Fresh and citrusy and white peach and minerals; bright, long and complex with lovely balance and nerve.

Smooth and spicy, a generous mouthful of pear, floral and lychee flavors wrapped in a polished frame. Drink now.

The Yangarra Viognier was made using the same techniques as the Roussanne, but here the wine has distinguishable varietal character, fresh fruit flavors and good length. There's a brilliant medium gold color, deeply set stone fruit aromatics, excellent texture and fruit, leading to a dry finish at 13% alcohol and good length. The one factor that has kept Viognier from becoming a major player in the U.S. market is high price and this appealing wine is another example.

Delicate and pure-tasting, with violet and rose petal accents to the lively cherry and red plum flavors. Hints of cocoa powder on the spicy finish.

This bright red colored Pinot Noir from WindRacer opens with a coffee and black cherry bouquet with a hint of candied strawberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, soft, balanced and has medium acidity. The flavor profile is a mild cherry with notes of gentle minerality and mild strawberry and a hint of cranberry. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. The Panel suggested pairing this Pinot with grilled red snapper or grilled pork.

In contrast to Wind Racer's Anderson Valley Pinot, the 2012 Pinot Noir Russian River shows more charcuterie, roasted herbs and rosemary jam. It is a spicy yet fresh style of Pinot Noir to drink over the next 3-4 years.

Vivid red. Vibrant red berry and floral scents are complicated by a zesty mineral quality. Clean and precise on the palate, offering fresh red currant and strawberry flavors and a touch of blood orange. Fleshes out with air and finishes with excellent clarity and spicy persistence. In an understated, elegant style, offering plenty of upfront appeal.

Lithe and spicy, with creamy accents to the apple pastry, pear tart and dried tropical fruit flavors. Long, rich finish.

Aged in French oak for more than a year (20% new), this is a full-bodied and layered wine. Strong aromas of French butter and baguette dominate the nose. The midpalate offers more brightness, revealing high-toned accents of apple blossom, lemon and mango wrapped in tart acidity before returning to the richness of crème brûlée on the close.

The outstanding 2011 Chardonnay Russian River reveals a more interesting perfume of buttered hazelnuts, honeysuckle and caramelized citrus in a style reminiscent of a French Meursault. Medium-bodied with copious fruit, good acidity and a subtle and deft use of oak, it should drink well for 2-4 years.

Lush, ripe and concentrated with smooth, creamy texture and lot of oak; rich, dense and showing spice and depth.

2019 Pacific Northwest Rosé Report The 2018 WillaKenzie Estate Rose shows off a pretty pale hue and opens with a bouquet of rose water with guava and bright cran-cherry aromatics. Showing bright acidity, the wine has a wonderful citrus astringency that connects with the red fruit flavors. Downright delicious, enjoy this over the next several years.

Good value wines for summer parties Summer’s humidity is instantly reduced with a glass of chilled 2017 Willakenzie Estate Rose Willamette Valley. This pale salmon-colored wine blends 95% pinot noir with 2% pinot blanc and 3% pinot meunier, a grape usually associated with Champagne. It adds up to a pleasant citrus and cherry-scented and flavored wine with a touch of minerality and a palate-cleansing finish.

Summer Sippers Pale copper color. Super floral on the nose with cut stems, orange blossoms, lilies, nettle, along with peaches galore. Precise acidity from start to finish, dry and tangy, minerality throughout. White cherries, juicy peaches and nectarine topped in rose hips and orange blossoms. Floral, fresh, lovely balance and depth, this is very pretty stuff. Pinot Noir with 3% Pinot Meunier and 2% Pinot Blanc.

On night number two, I took a similar but more narrow approach in choosing two wines that come from the same vineyard, but then added a white into the mix. The latter, a pinot gris, was my first introduction to WillaZenzie Estate, a winery that quickly became a revelation. All of WillaKenzie’s wines come from their own vineyards, and many of their wines are vineyard-designates. I’ll get to a number of their pinots later, but the 2017 pinot gris has a voluminously perfumed nose of grapefruit, peach, gravel, slate lime zest and marzipan. Lean on entry, it gains body as it sits in the mouth. The acid is nicely balanced, neither subdued nor overbearing. Key Lime pie, starfruit and grapefruit dominate the fruit profile, though the stony minerality really drives the length of this linear, focused wine. Impressive effort. 90 points, Value A.

Very light straw color; core apple and stone fruit aroma, hint of nectarine, pleasing, fresh, fine depth; medium bodied, crisp and lively on the palate; dry, nice acidity, well-balanced; bright tangerine with a trace of minerality; medium finish. Another solid effort from one of Oregon's most consistent and top producers of this grape variety.

Bright, creamy and delicate aromas of banana, vanilla bean, light lemon and fresh spice on the nose. Zesty and refreshing on the palate, this shines with leading notes of green apple, lemon and grapefruit notes that soften on the midpalate, leaving behind tropical fruits, sunflower and white blossom notes and a creamy texture that fade slowly.

This entry level cuvée is finished with a screw cap, and pulled from a mix of barrels and clones from across the estate. It's forward, fruity and big, like an especially bold Beaujolais. Along with primary berry fruit there are light touches of pine needle and chocolate. It's full bodied and ready to go with your winter meal's roasted fowl.

Taut and focused, with blueberry and currant flavors behind prickly tannins. Finishes with generosity and point.

Aromas of smoke, berries and spices follow through to a medium body, firm tannins and a fresh and bright finish. Delicate center palate.

A fresh and linear red with subtle chocolate, spice and berry character. Medium body, fine tannins and a crisp finish.

USA, Oregon: 2016 Vintage – Part Two Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2012 Pinot Noir Pierre Leon opens with spiced red and black fruits on the nose with nuances of cassis, cardamom and potpourri with touches of vanilla, smoked meat and dried leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate gives up layers of fruit and spice, with very fine, grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with sweet fruit and savory nuances. This is just lovely!

A wine of undeniable complexity. More evolved aromatically than the 1999, it reveals notes of minerals, licorice, coffee, black fruits, and smoky oak. Although it can not match the 1999's sheer volume and intensity of flavor, the 2000 is full-bodied and rich, with hints of roasted tobacco, sweet blackberry and espresso-tinged fruit, and a long, opulent finish. It should drink well for 15+ years.

The first vintage of Verite's Le Desir, the 2000 is a blend of 51% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from Jess Jackson's Sonoma vineyards. This well-made wine exhibits fruitcake notes intermixed with round, herbaceously tinged berry fruit and a hint of subtle oak in its medium to full-bodied, tasty, spicy personality. Fully mature, it will not be long lived by the standards of Verite, but it should continue to drink well for another 5-6 years.

Dark, rich and chocolaty, with black cherry and blackberry fruit that's deep and concentrated. Gains complexity with mineral, cedar, coffee and tarry notes, turning dry and tanic. Best from 2002 through 2010.