Aromas of oak vanillin and shy purple fruits lead to a mid weight charge of succulent black raspberry and boysenberry fruits backed by balanced tannins. The oak treatment is overwhelming on the nose, but is well integrated on the palate. The finish offers a pleasingly boisterous fruit presence.

Perfect for summer quaffing, this inexpensive Pinot Gris from K-J offers notes of melon, citrus and pear, good balance and a clean, medium-length finish. Very nice for the price.

It is a common lament that good Cabernet Sauvignon has gotten so expensive that it is becoming a wine for special occasions rather than regular drinking, but there are always good buys to be found, some of which happily defy expectations. The previously recommended **(two-star) FREEMARK ABBEY Napa Valley 2012 continues to rank high on our roster of favorites and is a serious effort that stands with collectable, cellarworthy Cabernets costing a great deal more…

From a 22-acre site in the middle of the appellation, this is an impressive wine, softened by the addition of 6% Merlot. It boasts crushed rock, black currant and licorice flavors, with an attractive sanguine note. Pencil shavings, black pepper and cigar accents are present throughout.

From vineyards at 400 to 1,800 feet in elevation, this wine opens with an intensely aromatic nose of honey and caramel. Sultry and seductive, with full-bodied fruit concentration, it emanates spicy fig, pear and quince, finishing bright with stony minerality.

There’s a balanced richness to this wine, with lovely notes of wood-grilled apple, toasted hazelnut, freshly baked apple pie and orange creamsicle that are cut by ample acidity. The medium-weight mouthfeel is smooth but not flabby, with lingering baking spice and toasted brioche notes on the close.

There's a forward lush, toasty character to this wine, which opens with smoky, oaky notes alongside fruity tones of pink apple and rich melon. The round, broad palate offers more of the same, with flavors of creamed pear and buttery baked apple that are balanced by ample acidity, lending freshness to the close.

Stonestreet consistently delivers complex, refreshing renditions of Sauvignon Blanc. Grassy on the nose, with an exotic tease of pea shoot, it seemingly vibrates on the palate with lemon, grapefruit and apricot flavors.

A juicy Chard with notes of toasty vanilla oak; sleek and balanced with lovely structure and length.

A by-the-glass go-to. Silky and juicy with bright, crisp acidity and good balance; tangy, clean and fresh.

Very much on point with regard to fruity definition and helped along by the judicious presence of mildly creamy oak, Freemark Abbey’s Howell Mountain Chardonnay gets the job done without great fanfare or drama. It tightens up noticeably and gets a touch hard at the end in direct contrast to its slightly oily beginnings, but enough fruit remains in place to justify the extra year or two of age for which it asks.

Soft but zesty, with easygoing notes of black raspberry, orange zest and bittersweet chocolate.

Plump and ripe, this maintains balance and finesse, offering accents of blackberry and raspberry, with licorice, bittersweet chocolate and spice notes.

A snappy red, with vibrant floral and cherry aromas and flavors. Finishes on a spicy note.

Stone Côte is sourced from a block within the Durell vineyard. It receives native yeast fermentation and is barrel fermented in French oak, 37% new, where it ages for 16 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2015 Stone Côte Vineyard Chardonnay offers mind-blowingly gorgeous ripe pineapple, peach blossom and pink grapefruit notes with a gregarious undercurrent of candied ginger, allspice, butterscotch and brioche. Big, rich and full-bodied, there’s a seductive oiliness to the texture with fantastic concentration of a very long finish.

Seascape Vineyard is located on a panoramic ridge-top west of the town of Occidental facing Bodega Bay and the Pacific Ocean, and was planted in the 1980s to Spring Mountain Chardonnay clonal selection. It receives native yeast fermentation and is barrel fermented in French oak, 42% new, where it ages for 16 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2015 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard offers intense grapefruit, orange blossom and lemon peel with hints of cedar and buttered toast. The full-bodied palate is brimming with lemon tart, brine and toasty flavors with a great acid backbone cutting through the concentrated creaminess, finishing with wonderful freshness.

The Highwire Vineyard has 100-year-old vines with half of the parcel being head-trained and half trained on a high wire, permitting greater sun exposure and promoting more even ripening. It is aged for 12 months in French oak, 43% new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard offers crushed black berries and cassis notes with a subtle prune laced undercurrent plus spice box, black soil and potpourri hints. The concentrated, full-bodied palate is densely packed with dried berry and baking spice flavors with plush tannins and a lively lift to the long finish.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Revelation has expressive notes of warm cassis and black plums with hints of pencil shavings, yeast extract, toast and fertile soil. Medium to full-bodied, solidly structured with plenty of fruit flesh, it has gorgeous ripe tannins, a lively backbone and long, layered finish. Still very youthful, give it a year or two more in bottle and drink it over the next 20+ years.

Jolene’s Vineyard comes from head trained vines planted over 100 years ago. It is aged for 12 months in French oak, 55% new and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Medium to deep garnet in color, the 2015 Zinfandel Jolene’s Vineyard presents black cherry, baked blueberries and blackberry preserves notes with hints of incense, sautéed herbs and dusty earth. Rich, full-bodied and packed with layers of berry coulis and savory flavors, it has a gorgeous velvety texture and great length.

Three Jacks Vineyard Chardonnay is sourced from a small vineyard in the Green Valley area of the Russian River Valley AVA. It was planted in 1995 to four clones: Old Wente selection, Rued, Dijon 95 and Clone 15. It receives native yeast fermentation and is barrel fermented in French oak, 27% new, where it ages for 16 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2015 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard is bold and expressive, bursting with tropical and nutty notes, with an incredibly spicy perfume over a core of apricot preserves and honeycomb. Its powerful, full-bodied palate is laden with stone fruit and spice flavors wrapped in a satiny texture with plenty of freshness, finishing long with savory nuances coming through.

This Russian River Zinfandel is a blend of five old-vine, dry-farmed and low-yielding vineyards from the Russian River Valley AVA with an average vine age over 100 years. It is aged in French oak, 42% new, for 16 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Medium to deep garnet in color, the 2015 Zinfandel Russian River is redolent of baked blackberries, dried mulberries and blueberry preserves with hints of leather and spice box. The palate is full-bodied with loads of berry preserves and Indian spice layers supported by chewy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long, savory and with wonderful poise.

The 2014 Chardonnay Russian River Valley has lemongrass, orange blossoms and cedar notes over a core of white peaches, grapefruit and green mango. Medium to full-bodied with a gorgeously creamy textured and mouth-filling stone fruit and citrus layers, it has a racy backbone and a very long finish, with some toasty notes coming through.

A field blend of over a dozen different clonal selections, picked as one lot, the 2015 Pinot Noir Saralee’s Vineyard has a deep ruby-purple color and is a little closed to begin, offering delicate tree bark, moss, mulberries and dusty soil earth notes that, with a bit of coaxing, open into baking spice and kirsch notes. The rich, concentrated, medium to full-bodied palate is very structured, with firm, grainy tannins and refreshing acidity supporting the taut fruit, finishing long with a menthol lift.

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Barbieri Vineyard has a pronounced black cherry and black pepper laced nose with inflections of pomegranate, rhubarb pie and incense. Earthy notes contribute to the medium-bodied palate with a solid structure of grainy tannins and lively acid, finishing long with plenty of vibrancy and energy.

Planted in 1996/1997, the Keefer Ranch Vineyard has a mix of Clone 23, Pommard, 114 and 777 clones. This vintage had around 20-25% whole cluster. Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard has an earth and tree sap perfume over a core cranberry and red currants with a touch of black tea. The medium-bodied palate possesses fantastic structure with a solid foundation of firm, grippy tannins and lively acid supporting intense earthy / savory flavors, finishing long.