A brilliant Viognier that preserves the variety’s exotic richness, while framing it with balance and subtlety, no easy task. Impresses for its array of pineapple crême brulée, Key lime pie, golden mango and green apple opulence, yet is crisp and zesty in acidity, and there’s a bracing minerality. The grapes come from an unusual combination of Rutherford, which provides ripeness, and Carneros, which brings acidity and freshness.

Firm in acidity and tannins, with an earthy minerality, this is a Pinot Noir you want to stash away for a few years. It's very dry and quite balanced, with a deep core of black cherries, currants, mushu plum sauce, anise, pepper and sandalwood. The window of drinkability extends until 2015, but give it a brief decant if you open it now.

Only 25 cases were produced, but this lovely Pinot Noir is worth the search. Very rich and soft and appealing, with pure flavors of black cherry tart, raspberry puree, cola, dusty Indian spices and smoky sandalwood, wrapped into finely ground tannins, and balanced with acidity. Just beautiful to drink now and for the next 3-4 years.

Notable for its soft texture, thoroughly ripe fruit, and richness of mouthfeel, which is what you want in Pinot Noir. It's not an ager, but so deliciously refined, you want to keep drinking. Shows ripe raspberries and cherries, with their liqueur counterparts, and the sweet smokiness of oak.

This is an oaky, leesy Chardonnay, and quite a good one. Although it's super rich in fruit, it shows a crisply acidic minerality that grounds it and makes it serious. That fruit is wildly forward in pineapple tart, pear butter, Key lime pie and golden apricot.

Vivid red. Sexy, expansive aromas of raspberry and cherry compote, Asian spices and cola. Sweet and silky in texture, with palate-staining red fruit flavors and sweet oak spiciness. A floral quality comes up with air and lingers on the sappy, very long finish. Quite seductive and surprisingly approachable now.

Bright red. A highly aromatic nose offers offers raspberry, strawberry preserves, wild herbs, cola and potpourri. Supple, lush and sweet; concentrated and assertive but not at all heavy. Enters savory and spicy, gaining sweetness in the mid-palate and offering lively red and dark berry flavors. Finishes very long, juicy and sweet, with a touch of cinnamon and very good persistence.

Tasted in a flight of more expensive Pinot Noirs, this beauty did just fine. It's an absolutely lovely wine to drink now. Dry and silky, with refreshing acidity, it offers complex berry, cherry, cola, spice and oak flavors.

Dark red. Red berry and cherry pit aromas are accented by cracked pepper and clove. Juicy and gently sweet, with a silky texture to the lively raspberry and cherry flavors. Turns spicier with air and finishes on a note of dried rose. Shows very good depth but this is also quite graceful.

Bright gold. Highly perfumed nose offers nectarine, orange pith, toasty lees, jasmine and a hint of candied ginger. Opulent but with very good energy to its lush pit fruit, citrus, herb and spice flavors. Finishes vibrant and long, with strong florality and a sneaky note of vanilla.

Yellow-gold. Musky peach pit and herbs on the nose, with complicating notes of jasmine, lees and quinine. Sappy, palate-coating citrus and pit fruit flavors pick up smokiness with air, along with a touch of fennel. A bit of a tough read right now but I like this wine's density and finishing grip.

Light yellow-gold. Ripe citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, with complicating notes of white pepper, violet and mint. Fleshy, expansive orchard and pit fruit flavors are brightened by notes of lime and lemongrass, along with a touch of anise. Refreshingly bitter on the lime-flavored, slightly warm finish.

Vivid yellow. Pungent pear and pit fruit aromas are complicated by hints of spices and herbs. Juicy and penetrating, offering bitter fruit skin and melon flavors and a late jolt of lemon zest. Finishes with good clarity and spicy persistence. This wine's mix of richness and energy will make it flexible at the table.

Yellow-gold. Pungent scents of apple, pear skin and tangerine. Fleshy and broad, with nicely concentrated fruit flavors and a deeper note of bitter peach pit. I'd have liked more vibrancy but fans of powerful, lush chardonnay will go for this.

Ripe and full-bodied, with a fleshy mouthfeel, and apple, citrus and pineapple flavors...

New oak gives a vanilla cream and buttered toast accent to this pretty wine, but the basic fruit flavors also are nice, offering varietal waves of pineapples, pears and green apples. It's a super-drinkable Chardonnay whose richness suggests elaborate fare, like shellfish.

New oak (38%) vies with green apple butter and pineapple crême brulée flavors to dominate this wine, with neither winning out, suggesting that it's balanced. It's a very pretty, creamy, slightly sweet Chardonnay, balanced with brisk acidity.

New oak dominates this pleasant Chardonnay, with buttered toast, vanilla and caramelized buttercream notes that are almost sweet, although the wine is technically dry. The underlying flavors are of pineapples, pears and green apples.

Try this as an interesting alternative to Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. Dry and crisp in acidity, the wine shows elevated flavors of citrus fruits, peaches, pears and flowers. Really cleanses the mouth with briskness.

A nice, bright and savory Sauvignon Blanc, rich in fruit but dry on the finish. Shows waves of Meyer lemon, pineapple, kiwi, honeysuckle and vanilla flavors, accented with a touch of oak. Enjoyable on its own or with little appetizers.

This is a very stylish wine. The word impeccable comes to mind. It’s balanced and soft, complex in its flavour offering and then firm/focussed through the finish. Notes of pepper spice, roasted meat, tar and raspberry. Sweet, minty, coconutty oak comes in as an afterthought. I like. A lot.

This shiraz from Yangarra has good control, but it still didn’t really grab me.
It’s very shy in the aromatics department and while there’s good, beefy flavour in the mouth it has a general dullness that makes it hard to get excited over it. Raspberry, tar, dried herbs. The mid palate is good but the finish feels (slightly) clumsy. Not bad but I far preferred the Yangarra Cadenzia of the same vintage.

A tasty zinfandel with ripe tannins and good acidity. Briary, with notes of blackberry, black cherry, herbs, spice and caramel.

As bright as the sun on sand, this is a beautifully layered wine. There are floral scents of jasmine and narcissus, savory notes of ginger and subtle hints of butterscotch to balance the finish toward sweetness. The wine has powerful length, extending its fresh fruit into lime pith and lime zest flavors. the musculature in the structure will allow for several years' development in the cellar.

A showy, rich chardonnay with notes of pear, apple, herbs and spice. Caramel finish.