This dark red and translucent Pinot Noir from Copain opens with a fragrant and appealing spiced plum and vanilla oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and little juicy. The flavor profile is a tasty red plum and red raspberry blend with notes of gentle oak, vanilla and mild minerality. We also picked up some hints of cranberry and red cherry mixed in as well. The finish is dry and its flavors mild warm tannins linger nicely. The Panel suggested pairing this very nice Pinot with roast pork loin.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyLastly, the 2017 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills shows the appellation character as well with its spicy, briny, marine-influenced notes of mulled black cherries, shrimp broth, dried flowers, and forest floor. Nicely textured, medium-bodied, and elegant on the palate, it has light tannins and lots of upfront charm, yet I suspect it will keep for a solid 4-5 years as well.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyFrom the Santa Lucia Highlands (and primarily the Boekenoogen Vineyard), the 2017 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands was all destemmed and spent 14 months in 32% new French oak. It's a bigger, fruit-driven effort (which this appellation delivers in spades) and has rocking blackberry and strawberry fruits, plenty of spicy herbs and earth, medium to full body, and a ripe, rounded, nicely textured style on the palate.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyAll Syrah, the 2018 Syrah Jackson Estate Santa Barbara County Alisos Hills comes from the Barham Vineyard in Santa Barbara County and was brought up mostly in used oak. Deep purple-colored, with a peppery, spicy bouquet of beautiful red and blue fruits, it's medium to full-bodied, has a fresh, focused texture, lots of Syrah character, and the balance and depth to keep for 5-6 years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyMoving to the reds, the 2018 GSM Blend Jackson Estate Santa Barbara County is a blend of mostly Grenache and Syrah brought up in a mix of French and American oak, almost all older barrels. It has a juicy, blackberry, peppery, spice character as well as medium to full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and a charming, undeniably delicious style. It reminds me of a solid Côtes du Rhône. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.

The 2018s from Santa Barbara CountyA good value, the 2017 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard has a complex, nuanced style that carries lots of spiced red and dark fruits, leafy herbs, forest floor, and underbrush notes as well as medium-bodied richness on the palate. Nicely textured, balanced, and already drinking nicely, it should keep for a solid 4-5 years. You're getting a hell of a lot of wine for the price!

Deep magenta. Spice-accented dark berries, cherry cola, mocha and rose oil on the fragrant nose. Sappy, palate-coating blackberry and bitter cherry flavors are joined by a smoky nuance that emerges with air. A hint of dark chocolate sneaks in on the persistent finish, which is framed by dusty, mounting tannins. 29% new oak.

Full ruby. Deep-pitched cherry and dark berry liqueur aromas pick up suggestions of mocha and vanilla with air. Broad and fleshy on the palate, offering oak-spiced blueberry and cherry compote flavors that show serious heft. Finishes broad and chewy, with an emerging licorice quality and chewy tannins that add closing grip. This wine doesn't act much like Pinot but there's plenty of ripe fruit going on, for sure. 54% new French oak.

Pierre Seillan makes this second wine of Lassègue with a shorter aging in oak, producing a sleek, polished red that has the ripeness of many New World counterparts. Then it’s savory in the end, dark, tight and focused on cassis flavors and complex details that last.

Medium ruby color, cherry and earth nose; smooth and juicy with bright acidity; fresh and tangy with generous cherry fruit, silky and long.

Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River opens with dark cherries and warm blackberries with accents of potpourri, dried citrus peel and dusty earth. The palate is light to medium-bodied with good concentration of spicy fruits, a soft frame and juicy finish.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Perry Ranch used to be known as Keefer Ranch in the Siduri portfolio, but it will be called Perry Ranch moving forward. Medium ruby, it opens with touches of tar and fragrant earth over a core of cranberries and cherries with nuances of dried leaves and spices. Medium-bodied, it has bright, open-knit, spicy fruits with a grainy frame and long, juicy finish.

This light-yellow colored Chardonnay opens with a musty oak, lemon and pineapple bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium plus bodied and slightly acidic. The flavor profile is an oak influenced baked apple and Bosc pear blend with notes of ginger and cooking spices. I also detected hints of almond butter and chamomile tea. The finish is dry and its flavors linger for quite a while. This rich and flavorful Chard would pair well with lobster bisque.

This golden colored Chardonnay from Oregon opens with a floral bouquet accented by melon, lemon verbena and faint oak. On the palate, this wine medium plus bodied, round, smooth and juicy. The flavor profile is a lemon verbena and gentle minerality blend with notes of chamomile tea. I also detected a faint hint of oak and a dash white pepper in the background. The finish is dry and quite refreshing for a Chard. This is a very nice summer Chard that could be served slight chilled and enjoyed on the beach. With food, I would pair it with linguine with clam broth.

A red that offers plums, red beans and cherries, as well as spice and chocolate. Some roasted nuts. It’s full and rich. Flavorful finish. Drink now.

Kendall-Jackson’s popular chardonnay has changed with the times, with more bright and buoyant acidity in the mix to give a lift to the crowd-pleasing ripe fruit and rich oak-derived notes. You can still expect a smooth and mouth-filling style, which has made it a top-selling white wine across North America, but with more refreshing lemon and pineapple on the palate to cut through the vanilla, butterscotch and luscious fruit notes. Drink now to 2023.

Medium purple color. Aromas of juicy plums, dark currants, with smoky earth, tobacco, mint chocolate chip and spiced black tea. Full-bodied, structured but velvety, fresh acidity, this is balanced very nicely. Tangy red and black currants and cherries mixed with complex notes of spiced coffee, earth, tar, pepper and coffee grounds. This is a bright but complex Super Tuscan that offers a lot of what I look for in these wines at a very reasonable price. Could use air or a year or two. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot aged 12 months in French oak.

This straw-colored Chardonnay from Cambria was described as a food wine by the Tasting Panel. It opens with a shy oak and apple bouquet with hints of lemon. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, nicely balanced and very smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty mild green apple with notes of lime, vanilla and light oak. We also picked up some hints of toasted almond, minerality and caramel mixed in as well. The finish is dry and lingers nicely. The Panel suggested pairing this Chard with grilled trout with butter or Rhode Island clam cakes.

Blended with 22% Merlot, this shows a wealth of herbal intensity and sizable concentration—the fruit profile a mix of cassis, dark cherry and baked plum. Tannins and oak are integrated yet highly present, underscoring the wine’s full-bodied intensity.

A classic Sonoman, benchmark, oldie and goodie, been there, done that cabernet sauvignon. Represents so many growers and makers that have shaped and styled the Sonoma landscape. Does so dutifully and admirably in low alcohol, easy oak and perfectly balanced epithets. This is the right stuff and really important teaching example of commercial excellence. Drink 2020-2024.

Custardy notes accent the ripe white fruit flavors. Buttery pastry hints linger with buoyant spiciness on the cream-filled finish. Drink now through 2023.

Rich and broad-textured, with butterscotch accents to the viscous ripe white fruit and spice flavors. The buttery finish shows tropical fruit notes. Drink now through 2023.

This features a savory edge to the intensely crisp and fine-pointed flavors of freshly cut green apple and lime. Shows minerally precision on the finish. Drink now through 2024.

This white gold colored Chardonnay from La Crema opens with a pleasant and inviting lemon, pineapple and gentle oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with plus acidity and is very fresh. The flavor profile is an oak influenced baked apple with hints of lemon, butter, vanilla and nutmeg. The finish is pleasant and drifts away nicely. This Chard is very food friendly. It would be a great glass pour at a seafood restaurant. I would pair it with a seafood casserole or a crab cake.

COMMENTARY: The 2019 La Crema drinks swimmingly well, and it is a wine that the entire family will enjoy. TASTING NOTES: This wine is bright with aromas and flavors of apples, faint leaves, and flowers. Serve it as an aperitif and light, alfresco meals.