Ripened to black currant flavors and soft, tender tannins, this rich red ends with the scent of autumn leaves.

Bright red-ruby. Aromas of dark cherry, tobacco, earth and chocolate. Rather suave if subdued in the mouth, with a restrained sweetness to the tobacco, earth, spice and fresh herb flavors. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins. Conveys a sense of soil character.

Tannic; chocolate and plum aromas and flavors, and high-toned fruit.

Aromas of plum, cedar, graphite, licorice, bitter chocolate and currant leaf. Sweet, supple flavors of cherry, plum, cocoa powder, and truffle, given energy by harmonious acidity. Finishes with lush, even tannins and lingering notes of cocoa powder, plum truffle and herbs.

Dried cherries, whiffs of cocoa and a hint of pastry shop richness set this one off in the right direction, and its rounded, fleshy texture and ripe cherry flavors follow on nicely.

A perky red blend, this contains a bit of everything but somehow still works, offering zesty cherry, cracked pepper and toasty herb flavors, with just enough structure to keep this sailing. Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese.

Rich flavors and a juicy texture make this dark-colored but medium-bodied wine fun to drink. It smells like ripe boysenberries, tastes almost jammy, and has a nice grip on the palate. It comes with a very reasonable price tag for the quality.

Smooth and ripe with black cherry and blackberry fruit; a blend of more than seven varieties; lush and seamless with good balance. 50% Merlot, 22% Syrah, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Carignan and other.

This serious red blend puts together a texture firmed up with gripping tannins and acidity, flavors brimming with blackberry and sweet spices and a lingering finish. Too structured to appreciate alone, it will need pairing with roast beef, lasagna, ribs or the like.

An intriguing blend, featuring smoky black cherry and spice aromas, with notes of zesty plum, toasted anise and tar. Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Grenache and Petite Sirah.

Kendall-Jackson is to be applauded for producing a wine of this quiet character at such an attractive price. It's not one of those muscular, in-your-face California reds, but rather a subtle blend of Merlot, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and other. It's medium-bodied, flavorful, well rounded and delicious, with an elegance that is uncommon at below $15. The tannins are well integrated and supple, allowing the predominantly red-fruited character of the wine to shine. Is it a wine for the ages? No. Is it a wine for tonight? Most definitely.

Ripe and firm, with a burst of blackberry, violet and black cherry flavors. Herb, cedar and earth tones fold in on the finish, where there's a trace of heat.

The Great Estates offerings are impressive...1999 Great Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley...Its dense purple color is accompanied by smoky black currant fruit intermixed with minerals and toasty oak. Although closed, it possesses medium to full body, good richness, and plenty of tannin.

Offers a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and a red plum-fruit core, with caramel and tobacco accents. Aromas are of figs and Indian spices; one reviewer found the fruit a bit candied. This is a very good Cab. ...Finishes with bitter chocolate.

Intense, with a complex mix of dry, dusty berry, currant, black cherry, cedar, mineral and anise. Depth and richness to the flavors.

Although made in a lighter, leaner less concentrated style, the 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Great Estates Napa offers blueberry, camphor, and black currant fruit, medium body, and Bordeaux-like weight...

Ripe and juicy, here's a Cab that rises to the occasion, with fine currant, berry and herbal aromas, compounded with spicy oak. Very dry and fancy, it offers plenty of balance and harmony, and tastes soft, rich and complex.

Look for spicy, peppery, blackberry aromas with some resin and barnyard and a touch of wax. Round and rich with soft tannins. Long, stylish red, good value. Ready to drink, although it will keep easily through 2003. Fine value.

…exhibit dark ruby/purple color, abundant spicy oak, medium body, and moderate tannin. …cuts a more structured, richer mouthfeel, with tobacco, cassis, and licorice characteristics.

Deep ruby purple hue. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extract. Mildly oaked. Moderately tannic. Minerals, black fruits, vanilla. Aromatically reserved, but flavorful and rich on the palate. Firm structure throughout, with tannins clamping down on the finish.

Full brick red color. Medium-bodied. Moderately extracted. Mildly tannic. Black fruits, earth, brown spice. Dusty black fruit aromas reveal a well-balanced palate with generous ripe flavors and a spicy accent the finish.

Smooth, ripe and lush, with a pretty core of herb-accented plum and cherry flavors. Turns supple and fleshy on the finish. Ready to drink.

Medium body, acid and fruit. Lots of oak. Medium tannin. Eucalyptus, black pepper, black cherries, flowers. Loads of rich oak dominates all aspects of this mildly tart, middleweight red. Mild floral notes add charm. Powdery tannins keep structure together.

Grown in Sonoma's Knights Valley and Alexander Valley. The wine displays a healthy dark ruby color, and an intriguing, classy nose of spices, menthol, and black fruits. Medium-bodied, with fine intensity, good underlying acidity, and a crisp, rich, berry fruitiness, this seductive and complex wine should drink well for 7-8 years.

Firm and tight, with crisp tannins and plenty of toasty, buttery oak, but the currant and plum flavors are chunky, bright and lively. This is a solid 1989 that needs cellaring; it should be softer and more complex in 1996.