Dark ruby. Expressive dark berry, floral pastille and white pepper scents show very good clarity. Sappy and gently sweet, offering juicy black raspberry and cherry flavors that show no rough edges. Fruit-driven and seamless in style; a suave floral note defines the long, gently tannic finish.

Bright ruby. Lively red fruit and floral aromas are complicated by a zesty mineral overtone and a suggestion of white pepper. Gently sweet and focused on the palate, offering energetic raspberry, cherry and spicecake flavors and a touch of smokiness. Appealingly sweet and supple on the finish, which is framed by dusty, harmonious tannins.

Youthful purple. Aromas of ripe dark berries, violet and licorice are lifted and sharpened by a peppery nuance. Smooth, broad and supple on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black and blue fruit flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. Finishes sweet and broad, featuring an echo of candied flowers and even tannins.

Liberated, Monterey (California) Pinot Noir 2013 ($20): If you’re used to big, overwrought Pinot--the kind that throbs with too much sweet fruit and alcohol--this probably won’t be your glass of happiness. But if you share my preference for more delicate, subtly styled Pinot Noir you might want to try Liberated. Pale amethyst in color and redolent of strawberry aromas and flavors bolstered by an elusive hint of damp earth, this is a gentle, pleasing wine that is particularly good with uncomplicated foods such as pizza, pasta with tomato based sauce, and the like.

At one time, believe it or not, there was a merlot craze and Matanzas Creek was near the head of the pack of producers who gave this important Bordeaux grape variety in a world dominated by cabernet sauvignon. That ship sailed long ago, but Matanzas continues to treat merlot with respect and typically makes one of the best in California. The 2013 exhibits richness and intensity, with juicy red and black fruits and hints of wood spice, and enough grip on the finish to suggest this one's good for another seven to 10 years in a proper cellar.

Roadworthy. That's what I like to call a wine that's available across the fifty states, one that I can pop into a market just about anywhere and find when I'm out on the road and enjoy with a take out sandwich or pizza. This could be the most reliable line in America. The Zin features bright spicy berry fruit, mouthwatering acidity and a medium long finish that brings a nice black pepper bite forward. Restaurant buyer alert -- this is solid BTG material.

We have been long-time fans of Syrah, and we believe that, despite its fits and starts in the market over the last decade, it is an important variety in California and will only grow more so over time. Not only can it produce wines of striking richness and depth, those wines are often undervalued, and no better examples of just that can be found than in a quartet of exceptionally fine efforts that fully deserve second mention...the rich and enormously fruity **NOVY Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands 2014...

Lush tropical fruit intertwines with lemon, lime and floral notes. Elegantly layered, this wine exhibits a rich texture and firm backbone with a hint of vanilla and spice to round out the long finish.

Velvety and concentrated, with spiced blueberries and woodsy black plum topped by a whiff of smoked applewood. Best for pork and beef.

12.7% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.53, 348 cases, $100. Sourced from Zena East blocks 5 and 6 that stretch from the highest point of the vineyard at 600 feet down to areas of lower elevation. Clone 667, seven years old. Harvest Brix 22.2º-22.7º. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 85% new, medium to medium plus toast. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. You need to be sitting down when you drink this beauty. Pleasant aromas of earth-kissed black cherry, crushed berries and mushrooms. Upon entry, there is an explosion of purple grape and berry flavor that is eye-opening. The sappy fruit saturates the palate with goodness, carrying through to a finish that displays uncommon intensity and length. Even better the following day when tasted from a previously opened and re-corked bottle when the aromas and flavors became exhumed in an orgasmic display.

Dark and deep with excellent structure and style; generous, graceful and long; made by Chris Carpenter, one of Napa's superstar winemakers.

Another Brilliant mountain wine made by Chris Carpenter; lush and juicy with firm structure and generous plum and berry fruit; deep and elegant with intense flavors and excellent balance; lovely, complex and long.

As Australian vineyards go, this isn't that old, having been planted in 1971. Chocolate and vanilla shadings frame bowls of mixed berries in this full-bodied, powerful wine. It finishes long and intense, outlined by dusty tannins.

12.9% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.50, 302 cases, $75. A blend of multiple clones from several vineyard blocks. This wine represents the sum of the land. 40% whole cluster fermentation. Clones 777, Pommard and 667, seven years old. Harvest Brix 22.1º-22.5º. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 71% new, medium to medium plus toast. · Moderate cherry red color in the glass. The whole cluster endows this wine with a gorgeous nose, offering hi-tone aromas of black cherry, forest floor, spice cabinet and rose petal. The cherry fruit takes on a darker and deeper aroma over time in the glass. Both red cherry, strawberry and darker fruits such as boysenberry provide nuance as does a savory note. The texture is particularly tantalizing, as is the lingering finish that seems to last until the next sip.

Fleshy yet subtle, full-bodied yet balanced Californian red wine. Loaded with ripe black plum notes on the nose. Lots of layers of pleasure. This wine is made mostly from Merlot grapes with some Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Specifically, there's 81% Merlot, along with 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot in the blend sources from vineyards such as Stage Coach, Keyes, Red Barn Ranch and Bosche. Long, satisfying pleasant finish. Decant for an hour for maximum pleasure. This reputable California producer is no slouch when it comes to balanced and delicious Merlot. Lots of dark fruit and toasty oak. Pair with grilled pork chops.

The 2014 Legacy Proprietary Red is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aged 26 months in 55% new French oak. This is a wine with notes of lead pencil shavings, crushed rock, fresh, unsmoked cigar tobacco as well as blackcurrants and black cherries. Deep, rich, and medium to full-bodied, with finely tuned tannins, it should drink beautifully for 15-20 or more years.

13.0% alc., pH 3.65, TA 0.52, 240 cases, $75. A blend of Zena East Block 12 and Zena West 1A and 14. These blocks include 114 and “828,” and Pommard, all seven years old. Harvest Brix 20.5º-22.5º. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, 75% new, medium to medium plus toast. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Seductive perfume of cherry, strawberry, forest floor and spice lingering in the glass over time. Satiny on the palate, with a mid weight core of delicious dark red and black fruit flavors supported by elegant tannins. As the name implies, there is a conifer thread in the background. Very fresh, and everything is in its place, with a highly enjoyable but not exceptionally intense finish.

Richly textured with deep plum and vibrant blackberry; bright and balanced with depth but not heavy; graceful and long.

From a site with elevation rising as high as 2,200 feet, this wine delivers tremendous complexity and minerality, the grapes from volcanic soils. Meaty, with a wisp of smoky char, it's ripe and full bodied in cherry and cassis, nuances of bay leaf and rocky tannin.

Attractive tropical fruit and freshly buttered bread on the nose of this full-bodied Californian Chardonnay. The palate of this rich white wine opens up with green apple and melon. This big Californian Chardonnay has a golden-yellow tint in the glass. Aromas of ripe orchard fruit and toasty oak. Generous, layered and delicious! Pair this with roast turkey or chicken. Highly recommended.

A nicely balanced Sonoma classic; rich with ripe fruit, toasty oak and a long, lush finish.

Moderate cherry red color in the glass. Welcoming aromas of cherry and baking spices. A streamlined style that is both sleek and suave, with discreetly weighted flavors of cherry and red plum. The tannins are well integrated, the oak adds the right amount of seasoning, and the delightful finish is blessed with a generous presence of juice cherry fruit.

A robust, beautifully flavoured Californian Zinfandel from the cool climate Russian River district of Sonoma. Pair with barbecued meats.