This darkly fruited, earthy pinot from the renowned Sierra Madre Vineyard exhibits richness and flavor without having to flex its muscles. On the palate the wine is layered with aromas of strawberry and cola and firm tannins. The finish is seductive and lingering, showing a hint of fall spice.

Nielson is another in the growing field of pinot producers crafting a respectable pinot noir that is both tasty and easily affordable. The second label for the well-respected Byron winery, Nielson's 2014 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir delivers solid pinot aromas of cherry and strawberry, with an earthy essence on the finish. This vintage shows some grip on the finish that should mellow in another year or so.

At this price the K-J 2013 is one of the best values in California merlot. With a good bit of heft and richness, this is a solid wine that can stand up to roasted and barbecued meats. It shows aromas of currant and plum with a backnote of woodspice and a long, satisfying finish.

Zesty and a bit brooding, delivering ripe fruit flavors balanced by lively acidity. Notes of black raspberry, charred pepper and licorice finish with racy tannins. Drink now through 2024.

Beautifully balanced and vibrant. Ripe and tart cherry aromas: love that this doesn't lead with chocolate for oak aging. Thank-you. Pinot Noir food pairings: spinach and spring greens salad with strawberry dressing, apple pear walnut and pecan salad with pomegranate dressing.

Sweet tea, spice and blackberry aromas follow through to full body, round tannins and a juicy finish. Drink now.

A velvety cabernet with citrus peel and currant character. Full to medium body, silky tannins and a fresh finish.

Attractive and subtle aromas of dark fruit, black olive and hints of herbs. Medium body, firm tannins and a pretty finish. Drink now.

A little short but some good stone and dark berry character. Juicy fruit on the palate. Drink now.

Aromas of rose petal, black currant and some pleasant vanilla derived from the oak. The palate is medium to full-bodied with decent fruit and a walnut-like finish. Drink now.

A lovely California wine made from hands of French ancestry. Hélène Seillan has taken the reigns from father and mentor, renowned French winemaker Pierre Seillan to produce Cenyth. This wine is made from 100% Cabernet Franc picked from estate vineyards in Chalk Hill. Mirroring traditional rosé production in Champagne, the grapes were fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks. Offering all of the best elements Cabernet Franc brings to the table, namely rich red and dark fruit and savory herbaceousness. Enjoy with flank steak and roasted red peppers.

Hélène Seillan, the daughter of Verité’s Bordeaux-trained winemaker Pierre Seillan, works alongside her father; but she also has a new label of her own: Cenyth. This crisp and refreshing rosé, made from Cabernet Franc, nods to Bourgueil with its notes of rose hip, white cherries and chalky soil. A delicious bottling from a name to watch.

Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose picks up intensity over time in the glass, offering scents of very ripe black raspberry, ollaliberry and plum with a subtle mushroom note. Lush on the palate, with copious amounts of purple and black fruits accented with hints of pennyroyal, smoke, tar and vanilla. A ripe, bold style wine with tucked in tannins, good juiciness and some finishing generosity. A fine wine but the fruit really pushes the ripeness envelope

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of ripe Bing cherry and dark strawberry leap from the glass. Full-bodied on the palate, with flavors of black cherry and cola. Silky and smooth with balanced tannins and a modest finish. This wine sports the luscious fruit typical of the Russian River Valley, but lacks the juiciness of the Anderson Valley bottling

One of the finest wines in the Kendall-Jackson portfolio, the Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is the complete cabernet, showing layers of red and black fruit, beautifully integrated tannins that lend a dynamic mouthfeel, with notes of woodsmoke and spice in the background and a touch of earthy minerality. A triumph for K-J winemaker Randy Ullom.

Time to enjoy warm weather wines. Pinot gris is just another name for pinot grigio, but producers in the United States like to use the name to define a style of wine. We love the aromas of honeysuckle and pear. The palate has melon and apricot flavors -- serve it with fruit!

Chipped chalk, wet stone, lime spritz, nectarine flesh and grapefruit pith show on the fairly light nose of this easy-drinking wine. The palate shows an intriguing texture, with apple and pear skins that evolve toward fleshier peach tropicality as the sip lingers.

Deep, but bright, crimson-purple; this is full bodied McLaren Vale Shiraz at its very best, not the least extractive or clumsy, simply complex, the result of top-quality fruit and highly intelligent winemaking.

Elegant purple flower, black cherry fruit, a bouquet of white sage and a touch of graphite decorate the rich and vibrant nose of this wine by Adam Lee. The palate surrounds soft red brambleberry fruits, with thyme, rosemary and Earl Grey tea spicing the edges. It's both plush and herbal.

Smooth and ripe with deep color and rich black cherry fruit; racy and tangy with a long, fresh finish.

(14.8% alcohol; from red gravel and clay soil): Full red-ruby color. Some superripe fruitcake, caramel and spice aromas along with crushed herbs, tobacco and iron on the nose. A bit more pliant and open-knit on entry than the Helena Montana, conveying an impression of higher pH, but still with a restrained sweetness to its deep flavors of black cherry, spices, menthol and earth. In comparison to the Helena Montana, this wine's tannins are a bit chewier, and its fuller-bodied currant, cherry and mocha flavors a bit more expressive today. These are seriously structured, ageworthy mountain Cabernets.

(15% alcohol; from white, rocky volcanic ash soil in a relatively early-ripening site): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of cassis, black cherry and licorice are lifted by mint and violet nuances. Very fine-grained and intense but a bit unforthcoming today, showing firm minerality to its tight, primary dark fruit flavors. With its solid spine of acidity and tannins, there's little in the way of easy sweetness of fleshiness here. But this rather clenched wine is still extremely young and likely eventually to merit an even higher rating.

Sleek and racy with bright, earthy flavors of crisp cherry and spice; long and juicy.

From vineyards in both Alexander Valley and Bennett Valley, the grapes were fermented in French oak for eight months, a minority of it new. This is a medium-bodied, integrated wine rich in caramel apple and fresh-squeezed tangerine. Brisk and in balance, it finishes with a note of toasted almond.