There’s an intriguingly earthy character to the nose of this bottling by Greg Brewer, with snapped sagebrush, dill, green olive and tart pluot aromas leaning into the herbal side of the grape. There’s great tension to the sip, which is fresh and flavorful with underripe fig and strawberry, orange rind and a hint of green peppercorn.

Lush red cherry and rosewater aromas meet with muddled sage, pepper dust and wild herbs on the nose of this excellent bottling, where rich fruit and herbal intrigue collide. Thyme, dried sage and even broadleaf parsley flavors show on the sip, set against a background of piquant cranberry and tart red currant, with bountiful energy that carries through the entire palate.

This is Greg Brewer’s appellation blend rather than his single-vineyard expressions, but it’s still incredibly dynamic and delicious. A fresh and fruity strawberry-slushie aroma is met with notes of crushed slate and star anise-spiced cookies on the nose. The palate is bright in flavors of slightly tart cherries and ripe cranberries, but then come juniper and pine needle on the midpalate. Acidity pumps into the pomegranate and menthol finish.

Lemon spray with hints of flint, light smoke, chalk and toasted oak show on the nose of this single-vineyard bottling by Greg Brewer. It’s really tightly wound on the sip, with expressive grapefruit pith and squeezed citrus as well as a distinctive Brie-rind note. A light flash of roasted marshmallow pops on the finish.

Aromas of cherries, pomegranate, raspberry, red apple peel, complex combination of rose petal, floral tea, elegant yet the nose pops. Medium/full-bodied with a chewy texture, suave tannins and vibrant acidity. Black cherries, raspberries, red apple, cranberry jam, the fruit is complex and pure. Complexities of roses, rhubarb, black tea, light roast coffee. Everything is woven together in a fresh but juicy package. Lovely now but could do interesting things in the next five years. 11 months in 30% new French oak.

An impressive wine that really satisfies on the richly appointed palate. Aromas and flavors of ripe cherries and a hint of vanilla impress on the attack and extremely long finish. The fruit really has traction and there is a good grip of acidity to lift the fruit load. Still outstanding when tasted two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.

Weekend Wine Picks A half year down the road there are no substantial changes here. The Hawkeye Mountain is K-J’s signature Alexander Mountain property, planted from 900 to 2200 feet above sea level. Shallow, rocky and gravelly loam on steep, westward facing hillsides with some terracing is the home to the limited release Hawkeye Ridge Cabernet — an island in the sky above the fog line. The mountain textures are accentuated by spicy, licorice, tobacco, black cherry fruit. The finish is long, savoury and persistent. This will easily repay a decade in the bottle. Private wine shops only.

Made by Pierre Seillan of Vérité in Sonoma (the estate was purchased by the Jackson Family in 2003) from 50- to 60-year-old vines on clay and limestone, the 2015 Lassègue is composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with expressive black forest cake, preserved plums and blackberry pie notes with an undercurrent of mocha, grilled meats, sandalwood and cigar box plus a waft of lavender. Medium to full-bodied, rich and densely packed with opulent layers of spiced black fruit preserves and chocolate box notions, it has wonderfully plush yet firm tannins and a lovely suggestion of background acid, finishing long and fragrant.

COMMENTARY: A top rosé that I look forward to tasting each year, the 2016 Copain "Tous Ensemble." once again fulfilled expectations. TASTING NOTES: This wine starts out with a beautiful pastel pink color, and it just keeps on getting better. Once on the palate, this wine dazzles with bright strawberries, earth, and perhaps a shading of minerality—don't you just love those buzzwords? Pair the wine's fresh acidity and crispness with steamed mussels with an accent of red heirloom tomatoes for color coordination.

Gushing aromas but the fruit is tart as well (cherries, red plums, raspberries), along with cola, rose hips, cedar, and interesting elements of black tea and mushroom. Zesty acidity frames the palate, velvety feel, shows dusty tannins. The fruit tastes crisp and chilled, with raspberries, strawberries. Complex blend of cola, chestnut, coffee, rose petals, along with lasting notes of wet leaves and mushrooms. Tastes so good right out of the bottle, but the savory elements will develop more with time. 15 months in 50% new French oak.

Sourced from the Mt. Brave Vineyard, perched at roughly 1500 feet, this inky colored wine is crafted by superstar winemaker Chris Carpenter, who has been making this wine since 2007. The Cabernet opens with a rich bouquet of crème de cassis, boysenberry cordial, milk chocolate shavings and coffee grounds. Ripe and decadent, dark fruit flavors connect with mocha and spices. The Mount Veeder terroir shines through in this outstanding Cabernet. Try to give this gorgeous wine another few years in the bottle to fully evolve.

Australian Charlie Seppelt and American Chris Carpenter are the blokes behind the Hickinbotham revival pushing this Clarendon cabernet front and centre. The wine is shaped by its texture and hence tannins which remain dense throughout framing the wine’s structure to perfection. Pure black fruit/cassis with bits of tobacco, menthol and dark chocolate. The fruit is hand-picked from Clarendon high country at 220 metres where it builds weight and flavour in the warm mornings and freshness and acidity through cool nights. The richness and density makes you think of Pomerol, while the drinkability and savoury aspects remind one Tuscany. First planted in 1971 by Alan Hickinbotham it remains well cared for today under the Jackson Family Wines banner. Delicious especially when decanted for three hours. Cellar through 2025.

Candied black cherry, smoked pork, cola and crushed asphalt show on the complex, inviting nose of this smaller-block bottling from the estate’s large vineyard. The flavors are deep and dark yet not rich or heavy, with hints of tar, black pepper, wild blackberries and black plum, all hung from a firm zippy structure.

COMMENTARY: Always a player from California's Central Coast, the Cambria Estate Vineyards & Winery Benchbreak Chardonnay—made from certified sustainable vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley AVA—has produced a solid effort. TASTING NOTES: The 2015 Benchbreak Chardonnay deftly intertwines ripe core, savory oak, and a long palate presence. Enjoy this wine with scallops sautéed in brown butter.

Very woody and herbal aromas of wild thyme, sagebrush and bay leaf meet with rust, orange rinds, blistered tomato and crushed hibiscus on the spicy nose of this clonal selection. Wild red currants and cranberry-orange compote make for a sour tangy sip, with minty herbs in the background.

The Brewer-Clifton pinot is a mix of three estate vineyard sites within the Sta. Rita Hills AVA: 3D, Machado and Acin. The style is intense and rich from a European point of view, but I might say restrained from a New World view. The nose is a mix of red fruit scents with a strong tea leaf undercurrent marked with a dusting of dried herbs. Think earthy/forest floor, raspberries cherries and pomegranate. AT B-C they employ neutral oak to better let the site show through. The use of stems is an important part of the structure and earthy characters of the Sta. Rita Hills fruit. The clones are a blend of Swan, Pommard, 667, 828, and the Merry Edwards clone. Delicious stuff.

This very dark ruby colored blend from Bootleg opens with a musty black cherry bouquet with a hint of blueberry in the background. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced and juicy. The flavor profile is a tasty black cherry with notes of vanilla oak and blueberry. I also detected hints of stewed plum and faint oolong tea in the background. The finish is rather dry and its sticky tannins linger for a very long time. This big boy wine would benefit from a little decanting. Then serve it with a well-marbled ribeye.

Nose shows bright cherries, pomegranate, cola, lots of spicy/herbal notes like clove, mint, rhubarb and raspberry leaf. Medium/full-bodied with lively acidity and dusty tannins, the balance and freshness are wonderful. Cranberries, sweet cherries, raspberry jam, the fruit is fresh and tangy but loaded with flavors. Notes of cola, rhubarb, mint, coffee. Flavorful but bright, this drinks wonderfully now but could show even more in three or four years. 15 months in 40% new French oak.

Crisp, chilled red berries on the nose (raspberry, strawberry) along with rhubarb, rose petals, mushrooms, spiced herbal tea — lovely to sniff. On the palate, tangy acidity and structured but easy-going tannins, and the red currant, red apple peel and raspberry fruit is tart but juicy. Complex elements of rhubarb, black pepper, dusty earth. Savory but bright, vibrant but textured and complex. 15 months in 30% new French oak.

Medium-light to medium ruby color; attractive, forward, black cherry aroma with spicy notes and hints of forest floor; medium to medium-full body; rich, deep, textured, dark cherry fruit flavors with a hint of mocha; medium to medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very appealing to taste now, though deserving a few more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

Limpid yellow. Powerful, mineral-tinged Meyer lemon and pear aromas show very good clarity and complementary hints of anise, vanilla and smoky lees. Minerally and chewy in the mouth, offering sappy citrus and orchard fruit flavors and suggestions of buttered toast and ginger that emerge on the back half. Shows impressive depth as well as energy and finishes silky and very long, with a suave floral nuance lingering.

Rich and hearty black cherry, clove, star anise and vanilla team with a bit of crushed slate minerality on the nose of this block-designated bottling. Dark berries, cola, chaparral herbs and white pepper show on the sip, where squeaky tannins arise toward the finish.

Extremely pleasant aromas of caramel-laced honeydew cream and light cashew show on the nose of this bottling that’s focused on a specific block of this historic vineyard. The palate zings with freshness and acidity right out of the gates, and then allows fatter notes of melted butter, orange peels, mandarin slices and clotted cream to consume the midpalate.

COMMENTARY: I often am skeptical when I see names of celebrities on products and wonder how serious the project is? On the wine side, there have always been the use of famous names, and often those wines are nothing more than ordinary. Fortunately the Barrymore name is safe and solid as the wines are quite fine. TASTING NOTES: The 2016 Barrymore by Carmel Road Rosé of Pinot Noir shows up with excellent ripe red fruit, a hint of floral notes, and vibrant acidity. Pair its brightness with a smoked bone-in ham.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard comes across as surprisingly round and rich for the site. Black cherries, smoke, tar, licorice and asphalt all meld together in the glass. At five years of age, the 2008 has softened a little, and all the elements are very nicely fused together. Salty, saline notes underpin the gorgeous finish. The 2008 spent 24 months in American oak barrels (40% new).