A claret style that's somewhat austere, as cedar, sage and tar flavors are more evident than ripe fruit, which peeks through on the finish accompanied by hints of berry. Drinkable now.

Edmeades is a natural for a dessert wine.

From old vines inland in the Redwood Valley, a wine that smells rich in peppery cherry.

A straightforward, one-dimensional, medium-bodied Pinot Noir, the 2008 Monterey displays some spiciness, dark berries, and soil undertones...

Fairly well balanced, with hints of herbs, citrus and melon. Finishes with bright acidity.

Sweet but juicy and flavorful, offering plenty of floral, grape and honeyed apple flavors that linger on the soft, balanced finish.

The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Tradition comes two-thirds from Lake County and the rest from Sonoma and is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, aged largely in stainless steel while spending four months on its lees. It is crisp, elegant and shows fresh, light and melony notes, a whiff of grapefruit in a clearly zesty aperitif style. Drink it over the next year.

Sweet strawberry fruit runs tart and loose through this wine. The hard brown spices of the tannin attempt to round it up, but in the end, it remains loose.

The wine's tropical fruit is blunted by oak; ripe as white peach, it's darkened by minerals and tree sap to disappear in the end. Place it with a veal stew to occupy the oak, and give the fruit a chance to make a comeback.

Supple, showing tea, cherry and wild berry flavors with toasty oak nuances that linger on the lightly tannic finish.

The 1994 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard exhibits a dark ruby color, followed by a peppery, spicy, herbal-scented nose, intermixed with aromas of jammy cherries. This medium-bodied wine should be drunk over the next 1-2 years. It is a mid-weight, soft, straightforward style of Pinot Noir.

Pretty herb, cola and black cherry flavors. Elegant on the finish.

Lovely silky texture and good weight in the mouth. The long finish of mint, earth, and chocolate flavors will leave you craving another glass.

I'll keep my tasting notes on Cambria's Pinot Noirs short, since the only wine produced in acceptable commercial quantities is the Bench Break. The rest are experimental, small lots, all of them solidly made wines emphasizing the red currants, strawberry, and sweet and sour cherry notes as well as the minerality of Pinot Noir. I didn't see as much difference in the clonal choices as one might expect, although the alcohol percentages ranged widely.

I'll keep my tasting notes on Cambria's Pinot Noirs short, since the only wine produced in acceptable commercial quantities is the Bench Break. The rest are experimental, small lots, all of them solidly made wines emphasizing the red currants, strawberry, and sweet and sour cherry notes as well as the minerality of Pinot Noir. I didn't see as much difference in the clonal choices as one might expect, although the alcohol percentages ranged widely.

Round, with butter, anise and crème brulee flavors that have good richness.

Soft, supple.

Dense and compact, with spicy pear, citrus and nutmeg flavors that are tightly wound. Not as rich and generous as the 1992 Reserve, but it still has room to grow and develop. Best in 1995.

Recommended

This 60-40 blend is oddly perfumed, almost like a hand lotion or petroleum jelly, but its bouquet also features likeable hints of melon and citrus. It's truly dry and more Provençal in style than most Australian rosés, finishing with some chalky minerality

Light and refreshing, with raspberry and beet flavors lingering nicely on a lively frame.

Has faint matchstick aromas and is a touch coarse; flinty, mineral, citrus and pear flavors should soften a bit with short-term cellaring. Drink now through 2006.

The soft 1995 Pinot Noir exhibits a smoky, gamey, animal-scented nose with jammy blackcherry fruit in the background. Elegant, with good spice, and lush, sexy, overripe plum-like flavors, this medium-bodied wine is ideal for drinking now and over the next 3 years.

Dark and intense, with a solid core of tannin, but the plum and wild berry flavors that peek through are appealing. Best to age a little to let this soften somewhat.

This ambitious red has an inky color, firm tannins and ripe flavors of plums, raisins and black coffee. It's concentrated, but a bit disjointed now and may be better in 1998.