A big, concentrated, pinot, with rich and powerful plum and black cherry aromas and flavors.

Deep, concentrated and loaded with very ripe fruit in the nose, this showy youngster is enhanced by plenty of very rich oak and deftly placed elements of spice and herbs. Full and fleshy on the palate.

Big black-cherry aroma with smoky oak notes; explosive berry flavors.

Medium-bodied and fruity. Classic notes of earth and dried herbs mingle with the ripe strawberry and cherry fruit. Lengthy with soft tannins and acids.

Spicy, minty and fruity with great weight and oak profile. Cherry pie and chocolate notes with a long finish.

Emphatic ripeness is the central theme of this full-scaled rendition. The aromas marry black cherries and abundant oak, while peppery spice joins the same cherries and oak in the mouth.

A sweet nose of candied cherries. Additional cola and tree bark flavors decorate the edges. A Pinot to buy for in your face fruit intensity and a full finish.

Soft and lush with herbs, earth and berry fruit; balanced and long.

If you're wondering why wine writers increasingly are excited about the reliability and intensity of Pinot Noir produced in California, pull the cork from a bottle of 1992 Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir. It's what the varietal is all about when it can be coaxed into flaunting its finest stuff--plum berries and cherries in smell and flavor, a rich satiny texture, a structure wiry yet resilient, a critic tanginess in the finish.

Recommended. Attractive, floral, bright cherry fruit aroma; fairly rich, supple, smooth, slightly toasty, ripe black cherry fruit flavors. Enjoyable to drink now.

Soft, cherry fruit and a round finish.

Opens with a lovely, elegant nose leading to delicious juicy fruit with soft, inviting mid-palate flavors.

Among my top three Pinot Noirs.

Their best Pinot Noir to date. Voluptuous.

Lush, ripe, plump flavors. Pure, clean, enticing. Ought to satisfy anyone pining for a good Pinot.

Recommended.

Masterful pinot noir with bright berry flavors, elegant structure. 3 stars, superb.

Deeper, darker pinot noir with sensational complexity and balance. 3 stars, supberb.

Santa Barbara Chardonnay And Pinot Noir Are Made By The Ocean 2016 Cambria Vineyards & Winery Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley: dark fruit, white tea, savory, cardamom, lean and focused.

Pinot Noir Masters 2019: Gold

Of course, we can’t forget mom. Barbara Banke has her own section of the Cambria estate dedicated to Pinot Noir as well. Given the fact that the Santa Maria Valley is one of California’s coolest appellations and boasts one of the longest-growing seasons in the state, it’s no surprise that the cool nights and warm days produce Pinot Noir grapes with balance and elegance. The 2015 Cambria Estate Winery Barbara’s Signature Collection Clone 667 Pinot Noir offers aromas of roasted spices, red raspberries, lilacs and earth. Textured flavors of red berry fruit, cocoa nibs, black cherry and vanilla flows over the tongue. The finish is rich and silky, with supple acidity.

Taking it one step further in Julia’s vineyard, the 2015 Cambria Estate Winery Julia’s Vineyard Signature Collection Pinot Noir is definitely a collectible wine. Using a combination of two clones, 23 and 4, Jackson describes this wine as “the cabernet sauvignon wine lover’s pinot noir.” It has a lovely perfumed nose of ripe red raspberries, red plums and earthy aromas. The palate reveals a very straightforward arsenal of dark fruits, including blackberry and ripe plums. Toasty oak and hints of mocha are prominent on the persistent yet supple finish. Check out the cool etched bottle, designed by Jackson and featuring an ancient seashell, which can be found throughout the vineyard.

Wine of the Week: Thanksgiving wine recommendations Of course, no decent Thanksgiving dinner would be well dressed without a versatile pinot noir. The elegant and charming 2015 Cambria “Julia’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir hails from the Santa Maria Valley, located in the Central Coast region of California. This classic Pinot has it all: a nose bursting with aromas of baked raspberries and pomegranate fruit and a richly textured mouthfeel that offers up plenty of gorgeous red strawberries, ripe blueberry and hints of cranberry and clove on the elegant finish. Pretty and refined, the polished tannins and fresh acidity provide a long, generous finish.

Julia’s eponymous vineyard parcel was created in 1988 and shares similar a similar soil composition with her older sister’s plot, including limestone, shale and sandy soil terroir. However, Julia’s vineyard is dedicated to growing Pinot Noir. The 2015 Cambria Estate Winery Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir starts off with a lovely bouquet of lavender with hints of wild strawberry and boysenberry. The palate is rewarded with well-defined flavors of red berry fruit and cloves are buoyed by vibrant acidity that leads to a silky finish.

Wines of the Week Julia’s Vineyard at Cambria Estate Winery in the Santa Maria Valley was planted beginning in 1974 making it one of the oldest Pinot Noir vineyards in the area. Mature vines yield the finest fruit, and my tasters appreciated cranberry and cherry fruit with earthy mineral and baking spices. A nice acid balance makes for excellent pairing with our grilled salmon.