Moving toward their top-of-the-line proprietary reds, Kendall-Jackson’s 2012 Meritage Grand Reserve is 30.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28.1% Merlot, 13.9% Cabernet Franc, 13.7% Malbec and 13.6% Petit Verdot, all coming from Sonoma and primarily aged in French oak (28% was new). Licorice, graphite, mulberry and black cherry fruit jump from the glass of this medium-bodied, nicely concentrated wine with sweet tannin and toasty oak in the background.

Lovely pink color. Strawberry and red flower. Good acidity, restrained fruit, a bit of spritz on the finish might cause some concern, but tasty nonetheless. Very Good to Excellent.

Pale orange in the glass. Fruity on the palate, but a tad light in acidity initially, but comes through on the finish along with some minerality. Yum. Very Good to Excellent.

Almost clear with just a slight dash of pink. Tart nose of melon: both cantaloupe and watermelon. Subtle fruit and above-average tartness. Very Good to Excellent.

Pale orange in the glass. Floral on the nose with some lemon. The palate is a bit soapy, but good acidity and subtle fruit. Very Good to Excellent.

Rich and fruity, almost cherry-cola on the nose. Strawberry Kool-Aid on the palate. Did I mention “fruity?” Very Good to Excellent.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2017 Syrah Les Voisins is a compelling wine in the middle tier of the Copain range. Inky dark fruit, lavender, licorice, mint and black pepper add energy to this medium bodied, nicely delineated Syrah. There is lovely depth and plenty of personality.

The 2016 Syrah Les Voisins is wonderfully aromatic lifted and spiced, all in a translucent, refreshing style that is hugely appealing. Black pepper, lavender, spice and a range of blue/purplish fruit notes are front and center. There is quite a bit to look forward to.

Good bright ruby. Precise aromas of blackberry, currant, minerals and licorice pastille. Juicy, intensely flavored and tightly wound, with lovely spicy high notes and firm minerality lifting the berry fruit. Not shortage of power here. Tannins are substantial but broad and fine-grained. Finishes with lovely length and lift.

13.2% alcohol following a bit of saignee Good bright ruby. Precise aromas of blackberry, currant, minerals and licorice pastille. Juicy, intensely flavored and tightly wound, with lovely spicy high notes and firm minerality lifting the berry fruit. No shortage of power here. Tannins are substantial but broad and fine-grained. Finishes with lovely length and lift.

Good ruby-red. Dark berries, bitter chocolate, violet, spices and a whiff of coffee on the nose. Dense and supple, with good fat for 2006 but also noteworthy detail and inner-mouth energy. The deep dark fruit flavors are complicated by a cedary nuance. Finishes with broad, ripe tannins and very good grip.

Deep, bright ruby. Crushed blackberry, violet and bitter chocolate on the nose. Suave on entry, then lush, broad, dry and light on its feet. With its very fine-grained texture this is more elegant than the richer 2005. Finishes with big, building tannins and excellent snap.

Jess Jackson’s new St.-Emilion estate, which includes some impressively old vines, is still a work in progress, but he is achieving higher and higher quality in each vintage. The 2006 reveals slightly too much new oak, but it is a medium to full-bodied effort with powerful tannin, impressive concentration, and a backward style. Pierre Seillan, the Bordelais winemaker responsible for such brilliant wines as Verite, is also overseeing the production of Lassegue. The winemaking team is clearly aiming for a St.-Emilion that will last 2-3 decades. The 2006 should be at its finest between 2014-2025.

Saturated Ruby. Superripe but less extreme on the nose than the estate's second wine, Vignot, offering blackberry, minerals, licorice and dark chocolate. Dense, lush and chewy but classically dry despite superb breath and superripe notes. Notes of dark berries and smoke. Finishes broad, lush and sweet, with substantial dusty tannins and flavor of black raspberry. This reminds me of a very rich dry port. It's very early days for this wine, and my score may prove to be conservative

I pulled this out for a cheese plate with some friends over and it was fairly well received. Obviously made before the sale to Jackson Family Wines, this is surprisingly golden in the glass with decided lemon notes and a hint of oak. The fruit is still hanging on, but it is showing signs of waning on the palate. The acidity is still strong, though, but nonetheless I am going to get to my two remaining bottles soon. Outstanding.

A moderately priced “Super Tuscan” with plenty of fruit (raspberry and fruits du bois), spice, and anise on the nose. The palate is well-balanced with the ample fruit, earth, and tartness all in concert. A bit “dirty” on the finish (plenty of earth notes), but it is lengthy and appetizing. This is my first foray into this wine, and hopefully it will not be the last. Very Good to Excellent.

Pale, yet slightly golden with tropical notes of guava, lemon, and a bit of white spice. The palate is lush and rich with fruit, tartness, and mineral notes–all in balance. I do not have a ton of experience with Aussie Roussanne, but this is particularly enticing. Very Good to Excellent.

The 2005 La Muse was completely closed when I tasted it. Dark ruby/purple, this elegant blend of 86.5% Merlot, 11.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.4% Malbec has some notes of black fruits, dusty earthiness, and subtle new oak. It seems lighter than previous vintages, and also more austere, but I wonder if the wine was just going through a pre-bottling stage of hardness and a closed personality. This wine will make old bones, but it is austere at present. I look forward to tasting it in twelve months.

Tasted out of barrel, the appellation Sta. Rita Hills 2015 Pinot Noir has a plump, layered, sexy style as well as tons of currants, spice and dried herbs. It should be a great value.

The 2014 Pinot Noir Betty Ann Vineyard brings together the fruit-forward intensity of Russian River with considerable delineation and energy, two qualities that are hard to find here. Bright floral notes and vibrant acidity give the wine much of its energy. The 2014 is shaping up to be a real beauty.

Bright ruby. The nose opens slowly to display scents of fresh red currant and cherry, complicated by musky herbs, floral oils and a hint of smokiness. Chewy and tightly focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and raspberry flavors and a touch of cracked pepper. On the inscrutable side today, finishing with firm grip, dusty tannins and a late whiplash of sweet red fruit.

The 2014 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard is the most typically Russian River of the three Novy Zinfandels. Bold, forward and flamboyant, the 2014 hits the palate with considerable richness and up-front intensity. Sweet floral and spice notes - much of that from the 14% mixed blacks on the site - add freshness throughout.

Good full ruby color. Deep, slightly high-toned aromas of cassis and black plum. Rich, dry and serious, with strong fruit and real cool-climate density. An adult-styled Merlot, finishing with strong dark fruit flavors and firm tannins.

The 2012 Syrah Jackson Estate Los Alisos is 100% Syrah aged ten months in French oak. It reveals abundant notes of blackberries, licorice, camphor and forest floor as well as a flowery aspect to its fruit. With good definition and a full-bodied mouthfeel, it should provide a big, rich, mouthful of Syrah for 4-6 years.