Les Cadrans de Lassègue Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2015 Bordeaux Red Wine poured a deep candy-apple red with a medium clear meniscus and copious stained legs.Aromas of underbrush, black grapes in the warm sunshine, black plums, with hints of cloves, cinnamon, and just a whisper of a horse stable were quite good.Full-bodied red wine with good acidity, a firm supportive plank of tannins, and flavors of plums, fennel, and subtle dried cooking herbs.Finished long on the fading palate, a bit chalky, mildly spicy, and with a robust balanced 14% alcohol.Paired well with our "meat-lovers" pizza.

Sleek and steely, with elegant lemon and kiwi flavors that end on a vibrant accent. Drink now.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley spent 27 months in French oak barrels, 37% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it rolls out of the glass with notions of baked plums, boysenberries and crème de cassis with hints of sautéed herbs and tree bark. Medium-bodied, elegant and refreshing, the palate is packed with soft-textured, spicy fruit, finishing with a menthol lift.

This deep ruby colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Kendall Jackson opens with black raspberry bouquet with hints of wet slate, black licorice and cigar box. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with plus acidity. It is easy to drink with round edges and juicy fruit. The flavor profile is a gentle black plum and acai berry blend with notes mild limestone minerality, black currant and cedar. I also detected hints of oregano and black coffee towards the end. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins stick around for a while. I would pair this Cab with grilled steak tips or slow cooked beef brisket.

Elegant, fresh and juicy, both light-bodied and firm, offering precise notes of dried lavender, raspberry and blood orange, with sage, mineral and white pepper notes that linger on the finish. Drink now.

COMMENTARY: The 2018 La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir is bright and lively on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers tangy red fruit in its aromas and an excellent bite on the palate. Pair it with grilled salmon fillets.

Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard has dense, broody scents of spicy blackberries, tar and turned earth. Medium-bodied, the palate is firm, fresh and earthy. This feels a touch youthfully mute and may warrant a higher score as it unfolds in the bottle.

The 2017 Merlot Alexander Valley is bright, bold and punchy, with lovely red fruit character and bright acids driving its profile. This mid-weight Merlot offers fine balance and plenty of character. Rose petal, blood orange and spice perk up the translucent finish.

The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County) is an absolutely delightful wine, and a fabulous value. Bright and crisp, with terrific depth, the 2019 has so much to offer. Lemon confit, orchard fruit, mint and white flowers all grace this expressive Sauvignon Blanc from Matanzas Creek. Marcia Monahan-Torres makes a number of fabulous wines at Matanzas Creek, but the more value-oriented offerings are especially of note for both their quality and value.

A brilliant crimson in the glass, but a whole lot of funk on the nose. Funky. Parliament kind of funky. I normally love the funk, but this is a bit much, at least on the nose. Brett and a bit of reduction. The palate is decidedly better with plenty of fruit, good acidity, and a lengthy finish. But that nose. Very Good.

Plenty of meat here, maybe some blood and iodine for good measure with some tart cherry and cranberry behind all that livestock. Plenty of fruit on the palate, but might be lacking in the acidity department just a bit. Still, good flavors. Very Good.

The 2018 Pinot Noir is a lovely expression of the variety as expressed in the Yarra Valley. Some herbal, sous-bois and beet-like elements appear on the nose, backed by black cherries and spice, while the medium-bodied palate is supple, with a fine dusting of soft tannins on the finish.

COMMENTARY: The 2018 Carmel Road Cabernet Sauvignon is a stand-up, nicely textured wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits ripe berries and a touch of savory spices in its aromas and flavors. Pair it with grilled cheeseburgers.

Features a bright savory note up front, followed by a mix of cherry, blackberry and plum puree flavors. The well-roasted cedar edge winds up lingering longest in the end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2023.

Mature smoky notes accent the dried berry and dark fruit flavors, flanked by burnished cedar and tarry hints. Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Drink now.

This has matured, revealing a softened core of black currant and black cherry fruit, caressed by loamy tannins and cloaked by a worn cedar note through the finish. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2022.

Warm in feel, with a core of cassis and steeped raspberry fruit, framed by cocoa and tobacco notes that add range and energy through the finish. Drink now through 2023.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2018 VintageThe 2018 Pinot Noir Parsons' Vineyard has a nose of cranberries and dried cherries with notes of earth, bay leaves and mossy bark. The palate is light to medium-bodied with earthy fruits and bright freshness, softly framed and with an understated finish.

The nose is fresh grapefruit and pineapple with crisp acidity and toasty oak. The palate entry is rich, resinous and nutty with less apparent acidity and buttered brioche finishing with a heavier more mature fruit aspect. Drink 2020 - 2023.

The nose is lean, fresh and hazelnut-flecked citrus with notes of toasted oak. The palate entry is lush toasted coconut, pineapple and vanilla bean with well-integrated acidity reminding of baked apple and lemon in the core.Well put together and serviceable. Drink 2020 - 2023.

Santa Barbara: An In-Depth Look at the 2018s The 2018 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) is bright, lively and absolutely delicious. I would prefer to drink it over the next few years, while the red berry and floral flavors retain their youthful vibrancy. This is a fabulous appellation-level Pinot.

This slightly opaque and ruby colored Chianti Classico opens with a red plum and mild cedar bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied and quite juicy. The flavor profile is an oak influenced red plum with notes of green tea and pomegranate. I also detected hints of red beet, crushed stone and red cherry. The finish is dry and its mild tannins linger and last for a while. This Chianti Classico would pair well with Tuscan slow cooked braised beef in wine sauce.

Pinot Noirs are food-friendly for Thanksgiving and other occasions

Pinot Noirs are food-friendly for Thanksgiving and other occasionsLook for cranberry, raspberry, laurel and damp earth aromas. Lots of fruit on the palate, big raspberry accented with black cherry, boysenberry and pie spice. Grilled tuna or salmon or medium-rare duck breast go well.

Red raspberry and cherry flavors are accented by hints of hot spice and paprika in this open-textured version. Hot stone notes show on the finish. Drink now.