Bright cherry red appearance. Medium-bodied. Moderately extracted. Mildly tannic. Red fruits, toasted oak. Bright red fruit character up front. Simple, mildly chocolate finish. Quite youthful at present, with some high-toned acids, though still very approachable.

The 1995 Zinfandel is lighter and less well-endowed than the two single vineyard wines, but it offers a wonderful introduction to the seductive qualities of a well-made Zinfandel. In a vintage that produced many hollow, acidic wines, Edmeades' 1995 Zinfandel exhibits plenty of ripe, tasty, berry fruit, medium body, an elegant overall personality, and excellent balance and length. The wine's 13.9% alcohol is well-hidden behind the gush of berry fruit. It is a delicious, straightforward, fleshy Zinfandel that would drink well for 2-3 years.

The 1993 Zinfandel Ciapusci Vineyard exhibits a nearly opaque dark ruby color, and a moderately intense nose of berry fruit and earth. Closed, with moderate tannins, this is a structured, tightly knit wine that will benefit from 1-2 years of cellaring. Drink it between 1997-2007.

A solid, chunky Zinfandel showing pepper, wild berry and spice notes that are fresh and vibrant. Ready now through 1998.

Dense and rustic, with notes of dried cherry, clay and spiced herb.

Berry, chocolate, and Porty flavors and firm tannins.

A Port-like style, fruity and sweet, with sharp acidity that adds more shock value than balance. Cherries, blackberries, plums and spice are at the core. Try this with a cigar or Stilton.

Bright yellow gold. Moderately full-bodied. Full acidity. Highly extracted. Pineapple, lemons. Sweet fruity aromas lead a fruit-centered mouthful of bright, tropical flavors linger through a flavorful finish.

Buttery, tropical fruit-scented and flavored. A ripe wine that will offer attractive drinking over the next year.

Carmel Road's inexpensive "Monterey" line of Pinot Noir from the 2015 vintage is yet another example of a large winery taking advantage of its vast vineyard resources to produce a solid bottle of Pinot that most can afford. This wine shows pretty notes of black cherry and spice, with moderate tannins. It's easy to drink and even easier on the wallet. 86 points.

California Pinot Noir Deep ruby color. Aromas of strawberries and red apples, red cherries, cola, roses. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and bright acidity, along with red cherries and strawberry jam. Flavors of roses, cola, coffee, chestnut. Fun, simple, fresh. 86 points.

A fresh and overtly fruity nose consists of notes of red cherry and cranberry along with a subtle spice hint. There is reasonably good richness to the round, pliant and delicious middle weight flavors that possess acceptable length if not a lot of depth on the mildly warm finish.

Here is an uncomplicated, unoaked look at Chardonnay that is stripped down to the basics, yet it is clean, carefully balanced and insistently fruity with the variety’s distinctly appley traits in play every step of the way. It flirts with a touch of sweetness to start but stays clear of candied confection and will very capably do the job of an affable quaffer as the weather warms in the months just ahead.

The unoaked style is readily apparent on this bottling. Fresh and bright green aromas outdo the more savory ones, conveying Anjou pear, jasmine and light apple cider on the nose. Green apple and more pear show on the palate, with a pithy apple-skin flavor providing tang to the slight acidity.

This likeable wine counts cleanliness, good balance and a bit of lightly oaked fruit among its modest assets, but its slight lack of richness and depth holds it back from the big leagues. All the same, it is easy to drink, it is affordable and there is a lot of it, and it will find useful service with a wide range of foods from chicken to fish.

Strives for complexity with its aromas and currant, cedar, plum and anise flavors, but the tannins swarm in, and it's dry and not terribly concentrated.

Medium golden appearance. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Dried flowers, peach, pineapple. Sweet floral aromas lead a full, rich mouthful of juicy fruit flavors that linger on a sweet finish.

Medium Red. Aromas of cherry, raspberry and crystallized blackberry, with hints of spice and menthol. Juicy and firm, with currant and oak spice flavors. Finishes slightly aggressive and warm.

Aims for complexity, with toasty oak wrapped around a core of delicate plum and black cherry. Finish shows oak having a slight upper hand. Drink now through 2005.

The dark ruby-colored, medium-bodied 2000 Pinot Noir Julia's offers aromas of plums, cherries, smoke, and earth. Lush and elegant, with a short finish, it will drink well for 2-3 years.

A curious wine. Mint makes a strong presence, overshadowing the tart cherry and wild berry flavors in an otherwise rich and concentrated style. Fans of minty Pinots will find this especially appealing. Drink now through 2004.

Medium-deep red. Very ripe, slightly roasted aromas of plum preserves & raspberry. Soft & a bit dull in the mouth, with modest flavor development & delineation. Finishes with dusty, tight tannins & a slight peppery greenness.

Strong caramel, butter and brown sugar aromas. Flavors of vanilla, licorice and tree bark come ahead of some sturdy plum fruit. The finish is arguably a bit hot and woody.