Wines of the Week Zena Crown Vineyard is in the southern part of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Planted on volcanic soils at elevations of 400 to 550 feet, this prime southwest-facing location combined with cooling breezes from the Van Duzer Corridor, creates a perfect home for Pinot Noir. The 2013 Conifer bottling offers complex aromas of red fruits, earthy citrus, mineral and Oregon forest floor. Excellent acidity on the mineral and spice finish pairs superbly with salmon.

See Summer Through Rosé Colored Glasses All the hallmarks of cool-climate California rosé are here, from the refreshing acidity to ripe, youthful flavors – think bright, juicy red cherries versus plush black ones. This bottle is perfect with picnic foods like creamy cheeses, chips and dip, BLTs and more.

California Chardonnay Hits the Mark Here we have another great effort from La Crema, albeit from a different part of California. This Monterey County Chardonnay is balanced and fruity with nice flavors of pear and apple. The wine finishes rich and creamy but with enough acidity to make for a great lingering aftertaste.

California Chardonnay Hits the Mark A superb effort with aromas of lemon and butter that lead to a full-bodied palate with great acidity and richness make up this great Chardonnay. The wine’s concentrated nature allows its flavors to sail on to a long, elegant, toasty finish.

Gold Medal

Gold Medal

Refined and powerful, with concentrated flavors of green apple, ripe citrus and mineral that are deftly supported by fresh acidity. Hints of dried savory herbs show on the finish.

Featuring lithe buttery aromas, this offers powerful and well-defined flavors of green apple, melon and Bosc pear. Spicy midpalate, with a finish that lingers with lemon curd and tropical hints.

Pleasant aromas of cherry, spice and sous-bois. Soft, even creamy in the mouth, with a discreet concentration of dark berry and black cherry fruits. Seamless, with a deft touch of oak, and enticing blackberry fueled finish. Still shows impeccable balance when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.

Polished and full of rich, spicy notes that accent the apple tart, pastry and lemon meringue flavors. Some saline details show midpalate, with a crisp and pure-tasting finish that reveals hints of dried mint.

This crowd-pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux blend hails from the cool-climate, hillside vineyards of Sonoma County. Despite an ongoing drought, 2014 turned out to be a great vintage. Fruit forward with layers of dark fruit on the nose and aromas and flavours of ripe black cherries, blackberries and cassis on the palate. Subtle touch of spice. Good structure and balance, well integrated oak. Firm tannins starting to mellow. Closes in a long, lingering cedary finish. Perfectly released in time for summer BBQ, as it make a great companion to grilled meats.

Aromas of lemon zest, lime peel, saline, tart apple. Fresh and lively with crisp acidity, lemon and cucumber water notes, some earthy spice notes as well. Refreshing and clean. 88 points.

Deep nectar on the nose with honey and Teddy Graham cookies. Bold, plump texture but vibrant acidity. Honey, graham crackers and orange marmalade, lots of flavor but it’s tied together well. 88 points.

We love the masculine label of this eclectic blend of seven red grapes. Perfect impression! Opulent with ripe blackberry and plum flavors.

Goin' out west. These California wines are ideal for outdoor entertaining. What could be better than a crisp rosé or juicy Chardonnay to kick back with on a sunny day? Or if there are burgers on hand, there's a Zinfandel for that. Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay California Vintner's Reserve 2015. Beeswax, baked pear, lemon tart, mineral, pastry; fresh zesty.

Sleek and impeccably built, with floral raspberry, mint and licorice aromas that lead to vibrant and focused blueberry and cherry flavors, accented by white pepper and bay leaf details.

This is what Russian River Zinfandel is all about. Rich, dynamic and layered, with complex fruit, offering notes of jammy black raspberry, stony mineral, herbes de Provence and licorice. The finish unfurls at length.

Rich and supple, balanced by a bright core of acidity and accented by notes of raspberry, crushed stone, herbes de Provence and white pepper.

Pure and lively, with flavors of lemon meringue, green apple, honeydew and spice. Though rich and dense, this is also elegant. The vibrancy keeps the flavors dancing.

Ripe and well-built, with a core of vibrant acidity, offering floral black raspberry and bay leaf aromas and layered blueberry and cherry flavors, accented by crushed rock, white pepper and anise hints.

Plush, with loads of richness to the well-honed flavors of beeswax, baked pear and lemon tart. Minerally midpalate, presenting a fresh and zesty finish that finishes with pastry notes.

Dark and brooding, with jammy raspberry and briary mint aromas and supple, plump wild berry, licorice and stony mineral flavors.

A lively style, with vivid dark berry, raspberry, savory herb and underbrush notes that reverberate on the palate. Flexes a nice tannic backbone.

Balanced and fruity, with juicy apricot, pear and guava flavors, accented by spice hints. Creamy notes linger on the pastry-filled finish.

Distinctive aromas of raspberry and eucalyptus open to well-built, if rather taut, cherry, anise and stony mineral flavors.