Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard offers up intense red cherry, crushed cranberry and raspberry notes with hints of lavender, underbrush and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, soft and with a lively backbone, it has a good core of red berry and earth layers, finishing with satisfying persistence.

Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Welcoming aromas of pie cherry, spice and toasty oak. The luscious dark cherry and raspberry essence fills the mouth with goodness. Fruit driven in a good sense with immersed tannins, palate harmony, and a tenacious finish.

Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard has gregarious red berry notes of crushed raspberries and red currants with touches of dried herbs, tree sap, bark and garrigue. The palate is surprisingly soft, plush and spicy, with approachable acid and loads of layers on the finish.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, rich, intense, deep, earthy, raspberry and cherry fruit aroma with hint of forest floor and baking spices; medium to medium-full body; deep, rich, elegantly styled, cherry and red berry fruit flavors with spicy notes, a trace of vanilla, bright acidity, and a silky finish; medium tannin; lingering aftertaste. Nicely balanced and enjoyable to drink now, though best to age for several more years. Very highly recommended.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, deep, intense, cherry and red berry fruit aroma with hints of clove, cinnamon, and mocha; medium to medium-full body; deep, rich, red fruit flavors with initial plushness in the mouthfeel and firm acidity leaving a slightly tart impression on the finish; medium to medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Could use a couple more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.

Spicy, with a stemmy touch that adds backbone and vitality. The core is built around zesty wild berry, blackberry and raspberry flavors. Most impressive on the finish, which tingles with vibrancy.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, deep, fragrant, raspberry and dark cherry fruit aroma with hints of baking spices and dried herbs; medium to medium-full body; deep, concentrated, textured, cedary, red fruit flavors with herbal notes, bright acidity, and a slight plushness in the mouthfeel; medium to medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very appealing now, though best to age for a few more years. Very highly recommended.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. Lovely aromas of Bing cherry, spice, rose petal and BBQ rub. Very tasty core of fresh and vivid cherry fruit along with a supportive tannic backbone and a very sensual mouthfeel. A fresh and juicy expression of Russian River Valley lusciousness.

A lively expression of this variety, with bright aromas of white flowers, peach and spice, with popping acidity that keeps it on the fresh, lighter side. I like this as a solo drinker or a foil for salads or fish. This is a style that should be emulated in domestic production.

Creamy vanilla and smoky oak flavors shade the mix of pear, fig, apricot and melon notes in this white, making for a complex, layered effort that's deep and persistent.

Over Achievers Some of our favorite most impressive wines from recent tastings.

We have reviewed a couple of Chardonnay vintages from La Crema and they have scored very well. Considering their quality, they are at a value price point. Pinot Noir is a bit trickier of a grape than Chardonnay as it is more delicate and can be dreadfully expensive. Here, again at a relatively modest cost, we have a La Crema Sonoma Coast 2015 at $29.95. Yes, you must have heard of the gentle fog off the Sonoma Coast keeping the Pinot Noir grapes cool, fresh, and delicate instead of being baked in the hot California sun. A cool climate grape means grapes spend more time on the vine allowing for a deeper, more dramatic spectrum of flavours and aromas to develop. The grapes were hand sorted, de-stemmed, and cold soaked for three days before fermenting in open-top tanks and punched down three times a day during active fermentation. The wine was then racked in 20 per cent new and old French oak barrels for 9 months. The wine was sourced from multiple Sonoma Coast vineyards. “Sonoma Coast 2015 Pinot Noir pairs well with aged cheddar cheese, pork tenderloin and roasted chicken. The balance of silky tannins, fruit and acidity also make it a versatile choice for a Thanksgiving table, complimenting a variety of dishes from turkey to cornbread to whipped potatoes.” Solid aromas of sweet red cherry, black cherry, raspberry, milk chocolate, and pine resin. While the wine is silky on the palate, it speaks with brash authority. Gentle tannins with lots of sweet red cherry and raspberry on the palate. Sensual and elegant, I think not, but a wine that speaks its mind with pride and passion. It slaps silly Burgundian Pinot Noirs at the same price point. I’d think good until 2022. As for the food pairings suggested above, I agree and, although a bit too aggressive for simply prepared salmon, it would go well with wild Pacific salmon served with capers, anchovies, and jalapeno peppers.

The Merlot Revivalist displays a medium dark ruby color and an earthy and spicy nose of dark ripe plum. It is soft and creamy on the palate with tremendous density of flavor. Rich dark fruit permeates the palate and the wine finishes with black pepper, licorice and blueberry notes. A rich and flavorful wine with excellent balance.

The Shiraz Brooks Road is a rich and spicy bold flavored wine of black berry and toasted oak. It reveals nice purity of blackberry fruit on the palate with good acidity and freshness. The finish is persistent with assertive tannins.

Full, dark red. Sexy, rather claret-like aromas of plum, currant, blackberry, leather, spices and dusty stone show freshness and complexity, as well as a hint of wildness. Wonderfully savory, plush wine with a firm mineral spine giving shape to its very dark berry flavors. The slowly building finish really stains the palate and lingers. Not yet completely open--in fact, there's something still a bit youthfully tough here despite the lovely sweetness--but then this is a magnum. Aeration brought a more pliant back end, but this big mouthful of red wine is still evolving. The tannins mount.

The 2015 Pinot Noir Acin is a wine of power, structure and tannin. As such, it will need more time to fully unwind. Here, too, the whole cluster element is more pronounced than in some of the other wines. Bright saline notes give the wine an added kick of energy that is quite appealing.

The 2016 Chardonnay Santos Road is pliant, open-knit and absolutely delicious, which makes it the ideal wine with which to explore this range. This is another hugely appealing wine from Diatom and the most accessible of the wines today.

The 2016 Chardonnay Machado has a nose of fresh pears, Sichuan pepper, oyster shells and brine with hints of baking bread and aniseed. Medium to full-bodied, it has a lovely intensity of mineral and spice flavors finishing with great persistence on a savory note. 170 cases were made.

The 2016 Chardonnay Hilliard Bruce has a delicate nose of lemon curd, fresh apples and crushed stones with hints of chalk dust and white pepper. Medium-bodied, fresh, clean and youthful, it has a racy backbone of freshness and a long mineral finish. 210 cases were made.

Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir South Crest is a little closed at this youthful stage, revealing subtle cranberry and rhubarb notes with underlying earth and underbrush notes. Medium to full-bodied, it has a lovely velvety texture and racy backbone supporting the powerful red fruit and earthy flavors, finishing long.

Pale to medium garnet colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir North Crest gives a great intensity of red and black cherry notes with some mulberries, cloves, black soil and stewed tea in the background. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with expressive red and black berry flavors, supported by chewy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.

Moderate garnet color in the glass. Forceful and assertive, with attractive aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, fertile earth and oak-driven dark chocolate and spice. The flavors fill the mouth without over reaching. Mid weight plus in style, with a firm backbone of tannin that keeps the fruit in line. The broadly flavored finish is appealing.