The Carmel Road Panorama Vineyard “First Row” Pinot Noir 2014, Arroyo Seco, received 13 months aging in French oak, 20 percent new barrels. A wholly transparent medium ruby hue with an ephemeral rim leads to a heady melange of cloves and sandalwood, rose petals and crushed violets, red and black cherries and currants with notes of cranberry and pomegranate, cola, loam and cherry pit; the wine is sleek and suave on the palate, with satiny drape on the tongue and delicious berry fruit for the taste-buds, all energized by bracing acidity and a hint of flinty minerality. Excellent.

The Carmel Road Panorama Vineyard “South Crest” Pinot Noir 2014, Arroyo Seco, is a bit more opulent than its cousins also reviewed in this post, and since it received the same oak treatment — 13 months, 20 percent new French oak — I would attribute the difference to the location of these blocks in the vineyard. A totally limpid and transparent medium ruby hue precedes a wine richly laved with loam and exotic spices, crushed and macerated black and red currants and cherries with a hint of plum; a few moments in the glass add notes of cranberry and pomegranate, sour cherry and cherry pit, with a background of briers and brambles. In this wine, you feel the luxury of which the pinot noir grape is capable, though leavened by coursing acidity and a bit of cheeky tartness. Excellent.

The Carmel Road Panorama Vineyard “North Crest” Pinot Noir 2014, Arroyo Seco, offers a muscular rendition of the grape, though the color, a lucent medium ruby-magenta with an diaphanous rim, might suggest otherwise. Yes, the same 13 months in French oak, 20 percent new barrels. Vivacious and fleshy notes of black currants and cherries with a red undertone unfold hints of loam, beetroot and rhubarb, cloves, sandalwood and ground cumin; a few minutes in the glass unfurl touches of pomegranate and cranberry. This is dense and chewy and fairly intense, and its silky texture feels slightly roughened, as if by very fine sandpaper; it gets increasingly loamy as the moments pass, though keen acidity keeps it dynamic and enticing. Excellent.

As one would expect for a single-vineyard wine, the Carmel Road Panorama Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Arroyo Seco, received more wood treatment than did its more generalized stablemate, in this case 13 months in French oak, 24 percent new barrels. The color is a hypnotic limpid medium ruby of utter transparency; the bouquet is an irresistible amalgam of black and red cherry compote heightened by notes of sandalwood, cloves and sassafras, rhubarb and pomegranate, with high tones of smoke, loam and cigarette paper. The wine is lithe, sleek and supple on the palate, spare, muscular and moderately tannic, those tannins folded around dusty velvet. The whole package is deftly balanced and integrated. Excellent, good value.

Amazing fruit purity – all cassis. Some floral and spicy notes on the palate, and a plush, balanced tannic feel on the palate. Impressive and glossy, but not gross – this has savoury sensibilities and a dry, lengthy finish. 17.5/20

Wine Style Awards - 2nd place (2/10) - Napa Valley Bordeaux category

Giving the right present to a wine lover is easy From the Western Cape region, this bold and opulent chardonnay shows the capability of this region. Rich and buttery in style, it has ripe tropical fruit flavors, a dash of spice, vanillin oak, and soft mouthfeel.

Christmas on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail ... don't miss it! Their 2016 Rosé of Pinot Noir is an excellent dry, easy sipping wine.

If you want to find out how hearty a Santa Maria Valley pinot noir can be, pop this bottle (though you might want to wait a few years, so be sure to decant if you drink now). This wine comes from old vines (by Santa Barbara County standards — they were planted in the 1970s), and it gets pumped up with 11 months in 39 percent new French oak (hence that need for some bottle age). But that formula all adds up to rich deliciousness. It begins with a very powerful nose, with some of that oak but oodles of dark fruit, and the cherry and blueberry keep coming when you sip, augmented by lovely notes of tobacco and earth. No doubt this would be perfect with some Santa Maria tri-tip.

Did someone say (Pinot) party? As the most food-friendly of wines, Pinot Noir is always a safe bet for the holiday feast circuit. Medium-bodied, light and fresh on the palate, this Pinot stays true to its varietal characteristics but has plenty of red fruit, dark berry, and savory flavors to demonstrate the Santa Maria Valley vineyards from which it’s made. Pair this pretty Pinot with your turkey, roasted pork, and sides.

We loved this richly textured wine with extracted cherry and cranberry fruit flavors and hints of mushrooms and spice. Dark in color, it hints of blueberries on the nose. We bet you can’t stop at one glass. Great value.

Christmas on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail ... don't miss it! If you like stainless steel Chardonnay that’s layered and lively, head to Cambria Winery for the Fog Tide Chardonnay. It’s also one of my favorites.

Wine+Food pairing recommendation

Big Bold Reds Bootleg produces big, luscious red blends with loads of dark fruit and power. Merlot from Napa's Stagecoach Vineyard is the base, delivering upfront fruit flavors and soft tannins that make the wine approachable early on. The combination of other varietals offer structure, depth and a powerful richness that round out this bold red blend.

Offered before in a previous vintage, this 2013 Cabernet-driven blend (Petite Sirah and Zinfandel are vocal passengers) drives into Prisoner territory and then leaves it in the dust. Deep, round and surrounded by just enough structure to hold it in, with crème de cassis and minty notes gently drawing you into the Pleasure-Dome. Sourced from the fabled Stagecoach vineyard before Gallo bought it (and before it partly burnt, alas), Bootleg is richly dark and unexplainably great value. Would have been a Back Up The Truck wine if I’d been able to get more.

Drink American wines for Thanksgiving Floral and light citrus aromas with flavors of fresh red fruits, along with notes of peach and apricot lead to a crisp and vibrant finish.

What to Drink Now: Cabernet Franc In Sonoma, Tuscany and Bordeaux, celebrated winemaker Pierre Seillan reveals the beauty and structure of the grape while allowing each individual micro-climate to shine. With Arcanum ($100), he showcases how the rolling hillsides of Tuscany, Italy are the ideal place for growing earthy Cabernet Franc.

Thick, rich, intense fruit with smoky overlay from toasted oak and very chewy tannin. Very powerful core fruit, yet slightly lighter body than their Joie and Muse cuvées. 17/20

Strong toasty oak on the nose, dense and layered black fruit on the palate. The toasted, burnt spice aroma from oak dominates the palate, but there is delicious fruit succulence too. 17/20

What to Drink Now: Cabernet Franc In Sonoma, Tuscany and Bordeaux, celebrated winemaker Pierre Seillan reveals the beauty and structure of the grape while allowing each individual micro-climate to shine...The ultra-premium Verite Le Desir ($400) reveals structure and concentration with dried blueberry, cherry, and toasted spice with a tannic backbone making this a wine that can be enjoyed now after a bit of decanting or held for years.

8 Wines to Try Before You Die The late Jess Jackson brought Bordeaux Winemaker Pierre Seillan to Sonoma to produce the Vérité wines and there are three, each priced at $400 a bottle. La Muse is predominately Merlot and the 2013 vintage of the wine earned a perfect 100 points from influential critic Robert M. Parker Jr. It’s broadly flavored and beautifully layered, with lavish oak spice adding to the precise balance and texture.

Black cherry, smoke, toast. More tannic feel than their Muse cuvée, but the same smoked finish. Should age well, hopefully with emergent complexity to counter the oak dominance. 17.5/20

Top 100 Wines of 2017 This is textbook Alexander Valley Cab, unafraid to show its savory side. Dried herbs, licorice, cedar and forest floor notes add interest to the well-ripened black cherry and black currant core. Medium-full-bodied and muscular, it will benefit from aeration now, or a few years in the cellar.

Top 100 Wines of 2017 Fermentation and aging in a mix of stainless steel and oak gives this wine a mouth-filling texture and complexity. It's refreshing and lively, with Meyer lemon, green apple and pear fruit accented by barrel spice.

Top 100 Wines of 2017 A vivid floral aroma leads to a nicely balanced, energetic palate of juicy red cherry, raspberry and cranberry fruit, with subtle spice from oak aging. Finessed rather than powerful, it's complete and charming.