An attractively fresh and cool nose features notes of various red berries that are liberally laced with plum, violet and discreet spice nuances. There is excellent richness to the suave, round and delicious medium-bodied flavors that possess very good mid-palate concentration, all wrapped in a long, balanced and nicely complex finale. This is quite generously proportioned yet the supporting acidity manages to keep everything in harmony. Note that while this should reward a few years of bottle age the lush mouth feel will allow it to be enjoyed young if desired.

This single-vineyard pinot from Carmel Road offers a nuance of earthy forest floor followed by notes of cherry and spice. Still showing the bite of youth on the finish, it should be ready to rock after another year or two in the bottle.

This meaty Pinot from Monterey's Arroyo Seco zone shows an earthy nose with hints of black cherry and plum. On the palate the fruit aromas are deep and complex, and the tension between ripeness and structure is well balanced. At $35 it represents exceptional value in top-notch Pinot Noir.

Bright red. A highly perfumed bouquet displays red berry preserves, potpourri and spice cake. Juicy, sharply focused red fruit flavors become tangier with air and pick up a more serious cherry pit quality in the mid-palate. Precise and incisive on the long, spicy finish. I like this wine's balance and clarity.

A big Pinot packed with berry flavor, robust, smoky. It's as rich as a flour-less chocolate cake with a thin layer of raspberry jam in the middle. Built for a steakhouse and rare filet mignon.

The 2001 Pinot Noir Monterey is a limited cuvee of 226 cases... it possesses a Morey-St.-Denis like bouquet of forest floor, strawberry, cherry, plum, and fig aromas. This medium-bodied, elegant, subtle but intensely flavorful Pinot Noir will drink well for 5-7 years. There are no hard edges to this youthful 2001.

Arroyo Seco adjoins the Santa Lucia Mountains and is known for its inexpensive red and white varieties. This is a focused yet delicate Riesling. There are orange blossom and honeysuckle rather than petrol aromas, but there is a clean minerality, and a very attractive lift on the finish.

Exotic, slightly musky aromas of pineapple, coconut, orange zest and spicy oak, plus an intriguing minerality. Supple, silky and seamless, with deep, persistent flavors of apple and honey. Long and perfumed on the aftertaste. Sexy Chardonnay, from a crop level a good 25% lower than normal for this wine.

The all-stainless steel fermented and aged 2008 Chardonnay Liberated is outstanding. Notes of lemon custard, honeyed citrus, and white currants jump from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, light straw-colored wine. Elegant, pure, and impressively textured, this is a Chardonnay to drink over the next 1-2 years.

I was also impressed with Carmel Road's 2008 Chardonnay Monterey. With a light greenish hue to its color and loads of tropical fruit intermixed with a hint of orange blossom, this medium-bodied Chardonnay is not as weighty as the Arroyo Seco, but it's tasty in a medium-bodied, fresh, lively, cool-climate style.

This may be the first time I've ever thought of a wine in terms of ballet, but as I tasted this Chardonnay I began to think that both need certain things to achieve success. Balance is vital, of course, to the wine and dance (we don't want the ballerina toppling off her toes, or the wine thrown off kilter by oak and/or alcohol). Complexity is likewise important (whether in choreography or flavor profile) and, ideally, passion will be showing through as well as basic skill. The Carmel Road Chardonnay succeeds on all counts: luscious fruit is well balanced between oak and the minerality that often characterizes this region's Chardonnay; the alcohol is well integrated into the body of the wine; the texture is full and lush without being heavy (weighty wines often appeal for a short time, but eventually fatigue the palate). All in all, I'd say this wine deserves a standing ovation.

Very ripe and new oaky, but the acidity is so vibrant, it provides the much-needed balance kick. Flavor-wise, this Chard is a blast of orange Slurpee, pineapple tart, vanilla crème brûlée and cinnamon spice. It sure is an easy wine to drink.

Remarkably rich and distinctive for its depth and purity of flavor. The core apple, honeydew melon and pear flavors are ripe and vibrant, with excellent concentration and length. Finishes with a hint of toasty oak, which adds a nice dimension. Drink now through 2008.

...a beautiful bouquet of popcorn intermixed with orange rind, lemon oils, honeysuckle, and crushed rocks. Excellent texture, medium to full body, terrific acidity, and a long finish characterize this high class Chardonnay. Enjoy it over the next 3-4 years.

California Pinot Noir Medium ruby color. Crisp aroma of strawberries, pomegranate, raspberry, along with rose hips, rhubarb, tobacco, with cola and coffee. Crisp acidity on the palate, suave texture but nice tannic grip. Tart cranberry mixes with richer black cherries, backed up by roses, rhubarb, cola, coffee and dark chocolate shavings. Juicy and forward but structured and fresh as well. Aged 13 months in 20% new French oak.

Bright medium ruby. Aromatic nose combines roasted plum, black raspberry and lead pencil. Lush and lively in the mouth, with bright, complex flavors of raspberry, plum and smoked meat. Finishes with ripe, oak-sweetened tannins and excellent persistence. Superb for the vintage.

This has a stern oaky, blackberry and plum nose which is in some way imposing. The grippy tannins are in harmony with the alcohol and a veneer of elegant oak. It is still assertive and will settle down, but it has impressive fruit and persistence. Highly recommended.

Sleek, modern nose of purple fruits and spices, such as clove and black pepper. Great intensity, with touches of leather, cigar box and a plush, silky feel. Certainly has ample fruit and swagger, and plenty of energy to carry through onto the long finish.

Sleek, modern nose of purple fruits and spices, such as clove and black pepper. Great intensity, with touches of leather, cigar box and a plush, silky feel. Certainly has ample fruit and swagger, and plenty of energy to carry through onto the long finish.

...to be a promising white Graves look-alike. It is primarily Sauvignon Blanc, but there is a healthy dose of Semillon added to fatten the wine, and give it a creamier texture. It is a boldly-styled, pure, lush, medium to full-bodied dry

Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, the 2015 Red Wine Innovant has a deep garnet-purple color with a nose of ripe plums, crushed black currants and black berries with touches of bay leaves and menthol. Medium-bodied, tightly knit and with a firm structure of grainy tannins and electric freshness, it finishes on a lovely mineral note.

Cabernet Franc plays the leading role in the 2015 Harmonie. Sleek, supple and forward, the 2015 will drink well with minimal cellaring. Today, the new oak is a bit pronounced. Otherwise, all the elements are nicely balanced. The blend is 85% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Revelation offers expressive black cherries, black berries and cassis with touches of eucalypt, chocolate box and graphite. It's medium-bodied, fresh and exuberant with a firm, chewy structure and an earthy finish.

Grass, melon and peach highlight a texture that’s creamy and fleshy, with a well-honed balance of lingering acidity. Medium bodied, the wine offers additional flavors of dried herb and nutmeg.

From Alexander Valley, the 2016 Sauvignon Blanc les Pionniers gives white grapefruit, lemon tart and green apple notes with hints of wild thyme and chalk dust. Medium-bodied with great vibrancy and freshness, it has a lovely steely/minerally nature and purity to the finish. 89 points.