Oregon: Pinot Still King Even In Hot 2015 and 2014 Vintages Aromas of exotic spices, raspberries, black pepper and hints of vanilla. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a clear finish. Drink now.

The 2014 Pinot Noir has a seductive nose of Bakewell tart, freshly picked strawberries and red cherry on the nose that gains intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and there is a healthy dash of black pepper here, with moderate weight in the mouth and a slightly savory, meaty finish that lingers. It will require 2-3 years in bottle, but it should develop into an enticing Pinot Noir.

This will please fans of a more tart, earthy style of Pinot Noir. Sour cherry, dry earth, mushroom and cardamom aromas and flavors are carried by mouthwatering acidity that leaves a lingering, well integrated finish.

The nutty character on the nose mingles nicely with Challah bread and lemon cream. The palate shows a lean, mineral driven edge, with good structure and lighter cantaloupe and Pink Lady apple flavors. This elegant wine finishes long with vanilla cream.

Oregon: Pinot Still King Even In Hot 2015 and 2014 Vintages Aromas of dried flowers, citrus, chamomile and hints of honey in this opulent chardonnay. Medium to full body, medium to high acidity, clean texture and a cool finish. Sherbet. Drink now or hold.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Latro, from vineyards in Knights Valley, is bright, precise and nuanced. This is an especially fruity, supple style for Knights Valley. Black cherry and plum fruit are nicely pushed forward in this soft, open-knit wine. The 2016 is undoubtedly attractive, but it would be nice to see a little more appellation character. Most of the fruit is from the Jackson family's Kellogg vineyard, plus purchased fruit from Knights Bridge.

Galerie's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair is laced with the essence of black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and licorice. Drink this juicy, flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon over the next decade or so. There is plenty of near to medium-term appeal. This is the first vintage that includes fruit from Bosché, one of the most famous vineyards in Napa Valley.

Grainy and gritty in texture at first, this wine finds a smooth roundedness on the midpalate that follows it through the bright acidity and punches of red plum and cherry. Ultimately rich and full-bodied, it offers a touch of reduction on the finish that presents as complex and intriguing.

The other Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Latro is 100% from Jackson family owned vineyards in Knights Valley. Aged 20 months in 63% new French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered, this is a more earthy, tannic, structured style of Cabernet Sauvignon compared to the Pleinair from Napa. It is dense ruby/purple and shows licorice, Christmas fruitcake, blackcurrants and loamy soil notes in abundance. It is medium-bodied, elegant and very well made. Drink it over the next 15+ years.

Dense, rich red fruit belies an elegant wine that finds balance despite the concentration of vanilla and berry. Soft, approachable and integrated tannin and oak let the whole exist as one, instead of separate parts. This shows off the appellation’s mountain fruit and rocky minerality.

Concentrated in raspberry liqueur and balsamic tanginess, this is a juicy, soft and smooth wine, with plenty of structure and complexity. Blackberry coats the palate along with a savory tip of tobacco and black tea, components that linger on the finish

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair spent 18 months in 58% new French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. This elegant, stylish Cabernet Sauvignon, created from four different sources in Napa, exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as textured, blueberry, red and blackcurrant fruit, cedarwood and background toast, and a medium to full-bodied, plush style. There are 1,100 cases of this beauty that sells at a realistic price. Drink it over the next decade or more.

This is bright in acidity and nicely textured, with an underlying lushness to the weight of the body. Peach and dried herb show most prominently on the palate, with a smoothness of stony mineral and lentil.

This Sauvignon Blanc from Galerie is very good. That said, it initially opens with a off-putting sulfur, green pepper and yellow grapefruit bouquet that softens with swirling and aeration. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, elegant and soft. The flavor profile is a tasty gooseberry and gentle mineral blend with notes of yellow grapefruit and saline. I also detected a hint of lime zest. The finish is dry and its flavors fade away nicely. I would pair this Sauvignon Blanc with swordfish skewers.

This pale straw colored Sauvignon Blanc from Galerie is very nice. It opens with mild gooseberry bouquet with a hint of wet stone. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, slightly acidic and round. The flavor profile is a mild mineral infused light yellow grapefruit with hints of faint vanilla oak and lime. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Sauvignon Blanc is food friendly and would pair well with swordfish skewers.

Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc: More Than An Afterthought? Fresh citrus, beeswax, sliced green apples and plenty of minerals. Quite a delicate but pretty style of palate with fresh acidity, a medium body and a dried-citrus finish.

Silky, juicy and ripe with clean, racy style; fresh and graceful with tangy acidity and precise fruit; bright and nicely balanced

Subtle in honey and grapefruit, this is a playful wine, vibrant in acidity and swirls of lemon zest that make it simultaneously refreshing and intriguing. Oysters are the obvious call.

Wild vanilla and white peach intermingle in this substantial wine, entirely well-composed in round layers of tropical pineapple and juicy citrus. The oak is subtle and gives the finish a lift, accenting the vanilla.

This is one of the richer Sauvignon Blancs out there. Aged in neutral oak which brings a touch of buttery toastiness, it also was stirred regularly on the lees. That adds a creaminess that’s integral to your enjoyment of the lemongrass, peach, kumquat and gooseberry flavors. The acidity is refreshing, making this a distinctive, delicious white wine.

Blended from vineyards ranging from Pope Valley to St. Helena, the wine was aged in neutral oak. It shows classic varietal notes of citrus fruits, gooseberries and lemongrass, with riper suggestions of white peaches. Low alcohol and brisk acidity results in a clean, savory wine.

Smooth, lush and ripe with plum, blackberry and spice; dense and balanced with good acid structure and a tangy finish; another solid Ted Edwards effort; long and stylish.

Fleshy yet subtle, full-bodied yet balanced. Loaded with ripe black plums. Lots of layers of pleasure. This wine is made mostly from Merlot Grapes with some Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Long, satisfying pleasant finish. Decant for an hour for maximum pleasure. Merlot food pairings: beef, cheese, poultry, quesadillas. A Natalie MacLean Terrific Turkey Wine

Bright and fresh with medium weight and excellent structure; juicy plum and well-proportioned tannins; long, elegant and balanced.

Marked by gritty tannins and a tang of acidity, this non-vintage Bordeaux blend turns rich in blackberry and black currant flavors on the midpalate. It’s very dry, despite the sweet fruit. You can drink it now, but it’s tannic enough to hold over at least the next eight years.