Great price for a Cabernet this smooth and tasty. Shows appealing blackberry and cherry flavors, with a sweet, smoky touch of oak. All five classic Bordeaux varieties constitute the blend.

Concentrated in toasted marshmallow and juicy blackberry, this is a large, full-bodied wine marked by puckering tannins that still need time to resolve. Powerfully built, it’s big on flavor and intensity, with vanilla on the finish.

Cherry-vanilla and boysenberry jam combine around a ripe, lush and full-bodied wine, ideal for smoky, grilled foods. Smooth tannins make it enjoyable now and accessible to many palates, though be mindful of its power and intensity.

A jammy, spicy, high-alcohol Californian Zinfandel with dark spice and purple plums on the finish. Pair with barbecued ribs. Zinfandel food pairings: spaghetti Bolognaise, aged cheddar, grilled duck breast, Italian sausage burgers.

Sourced from both Dry Creek and Alexander valleys, this 93% Zinfandel with 7% Petite Sirah shows a hearty and robust take on the grapes, minty and oaky with a strawberry-cherry edge to the fruit. Soft and approachable despite its size, it finishes with a hit of coffee mocha.

A heady red with spicy tannins that give it a cinnamon Red Hots feel, this has enough juicy richness to balance its alcohol.

Several months since I last tried a bottle, but I recall liking the red for its jammy, ripe fruit flavors. They were still singing. The sweet-tasting fruit flavors and toasty vanilla notes worked really well with the smoky notes of both the bacon and the beans. The wine was plush and vibrant, it not only complemented my meal, but was great on its own for an additional post-meal glass.

88 POINTS Murphy-Goode Fume Blanc Alexander Valley Reserve 2002; Ripe, with very good concentration to fig, pear, peach, tangy quince and honeysuckle tones. Refreshing lemony acidity folds into subtle vanilla tones on the finish. Drink now.

Dry and tangy in style, this light-bodied wine offers good refreshment qualities due to bright citrus and green-apple flavors. Good acidity keeps the texture lively so it will make a good lunch or apéritif wine.

A crisp, clean mix of lemon, lime, grapefruit and orange zest flavors on a smooth and juicy body, with a hint of green tea.

Silky and spicy with tangy citrus and herbs; long and crisp.

This is a good value for such a creamy, well-made wine, bright in citrus and tropical fruit. Textured and linear, with a clear beginning and end, it’ll go nicely with oysters or goat cheese. The 7% Sémillon blended in adds floral highlights.

Lemon zest and chives with great freshness in this half bottle size. Great for nights when you're on your own, or when you want to start with a glass of wine with salad then move on to a different wine with the main dish.

Fresh and juicy with minerals, tangy citrus and bright acidity; fresh, clean and balanced with good length and style.

Fresh, clean and alive with citrus and tropical fruit; juicy, ripe and balanced with lots of charm and depth.

This medium-bodied wine has a light floral aroma, lots of fresh apple and peach flavors and accents of vanilla and butter. A dose of good, fresh fruit acidity livens up the mouthfeel and seems to brighten the flavors.

This dark yellow Chardonnay from California opens with a pleasant pear bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, slightly acidic and a little juicy. The flavor profile is a mild mineral and Anjou pear blend with notes of oak. I also detected hints of pineapple and apple pie spice towards the end. The finish is dry and lingers nicely. This Chard is both affordable and friendly. It would pair well with Dijon-tarragon cream chicken.

Ethereal and light, this is an understated Chardonnay for the producer, who offers several variations on the grape this vintage, this one sourced from an Eastside Road estate vineyard. Beeswax, tropical papaya and pear are the highlights, with a finish dusted in vanilla.

This effusively fragrant, medium-bodied wine is compelling for its freshness, fruity complexity and subtle spicy, buttery accents. It feels lively and crisp on the palate while still carrying enough depth and richness.

Smooth and ripe with clean, mellow flavors of apple, pear and tropical fruit; balanced, and lush with vanilla oak and a long finish.

Fairly rich aromas of ripe apples, hints of honey and a dollop of sweet oak set this full-bodied wine off in a most positive and inviting direction, and its mid-depth flavors keep it very much on track. Its roundness and openness make it quite ready to serve today with the likes of pan-grilled chicken breasts napped with a light cream sauce, and its reasonable price makes it even better. Good Value.

Another project overseen by the Jackson Family's brilliant winemaker, Chris Carpenter, Mt. Brave has fashioned a straightforward, lush, rich 2012 Merlot offering notes of underbrush, mocha, black cherries and dark fruits. This 100% Merlot, aged in two-thirds new French oak, is soft, round, easygoing, and best drunk over the next 5-7 years.

Composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2011 Merlot exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, notes of white chocolate, espresso roast, black cherries, other berry fruit, a hint of tobacco leaf, and a rich, fleshy, supple, juicy personality. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.

Undeniably sturdy, austere and tannic, and as such, a red that requires patience and faith. The core currant, anise, loamy earth and cedary oak notes are unforgiving at this early age. Best from 2020 through 2032. 4,500 cases made

Long on sweet oak and colored by an atypical element of mint as well as the usual themes of pepper and spice, this robust and big-bodied youngster trades heavily on ripeness but comes up a winner by dint of its richness and depth. It is tough enough to dissuade early drinking even by fans of the style, but it will easily take four or five years of age.