Fleshy cherry and dark spice with a long, naughty finish on this California Pinot Noir. Medium-bodied and satin smooth like lingerie. A supple red wine with cherry-berry mouth-filling wonder and flavours. Just enough oak for hedonists. Layered yet not heavy. This pinot has been one of my favourites for years. Satin seduction in a glass. Pair with roasted turkey or chicken.

A blend of two clones on an eastward-facing hill between Sebastopol and Occidental, the 2015 Pinot Noir Pratt Vineyard Sexton Road displays a medium to deep garnet-purple color and beautiful floral nose of roses and violets over a core of chocolate mints, black cherries, oolong tea and dried Provence herbs. The structured, medium-bodied palate contributes lovely earthy layers, finishing with great persistence.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Red Wine Innovent is a little closed at this youthful stage, revealing notes of roses, blackberries and cassis over notions of bay leaves, spice box and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is taut and firmly structured, yet approachable, with generous fruit and nice ripe, grainy tannins, finishing long and lively.

Coming from a vineyard planted originally in the 1950s, high on Sonoma Mountain, the 2015 Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard has a seriously earthy, forest floor and black dirt scented nose with a black cherry, licorice and cinnamon stick core. The medium-bodied palate is firm and tightly-knit, with great intensity and a long spicy finish.

The 2015 Sauvignon Blanc les Pionniers is scented of lemons, ripe apples, yuzu and chopped herbs. Medium-bodied, it has a great core of citrus flavors complemented by nice minerality, finishing with a lovely lift.

I reviewed the maiden release of the white Western Cape Chardonnay owned by the Jackson Family in my South Africa report in 2015. The sophomore 2014 Chardonnay follows on its heels. It has a winning bouquet, maybe a little obvious but very pleasurable nonetheless, laden with subtle tropical tones, pear and (like the 2013) a touch of brioche. The oak is certainly well integrated here. The palate is not fat, but there is the weight and presence in the mouth that you seek in a Chardonnay. It maintains lovely balance, the acidity finely tuned with nectarine, paw paw and citrus lemon towards the finish. It is a strong follow-up to their debut, even if as I mentioned previously, it does not offer the minerality you might seek from a top Chardonnay, but you will be enjoying this too much to care for that. The only caveat? Well, there's a surfeit of damn fine South African Chardonnay at cheaper prices out there.

Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast has tar and damp soil notes to begin, giving way to a wonderfully fragrant core of red currants and pomegranate plus a waft of cloves. The medium-bodied palate reveals lovely energy, sporting a backbone of fine-grained tannins and racy acidity, finishing long and savory.

The 2015 Pinot Noir Betty Ann Vineyard is produced from 828 clone planted on Hall Road in South Santa Rosa. Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, it presents notes of dried mulberries and raspberry pie with an exotic spice undercurrent and suggestions of licorice and chocolate. Big, rich and powerful in the mouth, the palate is wonderfully spicy, with a decadently velvety texture and an herbal lift on the finish.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Parsons' Vineyard delivers intense floral and baking spice notes plus cracked pepper, violets and forest floor nuances over a crushed cranberries core. The opulent medium to full-bodied palate is rounded, elegant and oh-so-pretty with a seductive, perfumed red fruit finish.

Produced from Pommard and Martini clones planted in the mid-1990s in a relatively cool area, the 2015 Pinot Noir Lingenfelder Vineyard has a medium ruby-purple color and spicy red currant, lavender and rose hip tea notes with a waft of underbrush. Chewy textured with crisp acidity and a medium body, it has an understated style with very good intensity finishing with fragrant earth notes.

The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Tradition exudes gregarious notes of grapefruit, passion fruit, peaches and musk perfume. Medium-bodied with very good intensity and a nice suggestion of savory sulfide complexity, it finishes long.

This is Siduri’s first vintage producing a Pinot from the Bellflower Vineyard. Deep ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Bellflower Vineyard reveals notes of cherry cola, pepper, vanilla pod and dark chocolate with a waft of dried herbs. Tightly-wound, delicately played, fine and fresh, it offers quiet intensity in the mouth and good length.

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Ewald Vineyard offers expressive notes of red and black cherries, mulberries and Chinese five spice with hints of dusty soil and red currant jelly. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh and lively, it has silky tannins and good persistence. This is classic Russian River Pinot!

Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Open Gate opens with a perfume of ripe cherries, pomegranate and roses with hints of pepper and wild thyme. Medium-bodied, it has a great backbone of grainy tannins and lively acid supporting the elegant, perfumed red berry flavors, finishing with very good length.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Harmonie gives pronounced plums, black berries and black cherries notes with a touch of cedar. The full-bodied palate really packs a wallop of rich, ripe fruit, although it finishes just a little on the warm and firm side. Still very young and angular, I recommend giving a couple more years in bottle to marry and mellow.

The Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is made from a blend declassified wines coming from throughout the Russian River Valley, from the Santa Rosa Flood Plain west to Green Valley. Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has very pure aromas of black cherry and black raspberry with hints of violets and chocolate box. Medium to full-bodied and straight-up seductive with its gregarious fruit and voluptuous texture, it finishes with appealing freshness.

Offering intense gooseberry, mown grass and elder flower notes with touches of wet pebbles and grapefruit peel, the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc Helena Bench fills the medium-bodied palate with citrus and herbal flavors. Framed with lively acidity and a pleasant oiliness to the texture, it has excellent persistence.

Pale to medium ruby colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Green Valley has pronounced warm cranberries, pomegranate and mulberry notes on the nose with hints of baking spices, cardamom and dusty earth. Medium-bodied with a firm structure of chewy tannins and lively acid, if offers plenty of red berry and earth flavors, finishing savory.

The 2014 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and nose of black cherries, raspberries and violets with suggestions of fallen leaves and tree bark. Medium-bodied, soft and elegant, it has a good amount of earth-laced, red berry flavors and a long, chewy finish.

Offering up lots of fragrant peach blossoms, lemon curd, grapefruit and honeyed pears notes, the medium to full-bodied 2014 Chardonnay Kelli-Ann Vineyard delivers a pleasantly oily texture plenty of freshness, finishing with some spicy hints coming through.

The 2015 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is scented of apricots, guava and pineapple with touches of cedar, lightly browned toast and almonds. It delivers a good core of stone fruit and tropical flavors in the mouth with a lively backbone and appealing savory finish.

The 2015 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast has lemon curd, grapefruit, and peaches and cream notes with a medium body, lovely purity and plenty of freshness. A lively, modern and uncomplicated style, it is perfect for everyday drinking!

Intense aromas, creamy tannins, cherry-pomegranate flavors, great balance, lots of vanilla and spice. It has good weight in the mouth with brown baking spice and toasty oak integrated with the dark cherry-pomegranate flavors. It’s graceful and delicious.

Bone-dry and crisp, with wonderfully integrated oak and minerality streaming through the palate. Aromas of white flowers, lemon, green apple and white stone fruit are followed by richly textured flavors and sturdy acidity.

Sonoma Coast vineyards enjoy a long, cool growing season due to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean, and its fogs and winds that blow inland. This is perfect for slowly ripening grapes to develop complex flavours and nuances without lots of sugar that translates to heavy alcohol. Classic Californian Chardonnay with toast, oak and green apple on the nose. Full-bodied, and generously layered. Generous flavours of pear and peach on the palate with a long, dry finish and a hint of wild white flowers in a spring rain. Perfect for roast chicken or mild curries.