Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Latro, from vineyards in Knights Valley, is bright, precise and nuanced. This is an especially fruity, supple style for Knights Valley. Black cherry and plum fruit are nicely pushed forward in this soft, open-knit wine. The 2016 is undoubtedly attractive, but it would be nice to see a little more appellation character. Most of the fruit is from the Jackson family's Kellogg vineyard, plus purchased fruit from Knights Bridge.

This beautiful Chardonnay is an inviting yellow gold color. It has a fresh bouquet of golden apple, honeysuckle, lemon and green melon. It is medium bodied, very round and smooth, with bright acidity. The flavors, while simple, are refreshing green apple, lime and stony minerality with a hint of almond; no oak. The finish is moderate in length with some citrus. I would pair this very nice Chard with poached salmon with a creamy dill sauce.

2016 PINOT NOIR, SONOMA COAST The nose is herb, mineral and ground pepper, hard red berry. The palate is lean, fresh and floral with a dry core of textured red fruits. Well put together with fine acidity.

2016 ZINFANDEL The nose is crushed red and black vine berries, licorice and dried herbs. The palate is bright berry with a dry, bramble of stems in the core. Finishes with lip-smacking crispness to the cherry and strawberry.

This opaque and very dark ruby colored Merlot opens with a fragrant black cherry and blackberry bouquet with hints of wintergreen and red licorice. On the palate, this wine is full bodied and balanced. The flavor profile is a chalky mineral infused blackberry with notes of black cherry. We also detected hints of red plum and coffee. The finish is dry and its rather dusty tannins stick around for a while. Despite its big tannins, we do suggest drinking this Merlot in the near term. We would decant it for an hour and serve it with a pot roast.

A nose of blueberry jam, menthol, dark cherry, spice box and chocolate. The palate is a firm, spiced black plum, polished and ripe blackberry. Firm tannins.

Deep purple color. Rich purple color, with dark, concentrated blueberry, black cherry, along with anise, eucalyptus, dark chocolate, cocoa and earth. Full-bodied, significant tannins but it maintains a velvety feel, medium-low acidity. A dark, saucy style with blueberries, cassis, blackberries, along with notes of mint, eucalyptus, sweet cocoa, cedar. Rich and delicious but the balance lines up nicely here. Hedonistic now, but this could do some fun things over the next five years. Includes Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, aged 28 months in 67% new French oak.

Medium purple color. Heck of a lot of plums and blackberries on the nose, with roasted fig, smoky charcoal, vanilla and mint. Full-bodied on the palate, this wine is all about the velvety mouthfeel, medium-low acidity, along with juicy plums, black cherries, blueberries, juicy and plump. Notes of mocha, scorched earth, vanilla, roasted chestnut. Big and hedonistic but well-made and undeniably yummy. A blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 18 months in French and American oak.

Fantastically seductive in aromatics of brambly blackberry and chocolate, the flavors continue along the same theme, dotted in vanilla. Thick, dense and richly ripe, this wine packs a powerful punch and lingers in creamy texture on the finish.

This light golden yellow Chardonnay from La Crema has a big nose of buttery pear, vanilla custard, apple and pineapple. On the palate it is creamy and balanced, with a medium body and crisp acidity. Flavors of green apple, pear, pineapple and vanilla with nicely integrated minerality. The finish is clean and lingers for a while. I would pair this Chard with a roasted chicken with lemon garlic cream sauce. Very good.

This yellow colored Chardonnay from Kendall Jackson is as always, very good. It opens with lemon and pineapple bouquet with a hint of oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied and balanced. The flavor profile is a golden apple and gentle pineapple blend with notes of faint oak. There is also a hint of lemon and tangerine towards the end. The finish is dry and it drifts away nicely. This Chard will be its usual crowd pleaser self. It will also be versatile glass pour. Very good.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair is an attractive, mid-weight wine. Bright red cherry fruit and floral overtones grace this open-knit, easygoing Cabernet Sauvignon. Vineyard sources are Stagecoach, Cardinale, Bosche, Red Hen, Wurtelle and Yverdon. Drink it over the next few years.

Crowd-Pleasing Budget Wines The 2015 is beginning to exhibit some of the complexity of evolving secondary aromas that come with age, showing a leafy green tea note that complements its blue-fruit character. Hints of baking spice and softening tannins make for an attractive package at an attractive price.

Light purple color. Nose show juicy black cherries, plums, kirsch, along with sweet coffee, roasted herbs, vanilla and anise. Full-bodied with a plummy, ripe, juicy feel and velvety tannins, medium-low acidity. Plums and candied black cherries mix with coconut, anise, sweet vanilla coffee and some roasted earth notes. Forward, ripe, fun, crowd-pleasing stuff. Includes 16% Merlot and 4% Malbec aged 24 months in French and American oak.

This appellation blend is a straightforward take on Pinot Noir that's perfect for midweek enjoyment, starting with aromas of black cherry and cola. The mouthfeel is full and the palate is loaded with ripe flavors of bursting berries as well as baking spice.

2016 SYRAH The nose is solid licorice and sweet blackberry. The palate offers smoky black plum with a textured core of firm dried prune and angular tannins. Needs time.

This is a great value for a wine of esteemed provenance. It is tannic and savory with a delicately fruity profile of citrus, black tea and rose. Balanced, it shows varietal character for a fair price.

Citrus and pineapple with noticeable oak on the nose lead to a rich, luscious, fruity wine again with oak, but in no way does it overpower the wine. While those that dislike even the slightest hint of oak on their Chardonnay will certainly shy away from this wine, it is a solid effort and certainly a bargain at this price. Very Good.

2017 PINOT NOIR, RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY The nose is a spicy tomato tapenade and carbon, tobacco and cherry. The palate is a polished silky red cherry. Supple yet not well developed.

Some would say that Kendall-Jackson (or “KJ” as it is sometimes called) created or at least stimulated America’s love-affair with Chardonnay with their “Vintner’s Reserve” decades ago. It has since become this country’s best-selling Chardonnay for 25 years, according to their website. The 2017 continues that streak with a silky and round fruitiness and hints of spice. Though devoid of riveting acidity, it has enough to add brightness to the wine. This well-priced Chardonnay would be a good choice as an aperitif, as in, “I’ll have a glass of Chardonnay,” or at the table with simply done fish.

Planted in 1946 on a sand dune in the cooler, elevated northeast of McLaren Vale. Hand-picked and sorted, then wild fermented. It is a glorious example of grenache picked early, retaining all the freshness of red cherries/berries, spices starting to build, tannins beautifully shaped.

There are simply not enough wines of this variety at this level from the Napa Valley so this stands out in more ways than one. Blueberry, blackberry and cinnamon provide a warmth of inviting and voluptuous layers of flavor that are buoyed by violet and lavender aromas, while softened tannins allow the texture to impress.

Exotic herb and floral tones start off this brawny full-bodied wine. Plum and black currant flavors underscore bristling acidity and a well-built tannic structure, as secondary characteristics of sage, cedar and oak emerge. This should be put away and enjoyed 2025–2030.

This impressive new bottling for the Jackson Family starts with fresh aromas of preserved limes on toast, rounded nectarine, chalk and lemon syrup. There is a strong tension to the palate, where racy flavors of kumquat and lemon sorbet lead into a grippy, tense finish.

This Syrah from Winemaker Greg Brewer is dynamic and built to last, starting with aromas of crushed peppercorn, tapenade, twigs, ground pepper, tar and elderberry fruit. The palate combines black currant with tart black-plum skin, thyme, bay and peppercorns, ending on flashes of tar and mocha.