Shows a dusty, cedary, dried herb and sage edge to the taut berry, mineral and anise flavors. Sleek and focused, with cola-laced tannins that are fresh and snappy.

A very firmly reduced nose absolutely requires decanting though with air the notably ripe aromas of spiced red cherry and dark currant liqueur begin to emerge. There is good volume and verve to the sleek, round and nicely dense medium-bodied flavors that possess a dusty, sappy and reasonably persistent finish. There is a hint of warmth but otherwise this is well-balanced and should repay a few years of cellaring as well.

A notably fresh and spicy nose features notes of red cherry liqueur and menthol that introduce succulent, even luscious and suave medium-bodied flavors that possess a textured mouth feel, all wrapped in a palate coating, concentrated and ever-so-mildly edgy finish. I suspect that the finish will eventually harmonize but it's youthfully awkward at present.

Silky and smooth with spicy cherry and tangy, juicy acidity; amiable and clean with good structure and finesse.

Medium ruby color; ripe, smoky cherry aromas; rich, earthy cherry flavors with some oak notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Lighter, earthy style of Pinot that would pair well with a lighter pasta dish.

Riper, with loads of black raspberry, licorice, toast and cherry pie-like aromas and flavors, the 2010 Pinot Monument is lively and layered on the palate, with juicy acidity, medium to full-body and plenty of ripe tannin that should integrate over the coming year. Drink now-2018. Relatively firm, structured efforts, these should all benefit from short-term cellaring.

A very good Pinot Noir, rich in cherry, licorice, cola and spice flavors that are wrapped into firm tannins. It’s on the forward side, trading complexity and nuance in favor of immediate gratification.

Juicy, with cherry and sweet cola flavors, this wine almost tastes of warm California sunshine. Its fun-loving personality makes it enjoyable to drink now, but odds are good that it will taste even better (on account of being more nuanced) with a couple of years in the cellar.

Deep, bright red. Musky berry and cherry aromas are complemented by licorice and a hint of pungent herbs. Juicy raspberry and cherry flavors are firmed by velvety tannins, which gain strength with air. There's good sweet fruit and the tannins fade away on the nicely persistent finish, which repeats the herb and licorice notes.

The 2007 Pinot Noir Monument comes from three clones, Joseph Swan, Dijon Clone 115, and the Wadenswil Clone (which is well-known in Oregon, but is less prevalent in California). This deep ruby/purple-colored wine's big, earthy, beefy, leafy, raspberry, and black cherry-scented nose is followed by crisp, cool climate berry fruit flavors intertwined with notions of herbs, tobacco, and spice. A beautiful, but restrained 2007, it is not as impressive as either the Nielson or Bien Nacido cuvées at present, but it will provide lovely drinking for up to a decade.

Vivid red. Spicy raspberry and cherry on the nose, with subtle floral and baking spice qualities gaining intensity with air. Light and brisk on the palate, offering tangy cherry skin and black raspberry flavors, along with a late kick of cracked pepper. Nicely focused on the finish, with the floral note echoing. I like this wine's appetizing bitterness.

There is but a meager bit of fruit at work here, and it does little enough to offset this dull, close-to-flaccid wine's slightly barky, dried-leaf distractions. Thick, soft and fairly dry at the end, this one has nowhere good to go.

Byron can always be counted on to come up with interesting, terroir-driven wines. This pinot, clearly from a cool climate, is dry and tart in acids, with a silky texture and ripe, pleasing cherry, cola and mocha flavors, as well as a complex woodspice taste lasts through the long finish.

The 2013 Chardonnay Nielson Vineyard is laced with pear, smoke, slate and a host of aromas from fermentation in barrel. Rich and nicely textured on the palate, but with good overall definition, the 2013 is an excellence choice for drinking over the next few years. The Nielson saw 30% new French oak.

The 2012 Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley is a ripe, rich effort that gives up notions of golden apple, toast and vanilla cream to go with a medium-bodied, supple and textured mouthfeel. It’s a delicious, classy effort, as well as a good value, to drink over the coming year or two.

A pure, classy Chardonnay that has plenty of ripe apple, brioche, hazelnut and vanilla cream, the 2011 Chardonnay is medium-bodied, rounded and supple, with juicy acidity balanced by plenty of richness. It's a delicious, classy Chardonnay that will drink nicely for 2-3 years. Drink now-2016.

Light gold. Highly floral bouquet displays scents of honeysuckle, rose, white peach and nectarine, with a strong lashing of white pepper. Rich but racy, with deep pit and orchard fruit flavors and slow-building spiciness. Finishes on a weighty peach note, with very good punch and length.

A very good value in Chardonnay is the 2007 Santa Maria. Although completely barrel-fermented and put through malolactic, it retains a crisp, elegant style with the wood clearly pushed to the background. Revealing abundant amounts of honeyed citrus along with hints of tropical fruit and crushed rocks, in addition to beautiful freshness and vibrancy, it can be enjoyed over the next several years.

Bright yellow. Ripe pear and peach aromas and complicated by toasty lees and sweet butter, with suave floral qualities building with air. Fleshy pit fruit flavors are given grip by zesty acidity, finishing chewy, deep and long, with a lightly smoky character.

The 2015 Pinot Noir 459 is another of the riper wines in this range. The 459 offers plenty of fruit density and texture, but next to the other wines in the range, there is less nuance and overall complexity, while the fruit veers toward the riper, candied side of things. To be sure, much of the wine's personality can be attributed to the very specific qualities of the growing season. Some readers may find more pleasure here than I do.

Winemaker Kristy Melton blends 92% Syrah and 8% Petite Sirah in this powerfully ripe and fruity red wine. Cherry vanilla, leather, tobacco and meat are supported by generous oak and huge, smoky tannin. The texture is creamy and plush.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Prequel Red Blend, composed of 92% Syrah and 8% Petite Sirah, has an expressive black plums, tar and earthy nose with hints of licorice and underbrush. The palate is seriously savory, earthy and peppery with plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long.

Medium purple color. Heck of a lot of plums and blackberries on the nose, with roasted fig, smoky charcoal, vanilla and mint. Full-bodied on the palate, this wine is all about the velvety mouthfeel, medium-low acidity, along with juicy plums, black cherries, blueberries, juicy and plump. Notes of mocha, scorched earth, vanilla, roasted chestnut. Big and hedonistic but well-made and undeniably yummy. A blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 18 months in French and American oak.

Aromas of walnuts, chocolate and blue fruits with hints of stones. Full-bodied, dense and cherry-flavored wine. Lots of grape skin character from cold soaking. Give it three or four years to soften. Extracted.

Focused and well-structured, this offers appealing accents of currant, mint and cedar. The tannins are big but ripe. Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel.