USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two A barrel sample, the pale ruby-purple colored 2017 Pinot Noir Emery has a savory nose of black fruits, wood smoke and fresh tobacco leaves with hints of herbs and tar and a touch of alcoholic heat. Medium-bodied, it's very earthy in the mouth with soil and tar notions over black fruits, framed with firm, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and savory. This needs more time to come together but shows promise.

The 1995 Merlot is potentially a bigger and richer wine than either the 1994 or 1993. It is powerful and rich as a result of the extended maceration (30 days on the skins) and slow fermentation (because of the use of natural yeasts). A blend of 84% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc, this wine possesses exceptional potential. Moreover, it will last for 12-15 years. (Also appeared 12/20/96).

An impressive, full-bodied, low acid, dense, powerful wine, it possesses plenty of black currant and berry fruit intertwined with licorice, smoke, and vanillin scents. This layered, chewy, broad-shouldered, husky wine should be drinkable when released, and keep for two decades.

The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon, much like its Merlot counterpart, is even more powerful and fuller-bodied, with impressive levels of extract, as well as a forward, low acid, richly fruity character emphasizing plenty of smoke, chocolate, black cherry, and cassis fruit. Despite its preciousness, this Cabernet is a candidate for 15+ years of cellaring, although it will be drinkable upon release.

The lighter 2003 Legacy Proprietary Red (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot) is sweet and spicy with plenty of power, potency, and flavor. It will merit consumption during its first 10-12 years of life.

There's a tiny 200 cases of the 2015 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard as this vineyard was hit by frost. Violets, black and blue fruits and dried flowers all emerge from this spice-filled, primary, medium to full-bodied effort that shines for its depth of fruit.

The 2015 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard is primary and unevolved (more so than the 2014 was at this stage) and has perfumed, exotic notes of passion fruits, spring flowers and violets. Medium-bodied, rich and nicely concentrated, with high quality tannin, it should certainly be an outstanding wine to drink on release and over the following 7-8 years.

Another terrific barrel sample from the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2015 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard offers lots of creme de cassis, licorice, crushed violets and hints of sweet oak in its sappy, floral and vibrant personality. Again, the fruit profile here leans towards the darker end of the spectrum. Like the other 2015s, I suspect it will shine right out of the gate given its purity of fruit and nicely balanced style. There are 125 cases made.

Brilliant ruby-red. Sexy, spice-accented red fruits and rose pastille on the fragrant nose and in the mouth. Shows appealing sweetness and no rough edges, with a spine of juicy acidity adding structure. Quiet forward, with smooth, nearly invisible tannins lending shape to the wine's fruit on the long finish.

The 2014 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills should be a classic expression of the region, showing lots of spice, red fruit and dried soils aromas and flavors. Balanced, polished and elegant with plenty of fruit, it should certainly be an outstanding wine, and at the price, is an excellent value in Pinot Noir.

Scheduled to be bottled in August, the 2014 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands bottling comes more from the northern part of the appellation in 2014 (the 2013 was mostly from the southern end). It has lots of sweet cherries, roast, violets and minty characteristics as well as a ripe, voluptuous and still lively feel on the palate. More red-fruit dominated than the 2013, it's similarly styled and should certainly be an outstanding wine.

Showing a more savory edge, with lots of dried herbs, leather, autumn leaves and assorted red fruit characteristics, the 2014 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard is medium-bodied, nicely texture and has fine tannin that emerge on the finish. Despite the savory aromatic slant, it's sweetly fruited and balanced on the palate. I suspect it will show nicely on release.

The 2014 Zinfandel Limerick Lane Vineyard captures the essence of this historic site. The flavors are dark, bold and intense, throughout, with plenty of ripeness, richness and overall intensity yet also good acidity throughout. With time in the glass, the wine gains freshness and focus. The Limerick Lane is a big boy, that is for sure.

Novy's 2014 Zinfandel Papera Ranch Vineyard is defined by a touch of Carignane in the vineyard that gives it a sense of aromatic lift and its red-toned fruit character. Pomegranate, sweet red cherry, wild flowers and white pepper are all nicely delineated in the glass.

Offers more intensity, layers of flavor, and enticing texture as well as length.

Good saturated medium ruby. Briary aromas of cassis, bitter chocolate and menthol, along with a floral aspect. Lush and thick, with fruit-driven flavors of bitter cherry and menthol. Rich, dense and layered, but given shape by the firm acidity of the vintage. This should develop slowly and last well.

...dense purple-colored (Merlot) is superb. From a vineyard planted at 2, 500 feet with very poor soils...this formidably-endowed Merlot poseses aromas and flavors of roasted coffee, black fruits, iron, and smoke. Full-bodied, chewy, and muscular, yet accessible, it should drink well...

Outstanding. Exhibits notes of coffee bean, mocha, white chocolate, black cherries, and currants. Ripe and rich, with abundant tannin, this impeccably made Merlot should age graciously for 10-12 years.

From Mt. Veeder, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Mountain is a small cuvée of 307 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 21 months in all French oak. This is outstanding wine, but don’t confuse it with the extraordinary Lokoya Mt. Veeder cuvée, which has been perfect over the last several vintages. This wine shows an opaque purple color and a beautiful nose of creme de cassis, blueberries, licorice and white flowers. It is medium to full-bodied, powerful and should turn out to be outstanding when in bottle.

Possesses a sweet bouquet of graphite, black currants, earth, and high quality spicy oak. It reveals a beautiful texture, terrific purity, and plenty of structure as well as an accessible sweetness. It should drink well for 12-15+ years.

The 2003 (vintage) is better than the excellent 2002, but both wines reveal notes of black currants intermixed with blueberries, acacia flowers, chocolate, and coffee. Both are layered and rich, but the 2003 is fuller-bodied.

a brawny, muscular, full-sized Cabernet revealing plenty of intensity, beef, and muscle. This chewy, thick 2002 possesses a lot of tannin, but also impressive levels of extract as well as intensity. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15-18.

Planted at elevations of 900-1800 feet...an impressive effort. The deep ruby/purple-colored 2002 exhibits a sweet nose of cassis, chocolate, dried herbs, and loamy, earthy notes. Full-bodied, with superb purity, this rich tannic, ageworthy Cabernet should be at its finest between 2008-2020.

The 2012 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Camelot Highlands is very pretty. Almonds, hazelnuts, orange peel and apricot notes all meld together in the glass. The Camelot Highland is at once layered and also vibrant in the glass.