The generic 2007 Chardonnay Sonoma, which goes through 100% barrel and malolactic fermentation, was still somewhat tight when I tasted it. However, it displays pure notes of citrus blossoms, white currants, brioche, green apples, and hints of clove as well as vanilla. It is a mid-weight, crisp, elegant white to drink over the next 4-5 years. This is another impressive group of wines from one of the most consistent winemakers and long-time veterans of the California wine scene, Dick Arrowood. He has always had the Midas touch with white varietals, yet he also continues to impress me with what he can do with red varietals.

The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc exhibits plenty of honeyed grapefruit, flint, and citrus notes in a light to medium-bodied, pure format.

There are just under one-half million cases of the 2008 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, which is an excellent value, particularly when one considers it comes from the high rent district of the Sonoma Coast. Elegant white peach, apricot, and lemon blossom notes are present in this medium-bodied, crisp, well-made, barrel-fermented Chardonnay (almost three-quarters is put through malolactic fermentation). The wine possesses good freshness, purity, and depth. It should drink well for 2-3 years.

The 2008 Highland Estates Pinot Noir Los Robles is slightly better, but obviously not the bargain that the Vintner's Reserve represents. Underbrush and floral berry and cherry notes are present in this medium-bodied wine. Anticipated maturity: now-2013.

A real breakthrough is the 2008 Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir. Entirely from Jackson Estate vineyards, this wine is loaded with rhubarb, wild strawberry, cherry, and berry fruit in a medium-bodied, very Pinot Noir-tasting style. Dark ruby-colored with good freshness and liveliness, there are just under 100,000 cases of this Pinot Noir, meant to be drunk in its first 2-3 years of life. The lowest level of the Kendall-Jackson empire, the Vintner's Reserve series, goes from strength to strength. For consumers hoping to maximize their dollar value, these serious wines are consistent choices. Their Chardonnay has always been good, but dramatic increases in quality have taken place in the Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon programs.

Another clear upgrade in quality is the 2007 Vintner's Reserve Merlot. This is even stronger than the 2006, which was an upgrade over earlier efforts. Elegant mocha and berry fruit intermixed with some herbs, coffee, and spice make for a delicious, round wine that is actually a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from Sonoma. Drink it over the next 2-4 years. The lowest level of the Kendall-Jackson empire, the Vintner's Reserve series, goes from strength to strength. For consumers hoping to maximize their dollar value, these serious wines are consistent choices. Their Chardonnay has always been good, but dramatic increases in quality have taken place in the Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon programs.

The red Cotes du Rhone look-alike, the 2007 Cote de Lune Rouge (nearly equal parts of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre) displays copious amounts of strawberries, black cherries, pepper, underbrush, and lavender in its medium-bodied, hedonistic personality. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years. This is another impressive group of wines from one of the most consistent winemakers and long-time veterans of the California wine scene, Dick Arrowood. He has always had the Midas touch with white varietals, yet he also continues to impress me with what he can do with red varietals. Moreover, Arrowood is also one of the pioneer Rhone Ranger producers, and his Syrah program has been supplemented with red and white French Cotes du Rhone-like blends called Cote de Lune as well as an outstanding Viognier.

Slightly more serious is the medium ruby-hued 2008 Pinot Noir Monterey. Revealing the berry fruit side of Pinot Noir, with additional texture and depth, it should drink nicely for 2-3 years.

Syrahs are a little like zinfandels -- big, rich and almost sweet, great with spicy food. This one has black plum and cinnamon flavors and big but ripe tannins.

Tastes like blackberry cobbler, rich, dense and delicious. Smoky and briary with notes of herbs, vanilla and spice. Good length.

The winery calls the Bench Break Pinot on the estate its most austere so the wine offers some of the elegance and minerality of classic Burgundy in addition to the ubiquitous California fruitiness.

Black cherry and bittersweet chocolate aromas and flavors; lush and ripe.

Black raspberry and mocha aromas and flavors; rich and ripe.

Big and rich, with black plum and cinnamon flavors, creamy, with ripe tannins.

Lively citrus aromas, with flavors of toasty oak and caramel; rich and creamy.

A big wine, with 14 percent alcohol; ripe and rich and creamy, with powerful baked fruit flavors.

Subtle aromas of tropical fruit and (yes) a whiff of fresh cream; mouth fleshy but quite firm with tasteful new oak garnish.

The 2007's appear to be the greatest wines Vérité has yet produced under the leadership of Jess Jackson and his winemaking guru, Bordelais Pierre Seillan. These extraordinary wines, built for the long term (much like top Bordeaux), are fashioned from some of the finest fruit sources Jess Jackson cuvées from the beginning, and have followed their aging process (which is glacially slow). The Right Bank of Pomerol-styled 2007 La Muse is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. Sensational aromas of espresso roast, black cherries, black currants, licorice, toast, and spice box emerge from this inky/purple-colored 2007. In the mouth, hints of chocolate, crème de cassis, kirsch, charcoal, and a touch of new oak are found in this full-bodied, opulent, yet structured wine. While it is the most showy and precocious of the three 2007s, it needs 3-5 years of cellaring, and should evolve for three decades or more. There are just over 1,460 cases of La Muse.

The 2007's appear to be the greatest wines Vérité has yet produced under the leadership of Jess Jackson and his winemaking guru, Bordelais Pierre Seillan. These extraordinary wines, built for the long term (much like top Bordeaux), are fashioned from some of the finest fruit sources Jess Jackson cuvées from the beginning, and have followed their aging process (which is glacially slow). A St.-Emilion look-alike, the 2007 Le Desir (44% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec) is close to perfection. Sweet, intoxicating aromas of licorice, tobacco leaf, incense, black currants, black cherries, and bay leaves are followed by a wine with extraordinary concentration, a hint of toasty oak, full body, admirable purity, and a multilayered personality. It begs for 5-8 years for cellaring, and should keep for 30+ years. Production of these wines is small, but not ridiculously so. There are just under 1,900 cases of Le Desir.

The 2008's are strong efforts. Given the fact that Vérité's wines often perform better out of bottle than they do from barrel, this may be another powerful, long-lived vintage. The 2008 La Joie (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec) reveals sweet fruitcake, crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, licorice, and incense characteristics as well as tremendous body. It is the biggest, richest, most substantial and promising of this trio. It reveals a Pauillac-like, cedary, black currant-scented nose that suggests a first-growth Bordeaux. It too, should age effortlessly for three decades or more.

The 2008's are strong efforts. Given the fact that Vérité's wines often perform better out of bottle than they do from barrel, this may be another powerful, long-lived vintage. There are 1676 cases of the 2008 La Muse, a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec. This full-bodied offering displays lots of black fruits, espresso roast, chocolate, graphite, and pen ink along with huge intensity, powerful, substantial tannins, and a long finish. It does not yet reveal the velvety character for which La Muse is known, but I suspect it will when tasted after bottling.

These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines I have ever tasted. Kudos to proprietor Jess Jackson and winemakers Graham Weerts and Marcia Monahan for exploring this high elevation terroir. This has been a work-in-progress for Jackson, and he has finally hit paydirt with the following wines. Readers need to pay attention as there are some amazing Chardonnays as well as red wines emerging from Stonestreet. The relatively limited production, opaque purple-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 21 months in French oak) is a tannic, massive beast of a wine. Extremely full-bodied, dense, extracted, and backward, this 40-50 year wines requires at least 8-10 years patience. I'm not sure how many consumers have the requisite discipline for wines such as this, but it's good to see they are still being made, and future generations will appreciate the effort.

The 2008's are strong efforts. Given the fact that Vérité's wines often perform better out of bottle than they do from barrel, this may be another powerful, long-lived vintage. The 2008 Le Desir (61% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot, and the rest Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon) is the lightest to its siblings, it offers up notes of bouquet gami, licorice, red and black currants, cedar, and background oak and earth. Full-bodied and rich, it will offer early drinkability, and should last for 25 years.

These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines I have ever tasted. Kudos to proprietor Jess Jackson and winemakers Graham Weerts and Marcia Monahan for exploring this high elevation terroir. This has been a work-in-progress for Jackson, and he has finally hit paydirt with the following wines. Readers need to pay attention as there are some amazing Chardonnays as well as red wines emerging from Stonestreet. A big, earthy, tannic, Médoc-styled wine is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point. There are only 231 cases of this cuvée, which offers abundant amounts of black currant, cedar, spice box, and earth notes in a full-bodied, tannic style. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20 years.

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.