This packs a lot of alcohol, but remains balanced and youthful. Berry cobbler and toasty licorice aromas lead to deep, rich flavors of boysenberry and bitter chocolate.—Blind '94/'04 California Zinfandel retrospective (March 2014). Drink now through 2017.

Retains a dark color and bold aromas of baked blueberry and licorice. The flavors show a touch of age, with hints of black tea and cedar leading to super jammy notes of black cherry and pepper.—Blind '94/'04 California Zinfandel retrospective (March 2014). Drink now through 2016.

Deep ruby-red. Crushed blackberry and licorice aromas. Primary and penetrating, with brisk flavors of crushed blueberry and spices framed by firm acidity. Finishes fresh and persistent, with sweet red fruit flavors and little obvious oak showing.

Quite lush. Richly textured and elegant, with a solid center featuring black cherry, plum, raspberry, chocolate, coffee, spice and herbs. Velvety tannins frame the plush layers of fruit that extend long on the finish. Editors' Choice.

Good bright medium ruby. Brooding aromas of black cherry, blackberry, violet and menthol. Juicy on entry, then muscular and bound-up today; more intense and more powerful than the Highwire but also a bit drier today. A touch of petit sirah gives this wine somewhat tougher tannins but also more grip.

Hartford's 2015 Zinfandel (Russian River Valley) is a gorgeous, entry-level wine. Succulent red cherry, tobacco, leather and spice all flesh out nicely. Drink this plump, juicy Zinfandel over the next handful of years.

A serious and dense Zinfandel, with dark cherry fruit, peach and cream supported by spice and oak. Good energy despite a little heat, and a more robust tannic structure than expected.

Tightly focused, with a sleek, vibrant structure, offering aromas of wild flowers and raspberry and lively but firm flavors of boysenberry, licorice and loamy spice.

Deep ruby. Smoke- and spice-accented dark berries on the fragrant nose. Shows brighter red fruits on the palate, which offers juicy raspberry and cherry flavors and a hint of candied flowers. Turns more tangy with air and finishes spicy, focused and long, with dusty tannins adding grip.

2019 Pacific Northwest Rosé Report The 2018 Gran Moraine Rose is an awesome new effort from this great Yamhill-Carlton estate. On the nose this shows off very light citrus and red fruit aromas that improve with some air. The palate errs towards brightness, rather than richness, as the wine reveals a wonderful feel of minerality, with delicate red fruits and lemon rind flavors.

Very pale copper color. Bright, airy, elegant nose of white pepper, rose petals, chalk dust, with white cherries, wild raspberries, and strawberry bushes. On the palate this is crisp and vibrant but there’s a lot of textural depth. Vibrant strawberries, red cherries, raspberries, with complex notes of rose petals, sea salt, white pepper, chalk dust. Bright and elegant, this has a crunchy, floral yet juicy feel that is all wrapped up nicely.

This pale pink colored wine opens with a pleasant wild rose, red cherry and wet stone bouquet. On the palate, this wine is light to medium bodied, slightly acidic, delicate and juicy. The flavor profile is a tasty strawberry and mineral blend with notes of watermelon. I also detected some hints of lime. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Rose is a quaffer. I would enjoy it served cool on the beach with Kerrygold Dubliner cheese.

Gold Medal, Exceptional Steely pink color. Aromas of plum, chalk, pressed flowers, and crystalized lemon peel with a silky, bright, dry light body and a smooth, compelling, medium-length raspberry leaf, watermelon sorbet, and parsley finish. A Provençal-style rose from Oregon with delicate nuance.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two The 2016 Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton is medium ruby-purple in color with an open, gregarious nose of warm black and blue fruits—blueberries, black cherries and black berries—with meaty/savory notions plus lovely blue flower nuance. Medium-bodied and concentrated, it has soft tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with lots of sweet fruit.

Snappy and sleek, with floral cherry and pomegranate aromas and tightly focused green tea and spice flavors.

Smooth, ripe cherry fruit with juicy style and crisp acidity; tangy and fresh with racy style and good length.

Dark and peppery, with black fruit and spice flavors on a broad frame, featuring racy acidity and toasty oak notes that pick up steam on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2022. 820 cases made.

Floral pear and star fruit aromas combine with precise, vibrant citrus and spice flavors, finishing on a clean mineral note.

Light yellow. Mineral-tinged aromas of tangerine, Anjou pear and honey, backed by subtle anise and ginger notes. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering pear nectar, Meyer lemon and bitter quinine flavors that show good depth and energy. Closes firm and dry, featuring a lingering citrus fruit note and a hint of candied ginger.

Fresh and tangy, inviting for the pear and beeswax aromas and flavors, finishing with lively acidity and citrusy overtones. Shows presence and persistence.

Juicy and bright with tangy citrus and long, smooth flavors; crisp and balanced, long and racy.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Pleinair Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) opens with rambunctious crème de cassis, plum preserves and lifted notes of candied violets and lavender with touches of of menthol and cedar chest. Full, rich, concentrated and packed with flamboyant fruit, it has a solid frame of rounded tannins and a long finish.

This is a big bold wine, rough and sinewy in layers of leather, oak, tannin and earthy tobacco. The earthiness presents as a mix of wild mushroom, sage and cedar, with a sanguine meaty edge to the black fruit.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Latro shows how distinctive this small appellation adjacent to Calistoga is. Graphite, smoke, mint, espresso, lavender and dark chocolate are nicely delineated in the glass. The 2014 balances the fruit intensity of style with the savory and mineral undertones that are so typical of Knights Valley.

Aged in French puncheons and concrete, this is an herbal, bright and buzzy white that's medium bodied and complex. Apricot dominates alongside hints of ginger and lemongrass.