Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part Two The 2016 Chardonnay 3-D deftly balances a rich expression of fruit with brighter notes that confer energy. Lemon confit, white flowers and mint all develop effortlessly in the glass. Super-expressive and inviting in the glass, the 2016 finishes with substantial texture and creaminess. All the elements are impeccably balanced.

South Australia: Part Two — Mostly McLaren Vale Fermented and kept on skins for 190 days in a ceramic egg, the 2016 Ovitelli Grenache is a special breed of Grenache. "It turns it a bit Nebbiolo-like," says winemaker Peter Fraser. Hints of apple skin, herbs and strawberries appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is spicy and savory, supple and almost creamy in texture, turning silky on the long finish.

South Australia: Part Two — Mostly McLaren Vale From a 1.8-hectare block particularly rich in ironstone, Yangarra's 2015 Ironheart Shiraz features aromas of crushed stones, pencil shavings, sandalwood and blueberries. It's medium to full-bodied, with deep, concentrated flavors, ample fine-grained tannins and a tremendously long finish. Like the other Yangarra wines, there's a potent line of acidity that gives shape and focus, acting like a spine from which the other elements are suspended.

This is the first rosé Willakenzie has produced -- to which I say cheers, santé, slainte! It is a deliciously stylish wine, crisp and dry, with hints of strawberry, white peach and pink grapefruit. With good, but not biting, acidity, this is a rosé to enjoy all year, not just in summer.

Aromas of blackberries, blueberries and lavender follow through to a full body with fine, firm and silky tannins. A lemony finish that gives the wine energy.

2012 Siduri Pinot Noir Six Years Later: Suspended in Time October 27, 2013 94, August 2018 92 Note: Significant toasty oak but otherwise superb.

2012 Siduri Pinot Noir Six Years Later: Suspended in Time October 27, 2013 94, August 2018 92 Note: More tannic over time detracts slightly.

2012 Siduri Pinot Noir Six Years Later: Suspended in Time 2012 Siduri Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 90, August 2018 92.

2012 Siduri Pinot Noir Six Years Later: Suspended in Time 2012 Siduri Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir October 27, 2013, 93, August 2018 92.

Rich and voluptuous, with a savory accent to the powerful flavors of apple pastry, dried apricot and ripe pear. Quite buttery, featuring a finish loaded with spicy details.

Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part Two The 2016 Pinot Noir Hapgood offers a good bit of immediacy and power, but it also comes across as a bit reticent next to the other wines in the range, with firm, unyielding tannins that need time to become a bit friendlier before the bluish fruit and spice character can fully emerge. It will be interesting to see how things develop here.

Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part Two Cambria's 2016 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard is a very pretty Santa Maria Chardonnay. Beautifully perfumed, subtle and nuanced, the 2016 has a lot going on. A touch of new French oak frames the orchard fruit and floral flavors nicely. The 2016 is a bit slender, but very pretty just the same.

Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part One The 2016 Pinot Noir Nielson Vineyard stands out in this range for its huge mid-palate and punch. Dense and quite virile, the Nielson shows all the power of this relatively warm site in Santa Maria. Blueberry, licorice and cloves fill out the wine's ample frame. The overt style will appeal most to readers who seek and appreciate power in Pinot Noir. In this lineup, the Nielson is distinguished by its Syrah-like palate presence and overall feel.

Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part One The 2015 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard is soft, supple and inviting, all of which make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next few years. Bright, perfumed aromatics lift the red/purplish berry fruit nicely. Best of all, the 2015 is already drinking very nicely.

Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part Two Brewer-Clifton's 2016 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Orange peel, passionfruit, apricot and a whole range of tropical inflections give the 2016 much of its personality. Classy and impeccable in its balance, the Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay has so much to offer.

Juicy and chewy with lots of dark fruit, dark chocolate and hints of walnuts. Full-bodied. Still needs to soften a little. Mainly cabernet franc.

South Australia: Part Two — Mostly McLaren Vale Raspberry and cherry notes emerge on the nose of the 2016 Old Vine Grenache. Aged ten months in older French oak, it's a sleek, streamlined version of Grenache, from vines planted in 1946. Leather, sandalwood and dusty earth elements join with the red fruit to create an engaging whole, framed by silky tannins and punctuated by a lengthy finish.

2012 Siduri Pinot Noir Six Years Later: Suspended in Time April 19, 2014 88, August 2018 91 Note: Oak and tannins became integrated over time and the fruit had picked up intensity. Slight alcohol on finish.

2012 Siduri Pinot Noir Six Years Later: Suspended in Time April 19, 2014 91, August 2018 91 Note: Pleasing still with fruit that aspires to a higher calling. The astringent finish detracts slightly.

2012 Siduri Pinot Noir Six Years Later: Suspended in Time April 19, 2014 89, August 2018 91 Note: This wine packs a lot of flavor although light in color and the juicy cherry fruit is appealing now.

2012 Siduri Pinot Noir Six Years Later: Suspended in Time April 19, 2014 90, August 2018 91 Note: Quintessential Russian River Valley in character with a soothing texture from judicious tannins.

Perhaps due to being four years old, this wine shows less exuberance than most Santa Barbara Pinots usually do, and instead exhibits grace and silky style. Soft on the palate, it tastes foremost of cherry fruit, but without the annoying sweetness that mars so many others. Impressive.

This 2014 Merlot from Mt. Brave is a big boy wine and you can tell right away why this wine’s release was held back. It is opaque and very dark ruby colored. It opens with a port like bouquet with hints of black cherry-cola. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced and rich. The flavor profile is a blackberry and mineral blend with notes of oak. We also detected hints of black licorice towards the end. The finish is rather dry and its moderate tannins stick around for quite a while. The Panel suggested serving this hearty Merlot with a pot roast.

La Crema sources the grapes for this Pinot Noir from the potentially better-suited vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. Compared to their Monterey bottling, the sweetness in this one is replaced by bright, ripe red fruit notes mixed with alluring herbal and leafy flavors. Similar to their Monterey bottling, suave tannins allow you to enjoy it now. For those who think far ahead, it would be an excellent choice for turkey.

Santa Barbara Dreamin'…Part Two The 2017 Chardonnay Spear is attractive with terrific energy and cut. Citrus and floral notes are nicely delineated. The Spear is not as focused or layered as the best wines in the range, but that is almost certainly a function of vine age. I expect this bottling will become more complex in future vintages.