Such a pretty Pinot! It offers up intense flavors of cherry, strawberry and vanilla, with velvet tannins, lovely integration of toasty, spicy French oak and sturdy acidity. It’s grown on high ridges, hillsides and benchlands in the cool coastal areas of Monterey County and Santa Barbara County.

This lush, rich, oaked Chardonnay is produced off K-J’s vineyards in Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. It’s a big, full-bodied, elegant wine with intense aromas and a creaminess on the palate infused with spicy, smoky French oak. Think lemon and lime, passion fruit, pineapple, floral tones and vanilla and spice. It has a sturdy backbone of acidity for structure.

You’d be hard pressed to find an equally delicious and full-bodied cabernet for this price. Arrowood produces a dependable cabernet sauvignon, although we could argue that it doesn’t have any unique qualities. Blended with merlot and petit verdot, it has an enjoyable roundness with generous aromatics and juicy raspberry and black cherry flavors.

Knights Valley is the typically the warmest area in Sonoma County, and thought it has a great reputation for Cabernet, I'd say it's still under rated. Poker Knight makes an argument for the AVA, with classic varietal character, firm tannins, food friendly acidity and a long finish that's showing good integration now and will reward up to five years additional bottle aging. There's rack of lamb structure on this one - save the poker game for later.

The Folly presents as an old school California Zinfandel based field blend, likely containing Petite Sirah, Syrah among other varieties. There's something adding a bit of complexity here that's unusual in the style -- perhaps a bit of Merlot? But enough wine geek speak -- this is a juicy, cherry fruit driven wine with note of orange blossom and white pepper, a little tar and fall spice, good acidity and moderate tannins that will go great with summer grilling.

The 2013 Carmel Road is another in the growing lineup of inexpensive California Pinot Noirs that deliver flavor and satisfaction without putting a strain on the wallet. Well balanced and flavorful, this delicate, light-bodied Pinot is perfect from summer picnics, grilling or served with light appetizers. It offers notes of cherry and spice, with a hint of cola and an ever-so-slightly grippy finish.

Always one of our favorite pinot noirs, the La Crema has another blockbuster. Reasonably priced for a pinot noir, it sports juicy plum and cherry flavors. Very lush texture.

Murphy-Goode's Knights Valley Cab offers up a rich slice of northern Sonoma County flavor. The Knights Valley is a warm spot in Sonoma's vast viticultural area that delivers ripe Cabernet grapes with regularity. This vintage of the Poker Knight exhibits luscious blackberry and cassis aromas, shows a bit of wood on the nose, and finishes with grippy tannins that suggest it might be best to lay this one down in the cellar for two to three years.

Edmeades describes its 'Folly' as a Zinfandel blend. Actually, less than half the blend is Zin. The Zin shares space with Syrah, Petite Sirah and Merlot. But I quibble. This juicy red is full of Zinful brambly berry character, ripe black fruits and an overlay of oak vanillin. It's fun and friendly, with supple, easy tannins, and should find a place around the picnic table throughout the outdoor grilling season.

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. A wonderful array of fresh scents greet the drinker including black cherry, kirsch, cassis, sousbois and violets. Sappy and robust, with intense layers of flavor that unfold on the palate in stages to reveal notes of boysenberry, cassis, plum reduction sauce, and earthy herbs. Very smoothly textured with balanced tannins and a lingering finish. A special wine of uncommon personality and breeding.

Moderate dark reddish purple color in the glass. Intoxicating aromas of ripe strawberries, black cherries and black raspberries with hints of spice and violet. Mid weight plus flavors of black cherry, black raspberry and cassis with a well-proportioned backbone of acid and tannin. A highly enjoyable wine of great character.

Dark reddish purple hue in the glass. Highly expressive nose that leads with aromas of dark berries, tea and anise. Highly structured and robust, with flavors of blackberry, ollaliberry and English tea. Concentrated, but elevated with juicy acidity, and offering a suave finish of noticeable intensity.

Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. An intensely flavored mid weight plus macho wine featuring aromas and flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, mocha, and savory herbs. Polished tannins make for very forward drink ability. A “ribeye wine.”

Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Very enticing aromas of alpine strawberry, cherry, wood spice and sous-bois. Highly satisfying, “pretty” core of cherry fruit with a flowery underpinning. The oak is well-integrated, the fine-grain tannins provide support, and the wine finishes with a burst of juicy, black cherry fruit which hangs on for dear life.

A very curious and interesting wine. Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of pine and forest floor lead to a delicious mid weight core of black cherry and black raspberry fruits accented with notes of conifer, spice and mocha. The tannins are very fine, and there is a lively grip of acid on the finish. As Jeff points out, in this wine you get a real sense of the forest that surrounds this vineyard.

Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Very savory on the nose with scents of conifer, sous-bois, black cherry and a hint of oak. Striking attack of vivid cherry fruit with many added nuances including spices particularly clove, earth and conifer. The tannins are very silky, and the wine finishes with good brightness.

Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Lovely aromas of peppery cherry, dark rose and earthy loam. The mid weight black cherry core is framed by firm tannins and accented with a compliment of oak. Earthy and savory, with soft acidity, and a remarkably intense and long finish. Will benefit from more time in bottle.

Medium reddish purple hue in the glass. Very slight reduction. Riper fruit aromas featuring spiced plum, boysenberry and black cherry. Welcome charge of black cherry and purple berry fruits on entry with an underlying riff of baking spices and citrus. Nicely integrated acidity, but the slightly grainy tannins need more time to moderate.

Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of forest and spice lead to a lighter weight wine featuring purple berry flavors with a hint of citrus in the background. Fresh, with supple tannins, and a high-strung finish.

Light pink color in the glass. Aromas of strawberry, cherry and rose petal echoed on the palate with an added hint of spice. Fresh and vibrant, with good acidity, finishing dry.

Light cherry red color in the glass. Cherry is the featured fruit in this light to mid weight wine, with added notes of cranberry, cola and oak seasoning. Forward and easy to drink with a good cut of acid on the bright finish.

Sweet almost candied purple plums and blueberry jam on this full-bodied, smooth zinfandel. Pair with grilled meats topped with sweet relish and loads of ketchup. Zinfandel food pairings: grilled lamb loin, spaghetti Bolognaise, aged cheddar, grilled duck breast, Italian sausage burgers.

We are both surprised and bemused by Merlot’s ongoing lack of respect, but if that explains why so many attractive examples can be found at such reasonable prices, then we are not about to complain. KENDALL-JACKSON checks in with its second Best Buy mention this month for its Grand Reserve Sonoma County 2012 ($26.00)...

The search for fine values among Cabernet Sauvignon is more often than not a task demanding of patience and few rewards, but the 2012 and 2013 vintages have turned out far more good buys than we have seen in some time. The moderately deep, similarly well-focused KENDALL-JACKSON Grand Reserve Sonoma County 2012 ($28.00) earns comfortable inclusion as well...

The winery’s top-end bottling, this presents rich aromas of black cherry and blackberry pie, with sweet hickory smoke, pipe tobacco and graphite shavings. The expertly balanced palate is quite broad, with ripe pomegranate and raspberry fruit, yet it’s not jammy at all, thanks to black clove, Earl Grey tea and violet candy. Ample tannins and acidity enliven the mouth.