Perhaps the most classic Chardonnay of the bunch, the 2018 Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay boasts attractive notes of toasted nuts alongside hints of white peaches and grilled pineapple. All Mendoza clone aged in 20% new oak, it's medium-bodied, defined by its concentrated pineapple flavors. Punchy and direct, it finishes long and citrusy.

COMMENTARY: The 2016 Cambria Estate Vineyard & Winery Clone 4 Chardonnay offers excellent persistence and complexity. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows up with lovely aromas and flavors of dried earth, sandalwood, apple, and oak. Enjoy it shellfish in a cream sauce.

Lush and chocolatey black fruits nose with some flamboyance. Grippy, concentranted and intense with roasted meats on the finish.Drinking Window 2020 - 2040

This shows a mix of floral, herb and spice notes out front, followed quickly by cassis and plum puree flavors that streak through a long, polished finish, where the herb accents reemerge. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Drink now through 2025.

Ripe and mature-tasting, with decadent cooking spice notes to the brooding dark currant and dried berry flavors. Green olive details show on the viscous finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2018 VintageThe medium ruby colored 2018 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills has a perfumed nose of warm blackberries, bright red cherries and cranberries with nuances of underbrush, dried flowers and warm spices. Medium-bodied, it’s bright, open, juicy and lively in the mouth with loads of spice and perfume, finishing long.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2018 VintageMedium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard offers cranberry sauce, blueberries and blackberries with nuances of earth and floral perfume. The palate is medium-bodied, concentrated and perfumed with a grainy, fresh frame and long finish.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2018 VintageMedium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands has bright, open-knit aromas of red and black cherries, warm earth and roasted cranberries with nuances of tar, black tea leaves and underbrush. Medium-bodied, it’s bright and pretty in the mouth with touches of floral perfume, a grainy frame and good freshness, finishing long.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2018 VintagePale to medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is scented of blackberries and smoked cranberries with touches of citrus peel, tea leaves and spices. The palate is light to medium-bodied with an equally earthy, fruity character, a silky texture and bright, uplifted finish.

2018 Santa Lucia Highlands: What a Difference a Year MakesBright ruby-red. Fragrant cherry and red berry scents pick up floral and spice accents as the wine opens up. Smooth and energetic on the palate, offering gently sweet raspberry and cherry flavors that show very good depth and seamless texture. Finishes long and supple, with repeating florality and discreet tannins framing a lingering berry note.

The nose is sultry, herb-laced red berry fruits with graphite and licorice. The palate entry is an expansive licorice and herb with soaked cherry and plum in the core. The finish is firm and intertwined with dry tobacco leaf. Drink 2020 - 2024.

The nose is deep plum, green herbs and spice box leading to a silky palate entry of graphite and earthy black tea. Carries some substantial mass through the finish with lower acidity. Drink 2020 - 2024.

The nose is clay-like strawberry, orange peel and fire-singed sticky marshmallow. The palate entry is candied orange, mineral and juicy acidity. A nice summer quencher when chilled. Drink 2020 - 2022.

Santa Barbara: An In-Depth Look at the 2018s Siduri's 2018 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) captures the essence of the appellation so well. Sweet dark cherry, plum, espresso, licorice and lavender race out of the glass in an exuberant, forward Pinot that is sure to find many admirers.

A light, elegant approach is taken to this mountain wine, robustly seasoned in sage, dried herb and clove. Herbaceous throughout, it represents the variety, vintage and provenance well, showing balanced, bright underlying acidity that softens the inherent power.

Made in a light, buzzy style, this red is juicy in wild strawberry, accompanied by savory threads of black tea and forest floor. Soft integrated tannins make it appealing in the glass, the acidity lively and complementary.

This is nice composite of Napa's smooth styling a cabernet's rugged character. The nose shows generous blackberry, herbal, tobacco and oak notes, while the mid palate delivers body, some lushness and sweetness. The alcohol is warm, the tannins are quite chewy and drying. The length is very good to excellent. I would age this five years.

Classic Napa cabernet here from this historic property in Oakville, complete with dark, black fruit and notable oak spice still present, even 5 years in. Tannins are a bit drying, and wood is also dominant on the palate, while the overall density and depth are good, if not excellent. All in all it could use a little more stuffing on the mid-palate; some additional cellar time should help soften the dusty tannins, though I fear with fruit fading that full harmony might never be reached. Drink over the next 5-6 years to capture what remains.

COMMENTARY: The 2016 Cambria Estate Vineyard & Winery Pommard Clone 4 Pinot Noir is vibrant and long. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers excellent aromas and flavors of tart strawberries and wild herbs. Enjoy it with grilled salmon.

Pinot Noirs are food-friendly for Thanksgiving and other occasions

This beauty from Oregon is a great example of what drives Pinotphiles to Oregon Pinot. It has heft without being heavy, exhibits richness and complexity and is just restrained enough to not overpower a grilled salmon, say, or roast chicken. This vintage delivers yummy red fruited aromas and a touch of fall spice.

Delicious, ripe, creamy. Golden in hue and ripe in style; lovely warm apple pie, toasted walnuts, browned butter, pineapple, melon and lemon meringue aromas lead to a palate with yellow fruit, spice and vanilla. Creamy and lengthy and wonderfully fresh; very appealing.

Harmonious and polished, featuring elegant raspberry and blueberry flavors, laced with cinnamon and spice details and finishing with sleek tannins. Drink now through 2025.