There is enough reduction present to push what appear to be mostly red berry fruit aromas to the background and I would suggest decanting this for 10 to 15 minutes first. Otherwise there is good freshness and verve to the delicious and appealingly textured middle weight flavors that possess a succulent mouth feel before concluding in an acceptably complex and lingering finish. This lightly structured effort could also easily be enjoyed now or held for a few years first.

Bright ruby hue. Like the Julia’s there is just enough reduction to shave the top notes from the red cherry and softly spicy-infused aromas. The satiny and seductively textured flavors possess good verve if only moderate density on the mildly fruity if balanced finale. This should drink well immediately but note that it offers just enough stuffing to reward a few years of cellaring too.

This is moderately reduced and I would advise a thorough aeration if you’re tempted to open a bottle young. Otherwise there is good vibrancy and a sleek mouth feel to the delicious, round and textured flavors that possess good persistence on the dusty and moderately firm and slightly warm finish. There is a hint of youthful asperity that imparts a touch of austerity but not so much that it renders the finish unpleasant.

Two bottles were tasted as the first was sufficiently reduced that it flirts with mercaptans (think burnt rubber scents). A second bottle though displayed no such problems with its ripe aromas that combine of red cherry, plum and pretty spice notes. There is fine richness to the solidly concentrated medium weight flavors that possess a velvety mouth feel, all wrapped in a delicious finish that displays touches of gas and warmth. I would suggest giving this a quick aeration as the gas accentuates the sense of warmth.

While there is a whiff of reduction present, in this case it is so slight that it does little more than shave the top notes from the otherwise pretty red berry and spice notes; indeed after only a few minutes of air the reductive element progressively faded if not completely disappeared. There is both good freshness and verve to the attractively intense and well-detailed middle weight flavors that possess good richness and persistence on the ever-so-mildly dry. The balance isn’t perfect but this is still quite pretty.

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Oak-driven aromas of espresso, toast and spice lead to a lively palate of oak-kissed black cherry fruit. The fruit is juicy and vibrant, the tannins are modest and the finish attracts attention with its energy and gift of bright fruit. I wanted more fruit on the nose, and less oak infusion, but the wine delivered plenty of pleasure in the mouth.

Byron's 2014 Pinot Noir Nielson Vineyard offers good up-front appeal in a racy, fruit-driven style that is best enjoyed on the young side. Sweet red cherry, hard candy and rose petals shape the bright, lively finish. Here, too, I would prefer to drink the wine sooner rather than later.

There is just enough reduction to remark upon but not so much as to completely mask the red cherry and pomegranate aromas. The generously proportioned and attractively textured flavors possess both good richness and verve while delivering good length on the warm finish where a hint of bitter cherry appears. This is pretty if not especially complex though more depth should develop if you’re willing to cellar it for a few years first.

Once again the nose is mildly reduced and it’s enough to warrant a thorough aeration first. By contrast there is good verve and freshness to the rounded and seductively textured medium-bodied flavors that possess a sleek palate feel before terminating in a dusty, sappy and sneaky long if again mildly warm finish. This appears to be still on the way up and should benefit from a few more years of age.

The 2013 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County is a tasty entry-level offering. Sweet red berries, cola, hard candy and flowers meld together in a racy, pliant Pinot that will drink well for the next few years. Best of all the 2013 is a terrific value in California Pinot Noir.

A smoking value in Pinot Noir is the 2013 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County from Byron. Aged eight months in neutral French oak, it has a pretty, fruit-forward bouquet of sweet strawberries, underbrush and rose petal. This is followed by a medium-bodied, beautifully pure, balanced and delicious 2013 that has real Pinot flair and character. Buy it by the case and drink it over the coming 2-3 years.

This solid, no nonsense Pinot from Byron is nicely structured, with good weight and mouthfeel, pleasing red-fruit aromas, and a spice note that is attractive and inviting. A steal at the price.

Looking at the reds, and a beautifully done Pinot Noir that has solid typicity with its black cherry, underbrush, flowers and earthy nuances, the 2011 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley is medium-bodied, juicy and pure on the palate. Already delicious (especially for a 2011), there's enough ripe tannin to allow it to evolve gracefully for 4-5 years. Drink now-2018.

A very rich, jammy wine, in fact a little heavy, with extracted black cherry and cola flavors, liberally enhanced by oak. Sure is delicious, but not an ager, so drink soon.

Deep ruby color; deep, earthy, herbal berry aromas with some oak notes; complex, berry and cherry flavor with herb and oak notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Complex, herbal Pinot with lots of depth.

Ruby-red.  Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas are complicated by hints of roasted coffee, licorice and dried rose.  Ripe cherry and plum flavors possess good depth and a supple texture, with an undertone of smoked meat and minerals.  Gentle acidity adds lift to a warm, clinging finish.

A classy Pinot for the price, rich and gutsy, with intense plum and raspberry fruit and firm tannins. Drink now through 2020. 14,000 cases made.

Given its entirely modest price, we would be more than happy with the clean and very precise fruit provided by this altogether engaging youngster, but the wine is about more than fruit and shows a sense of crafting and complexity that makes it an out-and-out steal. Its ongoing themes of ripe cherries are accented with hints of vanilla and a wisp of dried-flower sweetness, and it is as trim and carefully balanced as it is just plain delicious. We would not argue with those who would drink it right now, but its structure and very fine fit of pieces ensure that it will keep. Good value.

The 2007 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard exhibits notes of beef bouillon, root vegetables, earth, and a hint of cherry cough syrup. The softest of the single-vineyard offerings, it is a round, attractive, medium-bodied Pinot to consume over the next 3-4 years.

Medium red. Sexy, strongly perfumed bouquet evokes wild strawberry, redcurrant and bitter cherry. Tangy red berry flavors are firmed by silky tannins and given a boost on the finish by lively acidity. Finishes with suave oak and cherry skin character and lingering sweetness. I like the combination of sweetness and bitterness here.

Supple, with a delicate mix of ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit, it wins points for its understated nuances, gaining complexity on the aftertaste. Drink now.

Sour lemon aromas meet with strong sandalwood and charred oak on the very woody nose of this bottling. Tangy lemon skin, lighter lemon blossom and viscous, nearly sweet oak flavors show on the palate, which is dominated by wood.

The 2014 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard soft, pliant and delicate. This is a relatively small-scaled, delicate wine from Bien Nacido, with only modest expression of site and some elements of dilution. Citrus and floral notes are nicely delineated, but there simply is not as much Bien Nacido pedigree here as there should be.

Moderately light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Toast dominates the nose that also offers scents of citrus, white peach and pear. Much better with time in the glass with more energetic fruit aromas. The flavors of lemon, white peach, pear, fig and butter echo the nose but with more citrus singing. Sleek and clean, with a razor finish.

Zeroes in on a rich core of tangerine-laced green apple, melon and subtle spice flavors, ending up as a tasty, one-note effort that is complex within a narrow range.