This wine combines Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel from multiple appellations, including Atlas Peak, Coombsville and Mount Veeder. Funky in cinnamon stick and clove, it features a silky, medium-sized build and soft, generous tannin, with a dry, spicy finish.

Loaded with black fruit, smoke and spice, this Californian red wine blend has a long life ahead of it. Decant 2 hours and pair with a rare steak.

COMMENTARY: The Barrymore by Carmel Road brand has produced some excellent wines. The 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir adds another successful notch to its portfolio. TASTING NOTES: Shows pleasing candied strawberry aromas, this wine is an easy drink, and that is perfect for simply sipping. 89 points.

Summer Rosé Wine Pick From actress Drew Barrymore and winemaker Kris Kato, this Monterey County rosé is as delicate and fresh as one would expect. Crisp and fruity on the palate, this 100% Pinot Noir wine exhibits notes of red berries, white peach, and apricot, along with sweet orange and citrus flower on the nose. A nice, balanced acidity, this rosé will pair well with shellfish, Asian-inspired dishes, and grilled vegetables like zucchini or romaine hearts with a Dijon vinaigrette dressing. 89 points.

Apple peels, squeezed lime, rain on cement, jicama and Asian-pear aromas show on the crisp yet rounded nose of this bottling by actress Drew Barrymore. The palate is quite inviting with broad apple flavors, offering just enough texture and acidity to keep all sorts of wine lovers interested.

Opaque ruby. Expressive aromas of black raspberry, cherry liqueur, smoked meat and black pepper. Juicy, focused and pure, with sharply delineated flavors of red and dark berries, pepper and spice cake. Nicely focused on the close, featuring building richness and good finishing power.

2004 ARROWOOD SYRAH LE BEAU MELANGE The 2004 Syrah Le Beau Melange reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as tannin, chocolate, pepper, and spice characteristics. Although it receives an identical upbringing, it is a more structured, masculine effort. Where the Saralee is plush, opulent, and voluptuous, Le Beau Melange is tannic, firmer, and more masculine than the Saralee's Vineyard. It will benefit from another year of bottle age, and should keep for 6-10 years.

Richard Arrowood still produces wines at Arrowood Vineyards and Winery in spite of the sale of Arrowood first to Robert Mondavi, then to Constellation, and then to Jess Jackson. He, and most importantly his boss, seems to have changed little, and that’s good news for wine consumers.

Arrowood's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Speciale was striking when I tasted it from barrel last year, but it was filtered prior to bottling, which stripped away so much of what made it so special. The 2012 is such a pedigreed wine that even after filtering what remains is a refined, delicate Sonoma Cabernet with good overall balance. Sweet tobacco, grilled herbs, rose petal and anise shape the expressive finish. Although an excellent wine, the 2012 Reserve Speciale could have been, and should have been, exceptional. Perhaps even more than that.

Lush, dense and juicy with bright cassis, plum and soft herbs; clean, smooth and tangy; lively and balanced.

Opaque ruby. Fresh cherry, pipe tobacco and cedar on the deeply scented nose. Smoky and focused, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors sharpened by peppery spices and juicy acidity. Dusty tannins give grip to the finish, which features notes of anise and vanilla.

Offers a snappy mix of vibrant red and dark berry flavors. Zesty acidity keeps the wild berry, boysenberry and raspberry flavors lively, ending with refreshing tannins.

Deep ruby. Smoky, spice-accented aromas of candied cherry and red currant, with vanilla and mocha nuances coming up with air. Velvety and open-knit, with appealing sweetness to its red fruit preserve flavors. Gentle tannins shape a smooth finish that repeats the smoky note.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon packs serious punch. Juicy dark berries, plums, raspberry jam, grilled herbs, tobacco, cedar and sweet spices jump from the glass. The 2009 opens up beautifully with a little air. The style remains hearty and at times a bit rustic, but there is nevertheless plenty to admire here. The 2009 is predominantly Sonoma Valley fruit (85%) and includes a dollop of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. This is an exceptional level of quality for a wine with a production level in excess of 10,000 cases. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.

Deep ruby. Powerful aromas of cassis, blackberry, mocha, vanilla and smoke. Lush and weighty in the mouth, offering pliant dark berry flavors and a velvety texture. Finishes with smooth tannins and good cling, repeating the fruitcake note. This polished, supple cabernet is approachable now.

Opaque purple. Smoky dark berries, cherry and tar on the nose. A rich fruit bomb of a cabernet, offering sweet cassis and blackberry preserve flavors and a round, supple texture. Delivers real flavor impact and picks up chewy tannins on a long, gently spicy finish.

A strong effort, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma possesses rich black currant notes intermixed with hints of tobacco leaf, licorice, and mile chocolate. Already delicious, graceful, and medium to full-bodied without a hard edge to be found, it should evolve nicely for 7-8 years.

The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in a combination of French and American oak for 24 months before being bottled unfiltered, has a dark ruby/purple-color and a dense nose of black currants, white chocolate, some toast, and vanillin. This medium to full-bodied wine has excellent purity and loads of character. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

2003 ARROWOOD CABERNET SAUVIGNON MONTE ROSSO VINEYARDS More structured, backward, and brooding than the Sonoma is the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard. Dusty, loamy soil notes intermixed with tobacco leaf, red and black currants, and spicy oak are present in this wine. It was hard to fathom the day I tasted it given its tannic structure and backwardness. There is a lot going on, and it has a good, weighty mouthfeel, but it is very tight at present. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 15+.

Bright ruby. Vibrant, mineral-accented red currant and cherry aromas, with a gentle licorice tone. Darker on the palate, with cassis and bitter cherry flavors, dusty tannins and firm grip. This has old-school texture and restraint.

2003 ARROWOOD CABERNET SAUVIGNON The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma possesses plenty of spice box and cassis characteristics as well as a soft underbelly, medium to full body, and plenty of juicy, plum-like fruit. It's a wine to consume over the next 7-10 years.

The Rhone Ranger-styled wines include the 2007 Cote de Lune Blanc Saralee’s Vineyard, a delectable blend of 43% Roussanne, 39% Marsanne, and the rest Viognier and Grenache Blanc. It is an enticing, dry white offering a big, floral, exotic fruit, pineapple, and peach-scented bouquet. This medium-bodied, fruit-friendly 2007 is a singular, interesting white that should drink well for 2-3 years.

2005 GEWURZTRAMINER SARALEE'S VINEYARD I tasted two very fine Gewurztraminers on my recent trip, on from Z Mor, and Dick Arrowood's 2005 Gewurztraminer Saralee's Vineyard. Very authentic, it enjoyed a whole cluster fermentation and was kept in stainless steel, resulting in a luscious rose petal-scented perfume, plenty of body, and hints of exotic fruits as well as assorted flowers....

Deep ruby. Blackcurrant, cherry, dark chocolate, licorice and herbs on the nose. Plump but sappy and structured, with firm acidity lifting the flavors of singed plum, cassis and bitter cherry. Lots of dark fruit here. Nicely focused on the finish, which features dusty tannins and a lingering note of candied licorice.

Offers a tasteful mix of ripe pear, honeydew, honeysuckle, fig and apple flavors, clean and well-focused. This is persistent on the finish, ending a touch pithy.