Oregon: Pinot Still King Even In Hot 2015 and 2014 Vintages Lots of red cherries to this one with blood oranges, balsamic, jasmine and pressed violets. The palate shows ripe but bright cherries, pretty acidity, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now.

Smooth with blackberry and zest; lush and dense with grace and style; this boutique producer is led by husband-and-wife team Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash.

Lithe and filled with a finely textured savoriness that washes over the cherry and dried berry flavors. Firmly tannic, with a big finish that offers cocoa powder, mineral and spice details.

This pitch black colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder opens with a black currant bouquet with hints of anise, cherry-cola, chocolate and damp wood. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, nicely balanced and smooth. The flavor profile is a boysenberry and cassis blend with a nicely integrated minerality. We also detected hints of anise, cinnamon and black pepper. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins and fruit show nice length. The Panel suggested pairing this Cab with slow cooked short ribs or a New York strip steak. Very good+.

No shortage of excellence here, the fresh and lively 2015 La Crema Monterey Chardonnay brings ripe core fruit, a touch of savory oak, and crisp minerality in its aromas and flavors. The wine's brightness pairs it well with quickly-seared flounder accented with a toss of al dente bean sprouts.

From an estate site, this wine offers power and concentration. Creamy in texture, the generosity of fruit is balanced by notes of stone, toasted oak and French butter, making for a wonderfully complete experience on the palate.

Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Sonoma Coast reveals attractive cranberry, pomegranate and rhubarb notes with touches of rose hip tea, menthol, lavender and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied with lovely a satiny texture and fantastic freshness cutting through the intense red fruit flavors, it finishes long and perfumed.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson Estate Trace Ridge delivers evocative black soil, truffles, sautéed herbs and smoked meats notes with a core of cassis, red currants and plums. Medium-bodied, finely textured and with a good core of red and black fruits, it finishes long and understated.

Thick, coating tannins surround a concentration of toasted oak and wild-berry fruit—the mountainous provenance of this wine further defined by its tenacious holdings of sage, cedar and graphite. With memorable intensity, it unwinds to show additional complexity and flavors of black licorice as it evolves in the glass.

The 2016 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Santa Maria Valley opens with compelling apricot, pink grapefruit and guava notes with hints of ginger, lemon peel and brioche. Medium-bodied, the palate features juicy tropical and stone fruit flavors with just enough toastiness, finishing with a zesty lift.

Top 100 Wines of 2017 - #28 The Vintner's Reserve has been a perennial best-seller in California Chardonnay for 30 years. It's hard to argue with the wallet-friendly price, wide availability and drinkable style. Grapes from Monterey anchor the blend, with additional fruit sourced from Santa Barbara, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. The wine ages five months in predominantly used French and American oak barrels, which keeps the flavors zesty and the oak notes subtle. The lees are stirred monthly, which contributes to the creamy texture and pastry flavors while the wine retains a sense of freshness.

Weekend Picks Australian Charlie Seppelt and American Chris Carpenter have combined their winemaking talents at Hickinbotham to produce what they term is the pinnacle of Clarendon Cabernet. The wine is shaped by its tannins which are rich and dense, framing the wine’s structure from front to back. Expect rich and pure black fruit with a whiff of green pepper, menthol and dark chocolate. First planted in 1971 by Alan Hickinbotham, the vineyard remains well cared for today under the Jackson Family Farms banner.

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.

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.

A wine with reserve and polish with blackcurrant and berry character as well as light chocolate and cement undertones. Full body, yet tight and pretty. Already very enjoyable. Why wait?

Five bottles to serve on your holiday table This latest vintage is a brilliant expression of oaked Chardonnay. It exudes evocative aromas of toasted nut, vanilla cream and citrus peel before slipping across the palate with a silky-swift attack. Mouthcoasting flavours of crisp apple heavily imbued with warm hazelnut, crème brûlée and buttered toast erupt then linger on the finish. This full-bodied white is dry but not bone dry making it an excellent partner for ham with a honey, maple or brown-sugar based glaze.

The 2016 Chardonnay is scented of baked pears, ripe apples and dried herbs with touches of cedar, cinnamon toast and yeast extract. Full-bodied, rich and with a pleasantly oily texture, it is jam packed with ripe apple and toasty layers, finishing long.

This pale gold colored Chardonnay opens with an Anjou pear and green apple bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced and smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty mild pear and gentle oak blend with notes of faint minerality. I also detected hints of almond and a touch of pineapple. The finish is dry and its flavors fade away nicely. This Chard would pair nicely with chicken and wild mushroom ravioli with a light cream sauce. Very good+.

A solid performance, the firm, yet lively 2015 Carmel Road Pinot Noir delivers beautifully ripened black fruit aromas and flavors on the palate. The wine's smooth and rich finish makes it a natural with grilled hamburgers.

Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, the 2015 Red Wine Innovant has a deep garnet-purple color with a nose of ripe plums, crushed black currants and black berries with touches of bay leaves and menthol. Medium-bodied, tightly knit and with a firm structure of grainy tannins and electric freshness, it finishes on a lovely mineral note.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Revelation offers expressive black cherries, black berries and cassis with touches of eucalypt, chocolate box and graphite. It's medium-bodied, fresh and exuberant with a firm, chewy structure and an earthy finish.

From Alexander Valley, the 2016 Sauvignon Blanc les Pionniers gives white grapefruit, lemon tart and green apple notes with hints of wild thyme and chalk dust. Medium-bodied with great vibrancy and freshness, it has a lovely steely/minerally nature and purity to the finish. 89 points.

This lovely golden yellow Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley had an interesting bouquet of lemon, pear, roasted nuts, smoke and spice. It was medium to full bodied and a bit creamy with moderate acidity. It displayed complex flavors of grapefruit, nectarine, smoke, oak and brioche that drifted into a long finish. Some mineral and citrus notes also showed up towards the end. I would pair this very good Chard with grilled salmon with lemon dill sauce. Very good+.

Composed of 46% Syrah, 39% Merlot, 13% Petite Sirah, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2014 Red Blend features a medium to deep garnet-purple color and lovely kirsch, crushed black berries and red currants nose with touches of black pepper, baking spices and garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate gives lovely fresh, juicy red and black fruits with peppery undertones and nice rounded tannins, finishing on a spicy note.

A big, broad-shouldered effort, with a dense mix of flavors framed by sturdy tannins. Offers layers of dark berry, cedar, spice and graphite nuances. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec and Petit Verdot.