Spicy, with a stemmy touch that adds backbone and vitality. The core is built around zesty wild berry, blackberry and raspberry flavors. Most impressive on the finish, which tingles with vibrancy.

This meaty Pinot Noir is undoubtedly one of the finest from Monterey County. This vintage shows deep blue-fruit character, a juicy mid-palate and a touch of spice on the finish. The tannins are moderate, making for a wine that is enjoyable now but with some potential to age.

Very much adhering to the ripe and rich style that has come to be the hallmark of good Santa Lucia Highland's Pinots, Siduri's bottling from Rosella's Vineyard is a deep, very juicy and decidedly outgoing effort that makes no attempt at restraint. It is full, it is fleshy and it is close to lush in feel with a good backing of integral tannin and acidity right where it needs to be, but, even if well-structured and capable of aging for more than a few years, this is a rich and wide-open wine whose succulence and fruity depth make it downright irresistible right now. Two stars.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, deep, fragrant, raspberry and dark cherry fruit aroma with hints of baking spices and dried herbs; medium to medium-full body; deep, concentrated, textured, cedary, red fruit flavors with herbal notes, bright acidity, and a slight plushness in the mouthfeel; medium to medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very appealing now, though best to age for a few more years. Very highly recommended.

Nose shows bright cherries, pomegranate, cola, lots of spicy/herbal notes like clove, mint, rhubarb and raspberry leaf. Medium/full-bodied with lively acidity and dusty tannins, the balance and freshness are wonderful. Cranberries, sweet cherries, raspberry jam, the fruit is fresh and tangy but loaded with flavors. Notes of cola, rhubarb, mint, coffee. Flavorful but bright, this drinks wonderfully now but could show even more in three or four years. 15 months in 40% new French oak.

From a site located to the west of Santa Rosa, the 2015 Pinot Noir Parsons' Vineyard is beautifully textured, and more rounded, supple and deep than the Keefer. Blackcurrants, plums, violets and spice give way to a plump, charming, beautifully textured Pinot that's already a joy to drink. It's a classic Russian River Valley Pinot Noir that has loads of charm. I was able to taste Adam Lee’s full-lineup for this report, including his Russian River Valley, Sonoma and Oregon releases. It’s a big lineup, but there’s some gorgeous Pinot Noirs here. I’ve listed the wines in the order tasted, starting with Oregon, followed by Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills.

This fine, small-production wine offers heavenly lavender and rose aromas and a seductive texture brightened with fresh acidity. Juicy strawberry, cherry and cola flavors contrast its earthy black tea and forest notes.

2015 PINOT NOIR, EWALD VINEYARD The nose is red fruit, lush with mineral, dry herb, tobacco and leather. The palate is a lively fresh red fruit up front with subtle underpinning of delicate red berry.

Earthy and brawny in pungent compost aromas, this wine has a citrus-laden edge of crisp mineral and bitterroot. Full-bodied and richly layered, its fruit components are dipped in baked rhubarb and black tea.

2015 PINOT NOIR, VAN DER KAMP VINEYARD The nose is a firm red plum with notes of salt, brown spice, briar and blackberry. The palate is well-focused and polished mint and cherry. Lean and mouth-coating in the core showing bright red berry and cherry with a persistent finish.

The vineyard is in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, though the label simply reads Willamette Valley. Light toast and dark fruits abound, with black cherry, char and roasted-coffee flavors leading the charge. Utterly delicious, this is a fine single-vineyard offering from Adam Lee. The barrel aging is subtle and complex, with a hint of coconut in the finish.

Crisp, chilled red berries on the nose (raspberry, strawberry) along with rhubarb, rose petals, mushrooms, spiced herbal tea — lovely to sniff. On the palate, tangy acidity and structured but easy-going tannins, and the red currant, red apple peel and raspberry fruit is tart but juicy. Complex elements of rhubarb, black pepper, dusty earth. Savory but bright, vibrant but textured and complex. 15 months in 30% new French oak.

Coming from own rooted Dijon and Wadenswil Clone (which is a swiss clone, also known as 2A) that were planted in 1991, the 2015 Pinot Noir Muirfield Vineyard saw a touch of whole cluster and 20% new French oak. It has a terrific, nuanced, sweet nose of framboise, ripe cherries, and strawberry fruits intermixed with violets and spring flower nuances. Elegant, silky and seamless on the palate, it shines for its purity and balance. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. I was able to taste Adam Lee’s full-lineup for this report, including his Russian River Valley, Sonoma and Oregon releases. It’s a big lineup, but there’s some gorgeous Pinot Noirs here. I’ve listed the wines in the order tasted, starting with Oregon, followed by Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills.

Oregon: Pinot Still King Even In Hot 2015 and 2014 Vintages Authentic pinot noir that shows plums, earth character, mushrooms, truffles and hot stones. Medium to full body, firm tannins and an exciting finish. Drink now or hold. Screw cap.

Muted aromas rise from the glass to reveal wild strawberry and floral rose notes in this wine. Crisp, underlying acidity and strong, present tannins support its ripeness and concentration, the body medium and the oak well-integrated.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. Lovely aromas of Bing cherry, spice, rose petal and BBQ rub. Very tasty core of fresh and vivid cherry fruit along with a supportive tannic backbone and a very sensual mouthfeel. A fresh and juicy expression of Russian River Valley lusciousness.

Deftly balanced, rich and focused, with zesty wild berry and blueberry flavors, accented by shades of cedary oak, licorice and mocha. Ends with a lingering finish that echoes the core elements.

Deftly balanced, rich and focused, with zesty wild berry and blueberry flavors, accented by shades of cedary oak, licorice and mocha. Ends with a lingering finish that echoes the core elements.

Deftly balanced, rich and focused, with zesty wild berry and blueberry flavors, accented by shades of cedary oak, licorice and mocha. Ends with a lingering finish that echoes the core elements.

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. A highly expressive wine with aromas of black cherry, blackberry and a bit of spice and rose petal. Mid to full-bodied, with a rich entry, rich mid palate presence, and a rich, unusually long finish. A bold, hedonistic wine, yet there is enough balancing acidity to escape a jammy demeanor. The velvety tannins make for very seductive drinking. An impressive appellation offering.

Although striking for its richness and the sense of fruity density that are the hallmarks of this renowned site, Siduri's latest Pisoni bottling is a slightly supple, exceptionally well-structured Pinot whose solidity and inklings of varietal velvet raise expectations of very good things ahead. That is not to say that it is in any way hidden or closed at the moment, but those willing to look past its admittedly delectable juiciness and allow it a chance to fully unfold will find that waiting for some three to five years was the far better course than hasty drinking.

Like a fresh-picked cherry off the tree, the aromatic entry into this appellation wine is compelling and memorable in Proustian ways. Medium bodied, it's a highly quaffable experience, sultry on the palate while maintaining bright of acidity that ping-pongs between lush and lean.

A plump, juicy, effusively fruity expression, offering a veritable fruit bowl of plum, blackberry, blueberry, cherry and black licorice flavors, framed by light oak that casts a cedary, sandalwood-accented spiciness. An elegant, supple style.