The single-vineyard Zinfandels include the 2012 Zinfandel Piffero Vineyard, which is a blend of 99% Zinfandel and 1% Syrah, aged in one-third new oak. It comes from vines approaching 100 years of age. The wine exhibits dark raspberry fruit notes mixed with earth, herbs, pepper and grilled meats. It is lovely, medium-ruby in color, spicy, soft and best drunk over the next several years.

A burst of jammy huckleberry fruit is at the core of this lively Zin, which offers notes of plum, smoked pepper and grilled rosemary.

The 2012 Zinfandel Gianoli Vineyard, which is 100% Zinfandel aged in 40% new oak for 15 months, is from a high-elevation vineyard at 1,500 feet. This is a very sexy, lush stylish Zinfandel with a dark ruby color and loads of raspberry and strawberry fruit mixed with pepper, crushed rock and spice. Drink it over the next several years.

A blend of 78% Zinfandel and 22% Syrah aged in 40% new oak, the 2010 Zinfandel Shamrock Vineyard comes from one of Northern California’s higher elevation Zinfandel sites situated at 2,800 feet above sea level. It offers plenty of blueberry, raspberry and boysenberry fruit as well as a dark ruby color, a flowery perfume, medium body and admirable elegance and finesse. Enjoy this tasty Zin over the next 4-5 years.

The 2005 Zinfandel Chase Vineyard has an intense black cherry and raspberry nose, a dark ruby/purple-tinged color, surprisingly full body and depth, and is quite a complete wine, even in such a difficult vintage.

The dark ruby-colored 2005 Zinfandel Ciapusci Vineyard has nice briery, mountain berry fruit with some pepper and herbs. It is elegant, medium-bodied, and best drunk over the next two years.

Edmeades 2003 Zinfandel Mendocino-89 points. I enjoyed all three of the offerings I tasted, including the 2003 Zinfandel Mendocino, which exhibits abundant amounts of briery blueberry fruit along with hints of oak, kirsch, and spice box. Enjoy this big, savory, juicy Zin over the next 2-3 years.

Exhibits abundant amounts of briery blueberry fruit along with hints of oak, kirsch, and spice box. Enjoy this big, savory, juicy Zin over the next 2-3 years.

A structured as well as elegant effort revealing notes of roasted herbs, meat, berry fruit, and a hint of tar.

…is a bone dry, excellent example of this varietal. Unmistakable Gewürztraminer aromas of rose petals and spicy grapefruit are present in the wine's bouquet. In the mouth, it is medium to full-bodied, with some tannin, and a dry richly fruity finish.

Candied apple, butter and clove on the nose, along with hints of tropical fruit. Reasonably intense and thick in the mouth; more oak than real fruit in the middle palate, but has good shape and lingering fruit flavor.

Bright yellow gold color. Medium-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Mildly oaked. Butter, brown spice, ripe apples. Ripe toasty aromas reveal a generous buttery textured style with pleasing toasty notes through the finish.

Intense herbal with smoky character in the bouquet. Medium-bodied with racy acidity. Fresh and fragrant throughout with citrus and melon in the finish.

The 2017 Chardonnay Spear Vineyard, which hails from a north-facing site planted with Clone 4, was the most leesy and reductive of these just-bottled wines from Diatom, unfurling in the glass with notes of lemongrass and flowers. On the palate, the wine is glossy, medium-bodied and taut, with bright acids, nice sap and a dry finish. If this can shake of its rather reductive style in bottle, my score will look conservative.

This light pink colored wine opens with a faint strawberry and melon bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and juicy. The flavor profile is a flinty mineral infused mild strawberry with notes of watermelon, tangerine and hints of herbs. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Rose is food friendly and would pair well with an asparagus and prosciutto salad. Very good.

Summer Sippers Deep copper color. Aromas of roses, lilies, sweet melon, nectarine, with hints of sea spray and chalk dust. Crisp and lip-smacking acidity, so lively, with a nice streak of mineral, chalk and saline throughout. Tart red apple with juicy white peaches and cantaloupe. Tangy, spicy, with floral complexity that lingers on the finish. Delightful Pinot Noir rose.

Wine for the cellar Barbara Banke made a stylistic left turn and an astute buy when she purchased the Copain property and brought it under the Jackson Family Wines banner. Although lauded for his Rhone wines, the strength of winemaker Wells Guthrie is his ability to source fruit — in this case, savoury, cool Mendocino fruit. Tous Ensemble (all together) is a mix of fruit from three vineyards across the county, blended into a ready-to-drink Pinot. Copain makes an understated, spare Pinot Noir in the Tous Ensemble range at a mere 13.5 per cent alcohol, offering red fruits, soft tannins and a dry, food-friendly finish. 89 points.

The nose is bright cranberry and raspberry, smoky, cherry, tomato and spice. The palate shows notes of herb, graphite and lean, textured cherry. Well focused for a production of this size. 89 points.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir les Voisins gives up notes of Bing cherries, cranberries and wild strawberries with touches of underbrush, fallen leaves and black pepper. Medium-bodied, perfumed and elegant on the palate, it has a soft texture and lively line, finishing earthy.

The nose is a ripe currant and peppercorn with underlying notes of raspberry. The palate has a crisp, narrowly focused entry of blueberry and mineral. Bright acidity. A charming wine to keep around by the case. 89 points.

This very dark ruby colored Syrah from Copain opens with a mild red cherry and oak bouquet with hints of red raspberry and leather. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and juicy. The flavor profile is a ripe strawberry jam with notes of gentle oak and minerality. We also detected hints of craisin. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins are a bit sticky. The Panel suggested pairing this Syrah with a pulled pork barbecue plate or a lamb burger. 89 points. Very good.

The 2016 Chardonnay Les Voisins comes from multiple vineyards and was barrel fermented and aged mostly in neutral French oak (2% was new, as well as some neutral America oak). Its light gold color is followed by a pretty, ethereal Chardonnay that offers notes of chamomile, lemon blossom, and white flowers. It’s lightly textured, has nicely integrated acidity, and a good finish. I suspect it will drink nicely over the coming 4-5 years.

Light golden yellow color in the glass. Very clean aromas of lemon, pineapple, vanilla creme and a hint of caramelized oak. Crisp on the palate and finish and easy to like, with flavors of white peach, pear and coconut. 89 points.

The 2015 Chardonnay Les Voisins emerges from three estates in Anderson Valley. Orchard fruit, almond, chamomile and floral notes are nicely laced together in this soft, open-knit Chardonnay from Copain. Drink it over the next few years.