This is a big, rich, oaky Chardonnay. It's a little heavy with all that caramel and buttered toast, but acidity brightens the pineapple and peach flavors, and the finish is clean and spicy.

A huge advancement over the previous vintage, representing new decisions by the winery. It's a rich, easy-drinking wine, showing delightful lime, peach, melon and lemongrass flavors, brightened by crisp acidity.

A perfect wine, the 2008 Le Desir (1,500 cases) needs 5-7 years of bottle age and should have 35-40 years of life ahead of it. A blend of 61% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot and the rest Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, all from the Alexander Mountain Estate site, it exhibits an extraordinary perfume of blueberries, toast, licorice, camphor, incense, crushed rocks and cassis. The prodigious aromatic profile is followed by a super-intense, full-bodied wine that is relatively light on its feet, no doubt because of the high Cabernet Franc component. This pure, textured, rich wine offers up hints of tobacco leaf and spice box as it sits in the glass. It admirably continues the remarkable progression in quality being achieved by this great name in Bordeaux-styled wines. Jess Jackson and his Bordelais winemaker, Pierre Seillan, have followed their 2007s (the finest wines they have ever made) with strong efforts in 2008. To understand these wines, readers must realize that they are not meant for near-term drinking, but rather for extended cellaring. Seillan truly wants to produce a wine with the ripeness of California fruit backed up by the structure and ageability of a top Bordeaux. All of these cuvees come from Sonoma County estate vineyards owned by Jess Jackson. The La Muse (dominated by Merlot) offering represents Verite's right bank Pomerol-styled wine, La Joie is their Medoc-styled effort dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Le Desir is more of a St.-Emilion, possibly Graves-styled wine dominated by Cabernet Franc blended with Merlot. These wines all need 4-5 years of bottle age, and are capable of lasting three decades or more. If you did not catch the 2007s that were released in 2010, my scores are as follows: 2007 Le Desir (98), 2007 La Joie (100) and 2007 La Muse (99).

2009 Carmel Road Chardonnay, Monterey: big and round and rich, with floral aromas and sweet pineapple flavors.

Deeply colored. Nicely scented with aromas of black raspberry tart, black cherries, smoky oak and rose petals. Sweet and rich with a powerful core of dark red stone fruits and berries and underpinnings of earth,anise and grilled meat. The tannins are supple and the wine's richness and velvety mouthfeel courtesy of the alcohol will find fans.

Deeply colored. Highly perfumed with Bing cherries, strawberries and a touch of baking spice. Tasty strawberry and cherry fruit which is fully ripe and moderately dense. Soft and plush on the palate with supple dry tannins. Easy to drink and in character for the AVA.

Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Subtle but attractive fruit-driven scent of an array of stone fruits and berries. Vivid and pure flavors of cherries and berries backed by sinewy tannins and offered with a softly textured mouth feel. The fruit is really quite charming and has that exotic edge often seen with Sonoma Coast bottlings.

Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with scents of black cherries, plum sauce, blackberry jam, spice and prickly pear. Well-structured and composed array of earth-kissed purple and black fruits with fine-grain tannins and bright acidity. A hint of oak-derived anise and dark chocolate add interest. Reminds me of Santa Lucia Highlands fruit. Soft and smooth in the mouth making the wine very inviting. A crazy good wine at this price.

This well-balanced white wine is an imaginative blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Semillon, Roussanne, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Muscat Canelli drawn from vineyards around California. It comes to the palate as a very fruity wine, but leaves with a dry impression. It offers vibrant flavors of grapefruit, lime, pear, kiwi, honey and white pepper. It's immediately appealing, but with some complexity too.

Alexander Mountain Estate, Sonoma County: youthful, closed and tannic with hints of cassis, mint and herbs; should age into an impressive wine.

The pronounced minerality gives it a wonderful feel in the mouth. You won't taste that overt grassiness the grape is known for, but you will taste the expected notes of citrus and spice. There's a bit of sauvignon musqué in the blend, which adds nuance.

A creamy chardonnay with aromas and flavors of pear, melon, vanilla, toast and spice. Has a lush texture. Nice length.

...black cherries and milk chocolate, very rich and smooth, with soft tannins.

Crisp and dry, with flavors of melons and citrus.

Light and crisp, with flavors of limes and minerals.

...Stonestreet is producing wine every bit as good. Every one of its reserve wines will wake up the palate with exciting concentration, dense fruit flavors and great complexity. This is a stunning wine.

Kendall-Jackson is to be applauded for producing a wine of this quiet character at such an attractive price. It's not one of those muscular, in-your-face California reds, but rather a subtle blend of Merlot, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and other. It's medium-bodied, flavorful, well rounded and delicious, with an elegance that is uncommon at below $15. The tannins are well integrated and supple, allowing the predominantly red-fruited character of the wine to shine. Is it a wine for the ages? No. Is it a wine for tonight? Most definitely.

A complex chardonnay. It has a creamy texture but its crisp acidity balances it out nicely. Notes of apple, pear, melon and toast. Rich finish.

A nice cooler climate chardonnay that delivers a well balanced and food-friendly experience. Nice apple and pear fruit with a hint of spice and vanilla. Medium bodied and elegant.

Deeply colored. Nicely scented with aromas of black raspberry tart, black cherries, smoky oak and rose petals. Sweet and rich with a powerful core of dark red stone fruits and berries and underpinnings of earth, anise and grilled meat. The tannins are supple and the wine’s richness and velvety mouthfeel courtesy of the alcohol will find fans.

Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County often has a dried plum or black currant note, perfect with these earthy, deeply flavored steaks.

A rich, honeyed dessert wine with notes of nectarine, pear, apricot and spice. Has great intensity. Lingering finish.

Medium-deep ruby color; ripe, plum and cherry aromas with herb and clove notes; rich, deep, ripe plum and cherry flavors; deep clove and herbal notes; silky texture, some toasty oak; good structure and balance; long finish. Deep, silky and full of interesting flavors in this Pinot—needs some air to open up.

With a medium body and supple tannins, this Merlot delivers a heady amalgam of plums, cherries, cassis, vanilla, a touch of licorice, hints of cloves and other spices. The wine embodies everything that terrific Merlot can offer, including power, grace and complexity.

Smooth and silky with ripe cherry and lovely notes of earth and spice; racy acidity, clean and balanced with a long, lush finish.