A lightly chewy red with cedar, walnut and berry character. Soft and caressing on the palate. Medium to full body. Lightly candied finish.

From grapes grown at some of the Willamette Valley's highest elevations, this is a pungent mix of citrus oil, grapefruit, metal shavings and stone. The flavors persist along that path, crafting a sleek and distinctive wine that in many ways is the antithesis of the fleshy, jammy, fruit-forward style of many domestic Pinots.

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!

Smooth with blackberry and zest; lush and dense with grace and style; this boutique producer is led by husband-and-wife team Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash.

Limpid yellow-gold. Aromas of fresh orchard and citrus fruits along with hints of white flowers and dusty minerals. Gently sweet pear, orange and melon flavors show a suave floral quality and a firming quinine note. Finishes silky and taut, featuring an echoing floral note and very good persistence. This is a more restrained version of the variety than one normally finds from the New World.

The nose is orange and vanilla with notes of nutmeg. The palate entry is immensely rich and flavorful with white currant, peach and baked apple. Beautiful weight and polish on the taffy-like finish.

Dry and sappy, this potent effort is heavily influenced by botanical flavors, to the point of being almost grassy. Dry extract and lemon/lime acidity keep the riper fruit flavors in check, but with ample breathing time the wine fills in with highlights of fresh peaches.

Jazzy and bright, with jammy blackberry and smoky meat aromas leading to layered flavors of plum, black olive and licorice.

Jazzy and bright, with jammy blackberry and smoky meat aromas leading to layered flavors of plum, black olive and licorice.

Fresh-pressed boysenberry, black plum and lavender show on the nose of this bottling by Adam Lee of Siduri, who recently sold both brands to Jackson Family Wines yet remains intimately involved. Framed by a silky structure, the palate conveys blackberry, soy and black-pepper flavors.

Dark purple. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented dark berry liqueur, cherry cola and violet pastille flavors show excellent clarity and emerging hints of licorice and olive. Deep blackberry, blueberry and bitter chocolate flavors are energized by zesty acidity and a hint of cracked pepper that adds spiciness to the back half. Expands and becomes sweeter on the finish, which features a lingering dark berry skin quality and harmonious tannins.

Bright violet. Ripe cherry and dark berries on the deeply perfumed, smoke-accented nose. Sappy, broad and supple, offering pliant blueberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and livelier with aeration. Finishes sweet, youthfully tannic and long, displaying a late touch of vanilla and resonating smokiness.

None of Novy’s newly released Syrahs shy away from full ripeness nor does any make the slightest pretense to nuance, but, as a group, they are as rich and outgoing as any and this one from the well-regarded Garys’ Vineyard stands as the richest of them all. It is saturated in color and saturated in smell with dense, oak- sweetened flavors that are unsparing in very ripe, fully extracted, blackberry fruit, and, if purists might quibble that it is not quite as specific in varietal spice as it could be, few will find it wanting in stuffing and depth. It is nicely balanced for the very sizeable wine that it is, and its immense fruity extract serves to disguise its underlying tannins, but it needs a minimum of three or four years in the cellar and will easily grow and improve for at least twice that time.

Glass-staining purple. Vibrant, spice-tinged aromas of cherry compote and dark berries, with suggestions of olive, potpourri and smoky bacon. Juicy black and blue fruit flavors coat the palate, with a zesty mineral note and a suave floral quality contributing verve. Shows surprising vivacity for its heft, finishing with strong thrust and length and dusty, late-arriving tannins.

Bottled in January, the 2013 Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard tastes like a quality St. Joseph, yet with a kiss of California fruit. It gives up lots of black raspberry fruit, pepper, olive and violet notes; it's medium-bodied, juicy, and fruit forward with outstanding concentration and length. Balanced, fresh and lively, it's a beauty to enjoy anytime over the coming 5-7 years.

Plump and ripe, this maintains balance and finesse, offering accents of blackberry and raspberry, with licorice, bittersweet chocolate and spice notes.

Plump and ripe, this maintains balance and finesse, offering accents of blackberry and raspberry, with licorice, bittersweet chocolate and spice notes.

Dried sage and a hint of saddle leather highlight this dry, dusty wine noteworthy for its bright, buoyant acidity and layering of red currant. It delivers plenty of full-bodied flavor within a complex, approachable experience.

Plump and polished, with bold raspberry and blueberry aromas and complex flavors of licorice, crushed stone and pepper.