Spicy, with ripe dark fruit flavors that feature notes of smoke and underbrush. Iron and hot stone details emerge on the finish.

This widely available wine is a great midweek sipper. Light in the glass, it offers clean aromas of pomegranate, hibiscus and light touches of toasty oak. It's soft and mellow on the palate with cranberry, strawberry and tarragon flavors.

This dark red colored Pinot Noir from Kendall Jackson opens with an inviting black raspberry bouquet with hints of black cherry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, savory and a tad rustic. The flavor profile is an oak and earthy mineral influenced plum and raspberry blend with notes of thyme. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins linger nicely. This good value Pinot benefits from a lit aeration, so decant it and then serve it with coq au vin. Very good.

This pale straw-colored Chardonnay from La Crema opens with toasted oak and red apple bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and round. The flavor profile is an oak influenced green apple with notes of butter and toasted coconut along with a hint of nutmeg. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Chard would be a very nice glass pour. I would serve it with chicken cordon bleu. Very good.

Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Revealing aromas of red cherry and berry, spice and toast. Nicely composed and ready to roll now, with middleweight flavors of red cherry, red raspberry and baking spices. Sleek tannins contribute a polished mouthfeel. I would like this wine more if it was priced at $30.

Big, buttery chardonnays: Three to try With its medium to full yellow colour, this traditional American chardonnay has a powerful buttery bouquet with tinges of citrus peel. In the mouth, it's opulent, round and velvet textured. It's quite forward and has generous flavour without being too oaky or alcoholic.

Fruity, with touches of richness and flinty hints accenting the red berry and plum flavors. Light raspberry cream notes show on the spicy finish. Drink now through 2022.

Juicy, with concentrated raspberry and red cherry flavors that are lightly spiced. Forest floor notes show on the finish. Drink now through 2022.

Lip-smacking flavors of plum tart, raspberry and loganberry are supported by medium-grained tannins. Hints of tangerine show on the crisp finish. Drink now.

This pale pink colored Rose of Pinot Noir from WillaKenzie is very good. It opens with a red cherry and orange zest bouquet with a hint of watermelon. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied and nicely balanced between its acidity and flavors. Those flavors are a gentle minerality mixed in with watermelon. I also detected hints plum and a touch of nectarine. The finish is dry and refreshing. This Rose is a quaffer and will be a crowd pleaser. Share it slightly chilled at the beach with friends. It won’t last long. Very good.

This dark red colored Pinot Noir from Oregon opens with a fragrant pomegranate and plum bouquet with a hint of black pepper. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, slightly acidic and juicy. The flavor profile is a tasty plum with notes of black pepper, mulberry and oak. I also detected hints of cola and pomegranate. The finish is dry and its flavors and gentle tannins linger nicely. This Pinot Noir would pair well with pork tenderloin. Very good.

A intriguing umami-laced cabernet with notes of soy sauce and Worchester with a touch volatile. Certainly unexpected and somewhat compelling with notes of bay leaf and, at the same time, ripeness. A big hodge podge at present. Cedary spice is not yet fully integrated. Offering a good level of acidity some bitterness too. Best now to 2025. Tasted February 2020.

A lithe resinous aspect accents the Gala apple and lemon curd flavors, tied together by fresh acidity. The crisp, spicy finish features creamy details, with hints of anise. Drink now through 2024.

A relatively high-toned nose features mostly red berry fruit aromas that display a top note of menthol. The sleek, detailed and nicely vibrant flavors possess an attractive texture before terminating in a mildly bitter pit fruit-inflected finish. This is delicious and dry in the best sense on the refreshing finish. While it could use a bit more depth, this relatively forward effort is really quite good.

Delicate and light on the nose, this bottling begins with crisp aromas of squeezed grapefruit and Meyer lemon peel. It's clean and down the middle on the palate, showing flavors of apple slices drizzled in lemon juice and lime zest.

Leads off on a pretty floral note, followed quickly by a display of fresh cassis and plum purée. Ends with light-handed toast and herb on the finish. Drink now through 2023.

Roasted red-cherry aromas are cut by singed sagebrush on the nose of this bottling. There’s a dusty, earthy core to the palate, where the crisp red fruits are lean and fresh.

This bottle has all the classic, buttery characteristics of California Chardonnay, but these flavors are met with the energizing zing of tart lemon zest. This bottle may just convert your Chardonnay-hating friends.

This wine smells like cherries, fresh earth, and a dollop of cinnamon. It has a tight fruit core with a slight tannin on the palate. There is a little bit of a grip, making this a well-balanced bottle with good acidity.

This dark ruby colored Pinot Noir from Siduri opens with a spiced plum and black raspberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with medium acidity. The mouthfeel is smooth, soft. and approachable. The flavor profile is a gentle black cherry and plum blend with hints of spiced tea. The finish is dry, and its flavors and very fine tannins fade away nicely. This wine is food friendly and would pair well with veal scallopini.

This bright ruby red colored Pinot Noir from La Crema opens with red plum bouquet with hints of cinnamon and clove. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with pleasant medium acidity. It has a rounded mouthfeel. The flavor profile is a loam, black plum and graphite blend with notes of clove and black raspberry. I also detected some hints of cinnamon and oak in the background. The finish is dry, and its acidity and flavors linger for a while. I would pair this Pinot with Texas slow cooker pulled pork sandwich.

This light-yellow colored Chardonnay from Cambria opens with a light oak, pineapple, and pear bouquet. On the palate, this while is medium bodied with nice light acidity. The mouthfeel is round and pleasant. The flavor profile is similar to the nose. It features light oak, vanilla, and pear blend with notes of green apple skin. There is also a little almond, chamomile tea, and ginger mixed in. The finish fades away nicely. This easy to drink Chard will certainly be a crowd pleaser. It will not last long. I would pair this food friendly Chard with a garlic and herb butter roasted chicken.

Open and juicy in its apple and pear flavors and light bergamot scents, this wine’s smoky undertones turn toward full-barrel oak in the end. Tame that smokiness with baba ganoush and minty tabbouleh.

This rich, coastal chardonnay has flavors of peach compote and some salinity to balance its luscious texture. Serve it with grilled swordfish finished with lemon juice and roasted cumin.

Cedar, dried cherry and Asian spice flavors are backed by lithe acidity and tannins in this savory style, with a minerally richness on the finish. Drink now through 2023.