From a great vintage in Oregon, the 2015 Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains is a blend of Muirfield, Hawks View, Arbre Vert, and Shaw Mountain fruit, all of which are in the northern part of the region. Made in an ethereal, pretty, lightly textured style, with lots of framboise, rose petal, sappy flowers and herbal nuances, it's medium-bodied, has bright acidity, and is incredibly elegant. This is a Burgundy lover’s Pinot and it should evolve nicely. 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 This pinot noir shows raspberries, cherries and blueberries notes. Medium to full body, velvety and round tannins and a fresh and long finish. I like the tannic tension. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

The longtime cult Pinot house of winemaker Adam Lee, whose vineyard sources range from Willamette Valley to the Santa Rita Hills. Ripe cherry nose; silky with bright berry fruit and racy acidity.

2015 PINOT NOIR, SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS The nose is decidedly herb and floral with red berry fruit in the middle. The palate offers a bright and focused red cherry and tobacco in a solid core of well-integrated fruit and acidity. Overall an effortless feel of lightness on the palate, very well done.

The Sonoma Coast was hammered in the spring with bad weather, and yields suffered dramatically. The 2015 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir comes from the Bloomfield and Sonatera Vineyards, from less than two tons per acre. It sports a darker ruby color as well as notes of plums, scorched earth, spice and perfumed flowers. A darker, richer Pinot Noir, it has juicy fruit, lots of character, plenty of lift and good concentration. It also represents a smoking value. 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.

A very floral and energetic nose of blueberries and blackberries. Ripe and clear fruit. Full body, polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Bright and linear. Lovely texture. Screw cap. Drink or hold.

Vivid red. Fresh red berry scents are complicated by suggestions of candied rose, star anise and musky earth. Juicy, finely etched raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show very good energy, and blackberry and licorice notes emerge with air. Closes on a spicy note, displaying very good clarity, sneaky tannins and red-fruit-driven persistence.

Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Hawks View Vineyard has pretty lavender, fragrant earth and garrigue notes over a core of Bing cherries and raspberries. Medium-bodied, fresh, fine and elegant, it offers a great intensity of perfumed red fruit in the mouth with a nice long, earthy finish.

The nose is a forward red fruit, graphite and herb with notes of licorice, cherry and black currant. The palate has immediately ripe saturation, spicy cherry and tobacco with well-defined acidity on the finish.

As Adam Lee wraps up his winemaking duties after the sale of this winery and fulfillment of contractual obligations, we get to enjoy the fruits of his labors once again. There’s lively cherry fruit, fall spice and a touch of Santa Rita Hills funk here, and it’s a tasty combination. Give this a good decanting to allow it all to come together.

Vivid ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented red berries and cherry on the nose, with potpourri and cola accents adding complexity. Juicy and precise in the mouth, shows nervy lift and tension to its raspberry liqueur and floral pastille flavors. Becomes sweeter and deeper with air and finishes sappy and very long, with harmonious tannins and lingering spice and floral notes.

2015 PINOT NOIR, CLOS PEPE VINEYARD The nose is leafy green herb, cherry and raspberry. The palate entry is dry and lean red raspberry and mineral, dusty cherry and graphite in the core through the finish. Gains more silkiness with air.

Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Welcoming aromas of pie cherry, spice and toasty oak. The luscious dark cherry and raspberry essence fills the mouth with goodness. Fruit driven in a good sense with immersed tannins, palate harmony, and a tenacious finish.

Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard has gregarious red berry notes of crushed raspberries and red currants with touches of dried herbs, tree sap, bark and garrigue. The palate is surprisingly soft, plush and spicy, with approachable acid and loads of layers on the finish.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, rich, intense, deep, earthy, raspberry and cherry fruit aroma with hint of forest floor and baking spices; medium to medium-full body; deep, rich, elegantly styled, cherry and red berry fruit flavors with spicy notes, a trace of vanilla, bright acidity, and a silky finish; medium tannin; lingering aftertaste. Nicely balanced and enjoyable to drink now, though best to age for several more years. Very highly recommended.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, deep, intense, cherry and red berry fruit aroma with hints of clove, cinnamon, and mocha; medium to medium-full body; deep, rich, red fruit flavors with initial plushness in the mouthfeel and firm acidity leaving a slightly tart impression on the finish; medium to medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Could use a couple more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

Limpid ruby. Intense, mineral- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries and pungent flowers, with a hint of smokiness building with air. Shows very good clarity and spicy lift on the palate, offering sappy blackberry, bitter cherry and succulent herb flavors that deepen and spread out on the back half. Finishes very long and gently sweet, with building tannins and a jolt of juicy acidity that lends refreshing cut.

Brilliant ruby-red. A lively, sharply focused nose displays an array of ripe red fruit and floral qualities and a smoky mineral overtone. Lithe and sappy in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry and cherry flavors and a sexy rose pastille nuance that gains strength as the wine opens up. Finishes with repeating red fruit and floral character, excellent clarity and silky, slow-building tannins that contribute subtle grip.

Coming from 667 and Pisoni clones, the 2015 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard offers lots of spice, sappy flowers and underbrush, plenty of ripe passion fruit, a supple, medium-bodied, silky texture and a good finish. This is a vineyard that on the upswing and this is a beautiful wine. 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.

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.

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.