A gutsy little red with medium-bodied blackberry, licorice, bitter mocha and cracked pepper flavors. Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Drink now through 2023.

This ruby red colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Carmel Road opens with a musty blackberry and oak bouquet with hints of vanilla. On the palate, it is medium plus bodied, smooth and juicy. The flavor profile is blackberry, raspberry and chocolate blend with notes of light tart cherries, spice and vanilla. The finish is dry with mild tannins that are pleasantly extended. I would recommend pairing this good value Cab with a juicy cheddar and mushroom burger with sautéed onions.

The latest release of NV Brut Rosé is made up of 57% Chardonnay and 43% Pinot Noir, with aromas of baked apples, mushroom and pie crust. Dry and broody in the mouth, it has energetic mousse and a spritely finish.

Funk. Not quite Brett, I don’t think, but there is a reductive, sulfur thing going on. Normally, I like the funk, but this is a bit over the top, even for me. The palate is fruity, but that funk is definitely still there. Very Good.

This wine is juicy and intensely powerful, combining 11% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot into the whole. Concentrated in tannin, oak, blackberry and dried herb, the fruit comes from predominantly Alexander Valley, with a splash from Knights Valley, finishing with dark-chocolate and vanilla notes.

Snappy and user-friendly, with cherry, toasty spice and pepper flavors. Drink now through 2024.

Spice and toast notes accent the pear and yellow apple flavors, showing restraint, with a hint of honeycomb and fresh acidity. Drink now.

Gentle notes of toasted grain and nuts accent apple, pear and citrus on the nose of the 2018 Chardonnay, a blend from several different vineyards. With only 10% new oak, the fruit takes the lead on the medium-bodied palate, a blend of apple, pineapple and lime that lingers crisply on the finish.

There’s a cool jasmine buzz to this varietal pinot noir, while the fruit is warm and cherry-scented, like kirsch. It ends with a malic-acid bite, needing bottle age to integrate and mellow.

This is a supple chardonnay with baked apple and baking spice scents, as creamy and pale as Wheatena. It’s a soft, round white to serve with braised chicken thighs.

Presents a rugged mix of road tar, crushed rock, graphite and cedary notes amid a core of dried dark berry fruit, ending with tobacco, underbrush and chalky limestone flavors. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Drink now through 2027.

A Bordeaux-like expression, reminiscent of Ausone, exhibiting a mix of gravelly, crushed rock earthiness, with dried herb, licorice, cedar and dusty, drying currant flavors. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2017 through 2028.

A frankly toasty version, with a cocoa and cedar frame surrounding fresh plum and blackberry compote flavors. Reveals a loamy edge through the finish, which is a bit too reliant on toast in the end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now through 2022.

Bay leaf, savory and tobacco leaf notes lead off here, followed by a mature core of softened black currant and plum paste flavors. The finish pulls in worn cedar and loam accents, while the herbaceous element takes an encore. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now through 2022.

Direct, with cherry and dark plum fruit flavors backed by singed vanilla and sweet licorice notes. Drink now through 2022.

Ripe and forward, with juicy raspberry and blackberry compote flavors. Anise and cocoa notes fill in on the toasty finish. Drink now through 2021.

Smoky oak and flavors of plums and cassis mark this wine. It finishes sweet. For flank steak.

Good plum, berry and light vanilla character. Medium body. Fine tannins. Fresh finish. Nicely done. But not outstanding. Best after 2004.

A good wine with a very good core of fruit and ripe tannins. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a long licorice and berry aftertaste. Lots of tobacco. Best after 2004.

The vineyard provides a cool climate for Syrah, indicative of its relatively low alcohol levels. The nose is hard cherry and notes of black licorice and spice. The palate entry is lean, bright red fruit with higher acidity. Reminds me more of Grenache then Syrah. Drink 2020 - 2025.

The nose is cola, tomato and bark with notes of vanilla bean and plum turning herbal and crisp with air. The palate entry is silky, waxy red berries with a firm mineral streak in the core. Dry and compact finish. Drink 2020 - 2023.

Tempting vanilla and butter overtones meet slightly tangy fruit flavors in this full-bodied white wine made from dark grapes. It overflows with ripe peach notes and has a mouthfilling texture.

Simple red fruit is lifted by moderate acidity in this light, softly approachable wine. There’s an underlying firmness of tannin that meets the brightness halfway, adding weight to the finish.

This medium-bodied blend is a snappy potpourri of flavors, with blackberry, briary cherry and smoked pepper elements. Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2024.

Pinot Noirs are food-friendly for Thanksgiving and other occasionsLook for cranberry, raspberry, laurel and damp earth aromas. Lots of fruit on the palate, big raspberry accented with black cherry, boysenberry and pie spice. Grilled tuna or salmon or medium-rare duck breast go well.