There are few bells and whistles about this bottling, but it gets the job done in terms of delivering clean Merlot fruit. Its themes of cherries and dusty oak spice in the nose are carried forward in its nicely proportioned, medium-deep flavors. Its slight sense of polish makes it accessible now, but a touch of last-minute tannin says it will keep for a while.

Deftly balanced, with a mix of rich currant, cedar, tobacco and sage. The tannins are firm and end up drying out. Drink now.

If a little in the light and fruity mold, this likeable young wine is one to remember when the gang comes to call. Its directly cherry and vanilla character is carried by a somewhat rounded, slightly supple texture in the mouth, and while never a strong wine, it is well-balanced and reliable.

A nice, plummy wine with some real richness. Round, full-bodied and firm, with a coffee-earthy finish that sets off the fruit. Fairly tannic and very dry.

Everything that money can buy has gone into this wine, but it cannot rise above its vintage. It's rich in oak, with firm, rich tannins, and the winemaker squeezed black currant, plum and tobacco flavors from the grapes.

The elegant 1999 Grand Reserve Meritage offers aromas and flavors of red currants, spice box, and dried herbs, along with firm tannin in the medium-bodied finish. This St.-Emilion-styled red...

The 2012 Red Wine Blend Avant is a pretty, fruit-driven wine to drink now and over the next few years. Plums, mocha, chocolate and spices flesh out in this sweet, supple red.

Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel, this blend is stylishly dry and smoothly balanced. It offers upfront blackberry, cherry, cassis, chocolate and licorice flavors for drinking now.

A Meritage-style blend based mainly on Cabernet and Merlot, grown in Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa counties. Slightly rustic in tannic structure, it has sleek flavors of berries, currants, charred oak and spices. A pretty good value for this sweetly charming wine.

Medium red-ruby. Sappy aromas of raspberry, currant, bitter cherry, graphite, mint and dark chocolate. Leanish and firm-edged, without quite the flavor development of the Alexander Valley bottling. Here the slightly dry tannins shorten the fruit. Finishes with a hint of tartness.

Ripe and oaky, with black-currant and olive notes, along with smoky oak and vanilla nuances. Pretty good extract and spice combined with soft, velvety tannins make for easy, pleasurable drinking.

Ripe and concentrated with a tight core of mineral and smoky black cherry flavors.

...appears to be very good, possibly excellent, but the wood is intrusive, and, again, the wine's tannin seems slightly elevated for the amount of fruit and concentration. Despite the wine's angularity, I would recommend drinking it early, as I do not believe the fruit will survive the tannin.

Ruby. Moderately full-bodied, extracted and oaked. Balanced acidity. Vanilla, pepper, black fruits. Firmly structured, with oaky aromas and a prominent spice component. Tannins rise up in the finish, suggesting a bit more cellaring time would be warranted.

The 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve is good rather than special. I wonder why? The wine offers some tobacco, herbs, and red curranty fruit in its modest nose. Medium-bodied, with a decent attach, it exhibits good concentration, attractive smoke/roasted herb-like flavors, an adequate finish, but a tart, compressed personality. If it cost $15 I might think about buying a bottle, but $42 is a grossly inflated price tag.

Dark and concentrated, rich blackberry and cassis; jammy and dense with raisiny notes.

Moderate notes of cassis with lesser glimmers oaky spice and dried brush make the early going in the full-bodied bottling. It is supple and reasonably in balance at the front of the palate before drifting into slightly coarse tannins at the back. It would be enjoyable now with beef steaks and roasts and can age a bit as well.

Sleek, with herb, mineral and dusty sage and berry flavors that have a touch of rhubarb and cedary oak.

Mildly minty and kissed with wisps of dried herbs in its otherwise creamy, cherry-like nose, this well-ripened wine is both full in body and slightly soft on the palate. It is firmed up by a welcome bit of last-minute tannin, but it dries just enough to be noticeable and its prospects for improvement with age are fairly modest.

There's plenty of ripe Cabernet flavor in this succulent wine. Cherries, raspberries and blueberries are supported by fine, expressive tannins and crisp acidity, leading to a dry, spicy finish.

Red-ruby. Currant, menthol and nutty oak on the nose. Rather supple and suave in texture, and herb-tinged flavors of currant, cedar and charred oak. Offers modest depth and texture.

Rich and fruity, a textbook North Coast Cab. The flavors of black cherry, coffee, herbs and a smattering of smoky oak are well-balanced with firm tannins and good acidity.

This is a pretty good Cab, with polished flavors of blackberries, cherries, dried herbs and coffee. The tannins are smooth and chunky...