Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry cordials. In the mouth, rich and sweet cherry and slightly bitter herbs mix with cedar and tacky, muscular tannins. Good acidity, but comes across as a bit too brawny.

Medium purple in the glass, this wine smells of dried flowers including lavender, and dark cherry fruit. In the mouth, slightly sweet cherry and black raspberry fruit has a nice brightness thanks to very good acidity, but also a sweet density that will appeal to those who like their Pinots dark and intense. Well balanced, though, for all that richness.

Light to medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cranberry and cherry fruit. In the mouth, silky flavors of cherry and raspberry mix with a darker, earthier carob note that blends with the faint dusty dried herbs on the palate. Barely perceptible tannins. Very good acidity. Pretty.

Light to medium garnet in color, this wine smells of sweet cherry compote. In the mouth, juicy and bright cherry and raspberry fruit flavors are dusted with faint tannins and touched with a hint of citrus peel and dried flowers. Very pretty, with excellent acidity and length.

Pale greenish-gold in color, this wine smells of oak and lemon pith. In the mouth, lemon curd, vanilla, and the toasty notes of oak have a nice clarity and brightness to them, thanks to very good acidity. Silky and smooth on the palate, I wish I tasted less wood here.

Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd and lemon pith. In the mouth, wonderfully bright citrus pith and lemon curd flavors have a hint of vanilla and a wonderful floral citrus pith finish. Bright, juicy, and delicious.

Cabernet Franc dominant, with touches of raspberry leaf, rosemary and sage, and mouth-watering acidities. A lovely tension and grip runs right through the palate. Floral edged with peony and curled woodsmoke highlighting the depth through the core. Deftly made by Pierre Seillan, showcasing an excellent lightness of touch without sacrificing tension, and for me the most successful of the three Vérités in this vintage.

Fresh, crisp and engaging aromas of wild strawberry, green peppercorn, bay leaf and pine needle are enlivening on the nose of this bottling. The palate works similar magic, pairing fresh red cherries and raspberries with flavors of incense and more peppercorn, proving intensely vibrant and utterly delicious.

Plump damson flavours, touches of oak grilling, vanilla bean, chocolate shavings and tobacco, feels confident and powerful with an uptick through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, but these are fully ripe Cab flavours – richly textured berry fruits without a hint of green. The precision and the carefully placed tannins become clearer as it opens, so make sure you leave it in a carafe for a good few hours if drinking any time soon. Highly enjoyable.

Fresh melon, Key lime and celery aromas make for a unique and refreshing nose in this tantalizing wine by Greg Brewer. The wine zips across the palate with vibrant, titillating acidity, carrying flavors of sea shell, light herb and zesty citrus into the relentlessly grippy finish.

This is cool-climate Syrah on full amplification, courtesy of Greg Brewer. Aromas of cracked peppercorn, tar, graham cracker, raw lamb and elderberry show on the nose. The raw-meat flavors of the nuanced while bold palate are intense, and dusted with accents of pepper, bay leaf, rosemary and lavender.

Layers of brisk sandstone and dried mango weave together into silken pleasure, this wine's golden richness notably cool and mouthwatering. Dry and savory, it lasts in a sphere of flavor, sustaining its healthy integration for days without any frayed edges. You could decant it for scallops tossed with ginger and scallions. Or take it in a completely different direction with bloomy-rind cheeses.

Rich nose of vanilla crème brûlée then focused but generous flavours of yellow apple, plum and banana giving sunshine and warmth. A light touch of reductive winemaking gives a struck match and gunsmoke character to the finish, elegantly balancing the rich fruit.

For a slightly reduced price, this appellation blend allows fans of this brand to check into the magic that Greg Brewer is up to. The floral nose is redolent of violet and scarlet roses as well as pomegranate and red currant. The palate zings with acidity, presenting bright and fresh flavors of raspberry, citrus rind and herb.

This is Merlot-dominant, full of plum and raspberry fruits, the silkiest of the three Vérités and the most approachable. Textured and rich, with grilled oak and cocoa powder, the tannins seductive but with big shoulders, and they do a great job of balancing out the more exuberant side of the wine. A long and relatively cool growing season at this estate.

Savory, shadowed by its oak and lees into supple complexities, this wine is layered in notes of baked apples and fresh autumn apples. Heady and rich, with a yeastiness that touches on a Saison beer, this wine continues to give more of itself the longer you spend with the glass. It would be delicious with wood-roasted oysters and duck-fat fries.

This wine gets its cool tones from the high altitudes at the Jackson family's Alexander Mountain Estate, a 5,000-acre property on the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains. Lisa Valtenbergs builds the blend from a range of parcels, at elevations from 400-1,800 feet. While the texture is soft and mellow, the wine sustains a crisp green freshness and bright undertones of lemon. Satisfying to drink on its own, this will readily take on soft-shell crabs or other rich shellfish.

A precise, subtle wine with great balance between ripe pineapple and mango, crunchy saline acidity and a hint of roasted nut and vanilla oak. A youthful wine that can be drunk now but will reveal more exotic complexity and nutty character with age.

Delicate aromas of Meyer lemon peel, squeezed lime and orange flesh are evident on the nose of this bottling, for which only three barrels were made. A puckering acidity launches the sip, where pleasantly tart lemon and lime flavors lead into riper melon by the midpalate.

Rounded apple, wet stone, damp plumeria and light seashore aromas pop on the nose of this bottling. The palate is wrapped in the brand’s expected grippy texture, with rounded pear and white-flower flavors, as well as a tart touch of dairy.

Dried lemon peel, friend jasmine, tart dairy and sencha-tea aromas are subtle but heady on the nose of this appellation blend. There’s immense grip to the palate, where grapefruit-rind, yogurt and lingering citrus-zest flavors align.

Abundant, luxurious and fully ripe fruit flavors are wrapped in handsome oak spices such as vanilla, milk chocolate and cinnamon in this very full-bodied, broad-textured wine. The mouthfeel is velvety and rich.

This wine's dense flavors of dark plum and dried cherry are warm and robust, brightened by a hint of mint. Grippy tannins frame the wine as it takes on notes of black pepper and dried thyme.

This easy-drinking Bordeaux-variety blend offers rich dark-berry flavors laced with notes of smoke and soft herbs.

From the Sonoma Coast sector of the Durell Vineyard, this wine fermented and aged in French oak barrels (35 percent new). The fruit brightens the wood influence, turning it toward foresty scents of acorns and maple sap. There's tension in the structure, light enough for miso-and-maple glazed salmon.