J Vineyards & Winery, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2018

 Widely available and endearingly sweet at first blush, this seems initially like a pretty commercial wine.  Yet, upon further review, it seems much more “pretty” than “commercial,” as some accents of cola and spices act as counterpoints to the juicy sweetness of the fruit, and gentle grip from tannins and a bit of oak firm up the finish quite effectively.  A Platinum Award winner at the 2021 Critics Challenge International Wine and Spirits Competition.