A huge success, very ripe and concentrated, with juicy plum, blackberry, black cherry, mint, sage and spice attributes. Well-focused and firmly tannic, with a solid follow- through. Drink now through 2008.

Medium-ruby red. Plum and red-currant liqueur plus a strong component of tarry oak on the nose. Fat, sweet and round, with a flavor of candied red-currants. A bit chunky and obvious but nicely balanced and not heavy. Finishes with good length and even tannins.

Deep, saturated blackish-ruby hue. Intense chocolate, herb and mineral aromas show judicious oak usage. A lush entry leads to a thick, full-bodied mouthfeel with big velvety tannins. Firm, grippy finish A real heavyweight in every respect.

Purplish ruby. Medium-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted. Heavily oaked. Moderately tannic. Vanilla, cassis, herbs. Lively and complex, with an excellent aromatic character and a gorgeous sweet oak overlay. Eschews the strong herbaceous notes often associated with Cabernet Franc.

Bright red-ruby. Aromas of dark berries, camphor and pungent herbs. Juicy and intense but quite dry in the middle palate, with the herbal element quite noticeable in the early going. Finishes with building tannins and very good length. Will this put on weight in bottle?

Full ruby-red. Musky aromas of currant, espresso, chocolate and tobacco. Generous, lush and sweet, with a flavor of blackcurrant but also a slight greenness. Offers a distinctly creamy texture. Finishes with solid but nicely supported tannins and a strong element of baking spices.

This is a dense yet dry wine, with a ripe blackberry jam aroma and flavor. Firm tannins give it pleasant grip; splashing it into a decanter will open it up.

Crisp, dry, lime, lemon, mild grass, stony, zesty finish, makes you want more, widely available. 'Nuff said.

Rich, almost neon color. Nose of buttered popcorn, peanut shells, on top of baked apple, orange marmalade, with ginger, almond cake, sea salt notes. Rich, bold, waxy, honeyed, this is full-throttle in style, but it has freshness underneath, too. Warm and nutty with buttered popcorn, salted almond, peanut brittle, with apricot and yellow apple fruit. Big and luscious but well-made with underlying perfume and floral notes. Fermented and aged 12 months in French oak, 37% new.

The Surprise of 2015 in Napa and Other California Wine Reviewed A big and rich merlot with dried lavender and a juicy plum character. Full body, chewy tannins and a slightly high-octane finish. Drink now. 89 points.

The small, 351-case production of the 2001 Cabernet Franc (93% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon) is made from one of Napa's oldest Cabernet Franc vineyards. Aromas of cedar, berries, tobacco leaf and flowers are followed by a spicy, medium-bodied wine with a front end loaded personality. This fully mature offering is best drunk over the next 4-5 years.

Bright ruby-red. The nose shows a pungent piney high note to the aromas of blackberry and licorice, plus an infusion of aromatic herbs. Spicy and high-pitched, with a strong element of peppery herbs to the flavors of dark berries, candied licorice and minerals. Distinctive if somewhat green wine with good length. These vines were picked in early November.

Good red-ruby. Rich, briary aromas of red berries, coffee, minerals and tobacco leaf. Dry, intense and light on its feet, offering a very smooth texture and a restrained sweetness to its berry, coffee and herb flavors. In an Old World style but cleanly made. Finishes broad and dry, with plenty of early sex appeal.

McCoy's top dozen from Howell Mountain, Napa Valley Sadly, the silky-textured Cabernet Franc isn’t available in the UK. But this vintage of the savoury, earthy, berry-inflected Cabernet Sauvignon shows how much Howell Mountain Cabernets repay ageing.

This sturdy, rather muscular wine manages to convey plenty of mass, and, while still bound up in grippy, slightly abrasive tannins, it is fruity and varietally focused right to the end. It's last-minute pucker makes it one to wait on, and we do not see it reaching its best for at least another five or six years.

The tannins are relatively elevated, but the wine is certainly very good. The finest is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the original blocks, and is bottled with neither fining nor filtration. Graphite, blackberry, black raspberry, and spice aromas are followed by a closed, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and elevated tannins in the finish. This cuvee will be at its finest between 2010-2018.

Juicy black cherries and black currants intermixed with white flower and crushed rock-like notes characterize the fresh, medium-bodied 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon. With good power and richness, this nearly fully mature 2001 is capable of lasting another decade.

NEW, tangy, juicy. Strawberries and watermelon, vanilla, cedar and tangerine aromas lead to a tangy and off-dry palate with expressive fruit and a slick, fresh finish.

A spirited version, with expressive strawberry blossom aromas and delicate watermelon and spice flavors.

Bubblegum and strawberry aromas meet with wet gravel and pink grapefruit on the zesty nose of this bottling. There is a great tang of lemon peel as well as cherry and strawberry flavors on the palate.

Pale peachy-pink in colour. Dry for a Californian (hallelujah), this pink wine from Monterey County displays sticky depth and concentration, with flavours of strawberry jam, apple and stone dust. Flavourful, crisp and well-balanced, like a Provençal rosé, only bigger.

Light pink/orange in color. The nose has some slight watermelon and a bit of grapefruits. This is an easy, light rose on the palate. Refreshing notes of cherries and some cinnamon. Around $16, this is nice for a party. 89 points, ,B+.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond La Crema's 2016 Pinot Noir Nine Barrel is a supple, engaging Russian River Pinot Noir that will drink well right out of the gate. Dark cherry, plum, chocolate, hard candy and sweet spice all build into the creamy, textured finish.

Weekend Wine Picks A large production pinot that is a mix of estate and grower vineyards but all within the cool, marine swept boundaries of Sonoma County. The parcels are kept separate until the final blend to capitalize on the best lots. Look for an earthy wild strawberry nose with a dusting of baking spices. On the palate look for cherries, plum, pomegranate and spice. It’s aged in 95 per cent French oak, but only 25 per cent is new. Delicious, drinkable and authentic.

Hop on these great value wines for your Easter meals