Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Ulises Valdez Vineyard gives a beautifully scented nose of fragrant earth, bay leaves lavender and garrigue with a core of black cherries and black raspberries. Full-bodied, rich and seductively fruited in the mouth, it has very fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing long with an herbal lift.

Made from 70% Calera clone and 30% Pommard, the 2013 Pinot Noir Ulises Valdez offers up extravagant black raspberry fruit, forest floor and spring flowers in a dark ruby/purple-colored wine that is full-bodied and opulent. This is a stunner, and to me, one of the three strongest of the 2013 Pinots.

The 2012 Pinot Noir Ulises Valdez Vineyard reveals a big, meaty, premier cru Pommard-like character filled with kirsch liqueur, sassafras, bouquet garni and forest floor. Exuberant and full-bodied, sadly, there are only 313 cases of this big-time winner. Drink now-2025.