Dense and chewy, this is a wine of muscle and finesse, with a tight focus on concentrated currant, mineral, exotic spices and green olive flavors, gaining on the finish.

Possessing an inky, glass staining purple color, the 2014 Malbec has classic Malbec blue fruits as well as terrific minerality in its crushed rock, liquid violet, and graphite aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, a fresh, vibrant style, and nicely integrated tannin and acidity, you can safely drink this beauty anytime over the coming decade or more.

The outstanding 2013 Malbec, 100% Malbec all from Mt. Veeder, offers blackcurrants, licorice, incense and floral notes. The wine has fabulous fruit on the attack and mid-palate. It’s full-bodied, spicy and pure, with supple tannins, and should drink well for at least a decade or more.

Dark raspberry jam, spices, cedar and leather jump from the glass in the 2012 Malbec, one of the best wines in the Mt. Brave lineup. Deeply expressive, layered and perfumed, the 2012 impresses for its terrific flavor intensity and persistence. I would prefer to enjoy the 2012 on the young side, while the fruit retains its primary energy, but there is more than enough depth to support 7-10 years of cellaring, perhaps more. A dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon rounds out the blend.

This vineyard rises above the fog line in the northern reaches of Mt. Veeder. Originally planted by Chateau Potelle and purchased by Jackson Family Farms in 2007, it has since been the province of winemaker Chris Carpenter, who handles several mountain sites for the firm. This wine draws on the initial three acres of malbec planted in 2003. Impressed by the character of the wine, the team has since doubled the amount of malbec on the property. It's a noble experiment, as this wine captures both Mt. Veeder and malbec in its red forest berry flavors, its tight, zesty fruit length and its bright rose petal scents. Simple, luscious and delicious.

Carpenter makes this wine at the vineyard formerly known as Chateau Potelle, the vines rising above the fog line from 1,400 to 1,800 feet. It has the freshness and concentration of a wine grown at altitude in thin, rocky soils, the grip of its mountain tannins resolving to soft velvet as the wine takes on air. Rich scents of blackberries and black pepper give it depth and brightness, like a steak seared black and blue.

A new wine in this range, the 2013 Merlot Jackson Park is terrific. Succulent black cherry, plum, chocolate, crème de cassis and savory herbs give the Jackson Park its deep, unctuous personality. The 2013 can be enjoyed now, but it will be even better once some of the baby fat melts away.

Richly textured with deep plum and vibrant blackberry; bright and balanced with depth but not heavy; graceful and long.

Journey's 2013 Red is a gorgeous, savory red laced with scents of graphite, gravel, raspberry jam, wild flowers and dark spices. The 2013 marks a stylistic shift as the Red is now a Merlot- based blend whereas in the past, it was a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine. Drink the 2013 over the next handful of years.

Dark, bold and pungent, the 2013 Merlot (Alexander Valley) possesses striking aromatic top notes and plenty of mountain tannin wrapped around a core of dark red and purplish fruit. Vivid, nuanced and beautifully sculpted, the 2013 is a real winner.

The 2012 Merlot Jackson Park, from a site in Bennett Valley, is one of the more juicy, supple Merlots in this range. Dark red fruit, grilled herbs, rose petal and wild flowers add layers of nuance. This is another impeccable, harmonious wine from Matanzas Creek and Marcia Monahan.

Matanzas Creek was among the first of the California wineries that came to embrace Merlot and treat it as something other than a filler wine to soften a Cabernet-based blend. Matanzas was also among the best at Merlot and it still is. The 2012 is a thing of beauty, with complex notes of plum, raspberry and bing cherry, firm but integrated tannins, and hints of savory herbs and mocha. A stunning wine for under $30.

The 2012 Red is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend made predominantly from vineyards in Knights Valley. Dark raspberry jam, mocha, chocolate, cinnamon and new leather flesh out in the glass, followed by attractive floral notes that add lift. Soft contours and a racy personality give the 2012 much of its immediacy and near-term appeal, but there is also plenty of power lurking beneath all the fruit.

Exhibits a tight, rich, supple core of blackberry and wild berry fruit, with cedary oak and hard black licorice details, ending with a long, dense, chewy finish that echoes the core flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2025.

A wonderful wine at a great price. This is complex and delicious in blackberry and black currant flavors, with a savory minerality on the finish. As it starts off with tough tannins, allow it to decant.

Inky purple. Strikingly aromatic bouquet offers smoky cherry and dark berry scents, with licorice, pipe tobacco and cola accents. Deeply concentrated, sappy dark fruit flavors blend sweetness and energy seamlessly, with tangy acidity adding spine and lift. Gains weight on the persistent finish, which features impressively energetic cherry compote and blackberry preserve elements.

Deep ruby. Powerful cherry and blackberry aromas display suave, smoky complexity and slow-building licorice character. Lush, creamy and sweet, with densely packed dark berry preserve flavors, harmonious tannins and a late note of tangy minerals. The smoky note comes back on the long, spicy finish. For a rich wine this is attractively seamless and energetic.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Encantadora, Matanzas Creek's Merlot-based red, is indeed charming. Bright red berry fruit and floral notes give this mid-weight Alexander Valley blend tons of appeal. A healthy dollop (20%) of Cabernet Franc adds brightness and vivacity. Drink this easygoing, polished red over the next 7-10 years.

The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Journey is powerful, deep and resonant, all qualities that should allow it to develop nicely with time in bottle. Smoke, slate, pear, anise and dried flowers all flesh out in this decidedly authoritative, incisive Sauvignon. Fermentation and aging in barrel gives the wine quite a bit of added power and texture.

The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Helena Bench is the richest and most powerful of these Sauvignon Blancs from Matanzas Creek. Textured and inviting, with striking complexity throughout, the 2016 is distinguished by its mid-palate resonance and exceptional balance. Hints of melon, pear, smoke, apple and jasmine add the closing shades of nuance.

The 2015 Sauvignon Blanc is laced with the essence of white orchard fruit, sage, tomato leaf, mint and white flowers. There is plenty of varietal character, but fruit intensity and structure take precedence over greener, grassier notes. This is a rare Sauvignon that has the depth to stand up to fairly hearty foods.

The 2015 Sauvignon Blanc (Bennett Valley) is beautifully layered and creamy, yet also light on its feet. Lemon peel, mint, white pepper and a host of savory notes give the wine its distinctive personality. This is very nicely done, not to mention absolutely delicious.

The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc is hugely inviting, with a gorgeous combination of varietal notes and textural richness. Melon, grapefruit, white flowers and mint are all given an extra level of perfume with the addition of 10% Semillon. Drink this expressive Sauvignon Blanc over the next few years.

Matanzas Creek, a pioneering Sonoma County winery founded in 1977, produces five different and distinctive Sauvignon Blanc, each reflecting the origin of the grapes. You can practically taste and feel the volcanic soil in this Helena Bench bottling, which gives the wine individuality rarely found with this variety in California. The edgy quality characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc is apparent, but not overwhelming. Overall, the Helena Bench bottling has a larger profile than the one from Bennett Valley, but is still impeccably balanced. I suggest that those of you who remain skeptical about the idea concept of terroir try these two Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc side-by-side. Not only will you be convinced, you'll have a difficult job decided which of them you prefer.