Here is a deep, decidedly complex look at the grape that begs for a bit of patience insofar as, while very rich and leading with plenty appley fruit and creamy oak, it seems a wine of hidden talent and reveals a bit more with each successive sniff and sip. Fairly full on the palate, slightly oily in feel yet never heavy and always well-balanced, it is light on its feet without being a light wine, and it should prove first-rate partner to the likes of seared scallops or sole in buerre blanc.

Medium ruby color, deep ripe cherry and earthy aromas; rich, ripe, deep, earthy flavors with spicy stewed cherry notes; good structure and balance; long finish. Ripe and full Pinot with really nice flavors and the structure to carry it for a few years at least.

Best Buy - Pale white peach flavors match this wine's substantial oak, its scents of toasted almond and marzipan turning lighter and savory. It's a warm wine with elegance, especially when chilled for grilled lobster.

Plump, ripe sweet citrus and Gala apple aromas find full support from creamy oak in a nose that is generous and inviting but not ever bombastic or over the top. The wine is full in body, supple in texture and nicely balanced, and its flavors of Gala apple, Meyer lemon and vanilla creme brulee are very much in the style that is so often found in Sonoma County Chardonnays. A bit of bottle age will deepen it further.

This is a quite impressive New World Pinot Noir, meaning a wine of compelling fruit quality, with a seductively silky texture and a clean, long, ever-evolving finish. Unlike the great red wines of Burgundy, which must remain the benchmarks for both winemakers and wine drinkers who love this grape, this Californian does not display any earthy or so-called barnyard notes, its legitimately complex mélange of aromas and flavors coming wholly from the interplay of fruit and oak. That's in no sense a criticism, just an indication of Golden State style.

Clean, fruity and somewhat more oriented to Red Delicious than to Gala apples with hints of tropical fruits in support, this fairly full-sized effort is a touch less weighty than its cellarmates and is a touch less open as well. It will reward a few years in the cellar, yet it can be used today with confidence alongside shrimp sauteed in butter and shallots.

Golden fruit of apricot and lemon balance this wine's oak tones of vanilla and toasted wheat, all refreshed by a crisp, apple-like acidity. It's full-on chardonnay, hinting at sweetness, but not tiring to drink. Serve it with roast pork glazed with apricot.

Creamy and youthfully buoyant fruit redolent of red cherries and strawberries makes the early going in the aromas of this full, rich wine while toasty oak adds its own bit of range. Slightly round, direct and medium in depth, the wine does a good job of staying the course from entry to finish. Its youth and depth are going to hold it in good stead for several years.

Pinot Blanc is a Rodney Dangerfield grape, rarely getting much if any respect. It almost always plays second (or third) fiddle -- to Riesling and Gewurztraminer in Alsace, Pinot Grigio in Italy, and Chardonnay in California. But when well made, Pinot Blanc can be a delicious dinner wine. It invariably has subtle rather than forceful flavors that complement rather than compete with food. This is a good example, being marked with apple and pear fruit, just a hint of vanilla, and a focused, long finish. So even if you don't much value the varietal, you'll enjoy the wine.

A big burly, concentrated Grenache, Yangarra's High Sands bottling seems capable of evolving nicely over the next 3-5 years, although it is supple enough to drink now. Black cherry preserves gain structure on the finish in the form of finely dusty tannins.

Every bit as lively and bright as its vintage might suggest, this fruity, well-filled, medium-full bodied wine is principally keyed on squeaky clean, slightly candied young fruit.

This is a good, sound, everyday Chardonnay. It's very dry and crisp in Central Coast acidity, with mineral-laded flavors of lemons, limes, apples and pineapples, touched with vanilla and buttered toast.

Clean and crisp in acidity, this polished PG features citrus fruit, pear, white flower and spice flavors. It's a racy, mouth-cleansing wine that's nice as an aperitif as the day comes to a close.

Middling in depth and middling in focus and always finding just enough fruit at its heart to gain commendation, this wine mixes ripe cherry notes with a hint of vineyard soils and a whisper of a green twig element in its aromas. Piquant red cherry fruit follows a slightly rounded entry, and the wine stays on the bright, just a tad tight side all the way to the end.

This is a highly aromatic Riesling -- it includes some Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli and Viognier -- with notes of ripe peaches and pears. It has flavors of tangerines, apricots and spice, with a pleasant sweetness.

Aromas and flavors of red plums; soft, rich and smooth.

Small amounts of merlot, cab franc, malbec, petit verdot and petite sirah are in the blend, which adds complexity. The ripe fruit grabs you first, but there are other subtle flavors lurking in the background - vanilla, cedar and mint - and the tannins are well-integrated.

Has nice smoky, cherry fruit with good minerality and acidity. It walks the line between New and Old World styles with a bit of earthiness, too. Drinks well above its price.

Aromas and flavors of red raspberries and black coffee; big, ripe tannins; smooth.

A pinot with intensity. Earthy, with notes of cherry, strawberry and smoke. Balanced.

Byron is known for its pinot noir, and honestly we haven't found one we disliked. We enjoyed the complexity and finesse of the Monument and the unique, sweet fruit flavors of the Nielson Vineyard. But we loved the grace of the Julia's Vineyard pinot. Bright fruit flavors and long finish.

Byron turned out a solid lineup for 2008, but Bien Nacido particularly left an impression. A darker, loamier profile, with a subtle musk amid generous, rich plum and blackberry fruit. That deeper, earth-driven style could use some time to reach its full potential, but it's a compelling expression.

9 out of 10 points!

Liar's Dice Zin blends wines from both Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley, the combination offering ripe black raspberry, currants, cherry and blackberry jam. Try this rich and fruity red for your final backyard cookout of the season. By the way, matey, Liar's Dice is the game played in Pirate's of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest where Will Turner plays the ghost for his soul. No such dire consequences await the wine drinker, although there is a variant of the game involving drinking when you lose...

Smoky, ripe and juicy!