A Spotlight on Santa Barbara The earliest vintage of Greg’s career to date (harvest dates in California continue to be earlier and earlier), the 2014 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is also beautiful. Smoked herbs, black cherries, currants and earthy notes give way to a classic, textured, beautifully balanced and lengthy Pinot Noir that will drink nicely for another decade.

A Spotlight on Santa Barbara Also from a slightly cooler vintage for the region, the 2009 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is still going beautifully. A hybrid between the '07 and '08, it offers lots of black cherries, incense, and leafy herbs, with plenty of purity and precision in its aromatics. However, it shows more fruit and depth on the palate. It too is a beautifully complex wine that's drinking great today.

A Spotlight on Santa Barbara From a great vintage for the entire Central Coast, the 2007 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is beautiful and drinking at point. Kirsch, olive, spice, forest floor and gamey notes all emerge from this supple, elegant, mature yet still youthful wine. It’s not going to get better but will certainly keep for another 4-6 years.

Precise and powerful, with focused minerality and intense flavors of crunchy green apple, Key lime and nectarine. Hints of ripe mango show on the finish.

2016 CHARDONNAY, HAPGOOD The color is golden amber followed by a massive nose of expressive caramel, coconut and resinous lemon. The palate is a dry, toasted fruit on entry with the core offering lean, crisp and focused white tree fruits.

Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part Two The 2016 Chardonnay 3-D deftly balances a rich expression of fruit with brighter notes that confer energy. Lemon confit, white flowers and mint all develop effortlessly in the glass. Super-expressive and inviting in the glass, the 2016 finishes with substantial texture and creaminess. All the elements are impeccably balanced.

BREWER CLIFTON 2016 CHARDONNAY The nose is an intense, concentrated lemon, pear and supple apple. The palate is a rich, creamy dryness with notes of lemon zest in the core, finishing with solid acidity.

This light yellow colored Chardonnay from Brewer-Clifton was the clear winner in our recent Blind Tasting. It opens with an appealing lemon and apple bouquet with a hint of banana. On the palate, this wine is medium to full bodied, luscious, very smooth and nicely balanced. The flavor profile is a delicious light lemon and almond blend with notes gentle minerality and a hint of oak. The finish is dry and its flavors linger for a while before fading away nicely. We would suggest pairing this gem with chicken francese or fettucine alfredo.

Refined and powerful, with concentrated flavors of green apple, ripe citrus and mineral that are deftly supported by fresh acidity. Hints of dried savory herbs show on the finish.

The 2015 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Apricot pit, peach, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes nicely fill out the wine's ample frame. A hint of reduction on the finish adds a layer of nuance, but without overpowering the wine. This is a superb showing from Brewer-Clifton's largest-production Chardonnay.

The 2015 Chardonnay is reared in a neutral barrel, with no malolactic fermentation. It has a full-on expressive nose of fresh grapefruit, white peaches and clotted cream with hints of fresh ginger and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, the spicy citrus fruit explodes in the mouth with tons of energy and a racy backbone, finishing long and savory.

Featuring lithe buttery aromas, this offers powerful and well-defined flavors of green apple, melon and Bosc pear. Spicy midpalate, with a finish that lingers with lemon curd and tropical hints.

A Spotlight on Santa Barbara Terrific (and classic) notes of ripe apples, spice, brioche, and honeysuckle all emerge from the 2011 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills, which picked up an alluring chalky minerality as it sat in the glass. Its medium body, great mid-palate, bright acidity and clean finish all making for a terrific Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay that’s going to evolve gracefully for at least a decade.

A Spotlight on Santa Barbara Similar to the 2008 with its racy, lively style, the 2009 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is more reserved aromatically, with notes of orchard fruits, lemon peel and spice, and lots of minerality coming through with air. Medium-bodied, fresh and lively, with a balanced, clean style. it is drinking beautifully today but should keep nicely going forward.

USA, California, Northern California: Napa & Some Sonoma New Releases The 2015 Prequel Red Blend is made of 85% Syrah and 15% Petite Sirah aged 21 months in 37% new French oak and 1% new American oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it delivers vibrant black cherries, black raspberries and wild blueberries with touches of licorice, grilled meats, Provence herbs and Sichuan pepper. Medium to full-bodied, it gives vibrant, expressive black fruit and spicy layers with a soft, rounded texture and refreshingly savory finish.

This midnight purple colored blend from Bootleg opens with an attractive blueberry and vanilla oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced and round. The flavor profile is a mild blueberry and gentle plum blend with notes of dark chocolate, coconut and coffee. The finish is dry and its sticky tannins show very good length. This big boy was enjoyed by all that tried it. We would pair it with a ribeye steak.

This very dark ruby colored blend from Bootleg opens with a musty black cherry bouquet with a hint of blueberry in the background. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced and juicy. The flavor profile is a tasty black cherry with notes of vanilla oak and blueberry. I also detected hints of stewed plum and faint oolong tea in the background. The finish is rather dry and its sticky tannins linger for a very long time. This big boy wine would benefit from a little decanting. Then serve it with a well-marbled ribeye.

This pitch black colored kitchen sink blend from Napa is a big boy wine. It opens with an attractive blackberry and boysenberry bouquet with a hint of cola. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, very smooth and balanced. The flavor profile is a rich and concentrated black olive and blackberry blend with notes of minerality and black tea. I also detected hints of black cherry and a touch of plum. The finish is rather dry and its sticky tannins linger and last for a very long time. I would decant this wine for a least an hour and serve it with a well-marbled ribeye. Very good+.

Huge in blackberry, currant and dark chocolate flavors, yet locked down by sturdy tannins. Shows indisputable pedigree in the balance and complexity. Good now, with airing, but give it 3–4 years in the cellar to get even better.

Arrowood's 2007 Syrah Saralee's Vineyard is aged in French oak for 17 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It boasts a dense purple color along with a glorious perfume of smoked barbecue meats, grilled herbs, creme de cassis, blackberries, tar, and camphor. This full-bodied, opulent Syrah is a total hedonistic and intellectual turn-on. Consume it during its first 6-8 years of life. This is another impressive group of wines from one of the most consistent winemakers and long-time veterans of the California wine scene, Dick Arrowood. He has always had the Midas touch with white varietals, yet he also continues to impress me with what he can do with red varietals. Moreover, Arrowood is also one of the pioneer Rhone Ranger producers, and his Syrah program has been supplemented with red and white French Cotes du Rhone-like blends called Cote de Lune as well as an outstanding Viognier.

The 2006 Syrah Kuljian Vineyard from Dry Creek. is a limited cuvee of less than 200 cases, it is a sumptuous Syrah packed and stacked with blackberry fruit interwoven with notions of camphor, pepper, meat juices, and tar. There is not a hard edge to be found in this oak-aged, unfined, unfiltered Syrah.

A beautiful Merlot, soft, elegant and classy. With richly textured tannins, it's ready to drink now, featuring raspberry, cherry, mocha and spice flavors.

The 2013 Proprietary Red is dark, plush and inviting. Here, too, the flavors are lifted by the energy and brightness of the year. Sweet red cherry, plum, licorice, mint and savory herbs add nuance throughout.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Knights Valley) is very pretty. Bright, punchy and full of life, the 2016 has too much to offer. A rush of red berry fruit, flowers, savory herbs and crushed rocks runs through this super-expressive, delineated Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a gorgeous Knights Valley Cabernet. The mid-weight, energetic style is quite appealing.

Dark cherry, plum, grilled herbs, game, smoke, licorice and lavender infuse the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Knights Valley) with tons of character. Beams of tannin and persistent saline notes – both typical of Knights Valley – give the 2015 much of its character. There is so much to like.