From its very dark color to its dense, tannin-laced flavors, this impresses as a bigger, sturdier, tougher wine than Pinot Noir is wont to be. Its very rich, very ripe aromas are long on sweet oak, but, like the ensuing flavors, they are less than fruity in their basic mien. Fairly full in body, moderately astringent and eminently suited to service with heavier meat dishes, this brawny youngster demands at least a few years of quiet cellar time.

(Recent Wine of the Week Winners that make a good gift). Tangy fruit flavors of dark cherry and plum. A hint of pepper. Subdued, yet rich. Integrated tannins.

An elegant pinot, with tangy fruit flavors of dark cherry and plum. A hint of pepper. This pinot is subdued, yet rich. Integrated tannins. Clean and balanced.

We have been an avid follower of this Anderson Valley producer's zinfandel, so we are delighted to discover another reason to buy this label - pinot noir. Grown in a cold climate, pinot noir can offer some dense, serious wines. That's what you have here - good complexity, forward raspberry fruit and a nice earthy note. The zinfandel remains good wine, too.

...Opulent and smooth.

A muscular Syrah that's balanced and delicious. Notes of black plum, licorice, cassis and coffee.

…boasts a brawny, full-throttle character reflective of its rugged origins..

an underrated varietal that's making a comeback.

.a superior petite sirah, try 1995 Edmeades Eagle Point Petite Sirah, with an aroma of chocolate, anise, pepper and clove, and a full, thick taste that's plenty tannic, but which smooths out with hearty foods. With pizza, the match is sublime.

Like all good Petites, this wine is big and brash. When paired with this dish, though, it reveals a hidden sophistication. Its long, evolving finish becomes especially noteworthy.

This spicy petite sirah is striking because of its range of flavors - blueberry, licorice and plum. The wine's snappy spice plays nice and doesn't overshadow the fruit. Lingering finish. Impressive.

Hint of oak, aromas and flavors of sweet black plums and espresso, full-bodied.

Tobacco, meat, and berry fruit lace the nose of this medium to full-bodied effort, Soft and engaging. Up to five years.

Lastly, the Proprietary Red Wine blend, the 2012 Proprietary Red Folly, which is a blend of 44% Zinfandel, 21% Syrah, 21% Petite Sirah and 14% Merlot, shows nice berry fruit and a somewhat Zinfandel character, even though it’s less than half Zinfandel. Good peppery, meaty, briary raspberry and sweet-and-sour cherry fruit. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.

This is a good blend that offers some great fruit--both black and red--and has crisp acidity. It's full-bodied with a kick of spice on the finish. Tasty.

This tasty red plays to both sides of the aisle with red and black fruit. Layered with herbs and spice. Nice backbone. Smooth finish. A rare find for the budget-minded.

Hint of oak, aromas and flavors of black plums and earth, big ripe tannins, full body.

Don't let the nearly 16 percent alcohol fool you (at 17 percent you start getting into ports and fortified wines), this full-bodied wine is rather elegant. The fresh herbal, black cherry aromas hint at the cool-weather growing conditions, while the flavors wow you with characteristic pepper and spice.

Killer juice! Red fruits, plums, citrus rind, blossoms, clove and more cascade through layers of exotic delights.

Killer juice! Red fruits, plums, citrus rind, blossoms, clove and more cascade through layers of exotic delights.

Eaglepoint has both a little petite Sirah and Syrah in the blend. It's a voluptuous wine with wild aromas of roses, mint, lavender and jammy blackberries, with tons of clean fruit flavors and good acid to keep it from being overwhelmingly fruity.

The Edmeades 1999 Zeni Vineyard Zinfandel, which comes from vines just under 100 years old, epitomizes everything that is best about Mendocino Ridge Zin.

dry, full-bodied, full tannin, medium acidity; One of the finest Zinfandels we have tasted in a long while.

Claret-like but the wine has the long finish of zinfandel. An enticing whiff of raspberry.