A fresh and relatively high-toned nose of raspberry and cranberry with a hint of crushed herb leads to delicious, fresh and vibrant light to middle weight flavors that possess good balance and fine length if somewhat limited depth. Still, for the SRP, this offers fine value and is worth a look in that context as there is no obvious warmth and the balance is better than any number of more expensive offerings.

This Chardonnay is white-winemaking at its most opulent. The subtle sweetness of honeysuckle greets the nose, as do aromas of candied lemon, lychee, and beeswax. The crisp, lush palate saturates the taste buds with white-peach, ripe-peat, lemon and lime flavors that arise from the wine's dense nectarlike depths, which gradually make way for a finish of green tea and spearmint.

With a pretty color of shining ruby, this Pinot has flamboyant flavors of ripe red cherries, red plums, red currants and dusty spices, with an edge of mocha and sandalwood. Just beautiful. Now through 2013.

Beautiful. With crisp, tart coastal acidity, it offers lush waves of black cherries, anise, Asian spices and smoky vanilla, in a silky, elegant mouthfeel. Great value for the quality.

A gorgeous, flamboyant Chardonnay, with a rich, creamy mouthfeel and opulent flavors of peaches, orange popsicle, candied orange peel, buttered toast and cinnamon, brightened with crisp acidity. A real crowd-pleaser.

Made in an accessible, pleasing fashion, with sweet, smoky oak framing ripe flavors of pineapples, pears and honey.

There's a fineness to the raspberry and fraises des bois flavor in this wine, with the crisp impression of fruit just coming into ripeness. The aroma is floral and tight, the finish showing more oak than fruit at the moment, needing a year in bottle to come into balance.

This wine has a pan grille scent from oak aging, and a silky butter-and-sugar corn freshness. It's supple and round, focused mainly on textured pleasure. A smoky chardonnay for grilled lobster.

A bit soft and melted, but offers exotically rich flavors of golden mango, pineapple and cinnamon spice, in a custardy texture.

Judges Choice at International Value Wine Awards.

Judge's Choice at International Value Wine Awards.

Judge's Choice at International Value Wine Awards.

Wine Pairing - Corn Chowder with Mint Pesto. The chowder's summer corn's sweetness is mellowed by the potato and savory stock. Presto adds complexity. Try a Chardonnay with a little oak and barrel aging, such as the 2007 Carmel Road Winery Monterey Chardonnay.

Experience shows in California pinot noirs - After more that 20 years of research, experimentation and hard work, California pinot noir producers are hitting their stride.

Experience shows in California pinot noirs - After more than 20 years of research, experimentation and hard work, California pinot noirs are hitting their stride.

Experience shows in California pinot noirs - After more than 20 years of research, experimentation and hard work, California pinot noirs are hitting their stride.

Experience shows in California pinot noirs - After more than 20 years of research, experimentation and hard work, California pinot noir producers are hitting their stride.

Earning 3.5 out of possible 5 Stars in the Press Democrat's recent 10-Year Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective Tasting.

Top Wines of Sonoma from Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, August 2009

Top Wines of Sonoma from Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, August 2009

Wine Pairing - Barley brings a hearty texture to a Sunday Supper, Baked Chicken Legs with Porcini Pilaf, while the dark meat provides a deeper flavor than white meat would. The slight earthiness from the porcini suggest a lighter-bodied Pinot Noir like the 2007 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

The winery's 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, which includes fruit from La Crema's estate Annapolis vineyard, is all cherry and plum, full of vivid fruit and silky tannins. Its Monterey Pinot Noir, the first vintage of which is the 2007, is more savory, first showing a taste of herbs before delivering notes of strawberry - a more dirt-driven wine, as Stackhouse herself puts it.

Take La Crema's 2007 Monterey Chardonnay, the inaugural vintage for this wine. It's a blend of about 250 distinct vineyard blocks all barrel-fermented separately. Stackhouse and her team will taste the lots blind all year long, putting together trial blends to see what they like or don't like and then decide on a direction for the final blend. They don't allow themselves to rely on whatever the blend was the year before.

Top Wines of Sonoma: Sonoma Wine Country Weekend August 2009

Top Wines of Sonoma: Sonoma Wine Country Weekend August 2009.