A super-concentrated claret style, this deep and elegant wine reminds me of Napa Cabernet more than Sonoma zinfandel. But it does taste like zin, with sour cherry fruit and spicy soft tannins all highlighted by new oak.

From a cold micro-climate on the Sonoma Coast, this 1998 Chardonnay emerges from a six-acre vineyard, and spent 14 months in barrel. Revealing a white Burgundy-like character, it possesses leesy, smoky, roasted hazel nut, lemon, and mineral notes. The acid profile is high (excessive for my palate), but that should ensure a healthy, long life (5-6 years). There is good weight and richness as well as a modest 12.9% alcohol content. 1998 was a cool year, and this offering certainly reflects that.

Oily, spicy nose exudes hints of dried fruits, caramel, roasted nuts and lime skin; slight Muscaty character. Rich and textured on entry, but the caramel oak quality dulls the flavors. Slightly tart and dry on the finish.

An understated style that offers medium-weight green apple, pear, spice and light oak notes. Simple yet pleasant. Drink now.

Well-ripened cherries are the main motif of this uncomplicated but nicely focused youngster, and, while never especially deep or thought- provoking, the wine gets it right when it comes to fruit. More rounded than firm, yet never slipping to softness, it calls for drinking comparatively soon while its fruity charms are at their height.

Bright ruby-red. Medicinal kirsch, dark berries and pepper on the nose, along with a whiff of stoniness. Sweet and fat on the front half, then fairly tannic and tough on the back, with the peppery quality carrying through in the middle palate and on the slightly dry finish.

The 2014 Merlot is 78.8% Merlot, 8.4% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc aged 15 months in neutral oak. Spicy notes in the fragrance along with hints of coffee bean, chocolate, and red and black cherries jump from the glass of this round, lush, easygoing style of Merlot, which is meant to be drunk over the next 10 years or so.

Appealing, with zesty red currant, cedar and spiced herb flavors.

Good full medium red. Aromas of cherry, plum and arugula, plus a hint of roasted oak. Nicely sweet on entry, then a bit medicinal in the middle, with raspberry and plum flavors joined by herbs and tobacco leaf. Finishes with substantial dusty, slightly drying tannins.

Lots of rich, sweet flavors of raspberry, cherry and mocha appear in this vigorous, young Merlot. Blended from vineyards around the valley, it emphasizes fruit.

In 2004, this iconic winery produced a proprietary wine called Josephine - a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest equal parts Malbec and Cabernet Franc. I don't think I have ever tasted it before. Most of it comes from the estate vineyards near Tychson Hill, well-known as a single-vineyard site of Colgin Cellars, which is adjacent. Deep, dark garnet with a big sweet kiss of black cherries and tobacco leaf, this medium to full-bodied wine has excellent ripeness, a round generous mouthfeel and a lush, succulent texture. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.

Marked by dry, gutsy tannins, that drying presence and savory herb mix of flavors turns this one in the direction of austerity and brevity. Ends with a dusty, cedary character.

The 2020 Chardonnay Vintner's ReseThe 2020 Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve comes from Monterey, Mendocino and Santa Barbara counties. Ninety-four percent of it was barrel fermented, and the wine was matured for six months in about 11% new French and American oak. It has savory aromas of yellow apples, cheese rind, cream and flint. The medium-bodied palate has dense flavors, a somewhat tacky texture and a hint of bitterness. 1,888,120 cases were made. Drink it over the next year or two.rve comes from Monterey, Mendocino and Santa Barbara counties. Ninety-four percent of it was barrel fermented, and the wine was matured for six months in about 11% new French and American oak. It has savory aromas of yellow apples, cheese rind, cream and flint. The medium-bodied palate has dense flavors, a somewhat tacky texture and a hint of bitterness. 1,888,120 cases were made. Drink it over the next year or two.

Full medium ruby. Aromas of black fruits, licorice and bitter chocolate. Supple and juicy, with a saline quality adding interest to the black fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes fresh and fairly suave, with finer-grained tannins than past vintages of this wine.

(produced at Chateau Lassègue, from the lower portion of this property) Full medium ruby. Aromas of black fruits, licorice and bitter chocolate. Supple and juicy, with a saline quality adding interest to the black fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes fresh and fairly suave, with finer-grained tannins than past vintages of this wine.

Deep medium ruby. Deep aromas of black fruits, game and smoke. In a rounder style than the Lassegue, with musky black raspberry and game flavors showing good intensity but less flesh and density than the estate's flagship cuvee. But this offers good mouth coverage, even if the broad tannins are a bit less successfully buffered. This should offer earlier drinkability even if it comes off as a bit muscular today. Seillan ferments this in stainless steel, giving it a gentler vinification, with less post-fermentation maceration to respect the fruit.

Displays straightforward cherry and black currant fruit flavors intermixed with spice box, cedar, herbs ad earth. While it does not possess much weight, it is more charming as well as friendlier than the 1999. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.

This French outpost of California's Kendall-Jackson empire has produced an extracted, dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 that is big, burly, hard and tannic. There is no doubting its level of extract and richness, but the tannins are severe and the oak treatment is elevated. If the wine comes together with time, it could turn out to be outstanding, but I have serious reservations.

Under screwcap. Cherry cola and sweet on the nose. Others said this was downright stinky. I could not find that initially but did after a repour. The palate, however, was a bit different: Fruity, but there is a bit of astringency on the finish. Not sure what to think. Did not have a second bottle so I tried what we had again yep, same. Good to Very Good.

Similar in style was the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley, which seemed straightforward, with notes of roasted coffee beans, underbrush, loamy soil notes and red and blackcurrants.

Should prove to be much better, with smoky black cherry aromas and flavors, meduim body, good acidity, but much more lushness and ripeness.

could turn out to be excellent given its saturated ruby/purple color, attractive, moderately intense crème de cassis and blackberry-scented nose, and fruity, medium-boded flavors. Soft, with low acidity, and spicy, peppery notes in the background, it should age nicely for 4-5 years.

.exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, followed by a sweet nose of cassis and smoky oak, and an excellent layered, supple, rich, concentrated palate with intense, ripe flavors.

The 1994 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is richer, with sweeter fruit, as well as an attractive black currant/chocolatey character, good acidity, medium to full body, and a slightly tannic finish.

More sassafras characteristics along with sweeter fruit and underlying acidity are found in the 2002 Pinot Noir Seascape. There appears to be more to this vintage, but the wine was closed and unevolved when I tasted it.