I was also able to taste a number of releases from Sonoma, all of which are more than noteworthy. Starting with the 2016 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyards, this fragrant, nuanced red offers lots of darker cherry, macerated strawberries, forest floor, and sweet spice-laced aromatics. It’s medium-bodied, supple, and straight-up delicious on the palate, with tons to love. Drink it any time over the coming 7-8 years.

Very attractive baking spices and gently toasty oak across ripe raspberries and strawberries with light savory baking spices and bergamot. The palate has a bright crunchy red cherry-berry core. Tannins are succulent and the freshness is alluring. Drink or hold.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyard leaps from the glass with an intense perfume of violets, redcurrants and black cherries with hints of black pepper, lavender, cinnamon stick and black tea. The palate is medium-bodied and very elegant yet wonderfully intense with a firm frame of fine-grained tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and fragrant. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown