Byron can always be counted on to come up with interesting, terroir-driven wines. This pinot, clearly from a cool climate, is dry and tart in acids, with a silky texture and ripe, pleasing cherry, cola and mocha flavors, as well as a complex woodspice taste lasts through the long finish.

The 2013 Chardonnay Nielson Vineyard is laced with pear, smoke, slate and a host of aromas from fermentation in barrel. Rich and nicely textured on the palate, but with good overall definition, the 2013 is an excellence choice for drinking over the next few years. The Nielson saw 30% new French oak.

The 2012 Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley is a ripe, rich effort that gives up notions of golden apple, toast and vanilla cream to go with a medium-bodied, supple and textured mouthfeel. It’s a delicious, classy effort, as well as a good value, to drink over the coming year or two.

A pure, classy Chardonnay that has plenty of ripe apple, brioche, hazelnut and vanilla cream, the 2011 Chardonnay is medium-bodied, rounded and supple, with juicy acidity balanced by plenty of richness. It's a delicious, classy Chardonnay that will drink nicely for 2-3 years. Drink now-2016.

Light gold. Highly floral bouquet displays scents of honeysuckle, rose, white peach and nectarine, with a strong lashing of white pepper. Rich but racy, with deep pit and orchard fruit flavors and slow-building spiciness. Finishes on a weighty peach note, with very good punch and length.

A very good value in Chardonnay is the 2007 Santa Maria. Although completely barrel-fermented and put through malolactic, it retains a crisp, elegant style with the wood clearly pushed to the background. Revealing abundant amounts of honeyed citrus along with hints of tropical fruit and crushed rocks, in addition to beautiful freshness and vibrancy, it can be enjoyed over the next several years.

Bright yellow. Ripe pear and peach aromas and complicated by toasty lees and sweet butter, with suave floral qualities building with air. Fleshy pit fruit flavors are given grip by zesty acidity, finishing chewy, deep and long, with a lightly smoky character.

The 2015 Pinot Noir 459 is another of the riper wines in this range. The 459 offers plenty of fruit density and texture, but next to the other wines in the range, there is less nuance and overall complexity, while the fruit veers toward the riper, candied side of things. To be sure, much of the wine's personality can be attributed to the very specific qualities of the growing season. Some readers may find more pleasure here than I do.

Winemaker Kristy Melton blends 92% Syrah and 8% Petite Sirah in this powerfully ripe and fruity red wine. Cherry vanilla, leather, tobacco and meat are supported by generous oak and huge, smoky tannin. The texture is creamy and plush.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Prequel Red Blend, composed of 92% Syrah and 8% Petite Sirah, has an expressive black plums, tar and earthy nose with hints of licorice and underbrush. The palate is seriously savory, earthy and peppery with plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long.

Medium purple color. Heck of a lot of plums and blackberries on the nose, with roasted fig, smoky charcoal, vanilla and mint. Full-bodied on the palate, this wine is all about the velvety mouthfeel, medium-low acidity, along with juicy plums, black cherries, blueberries, juicy and plump. Notes of mocha, scorched earth, vanilla, roasted chestnut. Big and hedonistic but well-made and undeniably yummy. A blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 18 months in French and American oak.

Aromas of walnuts, chocolate and blue fruits with hints of stones. Full-bodied, dense and cherry-flavored wine. Lots of grape skin character from cold soaking. Give it three or four years to soften. Extracted.

Focused and well-structured, this offers appealing accents of currant, mint and cedar. The tannins are big but ripe. Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel.

This wine combines Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel from multiple appellations, including Atlas Peak, Coombsville and Mount Veeder. Funky in cinnamon stick and clove, it features a silky, medium-sized build and soft, generous tannin, with a dry, spicy finish.

Loaded with black fruit, smoke and spice, this Californian red wine blend has a long life ahead of it. Decant 2 hours and pair with a rare steak.

COMMENTARY: The Barrymore by Carmel Road brand has produced some excellent wines. The 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir adds another successful notch to its portfolio. TASTING NOTES: Shows pleasing candied strawberry aromas, this wine is an easy drink, and that is perfect for simply sipping. 89 points.

Summer Rosé Wine Pick From actress Drew Barrymore and winemaker Kris Kato, this Monterey County rosé is as delicate and fresh as one would expect. Crisp and fruity on the palate, this 100% Pinot Noir wine exhibits notes of red berries, white peach, and apricot, along with sweet orange and citrus flower on the nose. A nice, balanced acidity, this rosé will pair well with shellfish, Asian-inspired dishes, and grilled vegetables like zucchini or romaine hearts with a Dijon vinaigrette dressing. 89 points.

Apple peels, squeezed lime, rain on cement, jicama and Asian-pear aromas show on the crisp yet rounded nose of this bottling by actress Drew Barrymore. The palate is quite inviting with broad apple flavors, offering just enough texture and acidity to keep all sorts of wine lovers interested.

Opaque ruby. Expressive aromas of black raspberry, cherry liqueur, smoked meat and black pepper. Juicy, focused and pure, with sharply delineated flavors of red and dark berries, pepper and spice cake. Nicely focused on the close, featuring building richness and good finishing power.

2004 ARROWOOD SYRAH LE BEAU MELANGE The 2004 Syrah Le Beau Melange reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as tannin, chocolate, pepper, and spice characteristics. Although it receives an identical upbringing, it is a more structured, masculine effort. Where the Saralee is plush, opulent, and voluptuous, Le Beau Melange is tannic, firmer, and more masculine than the Saralee's Vineyard. It will benefit from another year of bottle age, and should keep for 6-10 years.

Richard Arrowood still produces wines at Arrowood Vineyards and Winery in spite of the sale of Arrowood first to Robert Mondavi, then to Constellation, and then to Jess Jackson. He, and most importantly his boss, seems to have changed little, and that’s good news for wine consumers.

Arrowood's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Speciale was striking when I tasted it from barrel last year, but it was filtered prior to bottling, which stripped away so much of what made it so special. The 2012 is such a pedigreed wine that even after filtering what remains is a refined, delicate Sonoma Cabernet with good overall balance. Sweet tobacco, grilled herbs, rose petal and anise shape the expressive finish. Although an excellent wine, the 2012 Reserve Speciale could have been, and should have been, exceptional. Perhaps even more than that.

Lush, dense and juicy with bright cassis, plum and soft herbs; clean, smooth and tangy; lively and balanced.

Opaque ruby. Fresh cherry, pipe tobacco and cedar on the deeply scented nose. Smoky and focused, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors sharpened by peppery spices and juicy acidity. Dusty tannins give grip to the finish, which features notes of anise and vanilla.

Offers a snappy mix of vibrant red and dark berry flavors. Zesty acidity keeps the wild berry, boysenberry and raspberry flavors lively, ending with refreshing tannins.