Bright red. Spicy red berries and rose on the nose, with a hint of smokiness in the background. Offers tangy strawberry and red currant flavors and a hint of cola, with a white pepper nuance adding bite. Finishes lively and focused, leaving behind sweet red fruit liqueur and orange peel notes behind. I like the blend of succulence and tanginess here.

The 2011 Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco is another gorgeous wine from a region that is yielding excellent results for La Crema and other wineries in the Kendall-Jackson portfolio. Freshly cut flowers, violets, black cherries and mint all jump from the glass. Some of the other Pinots in the range might be sexier or hail from better known appellations, but savvy readers should pay attention to the Arroyo Seco bottling. It is a gorgeous wine and remains very fairly priced within the context of high-quality California Pinot. The 2011 is juicy, bold and flavorful, yet retains plenty of vibrancy and energy. If that all sounds appealing, believe me, it is. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2017.

This is a style of wine I debate about when scoring. For my own palate, it’s a bit too potent, ripe and heavy, yet there are legion fans of this style. I appreciate its myriad aromas of wild blackberry, cherry cola, dried herbs, tomato leaf and black spice. The palate is mouth-filling and juicy, with ripe boysenberry and plum flavors and a kick of spice -- but also alcoholic heat -- on the finish.

Vivid ruby. Dark berries, cherry-vanilla, roasted coffee, potpourri and underbrush on the perfumed nose. Creamy and expansive on the palate, offering sweet black raspberry and cherry compote flavors and an exotic note of candied rose. Silky tannins come up with air, adding grip to the juicy, nicely persistent finish.

Very nicely crafted, keenly focused red cherry fruit scents with a distinctive wild flower overlay and a kiss of rich oak set the stage for this full and supple effort, fairly open effort, and its ripe, fairly juicy flavors follow suit from front to back. It is invitingly friendly even now, and while it has the balance and depth to hold well in bottle, it is also quite easy to drink today. Still, for those with the will, it can age for few years yet.

Bright ruby-red. Strongly scented strawberry, cherry pit and raspberry aromas, with suave floral and herb accents. Supple, concentrated and focused, with nicely integrated acidity lifting red fruit and anise flavors. Finishes on a tangy note, with very good clarity and sneaky, fine-grained tannins.

The 2011 Pinot Noir Los Carneros is explosive in this vintage. Dark red fruit, flowers, new leather, French oak and spices all burst from the glass. A powerful yet juicy wine, the 2011 is endowed with tons of depth and persistence, not to mention terrific overall balance. Hints of licorice and melted road tar add an element of gravitas to the dark, brooding finish. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.

Full ruby. Smoky black raspberry, cola and dried rose on the nose, with a hint of vanilla in the background. Spicy and penetrating dark fruit flavors are enlivened by tangy acidity and show very good energy. Juicy and precise, with excellent finishing clarity and sappy persistence. This lively pinot is delicious right now.

I have long been a fan of most La Crema Pinots, and this vintage is no exception. As a wine coming from a cool growing region ought to be, this one is blessed with just enough sweet fruit to balance nicely against the inherent tart, lean character of good Pinot Noir.

Full ruby. Assertive aromas of fresh blackberry, cassis and candied cherry are lifted by white pepper and bright minerality. Offers a suave blend of power and finesse, with vibrant raspberry and blackberry flavors that gain sweetness with air. Finishes silky and soft, with lingering flavors of red fruit preserves.

The 2010 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a sexy, medium-bodied Pinot that shows the elegance of the year. Freshly cut flowers, spices, roses and raspberries emerge from the glass. This is an especially nuanced, feminine style. The juiciness and sweetness of the fruit fleshes out nicely with time in the glass. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017.

Deep ruby color; complex, spicy cherry aromas with some earthy notes; rich, ripe, stewed cherry flavors with spice and cola notes; mouthfilling; good structure and balance; long finish. Rich and ripe Pinot that is drinking well right now.

Bright ruby. Aromas of cherry and boysenberry are complicated by notes of candied rose and white pepper. Suave and silky in texture, offering intense dark berry flavors that become spicier with air. Finishes on a sexy floral note, with very good clarity and sweet persistence.

A huge, full-bodied wine, the 2010 Pinot Noir Nine Barrel is positively explosive in the glass. Though nicely done in this style, I can-t say the 2010 is an especially subtle or finessed Pinot, rather it is a wine that emphasizes juiciness and immediacy. All that is a way of saying this is a typical high-end Russian River Pinot. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.

Medium ruby color; subtle, spicy cherry aromas with some earthy notes; ripe, stewed plum flavors with spice and earthy notes; soft and silky texture; good structure and balance; long finish. Subtle, soft Pinot perfect for sipping on its own.

Fleshy cherry and dark spice with a long, naughty finish. Full-bodied and satin smooth like lingerie.

Bright ruby-red. Oak-spiced red and dark berry aromas are complemented by notes of vanilla and mocha, with a floral topnote. Sappy, expansive black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors show good depth and pick up a licorice quality with air. Closes sweet and long, with lingering smokiness and impressive tenacity.

The outstanding 2009 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley (from newer Dijon clones such as 667, 777 and 115) reveals classic Anderson Valley notes of flowers, blueberries and raspberries. Medium-bodied with excellent purity, flesh and texture, this is a delicious Pinot to enjoy over the next 4-5 years. La Crema is an excellent value winery owned by Jess Jackson with an impressive group of winemakers, including Melissa Stackhouse.

Nicely dry, with tart cut of citrusy acidity that cleanses the mouth and would certainly cut through the fattiness of lamb or beef dishes. It's tannic, too, with a good stuffing of cherries.

Rich berry-cherry, cola and raspberry fruit flavors mark this young wine. It's dry and stylishly elegant, and shows a certain aloof complexity. Almost rustic in scoury acidity and tannins, but it could develop bottle finesse in another 2-3 years.

The 2009 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is outstanding. Its medium ruby color is followed by aromas of loamy soil intermixed with sweet black cherries, raspberries and plums. This medium-bodied, elegant, flavorful Pinot is already endearing and should continue to drink well for 2-3 years. La Crema is an excellent value winery owned by Jess Jackson with an impressive group of winemakers, including Melissa Stackhouse.

Nicely defined cherryish fruit is aligned with a bit of sweet oak and accented by a touch of milk chocolate in the inviting and moderately rich aromas here, and the wine follows suit on the palate with youthful, fairly deep flavors that are at once both juicy and bright. It is tasty now, but has room to grow and is sure to reward a few years of keeping.

Tasted in a flight of more expensive Pinot Noirs, this beauty did just fine. It's an absolutely lovely wine to drink now. Dry and silky, with refreshing acidity, it offers complex berry, cherry, cola, spice and oak flavors.

There's a lot of coastal character in this Carneros wine, with scents of kelp and salt air. That cools the layers of fruit flavor, from strawberry to seedy raspberries, while it brightens the fruit tannins. Serve this with duck rillettes.

The outstanding 2008 Pinot Noir Los Carneros reveals abundant damp earth, beet root vegetable, plum, black cherry and black currant characteristics that offer considerable complexity. Sweet tannins are present in this medium to full-bodied, velvety-textured, irresistible wine. It should continue to drink nicely for 2-4 years. La Crema is an excellent value winery owned by Jess Jackson with an impressive group of winemakers, including Melissa Stackhouse.