The Rhone Ranger-styled wines include the 2007 Cote de Lune Blanc Saralee’s Vineyard, a delectable blend of 43% Roussanne, 39% Marsanne, and the rest Viognier and Grenache Blanc. It is an enticing, dry white offering a big, floral, exotic fruit, pineapple, and peach-scented bouquet. This medium-bodied, fruit-friendly 2007 is a singular, interesting white that should drink well for 2-3 years.

The 2006 Chardonnay Sonoma, from a difficult year for this varietal, is nearly outstanding. This 100% barrel-fermented with 100% malolactic fermentation Chardonnay exhibits crisp acidity interwoven with notes of nectarines, orange blossoms, white currants, and lemon oil. Made in a Chablis-like style with no noticeable wood, this elegant 2006 should drink well for 2-3 years.

The 2007 Chardonnay Alexander Mountain Estate exhibits attractive poached pear, honeysuckle, and creme brulee scents, medium to full body, good fruit, a subtle touch of oak, a fleshy texture, and fine freshness and vibrancy from lively acidity. It should drink well for 2-3 years.

The tannins are relatively elevated, but the wine is certainly very good. The finest is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the original blocks, and is bottled with neither fining nor filtration. Graphite, blackberry, black raspberry, and spice aromas are followed by a closed, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and elevated tannins in the finish. This cuvee will be at its finest between 2010-2018.

This is a strong effort displaying aromas of tropical fruits, poached pear, honeysuckle, and brioche. Drink it over the next several years.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyards (87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is made in an earthier, leaner, more herbal style. Its dark ruby/purple hue is accompanied by notions of damp earth, truffles, roasted herbs, and sweet black cherry and currant fruit. Medium-bodied with good flesh and an austere, but promising finish, it will benefit from additional bottle age, and should evolve for 12-15+ years.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma is the base cuvee of 7,500 cases. It is a delicious, modestly-priced Cabernet offering plenty of tobacco leaf, black currant, licorice, and spice box characteristics, loads of fruit, and subtle notes of white chocolate as well as wood. Consume it over the next 7-8 years.

The 2006 Merlot Jackson Park reveals slightly more concentration, depth, and structure. It should be even better with several more years of bottle age, and last for 10-12 years.

The delicious 2007 Sauvignon Blanc comes from Knight’s Valley, Alexander Valley, and Mendocino. It exhibits flinty, crisp, melony notes along with a very good texture. Enjoy this hedonistic Sauvignon over the next several years.

The 2007 Pinot Noir Monterey reveals more red currant, pomegranate, and strawberry fruit as well as a decided earthy component in the mouth. It, too, should drink well for 3-4 years.

Pinot Noir’s blue fruit spectrum (blueberries, dark raspberries) and spring flower aromas emerge from the 2006 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley. This light to medium-bodied, pretty, elegant effort is best consumed over the next 3-4 years.

The 2007 Chardonnay Monterey reveals wet stone and floral characteristics intermixed with lemon blossom and white citrus, as well as more minerality, and less body and intense fruit than the Sonoma Coast cuvee.

A very good effort is the 2006 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard. Made from Dijon Clone 777, and aged in 50% new French oak, it exhibits aromas of damp earth, black raspberries, sweet and sour cherries, and hints of roasted herb and forest floor.

From Anderson Valley, the 2006 Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters is one of the vintage’s stronger efforts. Blueberry, raspberry, and spring flower characteristics emerge from this medium-bodied, undeniably elegant, mid-weight Pinot.

Kendall-Jackson Estate Vineyards pulls out all the stops, seeking richness and complexity using grapes from Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties, blending in small proportions of semillon, viognier and muscat canelli. A complex blend of ripe tropical fruit, from mangoes to oranges, with crisp white grapefruit.

Chardonnay remains a big seller, but inexpensive versions can be noticeably sweet. Still there are some good choices out there. The ubiquitous 2007 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay does contain a bit of residual sugar, but it's well-balanced by acidity, and the wine displays racy apple and pear flavors.

A really good job from K-J. For 11 bucks you get a bone-dry, crisp white wine, filled with savory citrus, fig, vanilla and white pepper flavors. This versatile wine will go with just about anything.

This softly appealing Syrah has pie-filling flavors of cherries and blackberries, with cinnamon spice, brown sugar and baked crust overtones. It's a dry, interesting wine that belies its everyday price.

Sleek, with herb, mineral and dusty sage and berry flavors that have a touch of rhubarb and cedary oak.

Aromas of oak and ripe peaches; lush flavors of peaches and butter, with soft acids and creamy body.

An uncommonly pure, elegant vintage of this Bordeaux-style blend of fruit from mountain vineyards in Napa Valley, the 2005 is deeply saturated, thanks in large part to a late harvest. Flavors of black cherry, black currant, black licorice, and dark chocolate lie atop a soft, dense, velvety texture.

Hint of oak, very rich black cherry and mocha flavors, smooth, ripe tannins. Made of the holy trinity of red grapes, it's very user-friendly.

Seillan's version of a Bordeaux Blend-Cabernet Franc and Merlot-is what he calls a micro cru, made from select vines in three different Sonoma vineyards. Seillan has created a profound wine with deeply woven notes of blackberry liqueur, smoke and cassis.