Lynn Penner-Ash’s stylishly “no name” Pinot Noir continues to stand out within the lexicon of Oregon Pinot Noir, and this latest expression stays true to its core three vineyards – Bella Vida (30%) in the Dundee Hills, historic Shea Vineyard (25%) and the estate vineyard (17%). There’s magnificence to the nose presented by 10 months in French oak, with 40% of those barrels new, offering hints of cocoa powder, cardamom, allspice and pencil shavings alongside Bing cherry and smoky plum. Enjoyable fine-grained tannins are ushered out by Marionberry juice. And thanks to the investment by Jackson Family Wines, production of Pas De Nom increased by 20 percent from the prior vintage. Outstanding.

Jim Gordon of Wine Enthusiast describes ‘Good fruit concentration and a velvety texture make this deeply colored, dry wine substantial enough for a special occasion. It smells like spicy oak and tastes like ripe black cherries and blackberries, with a smooth mouthfeel. #77 on the Wine Enthusiast 2016 Best Buy Top 100.’ Full-bodied & Smooth.

Wines of the Week Murphy-Goode co-founder Tim Murphy was the architect of their Zinfandel program, conceived, in part, through “consultation” with Sonoma County Zinfandel growers over breakfast games of Liar’s Dice. Roll the bones with this bright and flavorful Zin, featuring aromas of blackberry and floral perfume leading to spicy berry and cedar on the palate.

Wine of incredible quality in a breathtaking setting Black and red berry flavors with hints of herb, Asian spice, espresso and toast combining with floral notes, weight and a wonderful finish.

Valentine's to Indulge Your Sweet Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches. But what is the perfect gift to show how much you care? This year give bottles of sparkling Rosé, and dark chocolate filled red wine, instead of the traditional bunch of roses or box of chocolates. Here are selections to shower your sweetie with flavorful romance, all available throughout Hawaii Island... If divine chocolates make your true love melt, Cabernet Sauvignon selections from...La Jota ($100)...will please, melding dark chocolate with blackberry, cassis and woody herbs.

Wine of incredible quality in a breathtaking setting Flavors are chocolate, espresso, ripe blackberry, and a hint of Petit Verdot finishing with an earthy tannic structure, there is no doubt you are drinking a Howell Mountain Cabernet.

The wine showed a dark ruby almost opaque color. Blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, raspberry, plum, vanilla, oak and eucalyptus arrived on the nose. Blackberry, vanilla, black cherry, cassis, plum, mocha, oak and eucalyptus followed on the palate where the black cherry rejoined the mix. The wine exhibited excellent structure and length, along with velvety tannins. This lushly textured wine would pair well with a hearty lamb stew or beef short ribs.

A statewide tour of California pinot noir The Sonoma Coast is California's newest "hot" (but actually cool) region for Pinot Noir. I found a good value in the 2015 La Crema Sonoma Coast.

A statewide tour of California pinot noir 2015 La Crema Monterey textbook varietal character.

Harpers' Choice Three words sum up this wine - bright, crisp and exotic. On the nose, lemon, grilled pineapple and oyster shell prevail while on the palate, peach, papaya and crisp tangerine notes are complemented by a touch of spice and complex minerality. The wine provides a long finish with balanced acidity. The fruit used is a mix of hand and machine picked, which is gently pressed, followed by 24 hours of settling.

An approachable cab with concentrated black fruit, toasty oak and mocha. Nice length. Smart. 3½ stars.

Wines of the Week Vintner’s Reserve is the flagship line of wines from Kendall Jackson using grapes grown in cool coastal vineyards of California. This vintage offers distinct notes of spicy oak framing aromas and flavors of cherry and blackberry, finishing with firm tannins to pair with steaks from the grill or pastas with hearty sauces.

Once again award-winning Kendall-Jackson proves its reliability with a delicious (and very affordable) Chardonnay. Aromas of warm vanilla and honeyed orchard fruit will greet you at first. Luscious pineapple, ripe papaya and juicy mango flavours then follow, dancing in your mouth. Round, supple and creamy mouth feel with subtle hints of toasted oak and buttered brioche. Lively acidity pushes through on the finish, providing a harmonious and balanced wine. Very approachable, exceptionally food-friendly and terrific value make it the perfect staple for festive holiday celebrations or any other day. Four stars.

Sparkling Wines From Oregon: What It Takes To Make A Name In Bubbly Earth, mineral, and rose petal, with vibrant red-berry fruit and citrus, a touch of pastry dough, and a finishing floral lift. Complex and balanced.

Wine of incredible quality in a breathtaking setting Aromas of cranberry, cassis, and pine with flavors of pomegranate, huckleberry, sandalwood and milk chocolate.

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2015 La Joie features a very deep purple-black color and almost electric nose of crushed blackcurrants, ripe black cherries and mulberries with sparks of raspberry pie, wild blueberries, unsmoked cigars, charcuterie and crushed stones. Medium to full-bodied and charged with the most amazing energy, the youthful, vibrant black-fruited palate is framed by very firm, very finely grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing with lingering crushed stones and earth layers.

An already blended barrel sample of 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec, the 2016 Le Desir has an inky purple-black color and gives up expressive, complex notions of kirsch, wild blueberries, cassis and black raspberries with touches of wild thyme, baking spices, baker’s chocolate, Marmite toast and beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied and built like a brick house in the mouth, it has a rock-solid foundation of very firm, ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness to lift the densely packed black and red fruit layers, finishing on a lingering mineral note. This should be very, very long lived!

A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2016 La Joie (a barrel sample) has a very deep purple-black color and is a little closed at this nascent stage, slowly unfurling to reveal crushed black currants, blackberry coulis and Christmas cake notes with touches of cigar box, pencil lead, bay leaves and espresso plus a waft of lavender. Medium to full-bodied and packed to the gills with tightly wound black fruit preserves, floral and spicy layers, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long.

The 2014 Cardinale is a captivating blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot from talented winemaker Chris Carpenter. This is truly an appellation wine, as it was sourced from vineyards across the entire region with Spring Mountain District (Yverdon, Wurtele and Spring Mountain Vineyard) the base, to which Veeder Peak and sites in the Howell Mountain, Diamond Mountain and other sub-appellations round out the blend. The result is an utterly complex Cabernet which immediately opens to profound aromatics of ripe dark currants and black cherries woven together with graphite, spring florals, pipe tobacco and touches of sweet spices. On the palate this is full-bodied, layered and beautifully polished with gorgeous ripe dark fruits at its core. It remains dense and concentrated as it builds up to the long, voluptuous finish. While the 2014 is already absolutely stunning, it also possesses all the characteristics to indicate a fantastic future ahead.

Composed of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec, the 2015 La Muse sports a very deep garnet-purple color, leaping from the glass with exuberant crème de cassis, blueberry pie and licorice notes plus suggestions of Indian spices, dark chocolate, menthol, sautéed herbs and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and seductive in the mouth, it delivers tons of black and blue fruit preserves flavors, accented by exotic spices, framed with velvety tannins and finishing on a persistent earthy/mineral note.

Composed of 93% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec, the very deep garnet-purple colored 2016 La Muse (a barrel sample) hits the ground running with gorgeous plum pudding, chocolate-covered cherries and blueberry compote notes over touches of dried herbs, violets, black tea, tilled soil and fungi. Medium to full-bodied with a firm line of soft, satiny tannins and oodles of freshness lifting the profound black fruit and earthy layers, it finishes with lingering notes of black truffles and stones.

Vibrant purple color. Gorgeous, complex aromas of black currants, blueberry, black cherries, along with eucalyptus, tobacco pipe, espresso, chai tea, bay leaf, a ton of complex aromas to unpack. Full and powerful on the palate, velvety but shows powerful grip, moderating acidity. Plum, blackberry, black cherry, cassis, smooth but deep fruit. The fruit is surrounded by violets, sweet pipe tobacco, eucalyptus, cigar box, ginger snap, vanilla. This is gorgeous stuff, beautiful now, but let this unwind for a decade and see what happens. Includes 12% Merlot, this is sourced from 11 different Napa vineyards, and the wine is aged 19 months in 94% new French oak.

Explosive floral and fruit aromas leap from the glass in this brilliant bottling, which is bursting with plump red cherry, bundles of rose petals and just a touch of green peppercorn to keep it herbally intriguing. Lively and fresh on the palate, that deep pomegranate and Montmorency cherry picks up an herbally laced line of thyme, oregano, white sage, green cardamom and white pepper.

More like a focused fruit missile than an indiscriminate fruit bomb, this bottling shows flashy, vibrant waves of pure strawberry, red cherry and black raspberry that are edged by hints of dark earth, light spearmint and sweet bay leaf. The sip offers tart and exotic plums wrapped up in an herbal cape of thyme and potpourri. This will please many palates.

The stunning aromatic profile on this bottling compellingly combines candied fruit with the lift of crushed herbs, while blending cherry and grenadine with mint, bay leaf, a hint of green olive and a touch of crushed gravel on the nose. That lovable core of plush red fruits rides tight tannins on the palate, where bay leaf, thyme and green peppercorn flavors complete the sip.