Attractive ripe plums for a 2016 and plenty of supple tannins on the medium-full palate. Long, warm and juicy finish. Nice, velvety and dry. Drink now.

This full-bodied red is smooth and silky on the palate, swirled in tangy, tart acidity that buoys the concentration of power. Crisp red fruit and subtle undertones of earthiness and rose make for a succulent core built around firm tannin and integrated oak.

On the surface, this appears to be a simple strawberry red with tarry notes to the tannins. As it opens, it reveals more depth, offering lovely tannins with mineral precision to fill out the satin texture of the wine. Harmonious, sleek and spicy, this is a wine to decant for Provençal roast lamb.

This is a meaty merlot with dark, smoky oak tannins structuring the silky black-plum flavors. It’s a compelling contrast of firm and rich, suited to a year or two in the cellar, or a thick-cut sirloin steak.

USA, California: Sonoma 2017 Vintage Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2017 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley has a pretty, broody nose of warm black and red cherries, spiced blueberry pie, forest floor and dried leaves with amaro hints. Light to medium-bodied, it's very soft and silky in the mouth with a good interplay of warm fruits and earth and great juicy acidity on the finish.

This pale straw-colored Sauvignon Blanc from Fortress is very good. It opens with a yellow grapefruit and lime bouquet. On the palate, this wine is light to medium bodied and displays really soft edges for a Sauvignon Blanc. I also found it to be juicy. The flavor profile is like the nose. It features a pleasant blend of lime and grapefruit with nicely integrated minerality. I also detected hints of tangerine and kiwi mixed in as well towards the end. The finish seemed semi-dry because of the lush fruit flavors lingering. This Sauvignon Blanc is quite a quaffer and would be a nice summer treat to enjoy with swordfish skewers.

Steals - $25 & Under Delicate and lively; a thirst-quenching treat that’s fantastic with the foods of spring and summer.

This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot opens with earthy aromas of charred earth, toasted oak and ripe dark-skinned fruit. The dense palate offers prune, tobacco and mocha alongside fine-grained tannins.

This opaque and midnight purple colored Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a very attractive mulberry, blueberry, vanilla oak bouquet with a hint of black olive. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, slightly acidic and savory. The flavor profile is a mineral influenced stewed plum with notes black olive and mulberry. I also detected hints of black currant and dried cherry towards the end. The finish is dry and its tannins are nicely extended. I would pair this Chilean Cab with steak tips.

A rich and ripe, peachy style with strong vanilla-pastry notes, as well as honey and spices. Drink now.

This bright red colored Pinot Noir from WindRacer opens with a coffee and black cherry bouquet with a hint of candied strawberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, soft, balanced and has medium acidity. The flavor profile is a mild cherry with notes of gentle minerality and mild strawberry and a hint of cranberry. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. The Panel suggested pairing this Pinot with grilled red snapper or grilled pork.

USA, California: Sonoma 2017 Vintage The 2016 Grenache/Syrah has an opaque deep ruby-purple color with a fresh, floral-scented nose of violet and lilac with warm boysenberry and blueberry jam, white pepper, cocoa and chocolate-covered cherries—there's also a touch of heat on the nose. Full-bodied, it's big in the mouth with very firm, slightly grippy tannins but good freshness, with that chocolate note coming through on the long finish.

Jammy and almost sticky in that classic California-pinot way, this comes from the relatively cool Sonoma Coast, so it’s not without acid freshness. But it’s lifted more by a suggestion of spices, due in part to nine months in oak (25 per cent of it new). Good depth as well as an earthy-tobacco undercurrent.

Rich and spicy, with plush flavors of apple pastry, ripe pear and honeydew melon. The long finish offers tropical fruit and buttery accents.

Very pale copper color. Bright, airy, elegant nose of white pepper, rose petals, chalk dust, with white cherries, wild raspberries, and strawberry bushes. On the palate this is crisp and vibrant but there’s a lot of textural depth. Vibrant strawberries, red cherries, raspberries, with complex notes of rose petals, sea salt, white pepper, chalk dust. Bright and elegant, this has a crunchy, floral yet juicy feel that is all wrapped up nicely.

A moderately priced “Super Tuscan” with plenty of fruit (raspberry and fruits du bois), spice, and anise on the nose. The palate is well-balanced with the ample fruit, earth, and tartness all in concert. A bit “dirty” on the finish (plenty of earth notes), but it is lengthy and appetizing. This is my first foray into this wine, and hopefully it will not be the last. Very Good to Excellent.

This is a very typical, straight arrow Napa chardonnay - a bit more tropical and warm than some from cooler…

A ripe and generous wine for the difficult 2016 vintage that is still fresh with a very attractive balance of juicy blueberries and soft tannins. Slightly rustic and herbal finish.

USA, California: Sonoma 2017 Vintage About 75% of the fruit for this wine was picked before the Labor Day heat spikes. Pale to medium ruby-purple in the glass, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River features warm red cherries, cranberry sauce, blueberries and blackberries notes with underlying warm cinnamon and allspice notions. Light to medium-bodied with warm fruits in the mouth, it has grainy tannins and juicy freshness on the finish.