American Dream Sideways may have shunned Merlot, but this beautiful Pomerol-style Merlot is a stunner. With an intense aroma of ripe plums, cherries and a touch of spice, this beautifully structured wine is rewarding on the palate. Worth every cent.

Syrah doesn't get a lot of love these days, which is a shame because it's so versatile. Cool-climate wines, from appellations like the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast and Monterey, have a lot of savory notes that fit right in with the turkey and stuffing. Heading north, the 2011 Arrowood Saralee's Vineyard Syrah ($35), from the Russian River Valley, is bright and spicy, with dark berry, roasted meat, black pepper and drying tannins.

A syrah with a great concentration of fruit and an irresistible kick of spice. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, plum and cracked black pepper. Edgy.

An impressive syrah with complexity. A range of flavors — black cherry, plum and a kick of cracked black pepper. Edgy.

2011 Arrowood Syrah, Saralee's Vineyard, Russian River Valley (100 percent syrah): hint of smoky oak, hearty flavors of red meat, blueberries and cloves; $35.

This wine offers oodles of plums and berries in the nose. There is more berry flavor in the mouth with a bit of spice. A very nice beefy wine that is great for fall and wintertime drinking.

Dark, full-bodied and dry, this Syrah is a bit rustic, with some sharp acidity accompanying the blackberry fruit and pepper. Doesn't show a great deal of complexity, but it's a solid red wine for drinking now with hearty meats or stews.

A lovely red from California's Sonoma Valley with a peppery, mushroom nose and a mouth-filing cherry and plum flavor.

An elegant merlot with a soft texture. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, red fruits, toast and spice. Showy.

A meaty, smoky red blend with rich, concentrated flavors. Notes of plum and cracked black pepper. The blend is 35 percent grenache noir, 33% syrah and 32% mourvedre.

Earning 3.5 out of possible 5 Stars in the Press Democrat's recent 10-Year Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective Tasting.

Vibrant. Loaded with fruit. Toasty, with notes of red clay and tobacco. Drink now or hold for five to 10 years.

A soft cab with a seamless texture. Frankly it could have a little more backbone, but it has some nice fruit — black cherry and plum — coupled with herbs and spice. Nice length.

Text book high end Cab Sauv from the winery that wrote the book. 3½ stars, superb.

Raise a glass to women in wine this month This month we toast women. March 8 marks International Women’s Day, with the entire month of March celebrating Women’s History Month. To celebrate, enjoy a few wines made by women. Though the number of female winemakers nationally and internationally is still small, the number is growing, with female owners, winemakers, enologists, and vintners taking their rightful place at the table, producing stellar wines from all over the world. Consider one of these selections to honor women, all available throughout Hawaii Island. A lifelong curiosity of learning has led Arrowood winemaker Kristina Shideler to follow her passions to produce varietal wines showcasing Sonoma. Arrowood Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, from vineyards sitting on the edge of Napa Valley with a long growing season, delivers a bold, robust, rustic expression of the grape with black cherry, pencil shaving, leather, and chocolate.

A smart cab with layered notes of black cherry, plum, leather and cocoa. It’s medium-bodied with firm tannins. Lovely. 4 stars.

A structured cab with good bones. Deep cherry flavors, with herbs and spice in the mix. Lingering finish. 3½ stars.

This wine, which showcases the Knights Valley AVA, has notes of cherry, currant, blackberry, black cherry, tobacco, mocha, spice and herbs. It’s a nice Cabernet at an even nicer price point.

Some cabernet sauvignons to pair with your Valentine’s Day meal This is a lot of wine for the money. Bold plum and black cherry flavors with good concentration, texture, and hints of clove and cocoa powder.

Need to Restock Your Cellar After the Holidays? Here Are 6 Promising Cabernets to Fill the Gaps Exotic florals, mocha, and baking spice underpin black plum and cherry in this top Arrowood Cab. This is a powerful wine, with impressive structure integrated with the fruit.

8 new wines to try in 2018 It’s tough to find decent California Cabernet at a good price these days, especially one as well-built as this. If you’re looking for an opulent red ultraplush wine with sweet, ripe fruit, this ain’t it. What we have here instead is a balanced composition of red and black currants, dusty cocoa, espresso, cedar, and eucalyptus, all on point and showing well. There’s also a good streak of minerality and dusty tannins keeping everything in check. Hey, it’s still a Cabernet Sauvignon; feel free to give it a good decanting first so all those flavours can easily develop. Food pairing–wise, think lamb shank, sirloin steak, hamburgers, and other meaty delights.

Given away by California standards! A bit sweet and ripe and typical but not a bad price. Straightforward. 16/20

I also liked the soon to be released 2012 Arrowood Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet, made from the Monte Rosso Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, although it was still quite tannic and closed.

The Arrowood winery lies in Sonoma County, tucked between the Mayacamas and the Sonoma Mountain ranges. Grapes for this wine were sourced from the Sonoma, Knights and Alexander Valleys. The wine has just the right amount of oak – mostly French, 20% new – and is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Look for aromas of blueberry and plum with notes of orchard blossom and dark cherry. The palate adds nuances of baking spice and anise, yielding to a soft and flavorful finish.