Clearly an exceptional wine … the plummy fruit coming up after plenty of air, the texture rich and mouth coating … that of a wine packaged for age … completely black, the oak more apparent in a cinnamon savor. For me, it's just about great ingredients, made well, built to age.

Verite is the new, top-flight, merlot based red from Jackson Family Farms, Jess Jackson’s latest project after his remarkable success with Kendall-Jackson. His goal was to produce a wine of the quality of Petrus in California, and he brought in a Frenchman, Pierre Seillan, to grow it and blend it. So the wine comes with high expectations – it’s a blend of lots from the best vineyards in Jackson’s stable. And to be honest, I was more impressed tasting the wine six months ago with Jackson and Seillan than I was tasting it blind. On the first day, I scored it at 90+, clearly an exceptional wine but not showing much. It was closed in, the plummy fruit coming up after plenty of air, the texture rich and mouthcoaing, the character austere, that of a wine packed for age. So I marked it as a wine to retaste the next day, still blind, when it was considerably juicier, yet still completely black, the oak (albeit fine oak) more apparent in a cinnamon savor. Perhaps I am old-fashioned, constantly trying to find a reason, a there there in a wine of such ambitions as this clearly has. Perhaps that reason will come with a succession of vintages, as this wine defines a style, as Seilland begins to state its case. For now, it’s just about great ingredients, made well, built to age.

Deep ruby. Sappy, sweet aroma dominated by black raspberry; impressively ripe for '98. Lush & sweet, with black fruit & lead pencil flavors of noteworthy depth. Finishes very long, with dusty, even tannins. Almost magically escapes the herbaceousness that plages most '98 cabernet-based wines from California's North Coast. This was made possible but severe selection, according to winemaker Pierre Seillan, who added that he used SO2 to protect the fruit & delay the onset of fermentation, then used a faster yeast in order to avoid extracting green tannins.

Firm and well-built, with a chewy core of tannins wrapped around savory herb, cedar, dried berry and currant. Very Bordeaux-like in its structure.

Composed of 49% Cabernet Franc, 41% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, this is one of the more monolithic Le Desirs produced. Although an outstanding effort, in the company of some of the great vintages, it comes across as a one trick pony. Though there is plenty of fruit and body as well as good size, power and an aging potential of 10-15 years, it lacks charm and complexity at this stage of its evolution.

A mix of up-front, supple-textured mocha, currant and vanilla, and harder-edged tannins that gang up on the finish, firming, with leather, herb and a chewy aftertaste. Cabernet (Sauvignon) and Merlot. Drink now through 2008.

Deep medium ruby. Bright, ripe aromas of cassis, black cherry, tobacco and minerals. Quite dense but more backward and less sweet than the Vérité Merlot (1998). But this is ripe, layered and deep. Finishes with big tannins that avoid dryness. The 1999 is huge, thick and silky; still rather unformed but has all the elements to make an outstanding bottle.

A Médoc-inspired wine, the 2011 La Joie (2,800 cases) is composed of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and the rest small quantities of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. It reveals a slight austerity (typical for this vintage) as well as dry tannins in a reasonably long finish for a 2011. The deep ruby/plum/purple color is followed by notes of tobacco leaf, forest floor, blackcurrants, chocolate and vanilla. Medium-bodied with an impressive attack and mid-palate, some hard tannins give the wine an angular aftertaste. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

A pure expression of Sangiovese, the 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Strada al Sasso definitely shows the heat of the vintage and lacks the deeper sense of balance you get in both the 2008 and 2009 vintages. The 2012 vintage boasts a more exuberant style with bold fruit aromas and flavors. There are distant notes of scorched earth and jammy fruit at the back. You also feel the power of the wine's 15% alcohol.

The 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva offers tight lines and a streamlined approach with wild berry and grilled herb aromas. Despite the warm vintage, this wine remains true to the crisp acidity and the medium-bodied texture that is characteristic of Sangiovese. The wine's sharp lines and tonic freshness would taste very nicely next to cheesy lasagna or gnocchi with melted butter and sage.

It’s young and will just get better in the bottle, but it’s drinking well right now. Aromas of cherry intermingled with spices and notes of cedar invite further exploration. In the mouth, flavors of cherry, plum and a bit of tobacco are enlivened by Sangiovese’s reliable mouthwatering acidity. The wine finishes with chalky tannins. Winemaker Lawrence Cronin’s New World winemaking experience in California, Australia, New Zealand and Chile shows in the supple fruitiness of the wine, but his Sicilian roots bring restraint as well as a lean structure and a delightful savory character.

Silky, fresh and ripe with lovely plum, black raspberry and spice; dense, rich and elegant with vibrant flavors and lovely balance; long and focused. 80% Sangiovese, 19% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Highly Recommended A firm but not overbearing style, offering plenty of red fruit with a vanilla oak topping. Powerful and impressive, and ready now.

Soft and silky with plum and walnut character on the nose and palate. Medium body, with fine tannins and a delicately fruity finish...

Arcanum I is cabernet franc based (75 per cent) with 25 per cent merlot. Look for a smoky, rooty, tobacco, black olive, black cherry nose with flecks of vanilla and cranberries. The entry is round and elegant but the palate is rich and full. Chocolate, coffee, black olive, tobacco leaf, peppery, cranberry, cherry, mineral, vanilla flavours with a savoury, roast beef note. It has fine acidity that will allow it to age a further three to five years to you can drink it now with roasted meats.

This is from the vineyard that Helen Turley originally made famous under her Marcassin label, from old vines that are slowly succumbing to phylloxera. It's the biggest and most explosive Chardonnay from Stonestreet, with smoke and toast backed by oranges, peaches and hints of hazelnut and a rich custardy mouthfeel.

This is from the vineyard that Helen Turley originally made famous under her Marcassin label, from vines that are slowly succumbing to phylloxera (winemaker Westrick says that 2003 may be the last vintage before replanting). It's the biggest and most explosive Chardonnay from Stonestreet, with smoke and toast backed by oranges, peaches and hints of hazelnut and a rich, custardy mouthfeel.

Creamier and juicier with intense tropical fruit notes. Dense and fruity, with a green hue to its straw color, it should drink well for 4-5 years.

Full ruby red. Medium-bodied. Moderately extracted. Moderately oaked. Moderately tannic. Rich tobacco and vanilla aromas lead a seductively rounded palate with well-framed cherry fruit flavors and textured soft tannins showing great integration. Very polished style.

The opaque plum-colored 1995 Merlot is a thick wine with compelling scents of roasted coffee, chocolate cake, smoky oak, and rich, jammy fruit. A blend of 84% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc, this wine is ideal for drinking now and over the next dozen years.

The 1993 Merlot exhibits an opaque ruby color, a big, exotic, chocolatey, smoky, jammy black-cherry-scented nose, rich, full-bodied, supple flavors, low acidity, and a lush, chewy finish. It is all a Merlot should be. Given its depth and richness, it should age well for 7-8 years.

A power-packed heavyweight from Sonoma, this delivers a piercing black-fruit aroma and flavor profile. Cassis and plum flavors are tight and tasty, and the long, juicy finifh indicates that it could evolve nicely. Anyone planning on drinking it soon should expect a punch…

Firm for a '96, with earthy tannins and a tasty core of ripe plum, currant and cherry flavors accented by a touch of sage and spice.

Opaque deep reddish purple. Medium-bodied. Highly extracted. Mildly tannic. Plums, tobacco, vanilla. Oak-accented aromas show full fruity notes. Rounded full plummy flavors expanded on th palate with ample soft tannins on the finish. Lovely texture.

Dark, intense and tannic, but the tannins are smooth and polished, allowing the ample currant, chocolate, anise, cedar and spice flavors to pour through. Drinks well now but cellaring into 1997 or '98 should add dimension.