Intense red currant and dried raspberry flavors are sinewy and pure-tasting in this taut version. Cedary midpalate, with slate notes on the finish.

The 2013 Merlot (Sonoma County) is a dark, fleshy wine with striking dark fruit and lovely underpinning of chocolate, sage, tobacco and earthy notes. Deceptively medium in body, the 2013 packs plenty of punch.

This crowd-pleasing Merlot from Matanzas Creek was very well received by the Tasting Panel. We found it to be medium-bodied, balanced, and smooth. We really liked its tasty blueberry and mineral flavors with notes of plum and a touch of toasty oak. The wine closes with dry, dusty, mild tannins that show very nice length for a Merlot. The Panel scored this wine 90 points and suggested pairing it with a grilled lamb chop. Very good+.

Elegantly structured and softly complex, with aromas of red currant and cedar, and dusty cherry, herb and mineral flavors that linger.

Savory in personality and at first austere, this wine blossoms into a full-bodied, concentrated and tight-woven exploration of black cherry and dark chocolate, accented by 1% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Elegant, it's also bold, and will successfully appeal to Cab drinkers.

Opaque purple. Complex aromas of cherry-cola, rose oil, sassafras and peppery spices, with a subtle vanilla quality in the background. Fleshy, palate-coating dark fruit and candied licorice flavors show very good depth and a velvety texture. Warm and expansive on the the finish, which shows very good intensity and sweet persistence. This is the style of merlot that made the variety such a hot item a few decades ago.

The 2009 Merlot is a gorgeous, fleshy wine laced with expressive dark red berries, mocha, spices and licorice. It shows lovely balance and a juicy, approachable personality best suited for drinking over the next few years. The intensity of the fruit fleshes out beautifully on the expansive finish. Winemaker Marcia Monahan added 2% Carmenere to the blend to give the wine additional mid-palate depth, which certainly seems to have worked. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017.

Saturated ruby. Cherry-vanilla, red currant, smoke and licorice on the nose. Lush and chewy, with deep flavors of bitter cherry, dark chocolate and cracked pepper. Focused and linear in the mouth, finishing brisk and quite long. This offers attractive energy and freshness.

Vivid ruby. Expansive and exotic scents of cherry-cola, sandalwood, licorice and fruitcake. Seductively sweet, nicely focused cherry and cassis flavors are lifted by a zesty mineral note and framed by supple tannins. The spicy note repeats on the long, penetrating finish, which leaves a sweet dark berry flavor behind. This has the structure to age but there's plenty going on now. (JR)

Ripe and voluptuous, with very rich, long-lasting berry, cherry, mocha and spice flavors, liberally oaked and wrapped into fine, sturdy tannins. Lacks a bit of complexity, but otherwise a beautiful Merlot that trades on the variety's opulently fleshy sensuality.

Matanzas Creek's 2005 Merlot is a quintessential fine California Merlot. It is properly dry, with nearly full body and soft, velvety texture of fairly soft tannins. Its aromas and flavors, medium in intensity, suggest fresh dark plum and blackberry and subtle herbal notes, with the slightest floral nuance and a definite mineral element.

(100% Merlot). A big, sweet nose of espresso roast, dried herbs, currants, cherries, and smoky oak is accompanied by a dense, opulent, medium-bodied, rich, moderately tannic Merlot boasting a long, heady finish. It should be at its best between 2006-2015.

The 2017s From Sonoma The Merlot-dominated release, the 2016 Encantadora is 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from the Alexander Mountain Estate. This medium to full-bodied, rounded, mouthfilling wine offers up a smorgasbord of ripe black cherries, currants, chocolate, and savory herbs. It has some chewy tannins but unquestionably packs ample fruit and texture. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.

Refined, concentrated flavors of dark cherry, roasted plum and dark currant are backed by firm acidity. Displays Asian spice hints midpalate, with notes of dark chocolate and savory herb. Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Encantadora gives up plenty of spiced blackberries, warm plums and mulberries notes with touches of cinnamon stick and dusty soil. Full-bodied and packed with plushly textured, spicy black fruits, it finishes on an earthy note.

Matanzas Creek's 2015 Desvelado is rich, plummy and generous, all of which make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years, while the red berry fruit remains vibrant and giving.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages Composed of 88% Malbec, 5% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Desvelado features lovely warm blackberries and black cherries notes with suggestions of spice box, tobacco and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has a plush texture and plenty of spicy layers, finishing with a floral kick.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Bennett Valley sings of white peaches, grapefruit and lemon zest with touches of chalk dust and lime leaves. Medium-bodied with fantastic intensity and packed with citrus and herbal flavors, it has a racy line of freshness and an invigorating finish.

This white gold colored Sauvignon Blanc from the Alexander Valley opens with a fragrant honeydew melon and yellow grapefruit bouquet with a hint of herbs. On the palate, this wine is light bodied, balanced, juicy and mouthwatering. The flavor profile is a tangy yellow grapefruit with notes of minerality, peach pit and a hint of honeydew melon and lime. The finish is dry and fades away nicely. This Sauvignon Blanc is food friendly and would pair well with swordfish skewers.

The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc (Bennett Valley) is deep, bold and authoritative. Partial aging in oak brings out quite a bit of textural depth. There is terrific energy and focus to the varietal flavors in this pretty, expressive Sauvignon Blanc. The style built on structure holds considerable appeal.

This well-made wine is fermented in both stainless steel and neutral French oak. Aromas of freshly cut grass and honeysuckle dominate on the nose, while flavors of fig and lemon peel come into play on the racy palate.

Wine of the Week: Summery Sauvignon Blanc Aromatics of citrus fruits, bell pepper, and honeysuckle rise up from a glass. The palate showcases flavors of lime, peach, and lemon that move into expressions of white blossoms and wild grass. Quite crisp and vibrant, fans of lively Sauv Blanc will enjoy this.

The 2016 Sauvignon Blanc (Knights Valley) is bright, crisp and full of energy. A healthy dollop of Sauvignon Musqué adds aromatic intensity and character to the citrus and stony flavors. Drink this flavorful Sauvignon Blanc over the next few years.

Matanzas Creek has a long and distinguished history with sauvignon, going back to a time when California's vintners showed this grape little respect and tolerated it because they could have it in the market shortly after the harvest. Matanzas always gave sauvignon its due and was there to cash in when sauvignon blanc caught the Kiwi wave and gained in popularity worldwide. This vintage is typical, showing complex notes of citrus, tropical fruit and melon, with a slightly more oily palate than what comes in from New Zealand, making it more versatile with food and easier to like for anyone not fond of the pungent Kiwi style.

The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, coming from the estate vineyards, was fermented in neutral wood and aged in a combination of concrete eggs, stainless steel and neutral wood puncheons for ten months on its lees prior to bottling. The wine offers good crushed rock minerality, floral notes intermixed with orange blossom and lemon honey, excellent depth, richness and a dry, crisp finish. Drink it over the next several years.