This new blend from K-J focuses on Rhône varieties (viognier, roussanne, marsanne, grenache blanc) and Loire varieties (sauvignon and chenin blanc) along with some chardonnay, semillon and gewurztraminer. The biggest portion comes from Lake County (43 percent), with contributions from a range of other coastal regions. Randy Ullom blends it into a credible alternative to chardonnay, the variety that K-J made its name on. This has a rich mouthfeel and honeyed character, here appropriately tied to scents of orange rind, fresh nuts and subdued floral tones.

Clean and crisp, with classic flavors of lemons, limes and gooseberries, softened with a touch of buttercream and vanilla. The finish is fine and has a touch of sweet honeysuckle. A good value.

Clean, a touch simple and frontal but decently fruity nonetheless, this easily liked Pinot Noir also finds a passing reference to dried flowers in its aromas. Somewhat rounded at entry, then firmer across that palate, the wine is medium-full in body and shows off both supple and slightly puckery notes as it finishes.

Not really dry, this Riesling has an official residual sugar reading of 2.11. It's blended with Gewürztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay and Viognier. This end result is fruity and spicy, with flavors of honey-splashed apples, citrus fruits and peaches.

Oaky, fat and slightly sweet, with creamy flavors of pineapples, buttered popcorn and vanilla. A good approximation of a Burgundian-style California Chardonnay at a fair price.

The 2007s 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 2007 La Joie is pure perfection. A Pauillac-like blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec, it possesses a cedary, fruitcake, black currant, tobacco leaf, blackberry, and graphite-scented bouquet. Layers of crème de cassis and blackberry liqueur intermixed with scorched earth, truffle, and toasty characteristics are spectacular as are the multidimensional mouthfeel, fabulous purity, and a 60-second finish. This 2007 will be accessible in 6-8 years, and should drink well for 35-50+ years thereafter. Only those with cold cellars and enormous patience should purchase this modern day legend. There are nearly 2,000 cases of La Joie.

A smoky, earthy zin with notes of blackberry, blueberry, caramel and pepper. Ripe fruit flavors. Long finish. Elegant. Paired with Roast Duck Legs with Honey Teriyaki Sauce.

Sweet black cherries and milk chocolate.

A merlot with aromas of cherry, plum and spice. Notes of tangy cherry, anise and pepper. A good quaff.

We absolutely loved this quaffable blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petite verdot from Alexander Valley fruit. Light touch of oak and hint of anise add to the black cherry and vanilla flavors.

Sweet, jammy fruit redolent of blackberries and raspberries, rich texture and easy tannins. A great wine to serve with hamburgers, pulled pork, sausage and other grilled meats.

Temperate in ripeness, nicely rounded in fell and very generous in its straightforward, berryish fruit, this carefully made middle-weight might arguably wants for little more ambition, but its combination of cleanliness, fine balance and accessibilty makes it a frontrunner in terms of honest varietal value.

Spicy notes, bright acidity and certainly a crowd pleaser.

This starts off as black satin, mostly tannin and dark fruit, before air brings up more distinct black cherry and earth in the middle of the wine. The plush texture doesn't get in the way of the firm structure, allowing the wine to build complexity as it develops in the glass. Cellar it for a few years, or decant a bottle for roast leg of lamb.

Medium ruby color, deep red cherry and clove aromas; rich, ripe, bright cherry flavors with spicy, clove notes; forward fruit; silky texture, good structure and balance; long finish. Rich and bright flavors make this medium-weight Pinot a great choice for the table.

Golden fruit flavors of apricot and lemon balance this wine's oak tones of vanilla and toasted wheat, all refreshed by a crisp, apple-like acidity. It's full-on chardonnay, hinting at sweetness, but not tiring to drink. Serve it with roast pork glazed with apricot.

Greenish yellow. Exotic aromas of pineapple, lichee, lemongrass and white flowers. Juicy and bracingly mineral-driven, with very good intensity and surprising depth to the flavors of lemon curd, tropical fruits and honeysuckle. The pliant, persistent finish leaves sweet citrus and spice notes.

Several months since I last tried a bottle, but I recall liking the red for its jammy, ripe fruit flavors. They were still singing. The sweet-tasting fruit flavors and toasty vanilla notes worked really well with the smoky notes of both the bacon and the beans. The wine was plush and vibrant, it not only complemented my meal, but was great on its own for an additional post-meal glass.

Despite some very ripe flavors and ample alcohol, this full-bodied Shiraz isn't particularly lush. The tannins are rich and velvety, but the acids are elevated and tartness dominates the finish. Drink it over the next several years.

89–91 Château Lassègue. St-Emilion Grand Cru. The top wine produced by Jess Jackson in St-Emilion, Lassègue is soft, ripe, open, packed with dark plums, very opulent. —R.V.

The nearly perfect, inky/purple-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder boasts abundant aromas of blueberry pie, ink, violets, burning embers, and camphor. The staggeringly intense, provocatively complex aromatics are followed by a full-bodied wine with exquisite concentration as well as a stunningly pure texture. One of the most prodigious 2007 Cabernets I tasted, it should provide magical drinking in 5-6 years, and last for three decades or more.

Classic aromas of graphite, crushed rocks, boysenberries, black raspberries, blackberries, and subtle wood soar from the glass of the inky/purple-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. Full-bodied and formidably endowed with awesome purity as well as a stunning, layered texture, this beauty has it all. Give it 5-6 years of bottle age and enjoy it over the next three decades. It is a prodigious Howell Mountain wine from Jess Jackson's Keyes Vineyard.

A classic mountain-styled effort is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain. Blueberries, acacia flowers, and lavender make appearances in this offering as well as a strong minerality, a subtle hint of oak, endearing elegance, medium to full body, a textured, layered mouthfeel, and superb purity, length, and overall equilibrium. This 2007 can be drunk now or cellared for 25 years.

The most limited production offering, the opaque purple-hued 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain displays classic, Bordeaux-like characteristics of cedarwood, tobacco leaf, creme de cassis, licorice, and spice box along with a note of minerality all presented in an elegant, powerful, full-bodied style with sweet tannins. Representing elegance and terroir allied with considerable power and purity, this offering is made from a vineyard planted in the mid-1970s. While approachable, it will be even better in 5-6 years, and should still be going strong at age 25-30.

The impressive 2007 exhibits an opaque purple color as well as abundant aromas of sweet red and black currants, kirsch, spice box, licorice, and toasty new oak. Full-bodied, big, structured, and layered, it will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring. Winemaker Christopher Carpenter has again turned out a wine that should evolve for 25 years. Impressive!