3-4 times the price), it is plenty tasty. Ripe red apple with a hint of yeastiness on the nose, the palate is bright and fresh yet also layered. Yum. While $45 might be a tad steep, this is a fantastic effort. Excellent.

Pinot Gris does not possess a foreword characteristic flavor of a wine like Sauvignon Blanc, for example. While Pinot Gris flavors are more in the background, the varietal can be quite rewarding in its subtleties and light fruit. Characteristics vary somewhat according to place of origin.We are going to look at WillaKenzie Estate’s 2018 Pinot Gris, the first of three of their wines that I am currently reviewing. The Estate is located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA in the northern Willamette Valley, Oregon, and is now part of Jackson Family Wines. The winery and vineyards lie along three long descending ridged hilltops, with the Tasting Room on the middle hilltop incorporating views off into the distant fir tree studded landscape dotted with occasional contrasting meadows of dry grass. A real storybook setting!Although their flagship wines are Pinot Noir, six grape types are planted on the Estate’s 420-acres with the bulk of the plantings in Pinot Noir. WillaKenzie features the most clonal diversity in the Willamette Valley. The variety assists Pinot Noir’s complexity and texture. The second most prevalent grape is Pinot Gris at about a quarter of Pinot Noir’s 67 acres.WillaKenzie refers to the prehistoric sedimentary soils on the Estate which nurture the vines, and also refers to two major rivers in the Willamette Valley, the Willamette and the McKenzie, whose confluence is not far away in Eugene. The soils were deposited by uplifted ancient seabeds, and consist of deep well-drained silty clay loam over siltstone and sandstone. The winery states, ‘Place Matters’.I visited the winery several years ago, and I found the setting to be more impressive than the proverbial castle on a hill. After visiting the tasting room, I went outside to enjoy the lovely vistas and have a bite. Shortly, an amicable looking woman came out, we began talking. I learned she was the founder’s wife, Ronnie Lacroute. Mrs. Lacroute is American, and she is an instructor in the French language. Soon we stumbled on the fact that her French husband, Bernard Lacroute of Burgundy, and I had both been employed by the same company. The company was sizeable and we had not known each other.Winemaking on the 2018 Pinot Gris included fermentation mainly in stainless with a small amount in barrel. The malolactic fermentation was blocked. This Pinot Gris is independently certified LIVE, Salmon Safe meaning environmentally and socially responsible winegrowing in the Pacific Northwest.An 8,300-case effort, this pale straw Pinot Gris is mid to light in weight, reveals an ultra-fine texture, is well tied together, and presents attractive aromatics of citrus blossom with subtle hints of pastry and powdered sugar. Consisting of100% Pinot Gris, the 2018 displays excellent balance accompanied by fresh acidity (pH 3.86) well integrated with the velvety fruit. On the palate, light notes of white nectarine, grapefruit, and salt are intertwined with savory umami. Quite a flavorful Pinot Gris, albeit in a restrained elegant way, with a remarkably light touch on the palate.A great pair with Tuscan Garlic White Bean Soup. The near full-bodied Pinot Gris contrasts its delicate fruit with the earthiness of the bean soup, both working nicely together.

Pale orange in the glass. Fruity on the palate, but a tad light in acidity initially, but comes through on the finish along with some minerality. Yum. Very Good to Excellent.

Light pink in color with a slight funkiness to it. Again, though, the palate is much better than the nose, even quite good. Very Good to Excellent.

This wine is sublime and symbolizes the elegance of the great wines of Saint-Émilion. With slightly less Merlot in this blend than the 2012 vintage, it is comprised of 60% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is dark and has an intense cherry red hue. It has a well-defined bouquet of black cherries, cranberries, and violets. The purity of the fruit, the finesse of the tannins, and elegant oaky notes come together to offer a silky palate that expresses the Merlot of this special wine region. The 2016 Château Lassègue will stand the test of time and can age for decades to come.

An ideal blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is rich, smokey and meaty. It is a very deep garnet color with generous black cherries, boysenberry, and spice on the nose. Layers of black fruit coat the mouth. The palate is silky and expressive with supple tannins and great density. Notes of smokey graphite leave a beautifully long lingering finish.

Sweet raspberry and cherry aromas, cedar, violets, peppery spices, leather and cocoa aromas lead to a silky palate with berry tea, fine spice and earthy flavours. A delicious and well constructed Pinot with freshness, structure and persistence.

Great for grillingPair this fresh and polished red Bordeaux with barbecue or anything grilled. Combining merlot and cabernet franc, it has notes of black cherry, cranberry and spice.

Great for grillingWith a bright acidity, aromas of red grapefruit and strawberries and flavors of golden apples and raspberry, pair this rosé with grilled prawns, salmon or halibut.

Deepish red/purple colour, bright. The bouquet is complex with mixed-spice and dark-fruit aromas, plus a dusty-earthy mineral overlay. The wine is full and round and supple in the mouth, with soft, almost pillowy tannins and savoury dryness, the after-impression one of harmony. There is a core of deep-buried sweet fruit that comes on all pastille-like, and the tannins on the finish are earthy and peppery in the same way green olive-oil leaves a peppery feel in its aftertaste. This is a baby, a bit closed, and demands more time. High potential.

The 2017 vintage of Upper Barn is Excellent! It is a light-yellow colored Chardonnay with a golden hue. It opens with a mild apple and pear bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied, extremely well-balanced and graceful. The flavor profile is a delicious delicate blend of pear, apple, vanilla oak, butter and refined minerality. There is a touch of cream soda and apricot mixed in as well. The finish is dry and it drifts away nicely. This Chard is super enjoyable and should certainly be enjoyed with your favorite Chard fan. You can drink this gem on its own or pair it with lobster with drawn butter.

Golden color, smooth, lush and juicy with depth and style; rich, toasty and tangy and lovely pear fruit and a long, balanced finish.

Pale orange in the glass. Floral on the nose with some lemon. The palate is a bit soapy, but good acidity and subtle fruit. Very Good to Excellent.

Bordeaux 2019: Full Scores and Notes, 1,000 Wines TastedThis is a very intense, focused red with blackberry and spice character. I am impressed with the polished tannins and flavorful finish. One of the best I have seen from here for a while.

Very youthful, bold purple/red colour. The bouquet is smoky/char-oaky and slightly reductive, savoury, with traces of ironstone and graphite or coal-dust. Lots of character. The palate is full-bodied and youthful, fresh, bright and attractive. Chewy tannins persist long on the follow-through. A long-term keeper.

It is said beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, but this 2016 is undeniably a beauty recently lying in the soil at Cambria Estate Winery in California’s Santa Maria Valley, a Pinot Noir hotbed. Radiating pretty ruby with brick-red hues, Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir has something to offer in every direction. Mainly, it embodies great depth of character while really wanting to please, and it does.I have known and drank Cambria Estate wines for a long time, appreciating that their wines have always displayed quality. I was anxiously anticipating the 2016 version of Julia’s Pinot Noir.The intensity of multidimensional flavor that Julia’s delivers didn’t require great heft. Quite the contrary, Julia’s 2016 is barely mid-weight. Those who refrain from trying this wine will forego an opportunity.The nose on Julia’s opens with a slight tang reminiscent of Burgundy, while clearly speaking to Pinot Noir’s varietal character. This introduction is quickly followed by subtle and complex aromatics in the form of dried apricot, raisin, and a trace of pastry spice. With concise intensity the palate presents cranberries, rhubarb pie, and a hint of pomegranate. Shows fine-grained well integrated tannins and refined purity of fruit with notable balance. Displays clear focus while broadcasting amicability.Julia’s is very responsive while continuing to evolve in the glass. This highly inviting Cambria Pinot Noir incurs nuances of change, seemingly adapting to the drinker. At 30-minutes the rich vibrancy intensifies with further intricacies! Next day – at least as fresh and complex as before.Julia’s Vineyard lies on the Cambria Estate which is roughly in between the Bien Nacido and Nielson vineyards. The vineyard was named after Proprietor Julia Jackson (Jackson Family Wines). The soil constituents are fossilized seashells, limestone, shale, and sand nurturing sustainably farmed vines half a century of age.The regime included a seven-day cold soak in stainless, malolactic fermentation in barrel, and eight months in 28% new French Oak. Alcohol reads 14.2%. The winemaker is Jill Russel. User friendly on the pocketbook. A perfect pair with barbecued St. Louis-style ribs.

This golden colored Chardonnay from Oregon opens with a floral bouquet accented by melon, lemon verbena and faint oak. On the palate, this wine medium plus bodied, round, smooth and juicy. The flavor profile is a lemon verbena and gentle minerality blend with notes of chamomile tea. I also detected a faint hint of oak and a dash white pepper in the background. The finish is dry and quite refreshing for a Chard. This is a very nice summer Chard that could be served slight chilled and enjoyed on the beach. With food, I would pair it with linguine with clam broth.

Almost clear with just a slight dash of pink. Tart nose of melon: both cantaloupe and watermelon. Subtle fruit and above-average tartness. Very Good to Excellent.

All-oak fermentation layers a rich, nutty structure and silky texture under Oregon’s classic fruit crispness.

Just-ripe tropical fruits and juicy citrus give this Yamhill-Carlton bottling substance without excess weight.

A very beautiful, succulent red, showing lavender, sage, conifer and rosemary with black and blue fruit. Full-bodied with firm, lightly chewy tannins and a sturdy, very elegant finish. 80% cabernet franc, 17% merlot and 3% malbec. Drink in 2022 and onwards.

An elegant, complex red with currants, blackberries and hints of cedar, graphite and lead-pencil shavings. It’s full-bodied with polished, velvety tannins and a fresh, bright finish. Fluid and refined. 70% cabernet sauvignon 16% cabernet franc, 10% merlot and 4% petit verdot.

Herbal, with characteristics of peppercorn, cedar and pencil shavings, this beautiful wine is also dusty and mineral-driven, with demure flavors of red and black currant. Full bodied and well structured, it shows an underlying softness that should continue to soften in the cellar. Enjoy best from 2026–2031.

From a single block biodynamically grown on a cool site in a cool vintage, this Shiraz, which sees 25% whole bunch, is aged in large French foudre. The result is an extraordinarily precise and complex wine, it’s only downfall being an unfortunately heavy bottle. Notes of raspberry, plum, iodine, damp earth, and chocolate and spice (neither from oak) are cinched with sinewy tannins and lifted by crystalline acidity. Manages an exacting and difficult tightrope walk of power and generosity with restraint and elegance. Drink now, or cellar until 2030—at least.