From what used to be an old Zinfandel Vineyard, the 2016 Pinot Noir Barbieri Vineyard is one of the bigger, richer wines in the portfolio. Possessing medium to full body, loads of sweet fruit, a rounded, sexy texture and classic notes of black cherries, leafy herbs, and gravelly, earthy minerality, it’s already hard to resist yet should easily keep for 6-7 years.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast reveals a super intense nose of chocolate box, lilac and crushed black cherries with hints of garrigue, cloves, cinnamon stick and anise. Medium-bodied with a firm frame of grainy tannins and fantastic tension, it has wonderful intensity and a long fragrant finish.

From a site near Occidental, the 2016 Pinot Noir Pratt-Sexton Vineyard saw the normal 30% stems and spent 15 months in 20% new French oak. Its bright Bing cherry, framboise, eucalyptus and spicy, white peppery laced bouquet gives way to an incredibly elegant, seamless Pinot Noir that has impeccable balance, good acidity, and outstanding length.

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Parsons' Vineyard gives up compelling notes of warm mulberries, raspberry preserves and freshly crushed black berries with touches of forest floor, star anise and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated in the mouth, it has a firm yet velvety structure and a lively lift to the long finish.

Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Van Der Kamp Vineyard is scented of violets, chocolate covered cherries and black raspberries with notions of tilled soil and potpourri. Medium to full-bodied and packed with fragrant black and red fruits, it has a solid frame of fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing long and layered.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Lingenfelder Vineyard, from a site in the Russian River, saw 30% stems and 9 months all in neutral oak. This is a slightly lower elevation vineyard and the grapes are Pommard and Marini clones. Supple, polished and seamless, with classic sous bois, currants, and leafy herbs notes, it has moderate acidity and light tannin as well as terrific balance. It’s one of the more finesse-driven wines in the lineup.

This translucent colored Pinot Noir opens with a bouquet of rose water, red cherry and forest floor. The palate is silky smooth and plush, delivering a good combination of dark and red fruits with good tension. Rich and appealing, enjoy this great wine over the next decade.

From an estate vineyard just 3-4 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the 2015 Pinot Noir Shell Ridge Vineyard was mostly destemmed (there's a touch of whole cluster) and aged in 35% new French oak. Slightly more fresh and focused than the Fog Veil release, it has perfumed raspberry, spice box, and dried flower aromatics, building salty minerality, medium body, and a clean, elegant finish.

The 2015 Chardonnay Kelli Ann Vineyard is a step up, with more richness, depth, and texture. Offering buttered orchard fruits, white flower, and a touch of salty minerality, it's fleshy, medium to full-bodied, has some obvious oak, and a big finish. It's a rich, opulent Chardonnay.

Another wine from the Petaluma Gap region, the 2016 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate is based on clones 667 and 777 and was completely destemmed before aging in 34% new French oak. Pretty and elegant notes of black cherries, classic forest floor, and spice all flow to a complex, medium-bodied, floral Pinot Noir that over-delivers at its price point. There are just under 2,000 cases made and it’s well worth seeking out.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Anderson Valley comes from three vineyards (Boont Ridge, Falk, and Philo) in the Anderson Valley and spent 12 months in 30% new French oak. It offers beautiful red currants, dried earth, dried spices, and loamy earth as well as medium-bodied richness and depth. With bright acidity, a clean, balanced profile, no hard edges, and outstanding length, it should drink nicely for 4-6 years.

Gold Medal

The 2016 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Santa Maria Valley comes from a handful of vineyards and, like the Grand Reserve, saw full malolactic fermentation and aging all in French oak barrels, 40% being new. Sautéed orchard fruits, buttered citrus, spice, and a subtle minerality all emerge from this richer, fresh, elegant Chardonnay. With good acidity, excellent purity of fruit, and outstanding length, it’s a classy Chardonnay to drink over the coming 2-4 years.

The 2016 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Camelot Highlands comes from the Santa Maria Valley and was barrel fermented and aged in 41% new French oak, with plenty lees stirring. Its medium gold color is followed by a classic California Chardonnay nose of baked apples, honeysuckle, and musky melon and pineapple. It’s nicely balanced, has vibrant acidity, and a clean, length style that will keep for 2-3 years.

Layered but youthful. Ripe black and wild berry fruit. Nice balance between savoury and fruit elements, with exotic spice notes. The oak is well integrated. Needs time and will reward cellaring.

Bold and savory, with hints of smoke and teriyaki to the concentrated cassis and blackberry flavors. Gains momentum on the finish, with Earl Grey tea and sandalwood accents. Spice and licorice details linger amid the dense tannins.

The inky colored 2016 Zinfandel Russian River Valley Old Vine is a blend from all five of the vineyards they use for their single vineyard Zinfandels. Blueberries, blood orange, violets, and exotic spice notes, medium body, beautiful mid-palate depth, and sweet tannin all define this juicy, undeniably delicious beauty. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.

A bruiser, powerfully built and loaded with personality, offering currant, tar and licorice flavors that plow toward big but resolved tannins. Not for the faint of heart.

Not yet bottled, the 2016 Zinfandel Limerick Lane Vineyard leads with its fruit, yet has good acidity and purity. Fresh plums, scorched earth, spice, and incense notes all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced effort that shows the quality of this great vintage for Sonoma.

From a site on Sonoma Mountain and old vines going back to the 1960s, the 2016 Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard gives up some blue fruits, plums, candied violets and cedary notes, medium body, fine tannin, and a fresh, lively profile. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.

From the Ohlson Vineyard, the 2016 Pinot Noir Sealift has a perfumed raspberry, violet, red plums, and spring flower-laced bouquet. With medium-bodied, richness, a slightly deeper, richer style, bright acidity, and a clean, pure profile, it will benefit from short-term cellaring and should age gracefully. This cuvée comes all from the Ohlson Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast and was brought up in 18% new French oak.

Ripe, sexy, and voluptuous, the 2015 Innovant Red Wine is the entry-level blend from the estate based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot brought up in 50% new French oak. Crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, lead pencil and spice notes give way to a medium to full-bodied wine that has sweet, rounded tannin, plenty of fruit, and a good finish.

Intense flavors of honeydew melon and pear tart dominate this supple white. The richly spiced finish shows some pastry notes.

This offers some rich buttery notes to the ripe white fruit flavors. Lemon curd details show midpalate, with touches of elegance on the spicy finish.

The 2015 Prowess Proprietary Red checks in as 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 12% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It’s another terrific Bordeaux blend from this estate that’s beautifully balanced and layered, with lots of ripe black currants, smoked herbs, chocolate, and graphite aromas and flavors. Supple, textured, medium to full-bodied, and with lots of character, drink it anytime over the coming decade or so.