The 2012 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Los Robles stands out for its terrific balance and poise. Bright red fruit, flowers and spices all jump from the glass. Racy and voluptuous throughout, the 2012 Los Robles hits all the right notes.

Dark red cherry, plum, savory herbs, gravel, mint, smoke and tobacco are some of the many notes that inform the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve. Voluptuous and racy to the core, the 2011 is powerful, layered and accessible. It should drink well for at least a handful of years.

The 2011 Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters is all about nuance, tension and vibrancy. Bright red berries, flowers, crushed rocks and rose petals jump from the glass. The 2011 is wonderfully delineated throughout. An expressive, crystalline finish rounds things out nicely.

One of the richer, more exotic wines in the range, the 2012 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Seco Highlands shows many of the signatures of the Rued clone that is predominant here. Orange peel, tangerine. White truffles, white flowers and spices are all nicely textured in an oily, resonant wine endowed with considerable depth. There is a lot to like here.

The 2012 Pinot Noir is juicy, pliant and very pretty. Dark red stone fruits, cloves and new leather all flesh out in an ample, broad Pinot built on a core of forward fruit. The 2012 is endowed with quite a bit of richness and volume, not to mention considerable near-term appeal.

Savory herbs, raspberry jam, flowers, mint and spices all meld together in the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Monument Ridge. Dark, powerful and authoritative, this juicy, flavorful Cabernet impresses for its balance and overall class. There is plenty of depth in the dark fruit, yet I would prefer to drink the 2011 sooner rather than later.

Graphite, smoke, crushed rocks and black fruit all inform the 2011 Red Wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based red from vineyards in Alexander Valley. The savory, floral notes typical of the vintage are quite prominent. The 2011 is best enjoyed sooner rather than later.

The 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Bennett Valley is quite a bit deeper and bigger than the straight Sauvignon Blanc. White stone fruit, peach, mint and flowers all meld together in a textured, deeply layered wine. The Bennett Valley is pretty, but it doesn't quite have the balance of the very best Sauvignons here.

Butter, pastry, dried pear and almond notes all flesh out in the 2012 Chardonnay Sonoma County. This textured, inviting Chardonnay will drink well for at least another few years.

Apricot, honey, Chamomile and orange blossoms are some of the many notes that jump from the glass in La Crema's Chardonnay Los Carneros. Rich and voluptuous on the palate, the 2012 possesses excellent textural balance, although it could use a little more definition in its bouquet.

Dark red cherries, spices, licorice and plum notes abound in Kendall Jackson's 2012 Pinot Noir Grand Reserve. Drink this soft, racy, beautifully textured Pinot over the next few years. This is another terrific showing.

The 2012 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Outland Ridge blasts across the palate with dark red stone fruit, smoke, licorice and game. A big, broad-shouldered wine, the 2012 is a bit rough around the edges, but it certainly is not lacking in personality.

The 2012 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Piner Hills is quite subtle and layered in the glass. This soft, floral Chardonnay shows the more laid-back, restrained side of the Russian River. Pear, spice, vanillin and almond notes are woven into the caressing finish.

The 2011 Pinot Noir Marin is laced with cranberries, savory, herbs, flowers and crushed rocks. Bright, floral and medium in body, the 2011 is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years.

The 2011 Pinot Noir MacLean's Block is one of the more immediate Pinots in the range. Autumn leaves, tobacco, dried cherries and sweet spices inform the finish. The style is a bit chunky and rough around the edges within the context of Russian River Pinot. Ideally, the 2011 is best enjoyed sooner rather than later.

The 2011 Pinot Noir MacLean's Block is one of the more immediate Pinots in the range. Autumn leaves, tobacco, dried cherries and sweet spices inform the finish. The style is a bit chunky and rough around the edges within the context of Russian River Pinot. Ideally, the 2011 is best enjoyed sooner rather than later.

The 2012 Zinfandel Jolene's Vineyard comes across as a bit compact and unyielding at this stage. The first impression is quite intense, but then the wine shuts down on the mid-palate and finish. This is the only Hartford Zinfandel that is 100% Zinfandel.

Bright red fruit, crushed flowers, mint and sweet spices jump from the glass in the 2012 Zinfandel Russian River Valley. This is a fairly bright, floral Zinfandel with Pinot-ish leanings and excellent balance. It is also a terrific introduction to the Hartford Zinfandels.

Medium to full yellow colour, advanced. Strong marzipan, nutty, apricot kernel aromas, then a full-bodied palate with tannic grip and a suggestion of stale lees character, which persists. A big, bold, rather unsubtle wine. But wow, it has character alright.

Savory herbs, tobacco, dried flowers and black fruit are some of the aromas and flavors that emerge from Arrowood's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County. The savory notes typical of Sonoma Cabernets come through nicely in a mid-weight, accessibly priced wine to drink now and over the next handful of years.

Journey's 2012 Sauvignon Blanc shows good intensity in its white stone fruits, sage and tomato leaf. This is a solid effort overall, but some rough edges remain. Frankly, I prefer the Matanzas Creek Sauvignons. The Journey is 90% Sauvignon and 10% Semillon.

A wine with considerable near-term appeal, is ripe, flashy and extroverted to the core. Raspberry jam, flowers, mint, spices and licorice all burst from the glass in a juicy, voluptuous Pinot. Layers of cedar, spices, new leather and tobacco linger on the finish.

La Crema's 2012 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley shows lovely immediacy in its brambly flavors and expressive dark red fruit. This mid-weight Pinot is best enjoyed over the next few years, while the fruit retains its freshness.

The 2012 Chardonnay Arroyo Seco offers lovely immediacy. Apricot, butter and floral notes inform a supple, easygoing Chardonnay to drink now and over the next year or two.

Freshly cut flowers, sweet dried cherries and spices all lift from the glass in the 2012 Pinot Noir Vintner's Reserve Special Select, a wine that impresses for its overall quality, so hard to achieve with Pinot at this price point. The soft, floral finish is quite appealing.