Direct, with a core of cherry and plum puree showing just a fleck of savory on the finish. Drink now.

On the light side, but smooth and ripe tasting, this wine eases onto the palate with apples, peaches and a hint of vanilla, while soft acidity gives a broad texture.

Though its sweet and slightly honeyed nose brings expectations of sweeter, light-hearted flavors to come, this very clean, medium-bodied Pinot Gris does not quite follow the predicted path, and, while gently juicy, it is not at all sugary in tone and tastes of well-defined peach-like fruit with a barely perceptible sprinkling of spice. A likeable enough sipper on its own, it is a well-balanced offering that will do happy service in washing down cracked crab as well as a wide variety of sushi.

If a comfortably balanced, slightly sweet, fruit-driven Riesling is what the menu or moment commends, this clean, user-friendly effort will handily fill the bill. It may not claim a great deal of complexity, but its affable mix of sweet limes and honeysuckle makes it a pleasure to sip on its own or with food, and, not the least of its appeals are its affordability and wide availability.

2019 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley The nose is herb, tobacco over saturated blackberry tart. The palate entry is a fine-edged acidity redolent of tightly-wound red fruit leading to a dry, somewhat grippy core. This will be widely available and is a solid, dependable wine. Drink 2021 - 2025.

2019 Chardonnay, Willamette Valley The nose is crunchy and juicy pineapple underpinned by white blossom and faint vanilla. The palate entry is a solid crisp yellow citrus backed by subtle notes of toast and apple. Easy drinking with polished acidity on the finish. Drink 2021 - 2024.

Deep ruby color. Juicy strawberries and red cherries are met with rhubarb, rose petals and some cola. Fleshy, juicy strawberries meet with light tannins and vibrant acidity. Cherry rhubarb pie flavors mix with white pepper, black tea some oregano. Fun and fresh despite the juicy fruit, this has a smooth, accessible feel but shows solid complexity for the price as well. Aged 12 months in French oak.

Medium yellow color. Aromas show apricots and lemon drops with lemon verbena, light butter, some bright, sudsy, floral tones. Crisp but flesh on the medium-bodied palate with lemons and peaches, bright but not light on the flavor. Lemon drops and honey mix with some almond and some brighter floral tones. Approachable, fun, yummy, value-driven stuff. Aged eight months in French oak, stainless steel and concrete eggs.

Smoky, flinty aromas and flavors give this medium-bodied, well-balanced wine an earthy expression in addition to good black cherry and hints of chocolate.

Cut grass and citrus aromas meet ripe apple and honeydew-melon flavors in this rather soft-textured and agreeable wine.

The Anderson Valley-based 2019 Pinot Noir Grand Reserve offers a solid, nicely fruited, medium-bodied style that has attractive black cherry fruits as well as licorice, toasted spice, and earth. It has plenty of classic Pinot Noir character and should keep for a couple of years.

This full-bodied wine is rich in texture and tastes more figgy and minerally than fruity, as subtle herb and broth flavors reveal some density on the palate.

86–88. Barrel Sample. A ripe, full-bodied wine, this is showing dark layers of wood, spice and intense acidity. Dark chocolate flavors give a bitter aftertaste.

Bright ruby-red. Reticent aromas of dark berries, pepper and herbs. In a distinctly cool style, with a raw suggestion of green pepper. Finishes with peppery tannins. Nicely juicy and brisk but seems a bit undernourished.

Light pink with an orange rim. A bit “dirty” on the nose but plenty of peach, a hint of rhubarb, lovely, actually. The palate, is unfortunately characterized by that “dirtiness” there is also some sweetness. Another wine that did not fair well with the additional year of age. I loved this last year (92 Pts) but this year? Not so much. Could it be an off bottle? Maybe…. Very Good.

Avant is all stainless steel fermented and bottled under a screwcap, a reliable recipe to rein in its bright tropical fruit. In 2019, the wine was 50% Monterey County (lemony citrus and mineral notes), 36% Santa Barbara County (fresh pineapple), and 14% Mendocino County (juicy green apple flavours). This wine has put on a little mid-palate weight to add to its ripe, sweet fruit. It is ready to drink all summer with your choice of west coast seafood or creamy cheese dishes.

This Monterey pinot noir pink is fermented in stainless to try and preserve freshness. Soft strawberries, cream, red apple, and a twist of mandarin fill the peach-hued, medium+ palate. The finish is snappy and brief. Chill well and drink this friendly, simple pink this summer.

With its sweet baked raspberry and cocoa notes, this wine has the flavor of a chocolate-raspberry ganache. It’s simple and rich.

Herb, cedar, tobacco and tomato leaf notes are bold, set against a dense, firm backbone of tannins and black licorice–laced dark fruit flavors. Caramel and toast accents linger on the finish, where the tannins turn more drying. Drink now through 2030.

Savory, with a supple mix of dried red fruit and roast beef flavors supported by medium-grained tannins. Cocoa powder on the finish. Drink now.

Dark in the glass with flint, funk, and fumée. The palate is fruity, but comes off as overly extracted. I would not necessarily seek this wine out, but nor would I be overly upset if I were served this wine. Very Good.

Aromas of toasted oak and espresso dominate the opening. The dense palate offers prune, roasted coffee bean and dried orange slice alongside assertive tannins that lead to a mouthdrying finish. Drink through 2023.

Racy flavors of wild berry and pomegranate are fresh and fruit-forward, with toast, cedar and tobacco shadings set on a smooth and juicy frame. The tannins firm up on the finish, revealing a note of star anise. Drink now.

Dark and winey, with a solid beam of blackberry and black cherry fruit, lined with licorice and roasted cedar notes. A cedar edge peeks out on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2022. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.

This delivers a good blast of dark fig, cherry and plum notes wrapped in a baker's chocolate frame. A bit chunky overall, with an earthy tone to the finish, but this is solid enough. Drink now through 2021.