Focused on a pure, firm, dense core of spicy, earth-laced raspberry and strawberry flavors. Shows a measure of dusty herb as well, ending with a long, clean finish.

Impressively balanced and well-proportioned, centered on rich, deep currant, blackberry, wild berry and black licorice flavors, revealing a dusty, cedary oak side. Ends tight and structured. Drink now through 2028.

Rich and full-blown, with a deep core of zesty blackberry and wild berry, appropriately framed by dusty earth and cedary tannins. The finish is pleasantly rocky and rustic. Drink now through 2028.

A solid cab with mineral, floral, stone and black currant. Full and chewy. There's tannin tension and intensity. Very stylish. Drink or hold.

A big and juicy style with blackberry, mineral and toasted oak character. Full-bodied, chewy and rich. Needs a year or two to soften. Better in 2017.

Floral aromas, flavors of ripe apples and pink grapefruit, crisp and fruity.

The Reserve takes things up another notch. There’s more oak roaring through the aromas; flavors are intense, and dense, and really approachable — yet it’s still holding back some of its full potential. It’s a wine with subtle power — alcohol is 15.6 percent yet it does not flaunt that. It’s a sipping wine — something to enjoy with creamy Roquefort on a cracker or a fat juicy steak on the grill. Fruit is from the Ellis Ranch owned by fifth generation Alexander Valley grower Nancy Dalziel. Winemaker Dave Ready Jr. puts it nicely: “The finish is long and will leave your mouth happy.”

This is the kind of wine European visitors stow in a suitcase to take home to friends. The vintage, of course, 2012, is one of the best in recent times and the wine speaks to that. Tannins are smooth as silk; this baby has no rough edges. Flavors are dark berries, plum, spice, vanilla with a sweet toasty note. It’s so smooth and approachable. Murphy-Goode always gives the “Snake Eyes” designation to the best Zinfandel vineyard of the vintage, in this case, the Trusendi Vineyard in Alexander Valley, which is one of the original sources of Liar’s Dice fruit. The owner, Mike Mazzoni, was one of the regulars for the Murphy-Goode founders’ dice games in Geyserville.

This one has been a fan favorite for decades — and it just gets better. It’s a beauty from the spectacular 2012 vintage produced off Alexander and Dry Creek Valley vineyards. Flavors are like liquid raspberry, cherry, plum and spice — and throw in some molten dark chocolate and espresso beans. Tannins are like silk. Acidity gives it edge. It’s delicious.

Reasonably priced, this full-bodied chardonnay has a rich texture with ripe peach and mango flavors and a touch of sweet vanillin oak.

This is an appealing chardonnay for white wine lovers across the board. A great melding of flavors – citrus and stone fruit. Notes of lemon, apricot and spice. Great balance. Crisp, yet lush. A smart buy.

Murphy-Goode Snake Eyes Zinfandel 2012. You won't find a more juicy zinfandel to accompany those smoked ribs or grilled hamburgers. Perfect for the grilling season because of the jammy flavors, this zinfandel is packed with lively raspberry, blackberry fruit.

Those who haven’t visited the Russian River Valley in California’s Sonoma County, owe themselves a real treat for the majestic scenery and delicious wines. Winemaker Elizabeth Grant-Douglas used 70% whole berry fermentation followed by nine months aging in French oak. This elegant Pinot Noir is a real winner with salmon, offering complex cherry and plum with nuances of spice, cocoa, tobacco and a finish of vanilla and toasty oak.

Matanzas Creek, a pioneering Sonoma County winery founded in 1977, produces five different and distinctive Sauvignon Blanc, each reflecting the origin of the grapes. You can practically taste and feel the volcanic soil in this Helena Bench bottling, which gives the wine individuality rarely found with this variety in California. The edgy quality characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc is apparent, but not overwhelming. Overall, the Helena Bench bottling has a larger profile than the one from Bennett Valley, but is still impeccably balanced. I suggest that those of you who remain skeptical about the idea concept of terroir try these two Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc side-by-side. Not only will you be convinced, you'll have a difficult job decided which of them you prefer.

Matanzas Creek has always had a reputation for top-notch Sauvignon Blanc. With this Bennett Valley bottling, they maintain their exceptional track record. It's a beautifully balanced wine with an innervating bite you'd expect from Sauvignon Blanc couple with a suave richness. An uplifting lime-like finish adds even more energy. A perfect choice for grilled swordfish.

151 cases only. A blend of 57% cabernet sauvignon with shiraz. Two thirds of the wine was grown on a vineyard planted in 1971, the remaining third from vines planted in 2001. Restraint is the name of the game. Structure. Elegance. The long play. Fruit is ripe, deliciously so, all blackberry and boysenberry, with super fine threads of dried herb, saltbush, cigar box and red liquorice. It has a succulence. And yet it’s dry and ropey. Terrific style, and execution.

Superb wine. Generous and statuesque at once. A flood of blackberry and plum, saltbush, mocha, slings of dried herbs. Asphalt. It establishes its power, its glory, from the outset and soars through to a fully franked finish.

Very deep, dark red/purple colour. Big chocolate and coffee/mocha aromas, the palate is very deep, dense and concentrated in fruit flavour and soft skin tannins. It's big and bold but not oaky. A thoroughly lovely big red, and more approachable than the Small Pot Whole Bunch version.

Plenty to latch onto here. Sweet fruit coated in coffee-cream oak. Overtones of truffle. Cassis and mulberry fruit flavour, by the spadeful. Firm tannin. Sweet and accessible but with a serious side.

A blend of grapes from 14 different properties including several estate-owned vineyards. Aged for 9 months in 100% French oak barrels, 33% new. Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The aromas and flavors veer to the very ripe side featuring black cherry, blackberry and Damsel plum fruits with a hint of cola. Quite sappy, with some tannin showing up on the slightly warm finish.

Impenetrable purple inky colour, the aromas likewise infantile and raw, but clean, bright, ripe and attractive. The palate is the same: very bright, shrill and raw but no harsh edges. Very good - if you like raw callow young reds.

Monterey County has many growing regions that are favored for Pinot Noir. This wine comes almost entirely from the Arroyo Seco AVA behind the Santa Lucia mountain range. Dark fruits of cherry and plum are the highlight in the nose and on the palate. Notes of dusty mineral, vanilla and spice add interest, and a well-balanced palate gives the wine a salmon-friendly profile.

Sourced from Block 30 (planted 1946). Raised in two 675L ceramic eggs, and kept on skins for 120 days post ferment. No oak. 93 cases.
Enchanting violet and rose perfume, fresh raspberries, subtle underlay of earth and spice. Light to medium bodied, superb tannin – chamois-like – all grip and mouth-coating authority, very fresh pronounced acidity, but feels clear and clean, then a perfumed bright finish of red berries and a slick of refreshing tannin. So precise, yet charming. Superb.

Better than last year’s model. PF=preservative free with no additions used for the entire wine’s production, and a small subtraction at the end via filtration.
Lurid purple colour with spicy purple crushed berries, chocolate, a flicker of balsamic vinegar and floral top notes. Medium bodied, fleshy, chocolaty and spicy with fresh acidity, almost milk chocolate feeling tannin and a spicy earthy finish of good length. Crunchy feel throughout. Lively and fun.

Opens quite spritzy. Distractingly so. I put it aside for 24 hours and the spritz had reduced, but was still there. It’s otherwise a medium-bodied wine of momentum and poise. Mulberry, cassis, bay leaves and smoky oak. Most appealing. And impressive. Spritz-aside. Would love to see this again in 12 months; or from a different bottle. No rating at this stage.