Moving on to the reds, the 2011 Grenache shows the cooler, more difficult year with its Pinot Noir like profile. Cherries, flowers, underbrush and pepper all emerge from this mid-weight, elegant effort and it-s upfront and ready to go. Enjoy it over the coming couple of years. Drink now-2016. Craig Jaffurs continues to produce a bevy of brilliant Rhone blends from his winery in Santa Barbara. While his 2010s are spectacular, his 2011s are lighter in color and weight, with more upfront characters. They should pick up additional weight with some bottle time, yet most will require drinking over the coming 5-6 years. Tel. (805) 962-7003; www.jaffurswine.com

The 2011 Grenache is fabulous. Sweet spice and floral notes wrap around a core of dark red and black-toned fruit in a surprisingly supple, textured Grenache. The blending of four different sites was a huge help in achieving this level of balance in the challenging 2011 vintage. Rose petal, dried violets and mint add nuance on the finish. The 25% whole clusters are very nicely integrated. There is a lot to like here. Drinking window: 2014 – 2021