Lively, with fresh wild berry, blackberry and cherry notes, picking up hints of cedar, sage and cranberry. Nicely balanced.

Lightly fruity, with elegant cherry and wild berry flavors, a touch of pretty oak and modest tannins.

Spicy and tart with lively plum and raspberry fruit and a firm acidity.

Modestly built but appealing, with raspberry and sweet anise flavors.

Those looking for “killer” Zinfandel should look elsewhere, which probably explains why I like this wine. It’s a balance of black fruit flavors, spice and a touch of herbal notes wrapped in soft plush tannins. Not flamboyant, it’s a good choice for burgers, barbeque or a pepperoni pizza. 87 points.

Sweet almost candied purple plums and blueberry jam on this full-bodied, smooth zinfandel. Pair with grilled meats topped with sweet relish and loads of ketchup. Zinfandel food pairings: grilled lamb loin, spaghetti Bolognaise, aged cheddar, grilled duck breast, Italian sausage burgers.

Briary and zesty, offering appealing cherry and herb aromas, with crisp plum, anise and pepper flavors. Tannins sneak in on the finish.

This is a big, full Zinfandel that’s blended with 19% Petite Sirah and 1% Chardonnay. With the right balance between fruit and spice, the wine is a liquid version of blackberry jam on toast.

This is a big, full Zinfandel that's blended with 19% Petite Sirah and 1% Chardonnay. With the right balance between fruit and spice, the wine is a liquid version of blackberry jam on toast.

The 2010 Zinfandel Vintner's Reserve is another attractive, up-front wine in this entry-level series. Dark cherries, plums, tobacco, menthol and hard candy are all layered into the expressive finish. The 2010 is varietally true, nicely balanced and reasonably priced. What else can you ask for? The 2010 is 80% Zinfandel and 20% Petite Sirah. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016.

KJ's Mendocino County Zin has both red and black berry fruit flavor and the spiciness one expects from dry-farmed Mendocino County vineyards, though the tannins stick around a bit longer than one might like. Cedar definitely shows up on the finish.

Well-balanced with floral, ripe plum, cherry and wild berry fruit that's supple.

It exhibits this varietal's honeysuckle and apricot-like notes, medium body, good underlying acidity, no noticeable oak, and a touch of residual sugar.

Bright pale golden hue. Medium-bodied. Balanced acidity. Subtle extract. Mild oak. Toast, green apples, peaches. Crisp and steely palate. Pleasant, round finish.

Sweet, fruity and floral from first sniff to finish and nicely defined as Riesling every step of the way, this eminently gulpable effort smacks of juicy peaches and jasmine and is buoyed throughout by nicely integrated acidity. While palpably sweet and inarguably a bit simple, it never tastes candied or cheap, and it ranks high on the roster of priceworthy Rieslings with the significant bonus of being widely available and easy to find. 1 star, good value.

Mildly sweet and soft-textured, it offers lots of honey and apple flavors. These are backed up by crisp, citrus-like acidity that adds balance and keeps the flavors lively all the way through the finish. It’s very tasty and well-rounded.

Scents of lemon-cake icing meet the pretty yet not treacly tropical aromatics of white flowers on this barely off-dry wine. The sweetness is noticeable on the palate but far from overdone, with clean flavors of lemon custard, tangerine juice and a Key-lime finish.

Elements of ripe melon and peach merge with those of pineapple and honeysuckle in the demonstrative, if not classically varietal, aromas of this outgoing wine, and its ripe, slightly sweet flavors follow suit. If far from refined and not in the least bit complex, the wine is tasty and balanced and easy to gulp. It will make welcome drinking whether sipped by itself or served with spicy Asian fare, and it is priced right.

Nicely framed aromas redolent of ripe peach, hints of flowers and jasmine may take their time to open up but open they do and become quite pleasant in the process. The wine is slightly sweet on the palate and gains a bit of roundness as the result but it is also very well-balanced at every stop.

This is a highly aromatic Riesling -- it includes some Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli and Viognier -- with notes of ripe peaches and pears. It has flavors of tangerines, apricots and spice, with a pleasant sweetness.

Consistently and confidently fruity with highlights of marzipan, honey and flowers adding just a touch of range, this surprisingly deep, sugar-edged working hits the varietal mark in terms both of balance and focus, and it does so at a very noteworthy price. It will do equally capable service as either a summertime quaff or as a slightly sweet mealtime companion.

a classic example of this varietal, offering up aromas of peaches apricots, and apple skins in a light-bodied, off-dry style. With good acidity as well as fresh, lively fruit.

The 2002 Vintner's Reserve Riesling is a classic example of this varietal, offering up aromas of peaches, apricots, and apple skins in a light-bodied, off-dry style. With good acidity as well as fresh, lively fruit, consumers can not ask for much more for $10. However, it needs to be consumed over the next year.

...displays an enticing, moderately intense bouquet of Red Delicious apples and pineapples. This friendly, light, dry, crisp Riesling is made in a true German kabinett style.

Clean and subtly herbaceous in the nose; palate displays pear and peach nuances with a hint of earthiness, framed by buttery rich oak accents. Moderately full mouth-feel; lengthy finish.