Avant typically sees less oak than Kendall-Jackson’s other chardonnay bottlings; in 2017 at least half the wine is fermented and aged in stainless-steel tanks. It’s bright and clean, with juicy apple and nougat flavors and a hint of salinity. Best Buy.

There’s a cool jasmine buzz to this varietal pinot noir, while the fruit is warm and cherry-scented, like kirsch. It ends with a malic-acid bite, needing bottle age to integrate and mellow.

This is a supple chardonnay with baked apple and baking spice scents, as creamy and pale as Wheatena. It’s a soft, round white to serve with braised chicken thighs.

This silky Anderson Valley pinot is light and aromatic with hints of orange peels and cherries on the palate. Pair this with a rosemary stuffed roast chicken or hold onto it for the Thanksgiving Turkey.

Best Buys in the Market, 1 star ...and the * KENDALL-JACKSON Grand Reserve Santa Barbara County 2017 ($22.00) among those that are especially attractive at the price.

Another winner from Jackson Family wines, this is a modern-style blend of 85 percent syrah and 15 percent petite sirah. Blueberry, blackberry and black pepper elements make up this outdoor barbeque friendly red wine.

OFF THE VINE: A case of pinot envy Ripe, fresh raspberry, red plums and strawberry along with hints of cedar. Finely textured with silky tannins that compliment the spicy finish.

OFF THE VINE: A case of pinot envy Ripe plum and cherry aromas along with a hint of blood orange construct subtle layers of spice. The bold red fruits of this wine pairs nicely a bacon-wrap or a light and airy chocolate mousse.

OFF THE VINE: A case of pinot envy Beautiful with blackberry, plum and licorice flavors that are complemented by subtle layers of ripe fruit and toasty oak. Full bodied and yet so elegant with a long, persistent finish.

Warm Up With Our Fall Wine Picks Siduri, named for the Babylonian goddess of wine, is predominantly a pinot noir house. Owned by the larger Jackson Family Wines (which includes Kendall-Jackson and more than three dozen wineries in California and around the world), Siduri was founded in Sonoma County in 1994. Displaying wild red berries, botanical and forest floor aromas, Siduri’s 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is buoyant and elegant, with sweet mouth-filling fruit.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's Vineyard has the most gorgeous perfume of lilacs, blueberry pie, dark chocolate and cassis with touches of menthol, underbrush and unsmoked cigars plus a hint of pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, with super firm, ripe tannins and seamless freshness suporting the taut, muscular fruit, finishing long with a touch of spiciness coming through. 406 cases were made.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyards gives up powerful crème de cassis, dark chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and baked plums scents with hints of lavender, camphor, pencil shavings and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with rich, black fruits plus a beautiful perfumed undercurrent, framed by finely grained tannins and lovely freshness, finishing with a mineral lift. 1,989 cases were made.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall Vineyard offers up confident, bold scents of warm blackberries, ripe blackcurrants, licorice and charcoal with hints of crushed rocks, cigar box and violets plus a waft of licorice. Medium to full-bodied, the palates signs of energetic, crunchy black and blue fruits, with a solid backbone of ripe, grainy tannins and bright freshness, finishing long and earthy. 737 cases were made.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosché Vineyard comes prancing out of the glass with showy Black Forest cake, blackberry pie and blackcurrant cordial scents with hints of unsmoked cigars, pencil lead, olives and morello cherries. Medium to full-bodied, it has a lovely ripe, rounded tannin texture and layers of black fruits and herbal accents, finishing on a perfumed note. 2,021 cases were made.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point Vineyard is deep garnet-purple colored and comes sashaying out of the glass with beautiful kirsch, blueberry compote, warm cassis and fresh plums notions plus suggestions of rose hip tea, tilled soil, yeast extract and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, the palate has impressive grace with a quiet intensity of black fruits and earthy sparks, supported by firm grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing on a persistent mineral note. 434 cases were made.

This year’s it a single vineyard release from Tarraford. Roughly 30% whole bunches, no fining, no filtration. It builds in the glass quite beautifully. It seems juicy and free-flowing at first but gradually the strings pull tighter. Garden herbs, boysenberries, cloves and red cherries, the balance between its various aspects pitched just so well. It tastes as though it’s hardly trying but that’s what it wants you to think. It’s a savoury shiraz done very well; it’s going to improve over time rather than merely holding; it’s buoyant and succulent and things like that.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville is a relative newcomer to the range, sourced just off Highway 29, not far from the To Kalon vineyard. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is laced with warm cassis, wild blueberries and boysenberry scents plus nuances of chocolate box, candied violets, cloves and cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has wonderful vivacity with bags of blue fruit and very soft, approachable tannins, finishing spicy. 587 cases made.

Voluptuous and gracefully complex, with expressive raspberry and violet accents that build structure and notes of stony mineral toward refined tannins.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith gives up notes of red and black currants, black raspberries and fresh mulberries with suggestions of bay leaves, damp soil, black olives and lavender. Medium-bodied, the palate sings of freshness with racy acidity and well-played, soft tannins supporting the red and black berry layers, finishing on an invigorating herbal note. This should age amazingly! 422 cases were made.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate bursts from the glass with vivacious cassis, black cherry preserves and wild blueberries with hints of chocolate box, dried mint and black loam plus a waft of tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, the palate gives a firm frame of lively freshness and grainy tannins supporting the bright, juicy fruit, finishing long with a minty lift. Elegantly played at just 14.1% alcohol. 12,115 cases were made.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley reveals fresh blackberries, blackcurrants and black plums with hints of dark chocolate, menthol and fertile soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers delicious, crunchy black fruits and harmonious structure, finishing softly textured and spicy. 36,588 cases were made.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More 2016s Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford rolls from the glass with warm blackberries, black cherry compote and red and black currants at the core with touches of cardamom, lavender, dusty earth and wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has plenty of bright, lively fruit and ripe, finely grained tannins, delivering a well-poised, delicately earthy finish.

Plush and graceful, with an elegant core of complexity wrapped in velvety raspberry, spice and orange peel flavors.

Lithe and refined, with expressive rose petal, dark cherry and toasted cinnamon notes that build richness toward polished tannins.

Well-structured and juicy, with focused white fruit and dried coconut flavors, featuring creamy accents. The spicy finish is rich, showing hints of dried tarragon.