Of course, then there’s Pinot Noir. Undoubtedly the most discussed and romanticized of the Pinots, revered by wine lovers and collectors around the world. California is one wine region noted for producing top Pinot Noirs, typically from cooler vineyard pockets in the state. For example, the grapes for this La Crema Pinot Noir are grown in the coastal Monterey appellation. It’s plush, fruit forward, and eminently sippable with abundant notes of berries, earth, and black pepper. With a balanced and polished finish, this Pinot Noir makes an easy pairing partner — everything from pizza to burgers, beef rice noodles to roast chicken. Bottom line: B+, Lip-smacking Pinot.

Elegant, with lemon sorbet, Fuji apple, pomelo and tangerine flavors that are vibrant and aromatic, lingering with a drizzle of wildflower honey, a note of candied ginger and a touch of salted butter shortbread. Drink now. 15,500 cases made.

Again from a cooler spot in the state -- the Santa Maria Valley on the Central Coast just off the moderating Pacific. It has a profile of cherry tart with fresh minerality, the ideal pairing for the mushroom risotto we had mid-week.

Not all of California is hot.In fact, Monterey, where the grapes for this La Crema come from, is cooled by the Pacific Ocean and produces wine with a nice juxtaposition of raspberry jam and pepper aromas and flavours. We had it with Hawaiian pizza.

From California’s cool coast, this fine Pinot Noir has gorgeous notes of red fruit with a rustic flare. Taste more from La Crema at ‘Eureka’ on April 22nd

This white opens with pretty flavors of peach cobbler and a note of wild fennel, accented by sweet cream hints and a touch of lemon mint, before the intense acidity swoops in and brightens up the flavors, adding a mouthwatering liveliness on the finish. Drink now. 995 cases made.

A steely version, with pinpoint and refreshing acidity accenting the fresh lemon and kiwi flavors, this white is laced with tones of stony minerals and spiced lees. Drink now. 954 cases made.

If you have ever wondered what cabernet smells like when perfectly ripe, this 2018 Stonestreet would be the one. It is always a mix of the best cabernet sauvignon grown at Stonestreet’s Monument Ridge and the Mayacamus Mountains, at the 5100 acre Alexander Mountain Estate. Only 900 acres are planted in 235 individual blocks. Savoury and aromatic, translation Alexander Valley, the fruit sets the stage for a slick, robust, muscular cabernet packed with blackberry, black licorice, menthol, smoke, and tobacco. In 2018, the weather gods cooperated, and this wine has risen to a quality level that reflects its price. A splash of petit verdot is aged 20 months in 35% new French oak. Again, you could drink this wine now, but I recommend cellaring it through 2028 for best results.

A lot of work goes into getting the most finesse they can from this wine, but make no mistake, this is a powerful pinot. The nose is a dusty mix of red fruit and tea leaf, with an intense earthy forest floor and baking spice palate that finishes long and warm. The bigger the food here, the better. Peking duck would be a treat or an even more decadent pork dish.

The volcanic soils of Knights Valley are home to this cabernet, sitting on the southwest facing slopes of Mount St. Helena. The colour of this wine is notably dark opaque purple. The attack is a structured hit of blackcurrant and black cherries dusted in a savoury Sonoma mix of dried herbs. The same notes spilled onto a fresh palate, adding some bitter chocolate and a stony minerality that helps keep the wine full flavoured from front to back. The tannins are California rich and dense, reinforcing the wine’s structure and its ability to age. It's all here and will all be revealed over the next seven to ten years and beyond. If you can’t wait, grilled beef will help break down the tannins and take on the spice.

Toasted brioche, butterscotch and salted butter notes are lush in this white, with notes of grilled peach, mango and dried pineapple on a smooth, creamy frame. Fresh acidity keeps the flavors light on their feet, while spice notes linger on the finish. Drink now. 6,000 cases made.

Polished in texture, offering elegantly layered flavors of raspberry and tart cherry, with black tea and savory spice accents that gather richness toward supple tannins. Drink now through 2032. —T.F.

Sleek and vibrant, with tart cherry flavors highlighted by fresh violet, cinnamon and spice tones that glide on the dynamic finish. Drink now through 2031. —T.F.

Precise and elegantly generous, this red shows detailed flavors of cherry and raspberry laced with rose petal, black tea and stony mineral notes as it builds richness and tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2031.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, with 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of swirling to unlock notes of blackcurrant preserves, blackberry pie, and boysenberries leading to hints of cedar chest, beef dripping, crushed rocks, and garrigue. The full-bodied palate is solidly constructed with super-firm grainy tannins and just enough freshness to support the dense, muscular fruit, finishing long and savory.

A focused, powerful and vibrant wine with potent black cherries, a vibrant, lively balance and polished texture. Energized tannins, great fruit concentration and subtle oak spices add up to a pure and linear expression. Drink or hold.

Very pretty and pure, sleek in raspberries and red and black cherries that integrate well with light oak spices. Moderate tannins, a good acid tension and a medium body support the focused and tangy fruit for a vibrant expression. Drink or hold.

Combines warm strawberries and cherries in the aroma with light pine and mint tones that multiply on the palate, while bracing acidity and full tannins hold them tightly for now. Intense black cherries, sour cherries and cranberries create a tight, concentrated core that needs time to fully develop. Best from 2027.

The wine is luscious and creamy, ripe in baked apples, peaches and vanilla on a silky texture and rather full in mouthfeel, yet modest in alcohol. Has the concentration to expand on the palate and linger in the finish. Drink or hold.

A rich, red-fruited character with spices and hints of sandalwood and nutmeg. Medium-bodied with a silky texture and mild, delicate finish. Drink now or hold.

Spiced and a little earthy, with red and darker fruit as well as hints of dried flowers and wet stone. Polished and sleek, with a medium body and a chalky texture to its tannins. Very refined. Drink now. Screw cap.

With a first impression of orange zest and cranberries, this wine unfolds into a medium body with a sleek finish, highlighted by a hint of minerality at the end. Drink now or hold.

Easygoing, fruity and refreshing, with stone fruit, ripe lemons and mixed spices on the nose following through to a medium body with crisp acidity. Mellow and creamy with a mouthwatering finish. Drink now. Screw cap.

The 2022 Velvet Sisters Pinot Noir is medium ruby-purple in color. Wow! The nose is pure violets and rose oil, leading to a core of wild blueberries, Morello cherries, and crushed rocks with a touch of wild thyme. The full-bodied palate has a laser-fine, crisp backbone with grainy tannins and intense black and blue fruit layers, finishing on a lingering chalky note. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. It is sourced from a block within an estate vineyard located at the northern end of Anderson Valley, planted to Dijon clones 115, 667, 777, and Pommard.

The 2022 Muldune Trail Pinot Noir is medium ruby-purple in color. Wonderfully fragrant notes of red roses and cinnamon toast give way to a core of kirsch, raspberry pie, and allspice with a hint of forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft and juicy with a racy line to support, finishing long and spicy. Native strains were used for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. It is sourced from an estate vineyard at the southern end of the Anderson Valley, located atop a 1,600-foot ridge.