The 2009 Syrah Saralee's Vineyard, co-fermented with 4% Viognier, shows the wilder, gamier side of Syrah. Cured meats, smoke, earthiness, blood, iron and tar are some of the many notes that flow from the glass. There is no shortage of personality here, but this wine should only be bought by readers who appreciate the rustic, hearty side of Syrah. A plush, round finish balances some of the wine's wilder tendencies. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021

Dick Arrowood was one of the early Rhone Rangers because of his work with Syrah, especially that from the Saralee's Vineyard. The 2008 Syrah Saralee's Vineyard (93% Syrah co-fermented with 7% Viognier, and aged 16 months in French oak) exhibits wonderful, exotic lychee nut-like notes intermixed with blackberries and flowers. Super-fruity with silky tannins, this is a hedonistic, classic Syrah to drink now and over the next 5-7 years.

Inky ruby. Deep, smoky aromas of dark berry preserves, tobacco and violet, with a suave mineral underpinning. Fleshy blackberry and blueberry flavors are energized by building Asian spice and cracked pepper qualities. Finishes on a long, sweet note of candied dark berries, with excellent clarity. Very nicely balanced syrah.

2004 ARROWOOD SYRAH KULJIAN VINEYARD The big, terroir-driven 2004 Syrah Kuljian Vineyard (198 cases) falls somewhere in between its two siblings. Possessing abundant amounts of damp earth, truffle, pepper, blackberry, blueberry, and acacia flower notes, it is a serious, full, chewy, impressive Syrah that may improve for 2-3 years, and last for a decade.

The 2004 Syrah Saralee's Vineyard was aged in French oak for 18 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered. It exhibits plenty of blackberry, bacon fat, and exotic fruit aromas (a small quantity of Viognier is co-fermented with this cuvee). This lush Syrah is difficult to resist, but if you can keep your hands off of it, it should age well for 5-10 years.

Velvety, ripe and rich with dense plum and black raspberry fruit; supple, rich and showing notes of mocha, spice and oak; long, balanced and stylish.

The 2015 Prowess Proprietary Red checks in as 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 12% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It’s another terrific Bordeaux blend from this estate that’s beautifully balanced and layered, with lots of ripe black currants, smoked herbs, chocolate, and graphite aromas and flavors. Supple, textured, medium to full-bodied, and with lots of character, drink it anytime over the coming decade or so.

Arrowood's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Estates is plump, juicy and absolutely delicious. Dark cherry, plum, tobacco, licorice and savory notes are nicely delineated in a juicy, vibrant wine that will drink well right out of the gate. This is a superb entry-level Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sonoma Estates is an on-premise wine only and will sell for $15 by the glass

Black currant, wild cassis, tart blackberry and smoke. Full-bodied, balanced and complex. A nicely balanced Californian Cabernet. Pair with a pepper steak.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County), all Knights Valley fruit in this vintage, is superb. Raspberry jam, spice, scorched earth, rose petal, cloves and new leather are some of the signatures. Knights Valley is often noted for Graves-like sense of gravel-infused minerality, naturally allied to a California expression of fruit. That is exactly what readers will find in the 2013.

At 600-feet in elevation, this is the site that’s behind a wine of structure and considerable power. A thick rich layering of currant and blackberry is soft with a tannic backbone. Clove and tobacco contribute secondary aspects of complexity.

The serious Cabernet Sauvignons start with the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Smothers Remick Ridge Vineyard, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 32 months in 56% new French oak. This wine exhibits classic crème de cassis, cedar wood, Christmas fruitcake and spice box notes, loads of new saddle leather, blackcurrants and blackberries on the palate, a full-bodied constitution, and light to moderate tannin in the finish. It will be better in 3-4 years and certainly keep for two decades or more.

Smooth tannins and plump, juicy dark cherry, blueberry and plum fruit mark this mouth-filling wine. It's concentrated and supple, with chocolate, vanilla and spice notes coming from barrel aging to add interest. It's ideal for drinking now and over the next five years.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard comes across as surprisingly round and rich for the site. Black cherries, smoke, tar, licorice and asphalt all meld together in the glass. At five years of age, the 2008 has softened a little, and all the elements are very nicely fused together. Salty, saline notes underpin the gorgeous finish. The 2008 spent 24 months in American oak barrels (40% new). Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard comes across as surprisingly round and rich for the site. Black cherries, smoke, tar, licorice and asphalt all meld together in the glass. At five years of age, the 2008 has softened a little, and all the elements are very nicely fused together. Salty, saline notes underpin the gorgeous finish. The 2008 spent 24 months in American oak barrels (40% new).

Deep red. Red currant, dried cherry, cedar and smoke on the nose. Rich and supple on entry, then more taut and solid in the mid-palate, with ripe, delineated flavors of bitter red fruits, chocolate, chewing tobacco and anise. The finish is focused, smoky and quite long, with dusty tannins and lingering red fruits. Comes across as old school in the best sense, with the structure to age.

Chalk dry with aromas of cassis and smoke. Full-bodied, balanced and complex.

Inky ruby. Spicy cherry, red currant, licorice and pipe tobacco on the nose, all lifted by a gentle floral topnote. Big and rich but juicy, offering sweet red berry flavors and notes of candied violet, cherry pit and rose. Impressively broad and focused cabernet with good extract and building notes of bitter cherry skin and herbs. Finishes with youthfully gripping tannins and a jolt of peppery spice. I'd stash this one away for a while.

Ruby-red. Very expressive, powerful aromas of blackberry and dark cherry, brightened by elegant florality. Lush and creamy, with sweet, jammy dark berry flavors, supple tannins and a gentle lift of acidity. Picks up seductive baking spice notes with air, finishing sweet and long. This is very pretty right now.

The least expensive of this trio, the fully mature 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma, is showing beautifully. I remember loving it when it was released, and it now displays even more longevity than initially predicted. Composed of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it retains enough stuffing to last another 7-8 years, and it could turn out to be like the great Souverain Vintage Selection 1974, which was delicious when released and continues to drink well at age 37. This cuvee exhibits a dense plum/ruby color as well as a big, sweet kiss of black cherries, black currants, licorice and earth. Medium to full-bodied with supple tannins, this is undeniably a sleeper of the vintage. To reiterate, this sexy Cabernet Sauvignon can be drunk now and over the next 7-8 years.

The 2006 Cote de Lune Blanc is a sensational barrel-fermented blend of 34% Grenache blanc, 28% Viognier, 27% Roussanne, and the rest Marsanne. It is a terrific wine, but unfortunately, there are just under 300 cases of it. Please make more! From Saralee’s Vineyard, it is a great bargain in dry white wines, with hints of rose petal, lychee, white peach, and honeysuckle. The wine is dry, medium to full-bodied, with loads of personality and fruit. Drink it over the next 1-2 years.

This bottling from Arrowood is dependably rich, showing Viognier's exotic tropical fruit, peach, apricot, honeysuckle, vanilla cream and cinnamon flavors. The 2011 is dry and balanced, with crisp acidity. Drink it now.

Another big-time winner is the 2011 Viognier Saralee’s Vineyard. Made from 100% Viognier, it boasts lovely notes of ripe peach and apricot jam intermingled with notions of spring flowers as well as good definition and acidity to buttress the wine’s gorgeous fruit. This cuvee was 100% barrel fermented and went through 100% malolactic fermentation because of the high acids in this area of Russian River. It was aged five months in neutral oak.

Arrowood captures the exotic essence of Viognier, but never lets go of balance, which is so important in taming this unbridled variety. It's rich in pineapple, papaya and honeysuckle flavors, but dry, with rich acidity leading to a bright, clean finish.

Silky and charming with notes of banana and lovely floral tones.