What To Drink Now: Wonderful Willamette ValleySiduri Winery’s Willamette Valley Pinot Noir enjoys 15% whole cluster fermentation, giving a freshness to the earthy, forest floor and wild herb-filled wine. Marry those flavors with red plum, cranberry, and dried herb for a savory selection ideal with anything from roast chicken or pork tenderloin, grilled salmon, or mushroom risotto.

This Oregon white is an impressive New World-style chardonnay that shows that Oregon producers can do for chardonnay what they’ve done with pinot noir.In this, the Willakenzie estate chardonnay isn’t too ripe or too oaky, as might be expected from a similar California product. Look for green apple fruit and some lemon zest, more minerality than I expected in a New World charrdonnay, and even some brioche and yeastiness for those of you who want noticeable oak. The wine should become rounder and more full as it ages; it’s ready now, but will likely be that much better with a couple of more years in the bottle.

Top 10 Wine and Cheese PairingsPinot Grigio Cheese Pairing:Baby SwissPinot Grigio has notes of lemon, apple, and honeysuckle on the nose and a saline quality on the palate. It beautifully complements the buttery, creamy notes of Baby Swiss cheese while offering freshness and a tiny bit of much-needed salinity. Think of it as the crystal salt on homemade butter on bread. It’s a wonderful pairing. Our favorite Pinot Gris for pairing: La Crema.

Wine of the Day: Gran Moraine Yamhill-Carlton Pinot NoirJuicy and fresh, Gran Moraine Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir layers red cherry, crushed raspberry, wild strawberry, and pomegranate with touches of black tea, mocha, and purple wildflowers, finishing with touches of star anise and nutmeg.

Today we stick our nose and tongue into a really good white wine. It’s so good, they’ve incorporated it into the name: Murphy Goode Chardonnay! Located in Sonoma, California, this winery is part of the Jackson Family wine empire, which includes Kendall Jackson.The label gives you a big hint on what to expect: “ripe apple, lemon curd, vanilla.” But describing a wine is a very subjective exercise. Experience can certainly help you identify more aromas and flavours than when you first start appreciating wine. The bottom line is, “Do you like it?” And picking descriptors for the smells and flavours is very personal. It’s what you experience rather than whether you are right or wrong.On the nose I identified tropical fruit, citrus, toasty oak and coconut. When I tasted this golden Chardonnay there was ripe pineapple and lemon zest, butterscotch from the minimal barrel fermentation, and a hint of spice like nutmeg. It's a well-balanced wine with the fruit and the other properties in harmony, a refreshing amount of acid and a long mango finish. Here’s a Chardonnay that works as a sipper as well as a great pairing for seared scallops.

Treat yourself with these winesShowcasing the pinnacle of Kendall-Jackson using grapes that are estate- grown on the mountains, hillsides and ridges of Alexander Valley and Knights Valley. Deep and plush, ample forest and spice notes harmonize with enticing fruit.

Happy Spa-lidays!Make it a big pour!

Their best in recent memory will revive your faith in both Australia & Merlot.

2018 Siduri Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – a strong representation of the Willamette Valley, this wine has notes of cranberry, spice, orange peel, berries, earth, cherry and herbs.

2018 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – such an easy drinking wine with notes of berry, red cherry, rose petal, mushroom, nutmeg and a touch of cedar.

2018 Siduri Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir – this was an elegant and savory wine with notes of cherry, violets, plum, mushroom and herbs with a touch of spice.

Inky garnet in the glass, this wine smells of black cherry, licorice, and earth. In the mouth, fleecy tannins wrap around a core of black cherry and cocoa powder that has a faint herbal bitterness to it. Excellent acidity and lovely sawdusty depths make for complex and delicious wine. Beautifully balanced and graceful to the last drop.

Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of black cherry and chocolate. In the mouth, rich cherry cola and cocoa powder flavors are gorgeously juicy thanks to excellent acidity. Cola nut and floral flavors mix with mouthwatering cherry fruit as gauzy tannins coat the mouth. Fantastically balanced and delicious. Impeccable in every way. Effortless to drink, impossible not to love.

Inky garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry and tobacco leaf. In the mouth, lush, velvety flavors of cherry, green herbs and dark plums are smooth and supple as they move across the palate. Excellent acidity, powdery faint tannins and impeccable balance. This is a poised, regal wine with confidence and grace. Herbal notes linger in the finish with a touch of licorice.

Exceptional.

Exceptional.

Excellent.

Exceptional.

Exceptional.

Another take on blending a variety of the Valley’s vineyards to create a greater picture of why this is a special place for Pinot Noir. Pinot grapes from twenty different vineyards and multiple growing regions. The wine is darker in fruit character, with aromas of mocha powder, cinnamon and black plum. The palate though offers fresh minerality, turned earth, moss, and lots of blackberry flavors.

A visit to Lokoya’s winery, perched snuggly upon the hills of Spring Mountain, is one of the key reasons we fell in love with Napa. Cabernet Sauvignon is their icon, and they produce award-winning style from all corners of the region – Spring Mountain, Diamond Mountain, Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder. Today, we focus on the latter. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, demerara sugar and black liquorice evolve into blackberry and stewed raspberry. The robust tannins within this beauty pave way to a long dark chocolate and tobacco finish, held together with a beautiful texture and mouthfeel.

The Jackson Family have been making wine for as long as we can remember and the beautiful thing about each and every one of their estates is that quality is never compromised for scale.This hefty Bordeaux blend (largely Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot) is produced in limited quantities and is well worth the money. Showcasing rich flavours of cassis, mint and raspberry with a moreish earthiness thanks to its incredible terroir, this wonder adds an extra layer of comfort to the cold winter air. This is another highlight and a testament to the stunning wine that calls Napa Valley its home.

In praise of half bottles - excellent.

In praise of half bottles - excellent.

In praise of half bottles - excellent.