Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Syrah Garys' Vineyard has a tar and earth-laced nose over notes of crushed blackberries and black plums plus a peppered salami note. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with expressive pepper and savory flavors that are structured by chewy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long.

Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, earthy, lemony, white peach and tropical fruit aroma with a hint of baking spices; medium-full body; fleshy, apple, citrus, and stone fruit flavors with some richness in the mouthfeel; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended.

Cambria's 2014 Pinot Noir Clone 115 is one of the more airy, weightless wines in the range. Floral notes, cranberry, sweet red cherry and mint add to the bright, lifted feel. The Clone 115 will drink nicely with minimal cellaring.

Pale to medium ruby colored with a hint of purple, the 2014 Pinot Noir Bench Break has intense red currant and red cherry notes with hints of violets, Chinese five spice and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, fine and fresh in the mouth, it has a lot of varietal expression and sense of place for this price point without sacrificing flavor, which is a dorky way of saying, it rocks! 35,000 cases were made.

The 2013 Pinot Noir Barbara's Clone 667 is a powerful, intense wine. While all of the other Cambria Pinots spend 10 months in barrel, the Barbara's Clone 667 sees 17 months in oak. Time will tell if the wine actually benefits from the longer aging regimen. For now, the 2013 is powerful and massively tannic. From time to time, the dark cherry and plum fruit emerges, but it remains to be seen if the 2013 will ever be fully expressive. This is another wine that clearly favors size over finesse.

Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. Sumptuous oak, butter and subtle herbaceousness dominate the citrus oil aroma. Serious extract of citrus and orchard fruits greet the streamlined palate with some, but not overbearing dependence on oak. Rich, but not too rich, with enough vibrancy and freshness to appeal.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano has an herbal and earth-laced nose, offering up black and red cherries with subtle cloves plus a waft of cedar. Medium-bodied, chewy and with a good core of earthy fruit, it has a long, earthy finish.

Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2015 Pinot Noir la Encantada Vineyard is very purely fruited with baked cherries and raspberries plus a tar and earth undercurrent with a waft of cedar. Light to medium-bodied, finely crafted and with a pleasantly chewy texture, it gives a good amount of fruit and a quiet intensity on the finish.

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is scented of red currants, red plums, mulberries and earth with hints of tar, pepper and tobacco. Medium-bodied, with a good concentration of earthy/savory flavors, it has a broody, chewy character and an herbal lift to the finish.

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Nielson Vineyard gives notes of mulberries, black raspberries, charcoal and dusty soil with a hint of bay leaves. It’s just a little attenuated in the mouth with grippy tannins and an herbal finish.

Offers an enveloping spiciness, featuring lush flavors of roasted cherry, dark plum and raspberry and a creamy texture. Chocolate and cardamom notes linger on the broad and fine-grained finish, with hints of cedar.

Combines a nice core of dense earth, anise-laced raspberry and black cherry with vibrant acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins, making this a candidate to gain with time.

Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, deep, earthy, spicy, cherry fruit aroma with hints of clove, cinnamon, and forest floor; medium to medium-full body; rich, herbal, spicy, nicely balanced, dark cherry fruit flavors with a slight plushness in the mouthfeel; medium tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very appealing to drink now and over the next year or two. Very highly recommended.

Dark garnet color in the glass. Brooding aromas of black fruits and smoky oak. Aggressive onslaught of smoky black cherry and blackberry fruits in a ultra ripe style that has a delicious juiciness. There are enough tannins and acidity to harness the fruit load and the alcohol is submerged, so the wine touts commendable balance. Pinot purists will be turned off by the enormity of the bombastic fruit, but the wine will delight others who cherish luscious, sappy fruit. Totally unique among the Siduri lineup.

Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Lovely aroma of fresh cherries, cola and fertile earth. Pleasingly forward and fruit driven, with a mid weight plus core of earthy black cherry and purple berry fruits. Nicely composed with good harmony. Should develop more nuance with more time in bottle.

Super-ripe black cherry, spice and wild flowers make a strong opening statement in the 2015 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills). The 33% whole clusters are nearly buried by the sheer richness of the fruit. All the elements are wonderfully fused together in this flamboyant, inviting Pinot Noir from Nielson. The 33% whole clusters are nearly buried by the sheer richness of the fruit.

Nielson's 2015 Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley) is done in a fresh, vibrant style that emphasizes energy. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and a host of more citrus-driven flavors are front and center. This is very nicely done.

The 2015 Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley displays lovely melon and baked pear notes with hints of croissant and clover honey plus a touch of ginger. Medium-bodied and richly fruited with good concentration, it has a satiny texture and great length with a citrus lift to the finish.

Dense purple in colour with a cedary, blackcurrant bouquet. Full-bodied, dry with richly extracted blackcurrant and blueberry flavours. Firmly structured with ripe tannins and will reward 2 to 3 years cellaring.

This crowd-pleasing Merlot from Matanzas Creek was very well received by the Tasting Panel. We found it to be medium-bodied, balanced, and smooth. We really liked its tasty blueberry and mineral flavors with notes of plum and a touch of toasty oak. The wine closes with dry, dusty, mild tannins that show very nice length for a Merlot. The Panel scored this wine 90 points and suggested pairing it with a grilled lamb chop. Very good+.

You may recall, in July we reviewed the 2014 edition of La Crema Sonoma Coast, and I rated it an 89. We now turn our attention to the 2015 vintage. It is light gold in colour. On the nose, loads of pineapple, mango, peach, and melon. You know it is oaked but, like the 2014, definitely not over oaked and sullen. On the palate, a delightful creaminess with very well integrated acids giving the wine a gentle mouthfeel. The oak, too, is seamlessly integrated, even more than in the previous year’s. I am getting the impression it is firmer than the 2014. There is caramel and butter scotch on the palate with muted tropical fruits. A full-bodied wine, but slightly less than the 2014 and slightly less a “Cali oaked Chardonnay.” There is more of an internationally-styled Chardonnay. A short finish. I’ll stick with the same food suggestions I made for the 2014, namely shrimp and grits, lobster in garlic butter, or a North Carolina Low Country Boil. It is also more attractive to me as a sipping wine due to the slightly lower oak profile. Good until the end of 2018. A pretty good wine with turkey too. And for the more adventuresome types, with rabbit sautéed in tarragon, white wine, mustard, and yogurt then thrown on the grill. It might also work well with roast pork or, for veg heads, a mushroom, organic potatoes, and zucchini frittata. Sourced from several vineyards in Sonoma Coast and aged nine months, primarily in French oak but with American oak for sweet spice and complexity. In short, California Chardonnay hit its prime a couple of decades ago and then went super oaky. This Chardonnay shows it has regained its composure and we can expect quality Chardonnay from La Crema.

Distinctive for the rich, extracted flavors of earth, wild berry, gravel, road tar and licorice. Impressive on the finish, where the tannins offer grip and a measure of suppleness.

This pale straw colored Sauvignon Blanc from Kendall Jackson displays green apple, pear, pineapple and banana aromas on the nose. It is refreshingly crisp, pleasantly acidic with soft notes of lychee and lime that are tempered by a hint of minerality. It has a long and lingering finish for Sauvignon Blanc. We would pair it with swordfish skewers and grilled asparagus or with an asparagus or fiddlehead risotto. We really enjoyed this wine. Very good+.

Smooth, juicy and supple, with peach, pear and yellow apple flavors that have a floral edge and a spicy finish.

Moderately light garnet color in the glass. The nose is highly aromatic, featuring the scent of black cherry, dark bittersweet chocolate and toasty oak. Welcome attack of black cherry, boysenberry and tar flavors with a quenching finish offering slightly astringent tannins. The wine has definite merit, but the voluptuous oak treatment is not for me personally. Score: 89