USA, California, Central Coast: The 2017 Vintage in Santa Barbara County The 2017 Jackson Estate Camelot Highlands Chardonnay has an expressive, pleasantly reductive nose of struck flint, toast, dried hay and mushroom with red apple, saline and chamomile hints. The palate is medium to full-bodied, gaining in amplitude before the juicy acidity kicks in, finishing long and savory. This is well made and a great value.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2017 Vintage in Santa Barbara County The 2016 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard Signature Collection fermented in stainless steel and was barrel aged in 35% new French oak for 16 months. Light to medium ruby colored, it's scented of woodsmoke, Earl Grey tea leaves, tangerine peel, rosewater perfume, potpourri, moss-covered bark and even juniper notes with cranberry, rhubarb and crushed blackberries—very layered and perfumed. Light to medium-bodied, it has a gorgeous interplay of ripe fruits and earthy character, with a silky texture, fine, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2017 Vintage in Santa Barbara County The 2016 Pinot Noir Barbara's Signature Collection (100% Dijon clone 667) was fermented entirely in barrel and aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak. Pale to medium ruby in color, the nose gives up oodles of pure, crushed berries—cranberries, blackberries and red cherries—with notes of charcuterie, cinnamon stick, underbrush, citrus peel, dried rose petals and moss. Medium-bodied, it has great intensity in the mouth with a sturdy frame of grainy tannins and good freshness to lift the long, layered finish.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2017 Vintage in Santa Barbara County Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard has a bright nose of Bing cherry, wild blackberries, earth and stewed black tea leaves with saline and hints of charcuterie and potpourri. Medium-bodied and silky, it's much more giving in the mouth with black and red fruits and tons of Earl Grey tea-tinged spice, with soft, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and layered. A delicate, earthy and pretty expression.

USA, California, Central Coast: The 2017 Vintage in Santa Barbara County The 2016 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard comes from a windy site planted on sandy loam with diatomaceous earth, using one-third whole cluster and 50% new oak. Pale to medium ruby and youthfully tight on the nose, it slowly gives up blueberry, black plum, violet and warm blackberries with blue fruit hints, cocoa, graphite, moss-covered bark and rain-spattered soil. Medium-bodied, silky and mineral-driven in the mouth, it slowly segues out to spice, with dusty-textured tannins and integrated acidity, finishing long and minerally.

Tasting the Traumatic 2017 Vintage (And Others) in Northern California Extremely pure fruit with blueberries and blackcurrants. Lavender, too. Full body. Stony and slightly austere tannins, but real mountain character. Needs two to three years to soften a little, but I like it.

Tasting the Traumatic 2017 Vintage (And Others) in Northern California A fresh, creamy white with sliced-apple and pear character, as well as some pie-crust and praline aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Flavorful, yet tame on the palate. Drink or hold.

Vibrant ruby color and a bright plum nose; silky and mellow with plum, cassis, and blackberry, plus a refined style and nice depth; balanced and long.

Pale and substantial, this is a bright and zesty chardonnay carrying yellow notes of chamomile and the fresh green crunch of celery through a tight finish. Juicy citrus flavors balance its savor. Bring out the wine’s earthiness with snapper roasted over fennel.

From a cool, sandy site Brewer-Clifton developed in 2007, this fires on three cylinders: rich, tropical fruit (think pineapple); waves of fine, sleek acidity; and a nutty, oaky richness. The net effect is structured and racy, with a mouthwatering hazelnut finish that brings to mind a pairing with buttery roast carrots and leeks.

Made from old-vine fruit from hillside blocks planted above Santa Maria’s benchland, this is chardonnay in a classical vein. It’s sumptuous and flavorful, the pear and apple flavors driven by oak without being over the top. Powerful and stylish; for fried chicken.

Oregon: An Embarrassment of Riches and Richness Translucent ruby-red. A seductively perfumed bouquet evokes fresh dark berries, potpourri, spicecake and cola, along with a building mineral overtone. Concentrated yet energetic in style, showing excellent clarity and spicy lift to the sweet black raspberry, boysenberry and floral pastille flavors. Becomes nervier and spicier on the finish, which hangs on with strong tenacity and gentle tannic grip. (60% new French oak)

Oregon: An Embarrassment of Riches and Richness Vivid magenta color. Displays deeply perfumed aromas of ripe red/blue fruits, candied flowers and licorice, with a suggestion of savory herbs emerging as the wine opens up. Chewy and densely packed on the palate, offering energetic blackberry, bitter cherry and smoked meat flavors and an exotic touch of baking spices. Finishes sweet, broad and very long, with steadily building tannins and lingering violet and spice notes.

Medium ruby color. Lovely aromas of fresh cherries, raspberries and red plums, topped in cola, rhubarb, white pepper, violets, and some earthy-clay notes. Plush yet zesty on the palate with dusty tannins. Bountiful but crisp fruit (cherries, strawberries, raspberries), and I get notes of spiced tea, rhubarb, cola, violet petals and earth. Plump and fruity but vibrant and complex as well, this should do well with two or three years, but it’s very accessible now, too. From a block of Pommard clone in the Londer block of this vineyard, 50% whole cluster fermentation, aged 10 months in 33% new French oak.

Golden color; smooth fruit nose; lush, rich texture, ripe but nicely structured with bright acidity; rich, balanced and long.

Rich cherry nose; ripe, deep cherry and savory notes; clean, balanced and luscious with hints of vanilla oak and toast, long and rich.

Copain (meaning ‘friend’ in French) was set up in 1999. The entry-level Syrah has the savoury, sylvan register of a northern St-Joseph. Its rounded fruits are well balanced, not overly full or intense, and shot through with an agreeable spicy streak. The oak is well integrated and doesn’t dominate. Tannins are very ripe but provide structure.

Plush and graceful, with an elegant core of complexity wrapped in velvety raspberry, spice and orange peel flavors.

Lithe and refined, with expressive rose petal, dark cherry and toasted cinnamon notes that build richness toward polished tannins.

Bright, medium red/purple hue, with a fresh fragrance of raspberry and blueberry, mixed spices and flowers. It's light-bodied and light in tannin, a fruit-driven but quite detailed wine of great aromaticity and charm.

Deepish red colour with a tint of purple. The bouquet has the trademark leafy raspberry lift of this varietal, with a hint of cedar, while the palate is tight and firm, elegant and intense, and it has more in common with St-Émilion than the Loire. Elegant, medium to full-bodied. A very tidy wine.

This white gold colored Chardonnay from Brewer and Clifton is very good. It opens with a mild oak and lemon meringue bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and savory. The flavor profile is a tasty lemon meringue pie and oak blend with nicely integrated minerality. I also detected hints of green apple and a touch of white pepper. The finish is dry and it flavors and well-managed acidity show nice length. This Chard would pair well with chicken cordon bleu.

This is a classic Napa Cabernet. Graceful and elegant and quite understated with a lovely, lifted nose of blackcurrant, spearmint, dark chocolate and pencil lead. The nose is complex and very refined with nicely integrated aromas. It is fullbodied, dense and firm and wonderfully dry, with no mocha and no jam. This is a fine elegant cabernet that will age well.

Lush and smoky stone-fruits nose with a sense of underlying power. Density and grip on the palate with impressive weight of fruit. Caramel on the persistent finish.

Thick tannins wrap around juicy jammy flavors of blueberry and black cherry in this concentrated and savory, earthy wine. Additional aspects of dried herb, tobacco and a touch of vanilla round out the full-bodied experience.