USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2012 Pinot Noir opens with notes of warm black cherries, blackberries and fresh blueberries with suggestions of forest floor, bitter chocolate and an underlying herbal note. Medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with warm dark fruits, lovely suggestions of cardamom and nutmeg spice plus notes of forest floor. It has a strong frame of grainy tannins and great juicy acidity to carry the long dark-fruited finish.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two Lynn Penner-Ash says, "In 2001, the heat units came about the same time they did in 2000. The difference was that there was some moisture in the air at the end of the growing season." The 2001 Pinot Noir is pale to medium garnet in color with a lovely broody nose of bitter chocolate, dusty earth, dried orange peel and old leather over a core of baked red and black cherries plus notes of dried 􀃓owers. Light to medium-bodied, the palate moves into full tertiary territory with notes of dark raisins, chocolate-covered black cherries, dried tobacco and tea leaves. The tannins are soft and grainy, and the wonderful tertiary finish is lifted by juicy acidity. Yum! Drink up.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two Lynn Penner-Ash considers 2000 to be a relatively classic, cooler vintage. Pale to medium garnet in color, the 2000 Pinot Noir has an elegant nose of dried red cherries and dried cranberries with lovely notes of old leather, wood smoke and pipe tobacco. Light to medium-bodied, it’s holding up very well on the palate with wonderful dried red fruit and tertiary notes of leather, dusty earth and dried orange peel. It has soft, grainy tannins and plenty of acidity to carry the long dusty, Bergamot-laced finish. Beautiful! Drink up!

Offers a refined texture, with robust and well-knit flavors of dried berry, plum tart and dried blackberry, accented by a layer of raspberry ganache that runs throughout. The succulent finish features plenty of tannic grip and dried herbal notes.

This is an opulent, full-bodied Merlot with layers of black and red fruits that finishes grippy with delicious cocoa and raspberry notes. Drink or hold for another five years.

Concentrated hot stone and mulled spice notes accent the chiseled red plum, raspberry and cherry flavors. Hints of underbrush and smoke show on the finish.

Big and ripe, with plenty of roasted plum and spice flavors that are backed by fresh acidity. Dried green herb notes linger on the tannic finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

13 West Coast Pinots at 90+ Points New reviews of elegant reds from California and Oregon Broadly textured and rich, with mocha notes accenting the dark cherry, roasted plum and wild berry flavors. Chocolate and spice details show on the creamy finish.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two The 2016 Pinot Noir Cascade is pale to medium ruby-purple in color with a very perfumed nose—lilacs, rose petals and potpourri—over a core of sweet red and black fruits plus notions of fresh tobacco and baking spice. Light to medium-bodied, it has lovely sweet fruits in the mouth accented by spice and perfume, grainy tannins and a long earthy finish.

This is bright in acidity and nicely textured, with an underlying lushness to the weight of the body. Peach and dried herb show most prominently on the palate, with a smoothness of stony mineral and lentil.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two A barrel sample, the 2017 Pinot Noir Kiana is pale ruby-purple in color with a nose of red cherry pie, blueberries, strawberry and raspberry jam plus nuances of exotic spice, wood smoke, dried leaves and tobacco with a classy frame of new oak. Light to medium-bodied, it offers wonderful concentration of juicy fruits in the mouth with layers of earth and spice, framed by smooth, velvety tannins and juicy acidity, finishing long and spicy.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two A barrel sample, the pale ruby-purple colored 2017 Pinot Noir Emery has a savory nose of black fruits, wood smoke and fresh tobacco leaves with hints of herbs and tar and a touch of alcoholic heat. Medium-bodied, it's very earthy in the mouth with soil and tar notions over black fruits, framed with firm, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and savory. This needs more time to come together but shows promise.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two The 2016 Pinot Noir Kiana is pale ruby in color with a nose of blackberry pie, black cherries, dried red berries and lots of classy new oak—vanilla, cardamom and cinnamon stick—with nuances of potpourri and dried leaves. It's light-bodied and red fruited in the mouth with spicy layers, firm, grainy tannins and good freshness to lift the spicy finish. Give this time in bottle to soak up all that new oak.

There is a strong amount of smoke and oak on the nose of this bottling, but there's also elegant touches of creamy Asian pear and lemon rind. That citrus and smoke combination shows on the sip as well, along with sweet touches of apple flesh and a compelling sandalwood flavor.

Offers lemon-lime hints to the ripe pear, cream and baked apple flavors, lusciously spiced. Dried sage notes show on the rich finish.

The second of two very good, single-site Chardonnays from Byron, the Nielson Vineyard version shows very clear kinship to its mate from the Bien Nacido property with plenty of deep, optimally ripened, slightly tropical fruit and the same propensity to sweet, mildly caramelly oak. It, too, is showy, full-bodied, nicely layered stuff and with richness to spare and complexity that requires no effort or waiting to see, and, if by small degree, the more open and obvious of the two, it is comfortably balanced and will handily keep for several more years. 1 star.

Rich, espresso-laced blackberry and blueberry flavors are fragrant and dense, with an edge of black licorice, violet and rosemary lingering on the finish, where the tannins firm up.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2012 Pinot Noir Pierre Leon opens with spiced red and black fruits on the nose with nuances of cassis, cardamom and potpourri with touches of vanilla, smoked meat and dried leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate gives up layers of fruit and spice, with very fine, grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with sweet fruit and savory nuances. This is just lovely!

Strawberry, rhubarb and forest floor mix well in this intensely big-boned, thickly tannic wine. Asian spice seasons the ripe ribald fruit.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. Clean and fresh aromas of blackberry, blueberry-pomegranate and spice. Saucy, fat and lush flavors of black raspberry, blackberry and pomegranate. The gregarious fruit makes an impression on the mid palate and finish. Nicely composed with integrated tannin and juicy acidity along with a compliment of oak in the background.

Spice and a fresh earthiness make for worthy companions, as the wild berry, anise, sage and cedar flavors form an alluring alliance.

Demure on the nose, this wine is intense in tannin and oak, the rich red cherry fruit marked by earthy spice, forest pine and sizzling acidity.

Top California Cabernet 2015 wines: Full vintage report A brambly, Zinfandel-like fruit intensity that comes from relatively new plantings (1999 to 2008). New French oak lends toast and spice notes, plus dark chocolate and liquorice. Intense and very young.

Intense red currant and dried raspberry flavors are sinewy and pure-tasting in this taut version. Cedary midpalate, with slate notes on the finish.

Refined, concentrated flavors of dark cherry, roasted plum and dark currant are backed by firm acidity. Displays Asian spice hints midpalate, with notes of dark chocolate and savory herb. Merlot and Cabernet Franc.