Vivid ruby. Expansive and exotic scents of cherry-cola, sandalwood, licorice and fruitcake. Seductively sweet, nicely focused cherry and cassis flavors are lifted by a zesty mineral note and framed by supple tannins. The spicy note repeats on the long, penetrating finish, which leaves a sweet dark berry flavor behind. This has the structure to age but there's plenty going on now. (JR)

Ripe and voluptuous, with very rich, long-lasting berry, cherry, mocha and spice flavors, liberally oaked and wrapped into fine, sturdy tannins. Lacks a bit of complexity, but otherwise a beautiful Merlot that trades on the variety's opulently fleshy sensuality.

Yellow-gold. Complex scents of ripe melon, spicecake and oyster shell, with a hint of white pepper. Juicy, palate-caressing honeydew, chamomile and mace flavors are lifted by a slow-building mineral quality, which adds back-end incisiveness. This smoothly blends richness and energy, and finishes with very good clarity and lingering spiciness.

Rich and creamy, with complex pear, fig, melon and spice flavors that are pure, balanced, elegant and delicate, ending with a honeysuckle edge. Drink now through 2014.

(includes 15% merlot and 3% petit verdot) Medium ruby. Pure, reserved nose hints at cassis, dark cherry and licorice, with mineral and coffee nuances. Good density and texture to the dark fruit flavors, with complicating herbal and spicy elements. Finishes broad and sweet, with substantial tannins nicely supported by fruit.

Here's a good buy in a big, rich, decadently delicious Syrah. Soft and dry, with refined tannins, it offers flavors of currants, blackberries, cherries, chocolate, licorice, Dr. Pepper cola, black pepper and spices. Easy to like, yet complex.

Very rich, ripe and dry, a Merlot with a drop of Cabernet that needs a year or two to resolve. It's fat and fleshy in cherries, violets, red currants and cola, with a dusting of cocoa, pepper and cinnamon. The tannins are ample, but very finely ground.

Rich and creamy, with complex tropical fruit, buttered toast, lemondrop candy and honeysuckle flavors.

Deep red. Ripe aromas of spicy dark berries, cherry liqueur and licorice. Supple, sweet and pretty powerful, with gentle minerality giving the bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors lift and precision. Finishes long, chewy and gripping. I'd give this a couple years to loosen up.

Opaque purple. Smoky dark berries, cherry and tar on the nose. A rich fruit bomb of a cabernet, offering sweet cassis and blackberry preserve flavors and a round, supple texture. Delivers real flavor impact and picks up chewy tannins on a long, gently spicy finish.

Here is a big, rich, impressively stuffed Zinfandel that keys keenly on juicy, blackberry-like fruit, and, if hinting at chocolate, it does so without crossing the line into late-harvest ripeness. It is full, fleshy and just a touch firm in structure, and while tasty now, it has room for improvement with age. It is no simple gulper and wants drinking up with richly seasoned pork roasts and stews.

Dense and tightly structured at first, with big plum and white pepper aromas. Gradually opens to complex wild berry, licorice and brown spice flavors that finish with ripe but firm tannins. Needs time. Best from 2012 through 2016.

Good red-ruby color. Sweet aromas of plum, currant and fruitcake. The ripest and most generous by a wide margin of this winery's 2007 reds, with a supple texture and a light leesy nuance to the red currant, tobacco and mocha flavors. Finishes with a sweet dusting of tannins and good length.

Deep ruby. Complex aromas of dark berries, cherry, smoke, dark chocolate and licorice. Suave and sweet but showing a hard edge that softens somewhat with aeration. Offers an array of dark fruit flavors complicated by olive and candied violet. The emphasis is on the syrah today. Finishes with a gentle grip and an echo of licorice.

Deep ruby. High-pitched aromas of red currant, cherry and rose, and pungent pepper and tobacco qualities gaining strength with aeration. Spicy red berry flavors gain flesh and herbal character with air, picking up a smoky quality and some dusty tannins on the back half. Finishes juicy, with berry skin and herbal nuances.

Limpid gold. Pungent melon and citrus aromas are complemented by gentle spice and mineral nuances. A juicy midweight with good depth to its tangy nectarine and honeydew flavors. Finishes with good length and lingering citrus fruit notes. Drink this now for its energetic fruit.

Good medium ruby. Ripe aromas of currant, cedar and nutty oak, along with a smoky, peaty element of torrefaction. Moderately dense and a bit rustic, with hints of game and iron along with an herbal element. The wine's fairly substantial tannins turned a bit drier with aeration.

Saturated red. Black raspberry and cherry on the nose, with complicating notes of black tea, rose and smoky minerals. Very fresh pinot with gripping, slightly dry dark berry and bitter cherry flavors and a sneaky note of cracked pepper. Finishes with good nervy cut and an echo of peppery spices.

Light gold. Powerful ripe aromas of white peach, underripe pineapple and melon lifted by white flowers and peppery spice. Then rich, sweet and supple on the palate, with juicy, deceptively open-knit pit fruit flavors perked up by a continuing spicy element. Firms up nicely on the back, finishing with a distinct juiciness. In a ripe style but energetic too.

A sound, clean, dry Merlot from various parts of Sonoma County. Elegant and classy, with firm tannins framing rich flavors of red and black cherries, red currants, tobacco, cola and sweet, smoky sandalwood. Quite impressive at this price.

Inky ruby. Brooding, pungent aromas of blackcurrant, cherry and cola lifted by a minty topnote. Initially tangy in the mouth, with a slow-building sweetness to the flavors of black fruits, cherry, licorice and mint. Dusty tannins spread out to coat the palate on a finish that displays a youthfully nervy quality and a lingering cherry note. This needs time to unwind.

Pale yellow. Musky pit fruits on the nose, brightened by subtle citrus and floral scents. Chewy, faintly bitter orange pith and anise flavors are broad and deep but could use a bit more vibrancy. Finishes with good breadth and a lingering note of bitter peach pit. This needs full-flavored food.

A fine everyday Pinot Noir with some extra features that boost the score. With hints of mint, white pepper and chamomile tea, the wine shows racy flavors of cherries, cola, raspberries and sandalwood.

Rich and soft and fruit, with red raspberry flavors.

Earthy pinot noir with black cherry and currant flavors along with a touch of sweet vanillin oak.