Juicy red fruit meets black olive tannins in a crush of stony, mineral warmth, ending this powerful wine with some freshness and tension. Youthfully hard in its structure, this should age well over the next several years.

The 2011 Merlot W. S. Keyes from the Kendall-Jackson site on Howell Mountain is a blend of 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as serious old vine richness, and a full-bodied, brooding, powerful mouthfeel. It ratchets up the level of intensity, and seems even deeper and longer than the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. There are plenty of chocolate-infused berry fruit, mocha and espresso notes in this impressive 2011. Drink it over the next decade

La Jota's 2010 Merlot WS Keyes impresses for its textural elegance and finesse. Here, too, the sweet floral notes add lift, freshness and vibrancy. The 2010 has a vein of salinity that gives the wine much of its energy and verve. This beautifully balanced Merlot-based red should drink well relatively early, but also age nicely. The blend is 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged predominantly in new oak.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Cabernet Franc is going to need a few years to shed some of its baby fat and fully come together. Today, the new oak is a bit prominent. Even so, there is good depth to the fruit. The 2016 is still very young, though. I would prefer to cellar it for at least a few years before venturing into bottles.

Cabernet Franc has always done well on Howell Mountain and La Jota's 2012 Cabernet Franc (100% Cabernet Franc aged in 80% new French oak) exhibits attractive notes of forest floor, brambleberries, truffles, licorice and blue and black fruits. Medium-bodied and dense, with terrific fruit intensity, lots of glycerin, but no sense of heaviness or astringency, it should drink well for a decade.

Particularly impressive is the sexy, seductive 2008 Cabernet Franc. Its dark garnet/plum color is followed by sweet aromas of bay leaf, raspberries and blueberries, a medium-bodied, fleshy mouthfeel and striking minerality as well as balance. This soft, lush 2008 should drink nicely for 10-15 years. Since being acquired by Jess Jackson, La Jota Vineyard Co. has been a work in progress. The very strong 2007s have been followed by very good 2008s, so, hopefully, this well-known estate, which made some phenomenal wines in the mid-nineties, is back on track.

A chewy and fruity red with blackberry, chocolate and hints of cedar. Medium to full body. Hazelnut finish.

Mocha and dark chocolate with big black plums. Full-bodied and supple.

Lots of dark-fruit and tar character on the nose and palate. Full body with silky tannins and a dark-chocolate, berry and mineral undertone. A little more subdued than the 2010 but outstanding. Needs two or three years to soften: Try in 2016.

Mint, dark berry, briar and anise aromas lead to a tightly wound palate of similar character. Vanilla, red raspberry, chocolate and excellent acidity. This is a wine that needs time.

Deep ruby. Pretty aromas of blackberry, blueberry and bitter chocolate; smells riper than the basic cabernet bottling. Then denser and sweeter in the mouth, with the concentration of chewy black fruit flavor to support the wine's powerful tannins. Medicinal but not green or aggressive. An excellent example of Howell Mountain cabernet.

...it has deep, fine blackberry and cherry fruit flavors, and should have a good future. The score reflects the possibilities after 5-7 years of aging.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate vineyard, planted at 1,800 to 1,850 feet. It has fabulous aromatics of lead pencil shavings, black and blue fruits, forest floor and floral notes. With loads of fruit, but also an elevated level of tannin, this deep purple-colored wine is impressive, but still unevolved and youthful. Give it another 4-5 years of cellaring as well.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, from the estate vineyards, is showing well. Dense purple, with the telltale mulberry and graphite notes of Howell Mountain, youthful tannins, and a relatively boisterous and exuberant, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, it is still young. This wine (90% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) should hit its prime in another 4-5 years, and drink well for 10-15+ after that.

COMMENTARY: My love for La Crema goes way back—I won't tell you how far—and the 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé just adds to those feelings. TASTING NOTES: This is a lovely rosé with excellent aromatics and flavors. Pair the wine's strawberry and dried earth flavors with a light seafood risotto.

At first, this is all angles, the clean cherry fruit warmed by coffee, burnt at the edges, slightly bitter, sweetened with vanilla. Then air settles the factions and brings the smooth fruit into focus. It takes on a smoky, masculine Carneros style, expressing its power as a big black wine. Drink it now if you like aggressive, muscular wines, or wait it out for a more graceful conclusion.

Deep cherry red. Moderately full-bodied. Highly extracted. Moderately oaked and tannic. Chocolate, toast, ripe blackberry. Deep dark brooding nose leads a seamless and rich palate with some attractive toasted oak flavors through the finish. Overall a firmly structured style.

Dark color. Pretty aromas of cherry, vanilla, tea, meat, mushroom, earth and smoke mingle. Very complex and concentrated. Tiers of ripe, sweet stone fruit with spicy oak notes and a lively acidity. Delicious now.

Pinot Noir World Series

"A blockbuster filled with ripe cherry and strawberry. Balanced and rich with high levels of fruit, acid and tannin. The lush fruit is married well with complementary notes of chocolate, coffee and vanilla. Silky smooth texture carries through to the finish." Cellar selection and best buy.

A big bold red, this is lush and expansive on the considerably concentrated palate, imparting developed flavors of baked strawberry, rhubarb, baking spice and black tea. The oak is integrated yet present.

Earthy and grippy character define this full-bodied wine, a full explosion of big flavor at its core. Cola, cherry and black currant complement in waves of sweet and savory flavor, with a lasting taste of forest floor and tea.

La Crema sources the grapes for this Pinot Noir from the potentially better-suited vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. Compared to their Monterey bottling, the sweetness in this one is replaced by bright, ripe red fruit notes mixed with alluring herbal and leafy flavors. Similar to their Monterey bottling, suave tannins allow you to enjoy it now. For those who think far ahead, it would be an excellent choice for turkey.

What's most notable for such a big production wine is that it was sourced entirely from two estate vineyards rather than assembled from purchased fruit. Supple flavors of berry, plum and baked cherry spread broadly across the palate, with highlights of cocoa and tobacco. The finish is smooth as silk.

This dark ruby colored Pinot Noir from La Crema is very good. It opens with a cherry and pomegranate bouquet with hints of oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and savory. The flavor profile is an oak and black raspberry blend with notes of stewed plum, red beet and a dash of black pepper. The finish is dry and it shows very nice length for a Pinot Noir. I would pair this Pinot with duck confit.