Sleek and pretty, with delicate strawberry and spice flavors. Pinot Noir, Syrah and Grenache.

Modestly built but appealing, with raspberry and sweet anise flavors.

Bright ruby color. Aromas of sweet raspberries, cherry cola, sweet strawberry, rhubarb pie and roses. Medium-bodied, medium acidity, juicy and ripe with an easygoing appeal. Strawberry and raspberry jam with cola, roses and rhubarb notes. Fun, fruity, playful style, well done for the price. Aged nine months in 25% new French oak. 86 points.

Light ruby color. On the nose, strawberries, sour cherries, red apple peel, cola and rhubarb. Crisp acidity, light tannins, 13.9% alcohol but a medium to light-bodied feel, with flavors of red cherries, raspberries and red apples. Notes of spiced tea, rhubarb, sweet cola. A fresh and bright style with plenty of juicy red fruit. Nine months in 21% new French oak. 86 points.

Coming from a coastal site just four miles off the Pacific, the 2015 Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard was barrel fermented and aged 16 months in 43% new French oak. Buttered citrus, lemon, honeysuckle, white flowers, and building, salty minerality all emerge from this awesomely concentrated, deep, layered, and structured Chardonnay. This is a powerhouse. Full-bodied, opulent, concentrated, yet with bright acidity and perfect balance, it's an incredible effort and one of the finest Chardonnays out there.

Medium red colour with a faint tinge of purple. The bouquet is subdued and shy, the wine is very drying, firm and tannin-driven, with savoury flavours and drying texture. The tannins drive the wine and the flavours and aromas are very dry and savoury, strongly de-emphasising fruit. I suspect age will bring much more out of this somewhat closed wine. Its concentration is undoubted. (1946 old-vine fruit, fermented in ceramic eggs and left on skins long-term) Drink 2020 - 2033

Light to medium yellow colour. Smoky sulfides drive the bouquet, which is complex and meaty. The palate is medium to full-bodied and very savoury, with phenolics adding to the texture and providing a slight cleansing bitterness on the finish. It's all about the texture. A food wine. Drink 2018 - 2022

Grown biodynamically. 50% fermented on skins in two ceramic eggs, 50% fermented in ceramic eggs but not on skins. Final blend is 60% of the extended skin contact egg portion. Bottled unfined. 250-ish dozen made. Beautiful white wine. It crackles, it floats and it charms. Spice, florals, stone fruit and mineral. There’s grip to the finish but it doesn’t gather; it’s exquisitely well pitched and balanced. A class. Heady with florals but taut and controlled. Drink 2018 - 2022

Deep red/purple colour. The bouquet holds smoky, charry, savoury aromas with some dry spice notes, and has depth and gravity which mirrors the deep colour and is more profound than usual in pure grenache wines. Clove, pepper, mixed-spice aromas, full body and powerful flavour. The tannins are fine and soft and nicely balanced, providing impressive structure to the wine. An outstanding grenache. Drink 2020 - 2040

Deep, youthful red/purple colour. The bouquet is shy but fresh, bright and clean, with dark plum fruit and quite strongly stated oak. It's very full-bodied, rich and deep, with youthful and slightly undeveloped, tightly-packed flavours, which promise to bring forth more in the future if it's cellared. There's a super-abundancy of tannin as well, balancing the formidable concentration. A big, solid, rugged shiraz. One for the cellar. Drink 2021 - 2043

15 zinfandels to drink with whatever meat your're grilling From Mendocino County, this wine is a blend of 77 percent zinfandel, with petite sirah and syrah. It offered baking spices, black cherry and other dark fruits, an herbal quality and vanilla, plus a potent 15.5 percent alcohol.

Wine of the Week - Four stars Elegant and lively, this rosé has a European sensibility. It's buoyed by bright acidity and is layered with fresh red fruit and a hint of mineral. Finishes crisp. Striking.

Allure of dry rosés wasn't always so Among the best we tasted within the last week were 2017s from...Copain (“Tous Ensemble”), WillaKenzie… Winemaker Wells Guthrie made the Copain using the saignée method, and it is simply terrific.

This rosé of Pinot Noir is a beauty and one of the most consistent on the market for freshness and fruit purity. Made in the saignée method, which draws the light pink juice of fermenting red grapes before it darkens to the point of being a full-on red wine. Flowery aromatics, juicy melon, and luscious strawberry notes make this a charmer.

A lush syrah, buoyed by bright acidity. It has a mix of red and black fruit — boysenberry and raspberry — with an edgy kick of spice. Smart. Four stars.

Your Complete Summer Rosé Guide Favorite Wine by a Celebrity Barrymore by Carmel Road Rosé of Pinot Noir 2017 Yes, this wine is by actress Drew Barrymore – of the entertainment dynasty – who is now a partner in a winery along with winemaker Chris Kato, and it’s quickly becoming one of our favorites on the market. On the palate, the wine is delicate with floral and light citrus aromas. Flavors of fresh red fruits, along with notes of peach and apricot intertwine with bright, mouthwatering acidity, leading to a crisp and vibrant finish. This wine pairs well with burgers, sushi and spicy dishes, and with the screw cap, should be a hit at outdoor events.

Mother's Day Gift Guide For the Fab Foodie Wine Drink like an A-lister with a bottle of Drew Barrymore's like of vino!

Allure of dry rosés wasn't always so Among the best we tasted within the last week were 2017s from...Copain (“Tous Ensemble”), WillaKenzie…

Open the bottle of the Siduri 2014 John Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir and breathe in deep aromas of black plum, dark chocolate, red meat smoke, mud, and darkness. On the pour this Pinot is a dusty pink-rouge with hints of brown. In the glass, the wine has the same coloring, but you can see how light it is — it’s completely see-through, but that tinge of rose-rouge hints at darkness. Tilt the glass, and observe an aura of burnt orange around the outermost perimeter. Initial aromas are of rich, wild strawberries; roses; and a balsamic or soy-like umami. Swirl the glass and bring all those scents together, enlivened by acidity that cuts right through that perceived richness. Add to the aromas a strength of floral perfume, a hint of bright red cherry, and the funk of baby’s breath. The palate of the Siduri 2014 John Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir is simultaneously light and full, textural without any specifically harsh or lingering mouthfeel. The acidity provides just a bit of spice that cuts through that texture and leaves a lingering, long finish. Dominant flavors are of dried strawberries, balsamic, and chili-chocolate, leaving an after-breath of dried black cherry.

Wines With Character For Mother's Day Rich fruit begins a compelling personality featuring beautifully soft but expressive tannins, excellent complexity, refined integration and a wonderfully powerful, prolonged finish. "Pas de Nom?" I'd name it "wonderful."

The Great State of Oregon Wine The 2015 has a gorgeous nose of blackberry and strawberry fruit, bright flowers and spice. The fruit is pure with lots of structure and length. This wine will open more with a year or two bottle aging. Drink this wine with planked salmon, grilled tuna, duck, quail, pork chops, sausage, and triple cream cheese.

The Great State of Oregon Wine This beautiful wine has aromas of flowers, peach and spice. There is really bright acidity, and it is clean and fresh. This wine goes great with salad and fish dishes.

Break out some of the best California Chardonnays in decades 2015 Byron Nielson, taut, citrus, spice.

Matanzas Creek in Santa Rosa has been making wine on what was once a dairy farm since 1997 (now under the Jackson Family group), and since 2010 winemaker Marcia Torres Forno has transformed the estate’s production of Sauvignon Blanc through new plantings and harvesting. They now make five different bottlings from the varietal—highly unusual for a California winery—and the result is a creamier, more refreshing example without the cloying punch-like flavors of so many others. I love this with grilled chicken and seafood during the summer, and it’s excellent paired with cheeses.

Seven Reasons Why Mothers Deserve Champagne On Mother's Day--And Every Day