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Red Wine by Acacia from Carneros, California. The myriad of dark fruit and floral notes in this Pinot Noir come from the cool, windy Los Carneros American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the southern reaches of Napa Valley. Satsuma plum, blackberry, red rose and violet notes weave through the enticing aromas, mingled with warm nuances of vanilla and toasted oak from barrel aging. Silky, elegant flavors echo the aromas, adding blueberry and plum to the rich fruit complexity. You'll find this wine's lush flavors, bright acidity and fine tannins are perfectly balanced to complement a broad range of foods, from grilled salmon and chicken, to lamb and wild mushrooms.

Red Wine by Beringer from Carneros, California. Recognized as a separate American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1983 because of its shallow, well-drained soils and marine-influenced climate, Carneros is considered Napa Valley's best growing area for Pinot Noir. Late afternoon marine fog creeps up from the Bay, even in the middle of summer, so nights and mornings are cool and the grapes' natural acids are preserved, balancing the ripe fruit flavors that develop during sunny, warm days. Laurie Hook chose to ferment most of the small lots of the gently destemmed Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir grapes in open-top fermenters, using a combination of cap punch-downs and juice pump-overs to retain the delicate, layered-fruit and spice qualities, and silky tannins, while extracting as much flavor and color as possible. Nine months of aging in French Never oak barrels (approximately one third new) followed. The 2004 Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir features aromas of black cherry, ripe fig, and dried herbs as elegant flavors of plump berries mingle with notes of fruit tea, coriander, cola, smoke and pepper supported by silky tannins and fruit throughout the long, juicy finish.

Red Wine by Bouchaine from Carneros, California. Bouchaine 2005 Carneros Pinot Noir is a blend of Dijon, Pommard, and Swan clones from their own vineyards and very select lots from neighboring Carneros vineyards. These highly regarded neighbors include the Gee Vinyard (dry-farmed), Las Brisas Vineyards, and Casa Carneros. The 2005 season was classic Carneros: cool, fog-covered evenings and comfortably warm days that allowed Pinot grapes to develop fully, while maintaining bright acidity. The long harvest provided a veritable smorgasbord of grape ripeness and maturity, all of which enhanced the character of this Pinot, adding richness and layers of flavor. The resulting wine is redolent of cherries and berries with a touch of earthiness and orange peel. Pinot is considered by many to be the most versatile red wine and it pairs beautifully with a wide variety of foods. Start with anything grilled or smoked. Try it with blackened salmon, pork tenderloin braised with herbs, pan seared chicken, or mushroom risotto accented with truffle oil.

Red Wine by Buena Vista from Carneros, California. As they celebrate their 150th year as California's first premium winery, the focus of Buena Vista Carneros continues to be their remarkable 1000-acre Estate vineyard in the heart of Carneros. Set along a south-facing hillside overlooking the San Pablo Bay, this breathtaking property has more than 167 blocks delineated by geology and topography. Produced in limited quantities, each EVS wine reflects the complex interplay between grape, terroir and the seasonal weather patterns of vintage. The 2005 growing season started with a wet spring followed by a cool summer, leading to a long, dry, and cooler than normal fall. Conditions on the estate where Buena Vista grows theirr Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were ideal for producing a healthy balanced crop. Harvest was long, requiring a lot of patience, as they waited for their fruit to ripen to optimal maturity. The quality of the Pinot Noir was very good to outstanding. The pedigree of the site and quality of the vintage are clearly in evidence here. The color is deep purple with aromas of blueberry, violet, chocolate, clove and anise, subtle earth and forest floor. The flavors of rich raspberry, creme de cassis, plum and candied ginger lead into a long finish with bright acidity and silky tannins. The 2005 Ramal Vineyard Pinot Noir shows concentration, elegance and the subtle nuance of diverse clonal and site selection. Pair this rich Pinot Noir with beef tenderloin and sauteed spinach.

Red Wine by Buena Vista from Carneros, California. The 2005 Pinot Noir Carneros has aromas of bright Bing cherry, fresh ground nutmeg and earthy wild mushroom. The palate explores hints of toastiness and exhibits flavors of deep blackberry and cherry with undertones of dark chocolate and clove spice. This is a wine of depth that leads to a long finish complemented by soft tannins and lingering berry fruit, all considered hallmarks of Carneros Pinot Noir.

Red Wine by Clos Du Val from Carneros, California. The 2005 Pinot Noir has an attractive deep ruby color. Aromas of black cherry and spice pervade, with a hint of earth incorporated in the nose. This full bodied Pinot Noir fills the mouth with an abundance of fruit and spice flavors and displays soft, silky tannins. The lingering finish goes on and on. This is a rich, complex wine balanced with good acidity, making it a fine accompaniment for a wide variety of dishes. The 2005 Pinot Noir typifies the Carneros region and Clos Du Val's trademark style of balance, elegance and complexity.

Red Wine by Jacuzzi from Carneros, California. This Burgundy native is known as one of the world's major reds. In Italy, Pinot Noir (also named Pinot Nero) is planted primarily in the north. The Jacuzzi family plants their Pinot Noir on their home ranch in the Sonoma Carneros appellation. This cool growing region equates to longer hang-time, which makes for more complex and richly flavored grapes. Aromas of ripe red cherries, raspberries and strawberries abound in this elegant and silky wine.

Red Wine by MacRostie from Carneros, California. I love this wine. The vineyard is one of the coolest parts of Carneros, where the maritime influence has given crisp acidity boosting long hangtime fruit. The cherry, raspberry and cola flavors are gorgeous, while the earthier pomegranates and rhubarb are elevated to pie-filling sweetness. Yet the wine is entirely dry. What a beauty. -Wine Enthusiast Editor's Choice 95/100 The grapes for this Pinot Noir came exclusively from MacRostie's Wildcat Mountain Vineyard, owned by Steve MacRostie and his partners Nancy and Tony Lilly. Here the vines dig into the sparse volcanic soil and stand firm against the brisk winds that race in off the Pacific Ocean most afternoons. This foggy mountaintop vineyard is Carneros at its coolest and most challenging, but the vines produce fruit of great distinction. Dark ruby color, with aromas of black raspberry, clove, and coffee. In the mouth there's loads of ripe raspberry, plus a hint of cinnamon-laced cocoa, like good Mexican chocolate. Very full-bodied, weighty and rich, but still light on its feet. The finish turns slightly toward cedar, but the fruit goes on and on.

Red Wine by MacRostie from Carneros, California. The grapes for this Pinot Noir came exclusively from Wildcat Mountain Vineyard. Here, the vines dig into the sparse volcanic soil and stand firm against the strong winds that race in off of the Pacific Ocean most afternoons. This fog-shrouded mountaintop vineyard is a classic Sonoma Coast site, cool and challenging, and produces wines of great distinction. From its dark, dense garnet color, to its multifaceted aromas of roasted cranberry and espresso-with just a hint of cola, this is a rich and expressive Pinot Noir. Full and satisfying in the mouth, it delivers a veritable explosion of ripe black cherry and baking chocolate flavors, all wrapped in subtle, but notable toasty oak. With nice structure and a complex, persistent finish, this is a wine that should age very well.

Red Wine by Reynolds Family Winery from Carneros, California. Ripe raspberries, candied cherries, pomegranate and cinnamon join together in this New World Pinot that is long on velvety finish. Enjoy with grilled salmon or tuna.

Red Wine by Robert Stemmler from Carneros, California. Robert Stemmler's Estate Pinot Noir is a culmination of the diversities of their property in Carneros. The 2005 is a blend of six different blocks reflecting several soil types, sun exposures, vine age and clones (Martini, Roederer, Calera, Dijon clonal selections.) It is this diversity that creates their most complex Pinot Noir. This wine shows lifted aromas of pure strawberries and blueberries intermingling with mineral, sage and earth. A lush mouthfeel focusing on wild blackberries with nuances of pepper, mineral and a long fanning finish.

Red Wine by Saintsbury from Carneros, California. From Pommard clones, this delivers distinctive Pinot Noir character of black cherry, sour cherry and spice in a vibrant wine of power and elegance. Saintsbury's house style and the essence of the appellation show most clearly in this Carneros bottling where they work with more than a dozen vineyards located throughout Carneros but with a heavier emphasis on the Napa Valley side of the AVA. Reverence for the appellation is most obvious by the gentle handling the grapes and wine receive from vineyard to bottle, critical to making high caliber Pinot Noir that maintains the mark of the vineyard, rather than simply the mark of the producer.

Red Wine by Stemmler from Carneros, California. Robert Stemmler Estate Pinot Noir is a culmination of the diversities of their property in Carneros. The 2004 is a blend of six different blocks reflecting several soil types, sun exposures, vine age and clone (5 - 30 years old vines. Martini, Hanzell, Roederer, Dijon clonal selections.) It is this diversity that creates their most complex Pinot Noir. Aromas of raspberry puree, cherry compote, fresh herbs and red licorice. Tight and focused fruit on the palate with layers of red currant, wild blackberries and juicy blueberry balanced by fresh acidity.