The medium ruby-colored 2016 Pinot Noir Clone 2A comes from the Julia's Vineyard in Santa Maria and reveals a darker, smoky bouquet of black raspberries, black cherries, charred earth, and singed cedar. It's nicely concentrated on the palate, with terrific purity as well as a firmer, more focused style that's going to benefit from short-term cellaring. This wine spent 10 months in 100% new French oak.

The only Syrah I was able to taste from this estate was the 2015 Syrah Tepusquet. It's a smoky, meaty, barbecue-scented beauty that has lots of pepper and dark fruits, medium to full body, a ripe, sexy texture, and a great finish. It has ample character and will keep for 5-6 years.

A big step up in price over the straight Katherine's Vineyard, the 2015 Chardonnay Signature Collection Katherine's Vineyard saw a longer time in barrel, spending 14 months in 5% new oak. It's similarly colored and has a more classic bouquet of orchard fruits, toasty oak, white flowers, and caramelized citrus. It's clean, medium-bodied, impressively balanced, and a rock-solid Chardonnay.

The 2015 Pinot Noir Nielson Vineyard comes from a sandy site in the Santa Maria Valley and was aged 16 months in 35% new French oak. Black raspberries, strawberries, mulberries, forest floor, spice box and dried earth are just some of the aromatics, and it's elegant, silky and polished on the palate, with juicy acidity and a clean finish. It’s another outstanding wine from Jonathan Nagy.

Vibrant and zesty, with floral black raspberry, orange zest and clove flavors that saunter on a long, snappy finish.

Medium-light to medium ruby; fragrant, earthy, red cherry and raspberry fruit aroma with hints of forest floor and baking spices; medium to medium-full body; rich, spicy, red fruit flavors with good depth and balance, and some suppleness in the mouthfeel; medium tannin; lingering aftertaste. Enjoyable now, though deserving a few more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

Generous and polished, with lively black cherry and spice flavors that take on richness toward refined tannins.

This offers laserlike focus to the concentrated red currant, cherry and plum flavors that offer plenty of minerality. Dark chocolate notes emerge on the spicy and creamy finish.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, forward, fragrant, red currant, and dark cherry fruit aroma with hints of forest floor and baking spices; medium body; rich, earthy, dark cherry and red berry fruit flavors with good acid balance, and a velvety mouthfeel; medium tannin; lingering aftertaste. Deserves several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, intense, ripe, dark cherry and blueberry fruit aroma with hints of dried herbs and forest floor; medium body; rich, supple, fleshy, red and dark fruit flavors with good depth and zesty acidity; medium tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very appealing to drink now, though deserves a few more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

Medium ruby color; attractive, deep, spicy, earthy, cherry and red currant aroma with hints of clove, vanilla, and forest floor; medium body; rich, earthy, red fruit flavors with bright acidity, a hint of cola, and some suppleness in the pleasing mouthfeel; medium tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very appealing to drink and enjoy now, though deserving another year or two of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, forward, earthy, dark cherry and red berry fruit aroma with a hint of dried herbs; medium to medium-full body; nicely balanced, firmly structured, red and dark fruit flavors with bright acidity, a hint of cola, and a rich mouthfeel; medium tannin; lingering aftertaste. Enjoyable now as it developed with airing in the glass, though also deserving a few more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

Supple and expressive, with a zesty complexity and black raspberry and blueberry flavors accented by smoky meat, white pepper and licorice notes.

Medium-dark ruby color; attractive, deep, peppery, meaty, dark cherry and blackberry fruit aroma with notes of dried herbs and charred oak; full body; forward, rich, extracted, meaty, red and black fruit flavors; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. A big, rich, stylish wine that’s drinkable now and can be enjoyed over the next five plus years. Grapes were from the Arrowood Vineyard. Very highly recommended.

Medium-dark ruby; attractive, forward, spicy, peppery, blackberry fruit aroma; full body; forward, rich, ripe, nicely balanced, raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors with a hint of dark chocolate; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Easy and enjoyable to drink now and over the next year or two. Very highly recommended.

Sourced from sites in the Santa Maria Valley and aged 18 months in 40% new barrels, the 2016 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley has slightly more density and depth in its black cherry, toasted spices, crushed flowers, and vanilla bean aromas and flavors. Clean, beautifully balanced, elegant, and with ample length, it delivers tons of Pinot Noir charm for not much buck.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Blended of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Malbec, the 2015 Armoniza is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and opens with expressive cassis, plum preserves and wild blueberry scents with touches of cigar box, yeast extract and tapenade. Medium to full-bodied with a firm, chewy texture, it delivers a good amount of warm black fruit and earthy nuances, finishing peppery.

Lithe and powerful, with flavors redolent of ripe pear, harvest spice and Marcona almond that glide lusciously across the palate. Light smoky notes show on the rich finish.

Medium ruby color; attractive, deep, intense, raspberry and black cherry fruit aroma with hints of forest floor, clove, and vanilla; medium to medium-full body; rich, ripe, textured, red fruit flavors with good depth and acid balance, a hint of Asian spices, and a crisp finish; medium to medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Enjoyable to taste now, though will benefit from a few more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir reveals lovely crushed black cherries, mulberries and black raspberries notions with hints of candied violets, black soil and iron ore plus a waft of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with black fruit and earthy accents supported by a firm frame of finely grained tannins and finishes with a refreshing lift.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2015 Laureles Chardonnay features honeydew melon, nectarines and guava notes with suggestions of beeswax, cashews and chalk dust. Medium-bodied, elegant and lively in the mouth, it gives plenty of savory flavors and a toasty finish.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2015 Chardonnay Brosseau is scented of baked apples, apricots and poached pears with touches of fresh straw, allspice and lightly browned toast. Medium to full-bodied, it gives a good amount of restrained, understated flavors with great freshness and a citrus-laced finish.

The value-priced 2016 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard comes from a site in the Santa Maria Valley and spent 7 months in 20% new French oak. Ripe orchard fruits, brioche, honeysuckle, creamed corn, and spice all flow to a beautifully balanced, elegant Chardonnay that has a great texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's slightly commercial and straightforward, yet it's impeccably made and certainly delicious.

A lighter side expression from this vineyard, with strawberry, rhubarb and a mix of damp and dry earth aromas. It’s bright in the mouth, with good translation of the nose elements, lively acidity and a long finish where a sweet oak spice note joins in. Stock up for Thanksgiving dinner.

This red offers length and concentration to the dried cherry, berry and plum flavors, flanked by plenty of savory notes. Hot stone accents show on the finish.