The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner’s Reserve (260,410 cases) is surprisingly European in style for a K-J wine. Nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon with just tiny dollops of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec, it comes from Sonoma (88%) and Mendocino with a little bit from the Central Coast and Napa. Aged eight months in French and American oak, it offers up hints of licorice, bouquet garni, roasted herbs, and red and black currants, and medium-bodied, pretty, soft fruit. This wine could easily pass for a very good cru bourgeois from Bordeaux. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years.

The 2011 Pinot Noir Maggie Hawk and Boon Ridge Vineyards is a lean style of Pinot offering up notes of herbs, underbrush and sweet and sour cherries. Attractive in a lighter style, but somewhat austere, it can be drunk over the next year.

The 2011 Pinot Noir Jolie, from Dijon clone 115, spent 14 months in 47% new French oak. It displays a dark ruby color as well as a charming, up-front style with lots of blueberry, sweet and sour cherry, loamy, earthy undertones, and a medium-bodied, silky finish. This is a delicate, pretty style of Pinot Noir to drink over the next 3-4 years.

Arrowood's 2011 from the exceptional Saralee's Vineyard exhibits delicate notes of honeysuckle and stone fruits, with exquisite balance between fruit and acidity. This suave Viognier is long and lively on the palate. If only more domestic Viognier was this clean, refreshing and satisfying.

Aromas of lemons, honey and spice, full-bodied and rich $30

A tropical chardonnay with good structure and crisp acidity. Notes of apple, pear and vanilla. Rich, but manages to have good balance. Bright finish.

The jammy blackberry and smoky spice aromas open to zesty and easygoing plum, licorice and bitter chocolate flavors. Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah.

Offers spicy pear and apple flavors on a medium body, with robust accents of lemon zest, grapefruit and nectarine. Spicy and juicy on the finish.

Shows a good hint of minerality to the lemon, grapefruit and green apple flavors, with spice and tobacco leaf details, followed by a mouthwatering finish.

2010 Edmeades Zinfandel, Mendocino County (79 percent zinfandel, 11 percent syrah, 10 percent petite sirah): hint of oak, concentrated flavors of black raspberries and black coffee; $20.

2011 Bear Point Chardonnay, by Stonestreet, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County: floral aromas, flavors of ripe peaches, voluptuous and rich; $55.

2012 Silver Palm Winery Chardonnay, Mendocino County and Alexander Valley: light and crisp, with aromas and flavors of golden apples and limes, tart finish; $18.

2012 Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Helena Bench, Sonoma County (99 percent sauvignon blanc, 1 percent semillon): rich and crisp, with aromas and flavors of sweet oranges and fennel; $40.

2011 Freemark Abbey Merlot, Napa Valley (83 percent merlot, 9 percent cabernet sauvignon, 7 percent petit verdot, 1 percent cabernet franc): aromas and flavors of black cherries and bittersweet chocolate, smooth and rich; $34.

Sonoma Coast vineyards enjoy a long, cool growing season due to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean, and its fogs and winds that blow inland. This is perfect for slowly ripening grapes to develop complex flavours and nuances without lots of sugar that translates to heavy alcohol. Classic Californian Chardonnay with toast, oak and green apple on the nose. Full-bodied, and generously layered. Generous flavours of pear and peach on the palate with a long, dry finish and a hint of wild white flowers in a spring rain. Perfect for roast chicken or mild curries. This wine is matured in both new and seasoned French and American oak for seven months which rounds out the package with a toasty finish. Chardonnay food pairings: pasta, hodge podge, lobster with mayonnaise, roasted chicken, pork with a creamy lemon sauce.

This is just your basic Arrowood Sonoma County Cab, and that's a good thing. This vintage offers rich dark fruits on the palate, intriguing aromas of cassis, cedar and spice on the nose, and firm structure that delivers the promise of long life. It finishes with length and persistence, and shows a hint of spice.

This is a tremendous value Pinot Noir from one of Santa Barbara County's top producers. Soft and supple on the palate, with smooth tannins and plush red-fruit aromas, it's a winner for the holidays, when near-term consumption is a must.

This Riesling is distinctly off-dry. It's rich with sugary orange and lime jam, white flower and mineral flavors, with the brisk acidity associated with the Arroyo Seco region. Easy to drink now.

This Chardonnay, as you may have guessed from the designation, is unoaked. What you get is fruit, and plenty of it, in the form of pineapples and peaches. There’s a good burst of acidity on the finish.

Oak dominates this Chardonnay, with buttered toast and butterscotch flavors engulfing underlying tropical and citrus fruits. It’s easy drinking and accessible, but without a lot of complexity.

While this wine is crisp and clean, and the price is right, it’s a little thin in flavor. Suggests peaches, pears and citrus fruits that finish with a touch of honey. It’s okay for everyday food, especially Asia.

An amazing wine, possibly the winery's finest Sycamore ever. It's ripe and concentrated, in typical California Cabernet fashion. It dazzles with black currants, crème de cassis and chocolate, yet is firm and dry throughout. The tannin-acid balance is near perfect. Really impresses for sheer power and authority, and will age for a very long time. Best after 2018.

This is a blend from a range of blocks along the main ridgeline of the Alexander Mountain Estate, rising from 1,200-1,800 feet. In 2009, the fruit ripened to black cherry and chocolate depths, a dense, juicy and silken cabernet that needs little more than a thick-cut sirloin.

True to its legacy, K-J's V.R. Chard is almost off-dry and soft in style, with pleasant mango, peach, orange and vanilla flavors. It's an easy-drinking wine to enjoy with everyday picnic or beach fare.

Zesty and polished, with red currant aromas and well-structured dark cherry, caramel and herb flavors, finishing with ripe tannins.