Aromas of violets, blueberries and raspberries follow through to a medium to full body, lightly chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs a year or two to soften.

A fine and silky red with strawberry, lemon and plum character. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish.

A refined and very fine wine with medium, velvety tannins and dried strawberries. Medium body, a polished texture and a flavorful finish. Floral undertones.

Aromas of plums and dried strawberries follow through to a medium to full body, fine and silky tannins and a subtle finish. Refined and very pretty. Hints of nuts.

A lightly chewy red with cedar, walnut and berry character. Soft and caressing on the palate. Medium to full body. Lightly candied finish.

Aromas of smoke, berries and spices follow through to a medium body, firm tannins and a fresh and bright finish. Delicate center palate.

A fresh and linear red with subtle chocolate, spice and berry character. Medium body, fine tannins and a crisp finish.

Light golden yellow color in the glass. Very clean aromas of lemon, pineapple, vanilla creme and a hint of caramelized oak. Crisp on the palate and finish and easy to like, with flavors of white peach, pear and coconut. 89 points.

Moderately light cherry red color in the glass. Pleasant aromas of cherry, pomegranate and cranberry are echoed in the light weighted flavors. Simple, but satisfying, with sleek tannins, a refreshing lift of acidity, and a modest finish. A solid, harmonious, everyday drinker. 88 points.

Lightly aromatic, with spicy, tea-laced raspberry, strawberry and baking spice flavors, delivered on an elegant frame that imparts freshness.

Rich fig and smoky oak notes fold together in this full-bodied effort. The fruit is ripe and tilts toward pear, melon and apple flavors, while the oak adds a nice touch. Ends clean and pure.

Clean, pure aromas of honeysuckle, honeydew, light oak and baking spices give this lots of energy and a persistent aftertaste. The texture shows a touch of pithy citrus skin.

Full-bodied with a big grip on the palate. Blackberry liqueur aromas and flavours, though the wine is dry and complex. The grapes come from the cool climate of Sonoma's Alexander Valley. Decant for 2 hours, or better yet give this baby some cellar time. Pair with a rare steak.

Elegant, silky and brimming with top notes of red fruits (strawberry/raspberry). Balanced with some earthy notes and nice acidity. These current vintages from Byron represent a new direction as they focus on distinct single vineyard wines instead of a blend of appellations.

Being a native Californian and a local in northern California wine country, I find myself drinking a lot of California wine. And when Robert Parker's annual Northern California reports are published, I'm always eager to see which wines receive the most praise. As autumn sets in and the vineyards becomes a rainbow of colors, I find myself reaching for hearty reds like Zinfandel. So, in honor of Robert Parker's Part One of his Northern California reports, I've compiled a list of 15 Zinfandels scoring 90 points or higher in Issue 227. These top-scoring Zinfandels come from appellations across Napa Valley and Sonoma County.

Being a native Californian and a local in northern California wine country, I find myself drinking a lot of California wine. And when Robert Parker's annual Northern California reports are published, I'm always eager to see which wines receive the most praise. As autumn sets in and the vineyards becomes a rainbow of colors, I find myself reaching for hearty reds like Zinfandel. So, in honor of Robert Parker's Part One of his Northern California reports, I've compiled a list of 15 Zinfandels scoring 90 points or higher in Issue 227. These top-scoring Zinfandels come from appellations across Napa Valley and Sonoma County.

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. I have had consistently fine wines from this vineyard and this bottling is no exception. Well-perfumed with aromas of boysenberry, blackberry and balsam. Delicious mid weight plus purple berry melange coats the tongue, progressing to a notably long and intense finish. Very special, with welcome oak and spice nuances and impeccable balance. I really liked this wine.

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. A highly expressive wine with aromas of black cherry, blackberry and a bit of spice and rose petal. Mid to full-bodied, with a rich entry, rich mid palate presence, and a rich, unusually long finish. A bold, hedonistic wine, yet there is enough balancing acidity to escape a jammy demeanor. The velvety tannins make for very seductive drinking. An impressive appellation offering.

Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Glorious fruit is on display in this wine with aromas of blackberry and blackest cherry replicated on the palate. Flavors of spice and dark chocolate chime in. Smoothly textured, with lacy tannins and a charge of fruit on the juicy finish that leaves a hint of warmth in its wake.

Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Shy, but pleasant aromas of black cherry and purple berry fruits. Much more personality in the mouth, with an attention grabbing attack of black cherry and olalliberry fruit and a hint of savory herbs. Nicely balanced, with fine-grain tannins and a cleansing finish.

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. A complex nose leads off with aromas of blackberry, cassis, wine cave, floral notes and a hint of baked apple. Well endowed with ripened purple and black berry fruits. Robust, yet vibrant, with matched tannins, complimentary barrel accents, and a modest sweet-fruited finish. This wine could easily be mistaken as one from California. Score:

Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. A straight forward, simple wine with very shy aromas of cherry and red berry echoed on the light to mid weight palate. Good lift, gentle tannins, integrated acidity, and a sweet cherry kiss on the finish.

Moderate golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Flinty, struck match aromas accompany scents of peach, dried herbs and almond. Somewhat exotic, with flavors of peach, apricot, apple brown butter and brioche. Nicely balanced with an easygoing vibe.

Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of cherry, underbrush and oak develop over time in the glass. More expressive on the palate, with modest flavors of boysenberry and Hoison sauce. Simple and pleasant, with matched tannins and a juicy, fruit-driven finish.

Very dark violet color in the glass. The nose is uncommonly fruity with scents of an array of purple and black fruits. Powerful, even jammy fruit wakes up the palate. Good energy from vibrant acidity, but the aggressive fruit tannins overwhelm the boisterous, well-ripened dark cherry fruit. This rugged wine veers to Syrah in character and may not appeal to Pinot Noir purists.