89 La Crema 2004 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley). Shows lots of polish in the ripe tropical fruit and green apple flavors that have a baked, buttery pie crust edge. Brisk cool-climate acidity perks up these rich flavors and makes the wine clean and balanced. -- S.H.

At La Crema, winemaker Melissa Stackhouse makes a range of subtly expressive Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Her Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, one of La Crema's most widely available bottlings is also one of her best: round and rich with ripe pear and caramel-vanilla flavors.

La Crema, Nine Barrel, Russian River Valley Sonoma County 2003 Elegant and subtle aromas. Juicy, ripe, rich. Tannins provide structure with acidity carrying flavours to a long length. Up to 5 years.

Earthy, barnyard note. Peas, toast with a piney note. Well made. Drink now.

Really good fruit, ripe and tasty. Plenty of nutmeg, but well-balanced, with nice restraint.

An extra dollop of vanilla and toast. Plenty of big, balanced fruit, with true varietal character.

A big Chardonnay, with lovely apple and melon fruit flavors. Toasty and spicy. A long finish.

Lovely sage, apple and hazelnut nose. Lots of ripe stone fruits on palate. Creamy, textural and bold peach fruits.

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Ripe, lemony nose. Quite rich, juicy, fair acidity, reasonably concentrated and bright, not complex but balanced and persistent.

Fine, complex, slightly honeyed bouquet, lots of class. Excellent weight and lots of clear flavours and complexity, finely made.

The Best 5 Wine Pairing That Go Perfectly With These Romance Novels 5. For an Evening of Daydreaming or an Afternoon of Day Drinking Even if there's snow on the ground, you'll be envisioning a beachside summer oasis thanks to this pairing. Callie finally did it, she and her best friend, Olivia, put their life savings into a beach house on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. And she's enjoying her hard work now that her sexy neighbor Luke Sullivan has caught her attention. Will their secrets keep them apart, or should they drink some Kendall Jackson rosé and forget about the past? You can do the same or keep this on ice till the snow thaws and you're ready for beach season. Whatever you pick, you'll have a crisp Pinot Noir grape waiting for you.

Wine with…Chicken – Tortilla Soup We found that many different wines, coming in different colors and textures, worked fine with this dish. The few that didn’t were either overtly alcoholic and heavy or so delicate as to seem ephemeral. This is a hearty, winter-weight dish. The wines that worked best in our tasting were just as hearty without becoming overpowering. A blend of primarily Pinot Noir and Syrah, this wine exhibits bright strawberry flavors and taut acidity, so offers a tasty counterpoint to the velvety-feeling soup.

2018 Rosé releases “Rosé continues to be one of the hottest trends in wine, with a broad appeal,” said Kendall-Jackson winemaster Randy Ullom in a release announcing the national launch of 2017 Vintner’s Reserve Rosé. "Some thought this trend would end, but it has shown no signs of slowing down."

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Pink wines continue to grow in popularity Two delightful rosés were dominated by pinot noir and syrah: Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve (juicy, round…)

7 great options for drinking pink under $20 The trendy pink wine is everywhere these days. Here are some gems to try. The only potential downside is that so many producers have tried to take advantage of the furor (Girly Girl, anyone?) that there have been mixed results. That is especially true with the grapes used: For every Kendall-Jackson, whose inaugural Vintner’s Reserve Rosé is delightful, there are one or more purveyors trotting out clunky pink wines made with merlot or cabernet sauvignon.

Wine of the Week The 2017 rosés are here, including a new kid in town — and a surprising one at that. Yes, this actually is the first vintage for the Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve California Rosé 2017 ($17), and it’s a nicely crafted, refreshing aromatic delight. Berries, citrus and stone-fruit flavors play off one another deftly and deliciously, and this wine provides plenty of looks, lift and length. It’s sourced from coastal vineyards in three counties (Sonoma, Santa Barbara and Mendocino) and is mostly pinot noir, with some grenache and syrah blended in. Bring on the mollusks and shellfish, and/or the soft cheeses and crunchy salads for this impressive debut.

The Vancouver International Wine Festival opened this week. The eight-day extravaganza is Canada’s biggest wine show with 54 events, 1450 wines from 16 countries and 160 wineries. The festival had humble origins when it began in 1979 with only one winery, Robert Mondavi from the Napa Valley in California. This year the theme region is once again, California. On Monday, I was at Joey’s downtown for a media launch and on deck were five delicious wines from the Golden State. Third was the Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Rosé. If you plan on tasting whites and reds at the festival, consider having some rosés as a transition. I loved the pink colour and the bright fruit. It is mainly Pinot Noir and Syrah with fruity bouquet and flavour of grapefruit, watermelon, and apricot.

This is a bright and lively, citrusy rosé with notes of pink grapefruit, mineral and just a hint of strawberry. It’s a smart buy because it over-delivers. 3½ stars.

A Whole Lot of Rosé Don't be fooled by the pale pink color; this rosé is bright in flavor, jumping right out of the glass with notes of crisp grapefruit, strawberry, fresh-cut watermelon and hibiscus. Primarily from the cool Monterey and Mendocino coasts, this Pinot Noir is also stainless steel fermented, retaining the bright fruit character.

Do You Know the Way to Serve Rosé Once considered a pale substitute for real wine, rosé has gained in popularity in recent years, especially in summer. Kendall-Jackson has a vintner's reserve that highlights the good points of rosé. It's drier than typical releases of the past and has enough acidity, but not bitterness, make it a great pair with seafood, light chicken dishes and spicy foods. Plus, it's easier to choose a rosé as vintage is not an issue and last year's crop is perfect. Rosés are a tradition in Provence, France but California varieties can be more full-bodied, with a slightly different fruitiness.

Top 5 Must-Try Rosés This Summer Coming primarily from Monterey and Mendocino’s cool coastal vineyards, the 2017 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Rosé is a vibrant translucent pink coral. It features bright citrus, wild strawberries, watermelon rind, and white floral elements. Stainless steel fermentation retains the bright fruit character, freshness and purity, and makes it perfect for sipping on its own or paired with spring meals. Composition: 75% Pinot Noir; 23% Syrah; 2% Grenache.

Best Buys in the Market, 1 star …There are a good many Rosés being made from Pinot Noir these days ranging from light, lively and crisp to somewhat more substantial, and among the better values to be had,...and the Pinot-dominant (One Star)*KENDALL-JACKSON Vintner’s Reserve California 2017 come with the added bonus of being widely available and regularly discounted…