Byron Pinot Noir 2013, Santa Barbara County, California (£16 Slurp.co.uk)
Some will like the soft, vanilla tinged ripe red berry flavours here, but others will think that (like many Californian Pinots) it veers too much towards the overripe. I tasted this over a couple of days to see if a subtler edge emerged, but it didn’t. B(-)

These next three came direct from the winery, check out wine-searcher.com for local availability

Marimar Estate Mas Cavalls Pinot Noir 2013, Sonoma Coast, California
The gentlest of the trio, but the red berry and red cherry fruit has a slightly hot (as in alcoholic) and stewed character and I miss some of the Pinot perfume. B-

Marimar Estate ‘La Masia’ Pinot Noir 2010, Russian River Valley, California (£30 winedirect.co.uk)
I tasted this with an enthusiastic group of wine lovers in Edinburgh and they loved it for its lush, ripe dark cherry flavours, smoky oak and persistent flavours. It’s certainly a rich concentrated wine, but throughout the intensity, it manages to keep the Pinot allure. The sweet spot of this trio for me. S

Marimar Estate Cristina Pinot Noir 2012, Russian River Valley, California
Takes the richness of the previous wine and ratchets it up a notch, which for me is a step too far. So those dark cherry and berry flavours veer towards the overripe, and there’s a little too much heat from the alcohol. Will it calm down with time? Not so sure… B+