Sharing the same open manners as its Russian River companion, this ripe and rounded effort is slightly more viscous and rounded in feel, and if offers up lots of uncomplicated, ripe-cherry fruit. It is not a complex or layered wine, but it is undeniably tasty stuff, and its gentle leanings to softness commend it to service in the relatively short term.

Presents a tight beam of cherry-laced gravel, dried herb and cedar notes, ending clean and vibrant. Drink now through 2020.

This smooth wine offers red fruits all the way, unperturbed by the usual complications of soil, herb or rock. Medium long, fresh, tasty and unchallenging.

The top of the line 2011 Pinot Noir Nine Barrel is a bit awkward in this tasting. I am not sure 2011 is the vintage for extended elevage in Pinot Noir, as the flavors are already a bit forward and advanced. Sweet tobacco, licorice, black cherries and menthol emerge over time, but the 2011 remains a bit burly and compact at the same time.

Medium ruby color; subtle aromas of spice, herbs and cherry; light cherry and earthy flavors; good structure and balance; long finish. Lighter weight Pinot that would pair well with a light pasta.

The 2010 Pinot Noir Monterey is big, juicy and bursting with dark fruit. The wine shows excellent up-front intensity, but then loses some of its persistence on the mid-palate and finish. This tasty entry-level Pinot is best enjoyed over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.

A warm, fleshy pinot noir, this has super ripe flavors of blackberry jam and orange bitters. The warmth brings up a rasp in the tannin suited to prime rib.

Bright red. Spicy, high-pitched red berry aromas, with a note of black pepper. Firm and bright but a bit edgy, showing refreshing bitter cherry and red currant flavors. Finishes with a gentle kick of baking spices and a slight tartness.

More crushed rock, herb, strawberry and spice box characteristics are found in the 2009 Pinot Noir Monterey. It exhibits a slightly deeper medium ruby hue than the Sonoma Coast cuvee along with medium body and additional structure and tannin. It should be even better with another 6-12 months of bottle age and will keep for 4-5 years. La Crema is an excellent value winery owned by Jess Jackson with an impressive group of winemakers, including Melissa Stackhouse.

Sporting a mix of both ripe and tart cherries in its aromas, and following up with like-minded flavors of medium density, this slightly low-keyed wine wants for a bit of panache, but it hits the varietal mark in terms of both fruit and balance. It tends a little to back-palate dryness, but it will provide useful drinking over the next two or three years.

Middling in depth and middling in focus and always finding just enough fruit at its heart to gain commendation, this wine mixes ripe cherry notes with a hint of vineyard soils and a whisper of a green twig element in its aromas. Piquant red cherry fruit follows a slightly rounded entry, and the wine stays on the bright, just a tad tight side all the way to the end.

Clean, a touch simple and frontal but decently fruity nonetheless, this easily liked Pinot Noir also finds a passing reference to dried flowers in its aromas. Somewhat rounded at entry, then firmer across that palate, the wine is medium-full in body and shows off both supple and slightly puckery notes as it finishes.

Slightly more serious is the medium ruby-hued 2008 Pinot Noir Monterey. Revealing the berry fruit side of Pinot Noir, with additional texture and depth, it should drink nicely for 2-3 years.

2004 PINOT NOIR RUSSIAN RIVER A cherry cough syrup character along with notions of toasty oak and beet root/root beer and followed by a lush, heady mid-palate and finish.

Sweet scents of cherry and peppermint form a rustic balance with the earthy grit of tannin. Match the sweet flavor with roasted eggplant stuffed with pork.

2004 PINOT NOIR ANDERSON VALLEY

Aromas of cranberries, strawberries, and pomegranate emerge. With tart acidity, a floral character and decent structure, it is best drunk over the next 3-4 years.

Dark and ripe, with juicy black cherry and blackberry flavors that are smooth and polished, picking up a touch of anise, earth and spice on the finish. Drink now through 2007.

Revealing more forest floor, herb, earth, and sweet cherry qualities

The 2001 Pinot Noir Estate Carneros exhibits more underbrush, forest floor and cinnamon characteristics along with straightforward cherry and strawberry fruit. This medium-bodied Pinot is meant for immediate consumption.

The attractively priced 2001 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley is an elegant, dark ruby-colored Pinot offering a sweet perfume of herb-tinged black cherries, strawberries, and a notion of cranberries. Enjoy this lush, medium-bodied 2001 over the next 1-2 years.

The limited production 2001 Pinot Noir Nine Barrels was dominated by oak. The fruit quality is very good, offering notes of black cherries, strawberries and pomegranate. The oak should become more subdued with time, but Pinot Noir loses its fruit quickly.

Delicate in style, with spicy cherry, raspberry and elegant earthy nuances. An excellent value.

Bright medium red, a bit pale at the rim. Redcurrant, licorice and fresh hers on the nose. Tightly wound and a bit muscular; less pliant and sweet than the other 2000 pinots under the La Crema label. Distinctly blacker flavours here: black cherry, bitter chocolate, uncured tobacco. Finishes with firm tannins.

Lastly, readers should check out the 1,400-case 2001 Syrah, a cool-climate offering revealing crisp underlying acidity as well as good sweet blackberry and black currant fruit. This medium bodied, superficial but tasty, easy going Syrah will drink well for 2-3 years.