Grapes for the 2017 Pinot Noir Belly of the Whale come from old vines on the Donum estate, and yields were only one ton per acre. Pale to medium ruby, it has a very pretty perfumed nose of toast, woodsmoke, dried rose petal and violet, perfumed earth, potpourri and autumn leaves, with perfectly ripe blue and red fruits at the core—lots of layers here!. Light to medium-bodied and silky in the mouth, the fruits, spice and floral notes interplay beautifully, supported by very fine, granulated tannins and absolutely intoxicating freshness to carry the long, layered, spicy finish. 78 cases were made.- EB

The 2017 Pinot Noir Belly of the Whale comes from the Donum Vineyard in Carneros and is a complex, rounded, incredibly complete Pinot Noir. Raspberries, strawberries, spice box, forest floor, and a terrific floral character give way to a medium to full-bodied wine that has ripe, sweet tannins and a texture that just glides over the palate. This is finesse and elegance with beautiful fruit. Drink it over the coming decade.

Rounded aromas of roasted cherry, star anise and violet make for a rich yet detailed nose on this bottling by Bibiana González Rave. The bright cherry-compote flavor of the palate is enhanced with eucalyptus, cracked pepper and earthy tones, making for a deliciously complete experience. MATT KETTMANN

A rich and ripe pinot that offers a wealth of rich, dark-cherry and blueberry aromas and flavors with very alluringly fleshy and silky texture on the palate. Holds good length. Give it time for the oak to settle. Drink or hold.