To be released in spring 2020, this mouthfilling wine with layers of spicy red fruit flavours is the second vintage using all French oak, and there was still some oak bite in the finish when I tasted it last fall. The fruit came from 15 different vineyards, with just over 9% of the grapes from Mendocino County. Winemaker Rob Davis likens this vintage to 2012, which has a similar intensity of fruit and harmonious character.

Showing an elegant structure, this historic wine is well integrated in terms of tannin and soft, supportive oak. Dried herb and clove mark the midpalate, adding seasoning and complex character to the currant core. VIRGINIE BOONE

The cherry gentleness of Jordan’s style comes through in this 2016, both rich and airy in its tart red fruit. You might find notes of cranberry and pomegranate layered over the cherry scents, the moderate weight of the wine leaving room for food, whether an array of roast autumn vegetables, thick-cut lamb chops, or both. — J.G.