A lovely, complex and flavorful Cab, but also tannic, giving it a lockdown feeling. There's a rich core of blackberries, black currants, spices and herbs, while new oak gives it a savory smokiness. Better after 2010, and should glide through 2014.

Complex and concentrated, with intense flavors of tropical fruits, white peach, vanilla hazelnut fudge, buttered toast and smoke. An extraordinarily rich Chardonnay that could benefit from 4-6 years in the cellar.

A lovely Chardonnay that's marked by a steely minerality that braces and provides structure to the pineapple, lemondrop, honey and buttered toast flavors. Feels really elegant and creamy in the mouth. Easy to find, with nearly 13,000 cases produced, and a good price for the quality.

Deep, bright red. Intense, mineral-dominated aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry and fresh rose, with a suave incense quality gaining power with air. Firm red berry and cherry skin flavors spread across the palate and pick up baking spice and white pepper notes on the back end. Impressively pure and focused pinot, finishing with excellent lift and lingering florality.

Arrowood captures the exotic essence of Viognier, but never lets go of balance, which is so important in taming this unbridled variety. It's rich in pineapple, papaya and honeysuckle flavors, but dry, with rich acidity leading to a bright, clean finish.

Bright red. Powerful dark berry and cherry compote on the nose. Smooth, sappy and round, offering weighty black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and slow-building smokiness. Tannins come up on the finish but are quickly consumed by the lush dark fruit qualities. This pinot is very attractive now but built to age.

Dark red. Expressive, highly perfumed aromas of raspberry preserves, incense, wilted rose and white pepper. Silky in texture and concentrated, offering sweet red fruit flavors and showing no tannins. Juicy and penetrating on the creamy finish, which strongly echoes the floral and spice notes. I didn't find the warmth that I feared when I saw the alcohol content on the label.

Medium red. Highly aromatic nose shows musky cherry and dark berry scents complicated by smoky herbs and dried flowers. Sappy and attractively sweet, with deep raspberry and cherry flavors and no rough edges. This smooth, seductive wine is drinking well right now.

Greenish gold. Impressively complex aromas of lime, iodine, celery seed, sage and smoke. Sappy orchard and citrus flavors are pleasantly sweet but not overly so, with good mineral snap adding urgency. The iodine and smoke notes repeat on the finish. This is already quite complex.

Saturated red. Smoky cherry and dried flowers on the nose, with hints of Asian spices and cured meat adding complexity. Deep, spicy cherry and dark berry flavors are enlivened by a peppery quality and framed by silky tannins. The tannins gain strength on the persistent, gently chewy finish.

Medium red. Sexy aromas of strawberry, raspberry, rose and orange peel, with a slow-building spicy quality. Sweet, energetic and focused, offering lively red fruit flavors and racy minerality. The orange and floral notes resonate on the long, juicy finish. This is ready to drink.

Inky purple. Textbook syrah aromas of dark berries, olive, smoke and anise, with a strong floral overtone. Rich and weighty but energetic, offering fresh black raspberry and cassis flavors and a jolt of cracked pepper. Fine-grained tannins add support to the persistent, spicy finish. This is complex enough to drink now.

Bright gold. Exotically perfumed bouquet of pear, peach and oak spices, along with a wild note of smoky Islay whisky. Lush, creamy pit fruit flavors are complicated by smoke and floral notes, providing impressive palate coverage. A touch warm on the finish, with the smoke and peach notes repeating.

Bright yellow. Complex aromas of musky pear skin, lees iodine and oak spice. Deep but lively, offering moderately sweet orchard fruit flavors and a strong lashing of brown spices. A zesty mineral quality lingers on the long, spicy finish.

Bright gold. Smoke, orange and poached pear on the nose and palate, with notes of truffle and dried rose adding complexity. Lush and creamy in texture, with strong finishing thrust and an echo of truffle.

Deep, bright red. Musky berry and cherry aromas are complemented by licorice and a hint of pungent herbs. Juicy raspberry and cherry flavors are firmed by velvety tannins, which gain strength with air. There's good sweet fruit and the tannins fade away on the nicely persistent finish, which repeats the herb and licorice notes.

Light gold. Highly floral bouquet displays scents of honeysuckle, rose, white peach and nectarine, with a strong lashing of white pepper. Rich but racy, with deep pit and orchard fruit flavors and slow-building spiciness. Finishes on a weighty peach note, with very good punch and length.

Yellow-gold. Powerful scents of roasted pit fruits, pear skin and cotton candy. Lush, slightly loose-knit tropical fruit and peach flavors provide good palate coverage and are lifted by a zesty orange peel note. Distinctly rich chardonnay with strong finishing thrust and good persistence.

Vivid gold. Exotic orange, smoked meat and dusty minerals on the nose. Creamy, sweet and juicy, with a plump texture and ripe citrus flavors that are enlivened by nicely integrated acidity. Fruity, energetic chardonnay with a firm finish.

Yellow-gold. Powerful orchard and tropical fruit aromas are complemented by notes of butterscotch and smoked meat. Weighty, chewy and ripe, with strong pineapple and brown butter flavors are lifted by brown spices. For all this wine's size there's surprising vivacity and the finish is focused and refreshingly bitter.

Deep, bright yellow. Powerful aromas of pear skin, smoked meat, lees and anise. Lush creamy and smooth, offering sweet orchard fruit and melon flavors and a strong undercurrent of baking spices. Ripe but energetic, finishing with good breadth and cling.

Made from the coolish Bennett Valley region of Sonoma County, this Pinot is marked by acidity and some sharp, herbal flavors suggesting tobacco. Yet it has enough cherries, raspberries, red currants and cola to provide richness. Drink now.

Vivid red. Ripe cherry and blackcurrant aromas are complicated by notes of beef jerky and smoky herbs. On the brooding side, offering chewy dark fruit flavors framed by dusty tannins. Gains sweetness slowly...

Bright red. Cherry and dark berries on the nose, with notes of cracked pepper and dark chocolate adding complexity. Chewy and a bit hard-edged, with deep dark fruit flavors and a hint of black cardamom. Very young and slow to unfold; the finish clings nicely and repeats the cherry note.

Dark red. Deep, spicy aromas of dark berries, cherry, smoked meat and cracked pepper; reminds me of a syrah. Weighty dark fruit flavors are framed by supple tannins that become firmer with air. A serious, even brooding pinot that I hope will loosen up with some bottle age.