A little brittle in texture and transparent in flavor, with cherry, cola, herb tea and spice. Fine and clean, but tends toward lightness. Call it elegant, and enjoy with roast salmon, grilled lamp chops.

The 2006 Pinot Noir Grand Reserve is also a decent value. Crisp underlying acidity focuses the plum, black cherry, and earthiness of the wine as well as the dark ruby color and soft tannins. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.

The 2005 Highland Estates Pinot Noir Seco is a crisp, cool climate example of Pinot offering cranberry, tart cherry, earth, and oak characteristics. Medium-bodied and charming, it should drink well for 2-4 years.

Medium ruby color; light aromas of spice and strawberry; light, bit sharp, cherry and strawberry fruit; some tannin, lingering finish. Lighter, leaner style of Pinot with good fruit flavor.

Medium ruby color; light, earthy, cherry aromas; light, lean, red cherry flavors with a bit of earthy and toasty notes; lingering finish. Good middle of the road style with bright fruit and just a bit of earthy complexity.

Exhibits notes of cranberries, strawberries, and plums as well as an elegant, medium-bodied personality with a cool-climate feel. It should age nicely for 4-6 years.

A rustic style, with a rich band of anise, wild berry and cherry fruit that's concentrated. Unfolds to reveal an earthy, mineral scent. Drink now through 2008.

Medium-deep ruby color; spicy, stewed cherry and plum aromas, a hint of smoky oak; stewed cherry and plum flavors, silky on the palate, some smoky oak notes; good balance; lingering finish. This is a nice Pinot with some good developed fruit character.

A wine that has improved dramatically over the last few years in the Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir. There are 100,000+ cases of the 2003, a blend of 98% Pinot Noir and 2% Syrah, all produced from Sonoma Coast and North Coast vineyards. Aged completely in French barrels, with malolactic in barrel (17% new oak), it offers classic Pinot characteristics of forest floor, figs, plums, red currants, and cherries along with a touch of smoke in the background. This round, tasty Pinot must be tasted to be fully appreciated.

Exhibits herb, plum, cherry, and floral notes, medium body, a soft, round texture, and well-integrated wood and acidity.

Nicely perfumed rose petal, plum and black cherry aromas make an easy, graceful entry on the palate, showing a hint of tartness but also zesty raspberry and wild berry notes. Clean and well structured. Drink now through 2009. 202 cases made.

A delicate, subtle style, weaving together hints of smoke, charred wood, wet earthen floor and cherry-raspberry flavors that linger. Mild tannins.

Medium ruby red color; spicy, strawberry, cherry aromas; lighter in body, good acidity, spicy, strawberry fruit, lingering finish. Ripe, bright, light in body, this is pleasant to drink and would go with a lot of lighter foods.

Deep raspberry and cherry fruit buttressed by creamy vanillin oak and an earthy, animal element opens this dark, tangy wine. More of the same follows in the mouth where licorice, cocoa and espresso accents adds interest. Rich and burly, it closes with full but supple tannins.

Lean and focused, with a solid core of wild cherry, strawberry and herb flavors. Finishes clean and fairly long, with moderate acidity and ripe, firm tannins.

Deep ruby to the rim. Moderately full-bodied.Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Moderately oaked. Mildly tannic. Red fruits, vanilla, brown spices. Pleasantly aromatic, this wine has a soft and supple entry that sharpens up on the finish with some solid acidity and mild astringence. Well made and flavorful.

There is no lack of substance or size to this hefty offering, and it teams elements of spice, smoke and slight chocolate with its ripe, somewhat blackberry-like fruit in a solid, fairly full-bodied look at the variety, and, if a little blunt and short on polish, it is a lot of wine for the money and shows more aging potential than Syrahs of its price are wont to do. One star, good value

Balancing generous fruit against peppery tannins, this sunny syrah is ideal for lamb burgers.

The 2009 Syrah Vintner's Reserve bursts from the glass with dark cherries, licorice, game and spices. This plump, juicy red has plenty of varietal character and an engaging personality suited to drinking over the next 1-2 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014.

There is always a question about consistency when a wine is made in large lots, but our sample of Kendall-Jackson's everyday-priced Syrah shows a professional hand with respect to composition and well-defined fruit. Fairly deep, nicely balanced and not so tannic as to preclude drinking now, it is a downright steal at the price.

With KJ's vast grape sourcing, getting ripe fruit obviously wasn't a problem. This wine is ripe and juicy, with somewhat candied berry flavors and sweet caramelly notes. Soft and easy to drink.

The 1999 Grand Reserve Merlot offers a sweet perfume of chocolate, cherries, mocha, and vanilla, tangy acidity, medium to full body, and a spicy finish with noticeable oak.

Lively, with good depth to fresh herb, plum and currant flavors, nicely underscored by firm tannins and toasty oak.

Cherry, plum, currant, milk chocolate, menthol and spice on the nose. Fat, round and sweet; nicely integrated acids give the red-currant flavor lovely vinosity. Finishes with fairly substantial tongue-dusting tannins.

…dark ruby/purple colors, abundant spicy oak, medium body, and moderate tannin. The Merlot reveals more dried herb, berry fruit, and smoke…