Oregon: Pinot Still King Even In Hot 2015 and 2014 Vintages Fresh and perfumed notes of blackcurrants, ivy, bark, dark chocolate shavings, orange zest and a hint of citrus rind and spices. This has a sturdy and firm tannins backbone on the palate with fresh acidity, crunchy fruit and a walnut finish. Drink in 2019.

For my palate this bright, light Chardonnay has all the right elements. It offers a medium body and the merest tweak of vanilla. The nuanced flavors of fresh-baked bread, bright citrus and apple fruit, plus an undercurrent of stone-minerality are a delight. Aromatically pleasing, it can boast both delicacy and muscle -- as a good Chardonnay should.

Lightly smoky and spicy oak nuances top off this deeply fruity and concentrated wine, which has firm tannins and good acidity to support its richness. Almost-sweet plum and black cherry notes form its core, while vanilla and baking spice notes complete the picture.

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Anderson Valley has earthy/savory notions of underbrush, fungi and mossy bark over a core of warm cherries, red currants and Bing cherries. Medium to full-bodied with a chewy backbone framing the vibrant fruit, it finishes with earthy layers.

This rich, mouth-filling wine starts with almost-sweet floral, plummy, oaky aromas, building toward ripe cherry, strawberry and black plum flavors and a smooth texture. Everything, from its deep color to its lingering finish, suggests a bold personality.

From a site at 2,400 feet elevation, this wine’s aroma suggests pencil lead, cedar, clove and mountain sage. With its juicy midpalate of black cherry and cassis, it unleashes firm, grippy tannins on its long finish, showing structure but also grace.

This dark red colored Cabernet Sauvignon from the McLaren Vale is very good. It opens with a fragrant blackberry and coffee bouquet with hints of black licorice. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, nicely balanced, very fruit forward and juicy. The flavor profile is a tasty mulberry jam with notes of cinnamon and oak. I also detected hints of red currant and red plum. The finish is dry and its flavors and refined tannins drift away nicely. This Cab is very food friendly and I would not sit on it. Instead. I would pair it with a filet mignon in the near term. Very good+.

Already bottled, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Hartford Zinfandel is scented of baked blueberries, stewed plums and kirsch with touches of raspberry leaves, dried herbs, spice box and new leather. Full-bodied, firmly textured and with a lively backbone, it gives a great intensity of blue and black berry preserves, finishing long and spicy.

Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Pleinair Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon delivers pronounced baked berries, prunes and warm black currant cordial notes with touches of baking spices, olives and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it has concentrated baked black berry and savory layers with soft, velvety tannins and balanced freshness, finishing on a spicy note.

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley—blended of 78.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 5.6% Malbec and 2.2% Cabernet Franc—has a compelling perfume of dried roses, fragrant herbs and dusty earth over a core of crushed plums and blackberries with a waft of tobacco. Medium-bodied, lively and expressive in the mouth, it has a pleasant pluminess accented by herb and earth notions, finishing long and chewy.

A tank sample, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cenyth Red Wine Blend (a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon) gives a savory/meaty nose of Bovril and chargrill over a core of red currant jelly, cassis and crushed plums with a waft of red roses. Medium-bodied, it offers a firm structure of ripe, grainy tannins and great freshness cutting through the intense red and black fruits, finishing long and lifted.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Cenyth Red Wine Blend—composed of 60% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec—is scented of crème de cassis, mocha and sautéed herbs with a waft of forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is firmly structured with chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a savory/earthy note.

The 2015 Chardonnay Estate Vineyards features ripe apricots, guava and warm pineapple and brioche notes with hints of butterscotch and preserved ginger. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals wonderful freshness and a slightly oil texture plus plenty of tropical flavors, finishing long with some spiciness coming through.

Light yellow; pleasant, floral, moderately grassy, white peach, lemon-lime, and melon aroma with a hint of green bean; medium-full body; citrus and melon flavors with herbal and grassy notes, and zesty acidity; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. The scent of black cherry and bramble leads to a welcome depth of black cherry fruit accented with warm spices, earth tones, and just a thread of oak. Sleek in texture with a substantial tannic backbone.

Seared lemon peels, densely packed honeysuckle, Brie rind and white-ash aromas show on the nose of this appellation blend from the regional superstars, which recently became part of the Jackson Family of wines. The palate is tightly wound with grapefruit pith and a lemon spray-laced acidity that provides ample structure, carrying the slightest bit of riper stone fruit at the core.

This is a successful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel, with smaller amounts of Syrah, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Black fruit, baking spice and chocolate flavors commingle in a full-bodied package that’s rich, round and rewarding, with plenty of length.

At 600-feet in elevation, this is the site that’s behind a wine of structure and considerable power. A thick rich layering of currant and blackberry is soft with a tannic backbone. Clove and tobacco contribute secondary aspects of complexity.

The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Aurora Point Vineyard opens with green apple, white grapefruit and lemon peel notes with touches of elderflower and orange blossoms. Medium-bodied with a lovely slight silkiness to the texture and plenty of zip, it has a great citrus fruit core, finishing long and invigorating.

Oregon: Pinot Still King Even In Hot 2015 and 2014 Vintages This young pinot noir shows aromas of raspberries and violets. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Some crushed stone and concrete undertones. Drink now. Screw cap.

This is a complex, muscular wine, with good aging potential. The nose carries a whiff of animal (in a good way) and the black fruits are buoyed with generous acidity. Cellar Selection.

Oregon: Pinot Still King Even In Hot 2015 and 2014 Vintages Pure aromas of cherries, raspberries and light tobacco. Rose petals, too. Medium to full body, round tannins and a crispy finish. Fruit forward. Drink now. Screw cap.

The vineyard is in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, and here it yields an aromatic wine, with inviting suggestions of buttery cherry pie. It also offers blueberries, a touch of light herb and a deliciously smooth mouthfeel.

Deep, rich and loamy, offering earth-scented blackberry, plum and licorice notes, with ripe tannins that give the flavors traction and dimension.

Showing a gorgeous nose of blueberry and strawberry fruit, with just a hint of floral, the Penner-Ash estate Pinot Noir is inviting from the first whiff. But there’s so much more there. In addition to its fruit purity, there is impressive structure and length in the mouth. The tannins are firm, but will soften with bottle age, so give this wine another year or two or three to shine its best.