The 2012 Syrah Jackson Estate Alisos Hills is laced with dark red/black fruit, black pepper, violets, dried herbs and licorice. Today the tannins are a bit forbidding, and keep the fruit from being fully expressive. I am note sure bottle age will make a material difference given that 2012 is such a showy vintage.

The 2011 Merlot Grand Reserve is laced with dark red stone fruits, sweet tobacco, licorice and new leather. Juicy and pliant, the 2011 is an excellent choice for drinking over the next 2-3 years.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve is one of the best values in this range from Kendall-Jackson. Graphite, spices, blue/blackish fruit, savory herbs and earthy notes meld together in a wine that impresses for its layered personality. Sonoma County is a great source for value-priced Cabernet Sauvignons. The Vintner's Reserve is a great example of what can be achieved in this part of northern California.

An inviting, textured wine, the 2012 Chardonnay Grand Reserve is laced with butter, smoke, slate, yellow stone fruits and a hint of oak. The soft, open finish suggests the Grand Reserve is best enjoyed over the next few years.

Hartford's 2012 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a delicious entry-level offering. Juicy and approachable, the 2012 is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years, while the fruit remains generous and expressive.

Kendall Jackson's 2012 GSM Grand Reserve is Grenache dominated, and that is exactly what comes through. Bright red berries, fresh flowers, spices and anise are some of the many nuances that emerge over time. This is Kendall-Jackson's first foray into GSM blends and a solid effort overall.

The 2011 Syrah Saralee's Vineyard comes across as a bit compact in this vintage, as it lacks mid-palate depth. In this vintage, the Saralee's is 100% Syrah (no Viognier) which contributes to its powerful yet clenched personality.

The 2012 Pinot Noir Haarstad Valley is a bit chunky, but it shows good depth, with more than enough fruit to fill out its broad shoulders. Dark red cherry, plum, spice and new leather inform the finish.

The 2012 Pinot Noir Panorama Vineyard emerges from the glass with dark red and black fruit, smoke, tobacco, incense and licorice. Today the Panorama is a bit burly and rough around the edges.

The top of the line 2011 Pinot Noir Nine Barrel is a bit awkward in this tasting. I am not sure 2011 is the vintage for extended elevage in Pinot Noir, as the flavors are already a bit forward and advanced. Sweet tobacco, licorice, black cherries and menthol emerge over time, but the 2011 remains a bit burly and compact at the same time.

The 2012 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Seco Highlands is one of the bigger, riper wines in this lineup. Black cherries, cloves, menthol, new leather and licorice inform the juicy, opulent finish. A hint of overripeness gives the Seco Highlands a bit of awkwardness. Otherwise, this is a solid effort.

Smoke, butter, pastry and tropical fruit meld together in the 2012 Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve, a tasty, budget-friendly wine to drink over the next few years. Every time I look at the production numbers of the Vintner's Reserve I am stunned. Kendall-Jackson makes 2.23 million cases of this wine. In case you are wondering, when the lees are stirred here, it means 4,400 barrels are touched every day.

The 2012 Pinot Noir Land's Edge Vineyards, from two sites on the Sonoma Coast, comes across as a bit chunky today. Perhaps it will come together with more bottle age, but I find that unlikely.

The 2012 Chardonnay Avant is laced with almond, pear and apple flavors. In this vintage, the Avant is a little richer and creamier than it has been in the past, which stylistically moves it closer to the Vintner's Reserve than in some previous vintages. This is a solid, entry-level offering.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale is laced with gravel, black fruit, smoke, tar, licorice and earthiness. Savory notes develop later, adding nuance. The 2010 is deep, powerful and explosive to the core, with tons of character as well as potential. The Réserve Spéciale is a blend of fruit from Smothers-Remick Ridge and Justi Creek.

This is the second vintage of the Jackson family’s Anderson Valley pinot noir project, from a high-elevation property that Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke purchased in 1999 and began planting in 2006. The vineyard sits above the town of Booneville at elevations approaching 2,000 feet, benefiting from plenty of sunlight as well as cooling ocean breezes coming over the hills to the west. The vineyard’s sandstone-based soils grew a concentrated, mineral pinot noir in 2011, a wine that feels both ample and focused, glowing with rich dark cherry tones and loaded with earthy scents of cedar bark and forest mushrooms, layered and complex. It’s beautiful now, and its structure has room to grow with time in the cellar.

A delicious, full-bodied red wine with classic shiraz aromas of black plum, blackberry and some dark spice. Terrific layering of pleasure and flavour on the palate. Try it with smoked meats. 4.6/5 Shiraz food pairings: steak.

Deep ruby color; deep, plum aromas with spice and pepper notes; deep, dense plum and cherry flavors with earthy, pepper notes; some tannin; good structure and balance; long finish. Deep, dense Pinot with the structure for some age.

A rich and full-bodied chardonnay with lovely layers of ripe peaches and pears, some lemon and lots of vanilla-butter goodness with the oak. This lovely white wine has a satisfyingly long finish and will pair well with roast chicken. 4.5/5 Chardonnay food pairings: roast chicken, salmon, beef bourguignon, shell fish, cheese, pork tenderloin.

Smooth and ripe with lush flavors of plum and spice; silky and nicely structured with soft herbs and notes of mocha; long and balanced.

Butterscotch and vanilla smoke on the nose of this California chardonnay from toasty oak aging followed by green apple and white peach notes. Full-bodied and generous with a nice finish. Rich and creamy, this wine has a lovely mouth-filling texture and weight. Let's have it with roast chicken tonight! 4.5/5 Chardonnay food pairings: turkey burgers, crab cakes, chicken breast, lobster in butter sauce, cheese.

Texture and intensity but it has a quietness to it. Spice, nashi pear and stone fruits. Minimalist and neutral but not without body.

A dusty, brambly Zinfandel nuanced in blueberries and plums, this is smooth and soft on the palate with an earthy quality throughout. On the finish this medium-bodied wine offers leathery tobacco and smoke.

Medium-deep ruby color; spicy, herbal cherry aromas; forward, juicy cherry flavors with herbal notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Simple, forward Pinot that will work with a wide range of foods.

It's nice to see veteran winery Murphy-Goode craft its most successful Pinot Noir in at least 15 years. Dry and polished, it's ready to drink now. The palate boasts a soft, silky texture and delicious cranberry and raspberry flavors. With production of 49,000 cases, it's easy to find.