Fairly direct and convincingly focused on the cherry-like fruit of Pinot Noir, this eminently likeable wine gets a welcome boost in overall richness by the not-too-pushy addition of creamy oak. It is moderately full-bodied with a friendly, supple palatal feel, and, if in no danger of tiring any time soon, its open, very accessible manner makes it easy to enjoy now. 87 points.

Soft contours and supple fruit give the 2014 Pinot Noir Fog Veil much of its distinctive personality. Sweet spice and dried floral notes add an attractive upper register in this pretty, appealing Pinot from La Crema.

An airy, elegant and very pretty nose offers up notes of both red cherry and raspberry along with those of spice and discreet floral wisps. The round, rich and agreeably textured middle weight flavors possess a caressing mouth feel before concluding in a dusty and mildly drying finish that doesn’t completely upset the balance but it does cut the persistence somewhat short. I would suggest serving this with the right foods as it will help with the dryness. In sum, this is not without its attractive points but it would be fair to say that the balance could be better.

The medium-ruby 2013 Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco from the Panorama Vineyard shows pomegranate, Asian plum sauce, round, juicy cherries, and wild strawberry notes. This comes from all Dijon clones, and was aged eight months in 25% new French oak. It should be drunk over the next several years, as these are not meant for long-term cellaring.

A very straightforward, ripe and reasonably fruity Pinot Noir, it is focused on red cherries and black with a slight tilt to heaviness where a bit of lightness and vitality might have been. Still and all, this wine has enough fruit and structure on its side to serve nicely with grilled steaks and chops, and, if slightly gruff at the end, it will smooth with a bit of aging.

My favorite was the least expensive, the 2013 Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast, which is a 390,000-case cuvée of 100% Pinot Noir aged eight months in 21% new French oak. This wine shows plenty of rose petal and strawberry notes intermixed with root beer and earth. Medium-bodied, it has lovely, sweet tannin and plenty of currants and plums. Drink it over the next 1-2 years.

A bit richer at first in the nose than it is distinctly fruity, this wine initially favors sweet, slightly spicy oak with an element of fresh, red cherries gradually coming into play. Fruit assumes a slightly more central role in the nimble, mid-density flavors that follow and stays the course through to a firm, slightly ragged finish, and, if hardly a wine that demands lengthy aging, it will benefit from a year or two of waiting.

This wine shows some polish and complexity, although it’s not ageable. Dry and slightly oaky, it has rich flavors of raspberry jam and brown sugar, with crisp, mouthwatering acidity.

The 2012 Pinot Noir Panorama Vineyard emerges from the glass with dark red and black fruit, smoke, tobacco, incense and licorice. Today the Panorama is a bit burly and rough around the edges.

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