Firm, with compact dill and earth-laced currant, olive and blackberry. Turns tannic and leathery and reflects plenty of charred-oak aging, and while it's well-structured, the dry oakiness on the finish is a concern.

Some berry and cherry character with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Medium body. Light but pleasant. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Syrah. Best after 2006. 7025 cases made. -JS

Blackberry and toasted oak with hints of coffee follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a light finish. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best after 2005. 455 cases made. -JS

Deep ruby color. Moderately full-bodied. Highly extracted. Cherries, earth, minerals. Dense and structured with impressive palate presence and firm tannins on the finish.

Good dark red. Cassis and game on the nose; a slight fumey quality quickly dissipated with aeration. Good weight and texture in the mouth, but the berry flavor seems rather pinched. Finishes with sweet notes of vanilla and toast, but the tannins are somewhat elevated.

Marked by earthy currant and leathery flavors; picks up herb and mineral notes on the finish, when the tannins kick in. A little age should soften it. (Also appeared 6/30/96).

Exhibits a big, smoky, woody bouquet intermixed with scents of cherry fruit.

Although the 2001 Merlot (30,000 cases) is acidic, with hard tannin in the finish, I enjoyed its heady aromatics (chocolate, mocha, and smoke). Drink it over the next 4-5 years.

"This wine typically requires years to open up; now it's very tight and only offers a modicum of leather, toast and black-currant aromas. The plum and blackberry fruit is hunky, not stylish. The acids are bold, and the tannins are bulky, which masks what charm might be hidden beneath.'

This dark ruby-colored wine exhibits fine ripeness, a round, plush texture, and smooth finish.

A warm and toasty style of sauvignon, filled with unctuous lemon curd and lime zest flavors bursting out of oak.

…an elegant, fresh, melon, honeyed citrus, grapefruit-scented and flavored 1998 Sauvignon Blanc. This pleasant Sauvignon will be ideal with Asian dishes as well as shellfish/seafood.

The 1995 Chardonnay is a solidly built wine with a Burgundian-like, roasted nut, buttery, leesy nose. This lavishly oaky, medium-bodied, fleshy, uncomplicated but tasty and satisfying Chardonnay should be drunk over the next year.

It offers white peach, pineapple, toasty oak, and earth characteristics.

A blend of Russian River and Carneros fruit, with just a pinch of estate fruit for seasoning, this is California as we all expect it: Pear, baked apple and citrus flavors dressed up in butter and toast. Soft and easy to drink.

The least expensive Pinot Noir is the generic 2014 Pinot Noir Russian River, and it’s also the largest production at just over 3,000 cases. It is soft and ripe, showing attractive apple skin notes intermixed with pomegranate, cherry and a hint of strawberry in a straightforward, juicy and round style with an easygoing personality. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.

Light ruby in color, with hints of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, the 2014 Sonatera Vineyard comes from the Petaluma Wind Gap and is made from four different clonal selections. It is round, easygoing, relatively light-bodied and delicate. Drink it over the next several years.

Baked apple, hints of white flowers and bruised peach all emerge from the fruit-forward, textured, easy drinking 2014 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County. It's geared for near term drinking.

Winemaker Dave Ready Jr. adds a splash of Chardonnay to his Pinot Grigio and the result is a touch more body and spice to go with the citrus notes typically associated with this grape variety. The perfect summer quaffer.

An assertive and substantive wine, this has very peachy aromas, vivid and ripe peach and apple flavors, and a texture that’s energized by good acidity. It is light to medium bodied and nearly dry.

Top Ten: California A steady-Eddy brand, the Murphy-Goode opens with a friendly, inviting nose that draws you into the glass. Spicy cherry, sweet black fruit aromas and flavours mark this modern commercial red blend that has a zinfandel lead. The fruit is a 34/27/16/13/6/4/ blend of zinfandel, merlot, petit verdot, syrah, and cabernet sauvignon. Ready to drink with smokies or burgers. Pricey. 86 points.

Here’s a basic red wine, full-bodied and dry, with ripe blackberry, cherry, currant and oak flavors. The blend is Merlot-dominated, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

Another interesting offering as well as a reasonably good value is the 2007 All In Claret. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec from the Alexander Valley, it is an attractive wine to enjoy during its first 4-5 years of life.

Light and simple, this is a clean, juicy red with enough grape-skin tannins to keep it savory. For burgers off the grill.

From a single, high-elevation block of the Alden-Ellis Vineyard, this is somewhat muted aromatically, preferring to present itself in waves of oak and cigar box. Big tannins and weight surround a soft, approachable palate that’s ready to enjoy now.