South Africa: The 2016 & 2017 Vintages and the Future of South African Wines – Part 1 2016 was a challenging vintage, but the 2016 Fijnbosch Chardonnay shows some finesse that still is better than the typical range; however, the challenging vintage robs some potential from the enjoyment. Medium to full-bodied, the expression begins to unfold on the palate with fresh apple slices, oak spices and lemon drop, but the mid-palate begins to move a little flat. The wine ends with a robust finish with an oaky presence of popcorn and brown baking spices. Only 57 cases were made in this challenging vintage.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s Spice cherries, raspberries and sassafras notes all emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Vintners Reserve, which is medium-bodied and nicely balanced, with a classy finish. While too many Pinot Noirs at this price point are sweet and overdone, this is solid.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s The 2017 Chardonnay Stature is also solid, with honeyed peach and apricot notes, medium-bodied richness, and a rounded, enjoyable texture.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s The 2018 Julia's Vineyard Rosé (100% Pinot Noir) offers a slightly reductive, crisp, citrus and strawberry-scented style that's clean, bright, and refreshing. It's a solid poolside quaffer.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s The 2018 Viognier Tepusquet Vineyard comes from a site in the Santa Maria Valley and is a ripe, tropical effort loaded with notions of pineapple, apricot, and exotic flowers. Fleshy, medium-bodied, and textured, yet also fresh and lively, this solid Viognier will be versatile on the dinner table.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s From a site in Monterey County, the 2017 Riesling Jensen Vineyard sports a light gold color as well as solid, attractive notes of crushed limes, lychee, and hints of petrol. It's well-made, with plenty of classic Riesling character, notable purity, and a good finish.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s Classic Anderson Valley notes of ripe black fruits, dried earth, scorched earth, and graphite emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Outland Ridge. Ripe, medium-bodied, and opulent on the palate, it has the classic savory, mineral quality of this appellation paired with plenty of ripe fruit.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s Toasty stone fruits, melon, and spice notes emerge from the 2017 Chardonnay Vintners Reserve, and it's a medium to full-bodied, sweetly fruited, pleasure-bent effort ideal for near-term drinking.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s Exotic flowers, lemon blossom, honeyed green herbs, and other spicy notes emerge from the 2017 Chardonnay Seco Highland, which has good depth of fruit, medium body, and a clean finish. It certainly doesn't taste like a Chardonnay, but it‘s enjoyable.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s The 2017 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County is another value release from this estate that's well worth drinking. Lots of spiced red and black fruits, forest floor, and some reductive, earthy notes all flow to a medium-bodied, rounded, nicely textured effort that has plenty of fruit and charm. Drink it over the coming couple of years.

Central Coast: The 2017s and 2018s A solid value, the 2017 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County comes from a handful of sites (Nielson, Bien Nacido, Sierra Madre, and Cambria) and saw partial malolactic fermentation and 11 months in a mix of stainless steel tanks and neutral oak. It offers plenty of apple and orchard fruit notes as well as some brioche and spice. Medium-bodied, rounded, and nicely textured, this charming, well-made wine would be a solid house white.

Super Tuscan blend, merlot, cab franc, opulent, deep, enchanting.

We also liked the juicy North Coast sauvignon blanc that is mostly stainless-steel fermented. Peach and pear notes dominate the palate.

Murphy Goode Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. This producer has had its shares of ups and downs but today it represents value. Using the broad “California” appellation, Murphy Goode strikes a fruit-forward personality with all of its wines. This cabernet sauvignon had a medium body with black cherry notes and hints of chocolate and vanilla.

Masterful single vineyard Chianti, explosive, dense with tart herbal notes.

A round and aromatic Chianti with generous flavors, floral and spice notes.

Charm, Freshness and Vibrancy The 2017 Jolie, for example, was among my least favorites at first, until its fresh acidity and delicacy revealed themselves. Ultimately, I judge it to be a real beauty, with aromas and flavors of red fruits — raspberry, red cherry, strawberry — floral notes and tea, and a vibrant structure of acid and tannin that is not overpowered by the aromatics. The wine has depth, as well as purity and concentration of fruit expression.

Charm, Freshness and Vibrancy Looking to establish a quality hierarchy among the four wines as I tasted them, I quickly decided that the 2017 Afleet was my least favorite, because I found it to be big, blunt and beefy — not my preferred style of Pinot Noir. But: it’s fascinating! Perfectly ripe, with aromatics of both black and red fruit, earth, dried herbs, licorice and even blood oranges, it’s creamy-textured, full, and dramatic, with noticeable tannin, and yet glints of freshness and light within. This wine was made using 25 to 30 percent whole cluster fruit, which probably accounts for its freshness of flavor. It’s still on the big side for my taste, but an admirable Pinot Noir.

Charm, Freshness and Vibrancy The 2017 Stormin’ Pinot Noir for me took an early lead out of the gate because I could immediately perceive its depth, freshness and acidity. My opinion of this wine diverges from the winemaker’s notes, which describe it as “rich and assertive” and “dark and brooding.” I perceive the richness, but find freshness of red fruit expression, precision and vibrancy within that richness. I do agree that this wine has a “muscular frame,” but my palate experiences the elements of freshness and vibrancy rather than the weight.

Charm, Freshness and Vibrancy The 2017 Unforgettable is an enigmatic Pinot Noir because it is a big wine and yet it shows elements of freshness and light. Its aromas and flavors are in the ripe black-fruits realm, with cocoa and floral notes. Tannin is noticeable in the wine’s structure, but the fruit balances the tannin, and the tannin balances the alcohol. The pieces come together into a rich, ripe, flavorful Pinot Noir that expresses power without overwhelming you. This wine derives from two blocks and two very different clones — 777 and 2A — vinified separately, which accounts for its duality of expression.

This Sparkling Wine from La Crema is a new offering and made a very good first impression on the Tasting Panel. It is light coral colored and displays lots of medium sized streaming bubbles. It opens with a bread dough and red cherry bouquet with a hint of strawberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, frothy and slightly acidic. The flavor profile is a mild mineral influenced strawberry with notes of saline and yellow grapefruit. Finally, the Panel enjoyed its nicely extended dry finish. We suggested pairing this very good Sparkler with oysters Rockefeller, bacon wrapped scallops or crispy Thai rolls.

9 Perfect Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings Mars Bars + Pinot Noir The red fruit notes make the nougat and caramel combination in Mars Bars pop, explains La Crema Head Winemaker Craig McCallister. The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir has aromas of pomegranate and sweet tobacco, followed up with berry fruit and plums with subtle hints of spice and toast. Wine pick: La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

9 Perfect Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings Butterfinger + Chardonnay Chardonnay and bite-sized Butterfingers are a dream team. The acidity in unoaked Chardonnay stands up well to the sweet caramel crunch of the candy, says Randy Ullom, winemaster for Kendall-Jackson Wines. But for a decadent pairing, go with an oaked Chardonnay, which has creamy, buttery notes to complement Butterfingers. Kendall-Jackson 2017 Vintner’s Reserve also adds vanilla and honey aromas to the treat. Wine pick: The classic Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay

3 Wines To Enjoy While Sampling Your Kids Halloween Candy For an exciting finish, pair decadent dark chocolate with vibrant Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. More red-fruited than your average pinot noir, the bouquet of aromatics and the fine-acid finish is the ideal contrast to sharp dark chocolate, creating our most complex and luxurious pairing

3 Wines To Enjoy While Sampling Your Kids Halloween Candy To satisfy your candy cravings, uncork a bottle of La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. It’s spiced plum, cassis and red raspberry notes compliment the sweetness and fruitiness of Skittles, Airheads or Starburst, and blend beautifully to create a sensory explosion.