Good deep ruby. Musk cassis, black cherry and chocolate on the nose. Fatter and sweeter than the merlot, at once muskier and more penetrating in the mid-palate, with a distinctly juicy quality and good energy to the mountain berry flavors. Finishes with substantial but round tannins and very good length. Owing to its vibrancy, this may yet merit an even higher score with a few more years in bottle.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Release reveals deeper fruit, a richer, fuller-bodied style and good density as well as minerality. While it will not make anyone forget the terrific Anniversary Reserve selections made in the early and mid-nineties (the equivalent of the Heritage Release cuvees), it is beginning to return to its previous glory. Since being acquired by Jess Jackson, La Jota Vineyard Co. has been a work in progress. The very strong 2007s have been followed by very good 2008s, so, hopefully, this well-known estate, which made some phenomenal wines in the mid-nineties, is back on track.

A strong Cabernet that's so tightly wound in tannins, it's hard to appreciate, despite plenty of fruit. There's also a green olive earthiness to the sweet blackberries and cedar. Showing its immaturity now, so give it a good six years in the cellar.

(includes 15% merlot and 3% petit verdot) Medium ruby. Pure, reserved nose hints at cassis, dark cherry and licorice, with mineral and coffee nuances. Good density and texture to the dark fruit flavors, with complicating herbal and spicy elements. Finishes broad and sweet, with substantial tannins nicely supported by fruit.

The final blend that Chris Carpenter fashioned was 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot. Lastly, and an outstanding wine, is the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 100% estate fruit, the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Anniversary. This is the best block of the entire vineyard and has produced some great wines (the 1992 and 1993 made by Helen Turley were fabulous wines). This shows plenty of creme de cassis fruit, notes of wet rocks, graphite, vanilla and berries, especially black raspberry and black currants. It is medium to full-bodied with light tannin and is close to full maturity, where is should hold for 7-10 more years.

This pink colored wine made from Pinot Noir grapes was very well received by our mini-tasting group. It opens with faint watermelon bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, elegant and very approachable. The flavor profile is a mild watermelon with hints of red cherry and minerality. The finish is dry and fades away nicely. This Rose will be a crowd pleaser and will pair nicely with delicate foods. I would pair it with grilled red snapper.

Wines of the Week: A Plethora of Pinot — Under $20, 90 points Lots of strawberry, melon, and lemon aromas come up from a freshly swirled glass. The palate presents with strawberry, peach, and lemon flavors leading the way and a few earthy and mineral hints backing that up. Friendly with a fresh acidity, it’s a good candidate for sipping on a summer afternoon or with grilled salmon.

I’ve always been struck that California and Oregon Pinot Gris lacks the richness, palate weight and viscosity of Pinot Gris made in Alsace. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But it is a difference that draws unrealistic and unfair comparisons to the wine’s European cousin. New World Pinot Gris typically falls somewhere between the lushness of Alsatian Pinot Gris and light-bodied, crisp Italian Pinot Grigio. La Crema’s Monterey Pinot Gris is a good example. It has a modicum of richness that is beyond most Pinot Grigio but is far from lush. This vintage offers an almond, marzipan note as well as nuance of lemon oil and pear. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable Pinot Gris even if it fails to imitate Alsatian Pinot Gris, as so many critics would prefer.

Ten Value Wines for the Holidays I've always been struck that California and Oregon pinot grigio lacks the richness, palate weight and viscosity of pinot grigio made in Alsace. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But it is a difference that draws unrealistic and unfair comparisons to the wine's European cousin. New World pinot grigio typically falls somewhere between the lushness of Alsatian pinot grigio and light-bodied, crisp Italian pinot grigio. La Crema's Monterey version is a good example. It has a modicum of richness that is beyond most pinot grigio but is far from lush. This vintage offers a marzipan note, as well as nuance of lemon oil and pear.

This pinot is Russian River Valley in its texture, in the balance of softness and firmness it strikes, the fruit so ripe it's tarry and black, yet still fresh. Flavors of blackberry, rose and cherry merge in a density that remains clean and clear. It's still grapey, a bit blocky in its youth, but this is structured to age.

Gold Medal

Floral, silky, savoury. Expect smoked cherries and dried rose petals, brown spice, vanilla, leather and tealeaf on the nose.The palate is supple with a silky texture and echoes the nose with its sweet yet savoury character. Good balance here, a classic harmonious La Crema.

13 West Coast Pinots at 90+ Points New reviews of elegant reds from California and Oregon Dried cherry, allspice and poached plum flavors show plenty of hot stone and brick notes, with cardamom and sandalwood details on the creamy finish.

Let me take you on a Pinot Noir journey California is known for its sunshine in a glass style of wine, which comes into play in many of that state’s Pinot Noir. But elegance, freshness and delicacy balance that fruit forward expression of Pinot Noir at the higher price points. Such is the case with this bottle, which became a Vintages Essential last May. It exudes soft talc and cool cranberry, warm violet and gentle beetroot on the nose. Then, a beam-like entry of cool fruit broadens and begins unfolding with elements found on the nose along with brawny nuances of warm tobacco and toasted hazelnut.

Jammy and almost sticky in that classic California-pinot way, this comes from the relatively cool Sonoma Coast, so it’s not without acid freshness. But it’s lifted more by a suggestion of spices, due in part to nine months in oak (25 per cent of it new). Good depth as well as an earthy-tobacco undercurrent.

Elegantly layered aromas of black cherry, wet sage and tobacco make for a rich and nuanced entry to this single-vineyard bottling. The palate is loaded with juicy cherry and mint flavors, proving quite powerful but still very approachable.

Moderately light garnet color in the glass. The nose is earthbound with added fruit aromas of black cherry and ripe berries and a subtle infusion of Asian spice. An engaging wine with open arms, offering tasty black cherry, boysenberry and plum fruit flavors infused with the right amount of oak spice. Gracious and harmonious, with a noticeably extended finish.

Earthy, big and bold, this speaks well to fans of a full-bodied, fruit-forward style. Boysenberry, black cherry and cola are complemented by savory teases of coffee and black licorice.

The fruit on this pricey pinot from La Crema is front-loaded. There's plenty of red-berry goodness, and the wine shows impressive weight on the palate. The rub for those who would rush home and open it tonight is that the finish is a work in progress. This wine needs another year or two in the bottle for the finish to lengthen. If you can be patient, you've got a winner.

Thick tannins gird the powerful fruit in this wine—a mix of red cherry and strawberry that mellows with time in the glass. Toasted oak and baking spice touches provide additional context and pleasure.

Vintages: this wine is a cool climate offering, so much as current California "heat" would allow, from the coast coolness in the evening and the early morning, and with fruit (ten different clones) from eleven different vineyards. Head winemaker Craig McAllister celebrated his tenth anniversary with La Crema, and here has crafted a minor gem. Expect a combo of cherry-berry, underbrush, some (but low) oaking, some mocha, spices. I had it with roasted chicken thighs; it went very well.

There are lots of cedary accents to the raspberry, cherry and red currant flavors in this red, which is crisp midpalate, with a tensile finish that lingers with juniper berry notes.

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.

La Crema's latest RRV pinot shows a floral and spice nose, followed by bright cherry fruit on the palate with a modest touch of oak. Well balanced, with bright acidity, this is a beautiful complement to roast duck or chicken.