Aromas of fresh strawberries, crushed herbs and violets. Medium-bodied with nice freshness and transparency. Silky tannins. Earnest and charming stuff. Drink now.

Made by the team at K Vintners, the 2020 Pinot Noir comes from the Royal Slope and saw 25% whole clusters and 12 months in barrel. Classy notes of ripe cherries, blackberries, leafy herbs, leather, and scorched earth all emerge from the glass, and it's medium-bodied, up-front, nicely textured, and has a great finish. Readers looking for a classic Pinot Noir that has real varietal character and won't break the bank will absolutely love this. It will keep for 3-5 years.

A mix of rich plum sauce, black olives and grilled sage smolders up from the 2020 Pinot Noir The Promise. This coasts along the palate with mineral-tinged black fruits motivated by brisk acidity, as fine tannins slowly form toward the close. It tapers o! long with a staining of wild berries and cocoa under an air of dark inner florals. This is certainly a more serious style than the Pinot Noir Substance tasted next to it, yet more suited to readers that enjoy an earthy style.