Bright gold. Lemon zest, apple and baking spices on the nose, plus a slightly honeyed nuance. Juicy, clean and linear on entry, then richer in the middle, with good mineral lift to its juicy orchard fruit flavors. Finishes with very good length and focus, repeating the spice and honey note strongly.

Bright, deep ruby. Aromas of black cherry, crushed dark berries, menthol, licorice, pepper and herbs. Densely packed, spicy and lively; an essence of urgent Howell Mountain black fruits. Nicely concentrated wine but powerfully tannic and a bit tough today, with a finishing flavor of licorice. A bit more aggressive at the same stage than the 2007 version, but equally concentrated.

Ripe and fairly rich, fruity and somewhat frontal with just a touch of something green at the margins, this wine smells like young Viognier in search of added juice. On the palate, it is a horse of a different color with its nicely rounded yet balanced flavors and its relatively long and tasty finish. Not in need of cellar aging, it nevertheless will hold for a bit.

Elegant, spicy, gamy notes jump from the glass of this medium dark ruby/purple-tinged effort. Pain grille, black currant, cherry and crushed rock characteristics along with prominent minerality are also found in this mid-weight, slightly tannic 2008. An excellent effort, it should drink well for 10-15 years.

Opaque ruby. Expressive aromas of black raspberry, cherry liqueur, smoked meat and black pepper. Juicy, focused and pure, with sharply delineated flavors of red and dark berries, pepper and spice cake. Nicely focused on the close, featuring building richness and good finishing power.

Deep ruby. Powerful aromas of cassis, blackberry, mocha, vanilla and smoke. Lush and weighty in the mouth, offering pliant dark berry flavors and a velvety texture. Finishes with smooth tannins and good cling, repeating the fruitcake note. This polished, supple cabernet is approachable now.

Deep ruby. Blackcurrant, cherry, dark chocolate, licorice and herbs on the nose. Plump but sappy and structured, with firm acidity lifting the flavors of singed plum, cassis and bitter cherry. Lots of dark fruit here. Nicely focused on the finish, which features dusty tannins and a lingering note of candied licorice.

According to the winery, this spent only six months in neutral French oak, but there's an indisputable toastiness to this wine, which serves to accent hints of flower and spice on the nose. Despite they toasty nuttiness, there's plenty of fresh fruit in evidence as well, making it quite attractive.

Greenish yellow. Focused, spicy aromas of honeysuckle, lemongrass, green almond and sweet butter. Nicely balanced on the palate, offering a supple, silky texture and flavors of ripe orchard and citrus fruits. Becomes spicier with air and finishes with good breadth and clarity. I like the blend of richness and energy here.

Deep ruby. Cherry, blackberry and espresso aromas are complemented by cured tobacco and musky underbrush nuances. Ripe and powerful on the palate, with weighty dark berry and bitter cherry flavors complicated by an exotic hint of black cardamom. Finishes with supple tannins and good power and grip.

Vivid red. The most energetic of this set of regional pinots, displaying scents of red berries, cinnamon, white pepper and orange zest. Dry and precise in the mouth, offering taut red currant and raspberry flavors and a firm spine of acidity. The spicy element repeats on the clean, focused finish.

Ruby-red. High-toned aromas of red currant, cherry and white pepper, with a suave floral overtone. Very wild, spice-accented flavors of red berries, minerals and dried herbs. Offers attractive sweetness and pliancy but shows a slight dry edge on the back end. The gently tannic finish features good, spicy length.

Bright gold. Ripe nectarine and honeydew aromas are complemented by sweet butter and herbs. Quite fruit-driven but also surprisingly lively. Full-bodied melon and pit fruit flavors are subtly sweet and expansive, with a hint of anise coming up on the back end. Finishes smooth, with solid punch and lingering fruitiness.

Deep ruby-red. Aromas of plum and cedar. Sweet and pliant, with fine-grained flavors of red fruits, wild herbs and toasty oak. The firm tannins turned broader as the wine opened in the glass. This and the Sycamore Vineyard cuvee are slated for a May bottling.

Medium ruby-red. Medicinal aromas of black cherry and licorice lifted by a floral element. Juicy, spicy, moderately intense flavors of cassis and toasty oak; distinctly riper than the more pinched and green 2008 merlot bottling. Firmly built wine with polished tannins.

Smooth and bright with vanilla, lime and peach flavors; clean, snappy and nervy with a long, tangy finish; fresh and juicy.

A classy Chardonnay for sipping now. Dry and zesty in acidity, it has appealing tangerine, Meyer lemon, white flower, honey and mineral flavors.

Bright yellow. Aromas of fresh pineapple, candied ginger and white pepper, plus an exotic suggestion of papaya. Dense, sappy and focused, with juicy acidity enlivening the tropical fruit and spice flavors. Energetic, chewy chardonnay, with good depth and a slight hard edge. Manages to be both ripe and restrained, finishing with good lift and cut.

Vivid gold. Lemon zest and tangerine on the nose. Lively and nicely focused, with taut citrus, spice and honeysuckle flavors dominating. The citrus note recurs on the silky, subtle aftertaste.

Soft and honeyed, an unctuous Chardonnay with pleasant citrus fruit and buttered toast flavors. Finishes a bit quick, but earns kudos for dryness and a clean, spicy finish.

Brooding aromas of cassis and licorice, with a suggestion of cedar. Quite tight and backward in the mouth, in a distinctly drier style than the Bosche. Finishes with substantial tannins and a repeating note of cedar. Sycamore Vineyard is a cooler site featuring more clay, normally producing smaller berries rich in extract.

Bright red. Spicy, high-pitched red berry aromas, with a note of black pepper. Firm and bright but a bit edgy, showing refreshing bitter cherry and red currant flavors. Finishes with a gentle kick of baking spices and a slight tartness.