This lively and robust styled Pinot Noir from Kendall Jackson is a translucent medium ruby color. It displays aromas reminiscent of a walk through a raspberry patch, with earthy bramble and juicy red raspberry, along with violet floral notes. On the palate, it is super-smooth and focused, with medium body and fine well-managed tannins and bright plus acidity. I found flavors of red raspberry, strawberry, crushed stone, and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. The finish is long with a hint of spiced plum. This Pinot will appeal to most guests at an impromptu wine and cheese gathering.

This large estate in Castelnuovo Berardenga is owned by Jackson Family Wines. This wine, from a single block of sangiovese vines planted in 1998, shows deeply concentrated flavors of black cherry and plum framed by fine, polished tannins. Notes of vanilla and sweet spice are balanced by earthy tones that emerge on the finish.

Soft and mild in its tannins, this has an intriguing wild berry fruit savor that last. One taster described it as the earthy brown flavor of “late-summer meddlers and rowanberries,” placing it with duck confit.

Smoky and dark, with scents of cocoa-dusted espresso beans and beetroot, this begins to show beguiling raspberry red fruits as it opens with air, while crisp acids penetrate the more sanguine, rooty notes. For the cellar.

Light red-berry flavors of raspberries and thimbleberries meet the woody herb scent of rosemary, coming together in a creamy, ripe and supple pinot noir. The gentle spice of the tannins will add depth to roast beef.

The wine that Randy Ullom made famous continues to amaze as the largest selling estate-grown chardonnay in America. Ullom has made subtle tweaks to the wine over the last decade, tightening the structure, restraining the fruit and oak in favour of a livelier palate, and keeping the brand's millions of fans happy. It all begins with some impressive fruit sourcing up and down the Golden State's coolest hillside vineyards influenced by the Pacific Ocean from Mendocino to Santa Barbara. The fruit is whole cluster pressed and kept in small vineyard lots throughout the winemaking process, barrel fermented, and sur lie aged with monthly bâttonage. Silky, creamy tropical fruit is supported by a citrus undercurrent with a lime butter finish. Impressive for the price and quantity produced. 2020 was aged six months in French (4.5% new) and American oak (6.5% new). The alcohol is 13.5%, and the sourcing is 54% Monterey County, 25% Mendocino County, 20.5% Santa Barbara County, and .5% Sonoma County.

This dark and chocolaty wine is smooth and delicious, showing ultraripe blackberry and blueberry flavors shaded by vanilla and cocoa. It’s full-bodied and mouthfilling but not very tannic so it’s easy to sip.

Precise and focused, featuring yellow apple, pear and lemon zest notes that are fresh and bright, with accents of lemon verbena and white tea on the finish. Drink now through 2030.

We love Gran Moraine's Pinot Noir rosé and are just as enamored with their dry red Pinot. There is a lot going on on the nose here from classic cherries to savory notes of rhubarb and a whisper of anise. It is also nice and unctuous with a hint of a distant barnyard. The palate has nice natural acidity with a slight tannic frame. The mouthfeel is a little lean but there is so much here to make up for that.

The 2019 Lassègue is packed with super-ripe dark cherry, plum, sweet spice, new leather, licorice, kirsch and a kick of sweet French oak. This is an especially ripe, succulent style, but it works well.

Spiced, herbal and powerful on the palate, this is a sound wine with plenty of richness and plushness to appeal widely. A length of blue and red berries is cradled in oaky vanilla and spice.

Dense and brooding in blackberry, currant and crushed rock, this wine is refined and moderate in style, with wellintegrated oak and lengthy tannin. Structured and graceful, it offers understated power.

This is a rich, tropical white from the great site, oak-driven and floral in jasmine, with wisps of green apple, peach and pineapple. The woody notes are spiced in nutmeg and vanilla bean.

Dried lime peel, seared lemon pith, white flower and a hint of grass show on the nose of this bottling. There’s an earthy, crushed rock element to the palate, where dried apple and herb flavors also arise.

2019 offers pomegranate, dried cranberry and tart cherry aromas. On the medium-bodied palate, smooth tannins, pinot berry fruit, barrel spice and earthen notes. Long, clean, smooth finish extends the flavors. 2019 is already drinking well.

2017 has dried cherry, strawberry and sage aromas, raspberry and thyme flavors with a long finish that has pleasing vanilla notes.

Brilliant red. Aromas of black raspberry, cherry and pungent flowers pick up hints of licorice and vanilla with aeration. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering spice-laced bitter cherry and dark berry flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. The floral and spice notes repeat on a persistent, gently tannic finish that shows no rough edges.

Firm and direct, with accents of graphite and gunflint to the structured dried currant and cherry flavors. Taut finish, with minerally richness. Drink now through 2024.

Fleshy, with hints of hazelnut to the baked apple and ripe pear flavors, which feature concentrated cooking spice accents. Offers buttery and toasty richness on the finish. Drink now through 2024.

Steely and tart, with tightly focused cherry, crushed stone and dusky spice flavors that build tension toward lively tannins. Drink now through 2029.

This bright medium yellow colored Chardonnay from Kendall Jackson opens with a under-ripe pineapple bouquet with hints of Anjou pear and lemon. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied with medium acidity. The mouthfeel is round, bright, and balanced. The flavor profile is a mild oak influenced gentle pineapple with notes of cantaloupe. I also detected hints of butterscotch and vanilla. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Chard is made in a crowd-pleasing manner. It is versatile and will pair well with many food. I would pair it with pasta carbonara.

One of my favorite Pinot Noirs has for a long time been the La Crema from Russian River, and once again it does not disappoint. This is a classic style Pinot Noir from one of the premier vineyard areas in the entire country. It is pretty hard to beat Pinot Noir grown in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley! The nose is elegant with the scent of both black and red fruits fresh from the orchard. The rich flavor suggests plum, blueberry and dark cherry, with a touch of chocolate toward the finish, which has just a hint of oak. This one certainly begs for another sip! The alcohol content is 14.5%, and Norm’s score is 90. We have enjoyed this wine many times in the past with grilled meat, and it is also a great match for grilled salmon.

California meets Saint-Emilion in this broad-shouldered Merlot/Cabernet Franc-dominant blend. The unnecessarily heavy bottle predicts the wine’s style. Though mostly black fruit-driven at this stage, a lovely mineral tarriness appears in the finish. I suspect more complexity will appear with bottle age. For now, this voluptuous wine has a suave and supple texture that makes it a good choice for current consumption with a steak for those who gravitate to that style.

Perfumed nose showing summer fruits, crushed violets and a bit of vanilla. Lively acidity supported by ripe concentration.