Vivid red. Aromas of black raspberry and cherry, plus a hint of woodsmoke. Smooth but slightly loose-knit cherry and bitter chocolate flavors are lifted by a peppery element on the back half. Finishes with good grip and a lingering note of cherry pit. In a structured, somewhat brooding style; this would work well with hearty red meat dishes.

If the least expensive of the several new Cambria offerings, the Clone 115 is a nicely rounded mid-density effort that pulls back on ripeness without pulling back on fruit. It is not an especially effusive or complex wine, yet it keeps its sights set on defined, Pinot cherries and never wanders off course. Its scant finishing coarseness will be remedied equally by brief aging and service of food.

A savory, earthbound style of pinot, this yields a range of flavors beyond its youthful oak. Spicy tones of roasted root vegetables and darker elements, like black mushroom, combine with edgy acidity, all needing several years to meld.

Very strong aromas of plum, blackberry, oak, vanilla, smoke and spice. A fairly austere wine notable for power and finesse rather than fruit. The tannins are soft and it's very dry.

Supple, rich and fruity with wild berry character, enhanced by cedar, spice, leather and tobacco notes. Turns smooth and complex on the finish.

In addition to a terrific lineup of Pinot Noirs, the estate makes a solid Syrah. Completely destemmed and aged in 24% new French oak, the 2014 Syrah Tepusquet is a juicy, peppery, black and blue-scented beauty that has lots of upfront fruit, good freshness and purity and a great finish. It's a consumer friendly, distinct, well-made Syrah to drink over the coming 3-4 years.

Inky purple.  Jammy black and blue fruits on the nose and in the mouth.  Displays good balance, with mocha and candied licorice notes lingering on the slightly bitter finish.

Shows off distinct pepper, nutmeg and blackberry flavors that are full-blown, with hints of espresso and blueberry on the finish. This has firm, integrated tannins. Drink now through 2013.

…an attractive honeysuckle, peach, Muscat-scented and flavored wine with an intense bouquet and loads of fruit on the palate. Medium-bodied and cleanly made, it is ideal for drinking over the next year.

Tart, with peach and nectarine flavors that are bright and lively. Finishes with a creamy flavor.

This light yellow colored Viognier opens with a pear and apple bouquet with a hint of pineapple. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, acidic and juicy. The flavor profile is a mineral infused peach with hints of pineapple, ginger and white pepper. The finish is dry and its acidity and flavors are nicely extended. This Viognier would pair well with grilled lemon chicken. Very good.

Top Value of 2008

The texture is soft, while the flavors are tightly focused on honey, white berries and almond paste. This would match a chicken roasted with peaches, or a savory dessert, like an unsweetened peach cobbler.

Bright yellow straw cast. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Moderately oaked. Yeast, cream, citrus. Ripe and impressive flavors show a complex yeasty note. Full and rounded in the mouth, with a distinct impression of fruit sweetness through the finish.

Rich color, butterscotch nose and similar flavors with fruit in the background are typical of the region. This is a gracious and smooth wine with a subtle finish, and I'd think of it with veal medallions with a hint of tarragon, but you wouldn't be disappointed were your choice a classic salade nicoise.

"Crisp and flinty up front, the fruit shows more depth and body at midpalate, with complex pear, peach and spicy oak flavors." also appeared in 7/31/98 issue

...offers a light golden color, an excellent, toasty, smoky, tropical fruit-scented nose, bold, rich, nicely-textured flavors, medium body, and a longer finish than the regular bottling. Nevertheless, I would also opt for drinking this wine over the next year.

Complex, intriguing array of ripe pear, peach, spice and toasty oak flavors, adding a lingering aftertaste.

It is a full-bodied Chardonnay with a red wine nose of strawberries, as well as tropical fruit and intense, toasty American oak aromas. There is nothing subtle about this medium to full-bodied, in-your-face Chardonnay. Drink it over the next year.

Well balanced, with a nice range of spicy, toasty pear and pineapple flavors, all blending well on the finish. Complex and elegant.

Toast, pear, and clove aromas move deftly to a full-bodied palate.

Exhibits good structure and well-integrated acidity, as well as copius amounts of tropical fruit nicely complemented by toasty French oak. It offers a spicy, vanilla, orange and honeyed apple-scented nose and good citrusy, medium-bodied flavors.

An excellent wine. It possesses a layered feel, and gobs of honeyed tropical fruit gently fused with spicy new oak. A rich, ripe, concentrated Chardonnay.

A lush, richly fruity, boldly flavored wine that offers abundant honeyed, pineapple fruit allied to smoky, toasty new oak. (Also reviewed 6/26/93).

This wine—part of the “Seeds of Empowerment” fundraising series benefitting female do-gooders around the world—is light in the glass, crisp on the nose and laced with lime blossom, lemon peel, wet stone and Gala apple scents. It shows bracing freshness on the palate through key lime, white peach and Asian pear flavors.