Made to honor America's troops, it is rich and mellow and smoky, with black cherry flavors.

Just in time for Christmas celebrating and gift-giving, the Chronicle's most recent blind tasting delivered a remarkable mix of unanimously endorsed, well-priced wines. It might have been our best across-the-board session ever. But one stood out for several of us. In fact, the Homefront Cuvée merlot was my highest-scoring that night, earning a 9.3, and you have to love the back story. Murphy-Goode sends close to 95 percent of the profits from the wine's sales to Operation Front, a respected 10-year-old charity that provides financial assistance for military families and wounded warriors. It's serious stuff (taster's comment: Ripe, round and chewy with cinnamon and cloves) and not unreasonably priced at $55, given the cause.

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

This new release of Homefront Red leans to Zinfandel filled out with Merlot, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot. It has depth of flavor, nice complexity, firm acidity and soft tannins. It dances with berry flavors, spice and dark chocolate — dry but still approachable for even novice wine enthusiasts. Set this bottle on the table and you will make a statement.

Aromas and flavors of black plums and mocha, soft, rich and smooth.

May 30: Memorial Day Buy the 2012 Murphy-Goode Homefront Red ($14), and 50 cents will go to Operation Homefront to help armed-service members' families.

Fifty cents from every bottle of this wine sold goes to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency finances to veterans and their families. Not only is the cause good, but so is the wine. The blend of zinfandel, merlot, petit verdot and petite sirah shows off rich cherry and raspberry fruit. It's a versatile wine to serve at tailgates or with grilled sausage, pizza, hamburgers, etc.

This is an easy-to-drink blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot. Soft texture and flavors of blackberries with a dash of licorice.

The label doesn't tell us what the blend is, but it's a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel. The texture is soft, and the flavors are rich and ripe in cherries, currants and spicy, umami teriyaki. Earns an extra point for sheer likeability.

The 2011 Murphy-Goode Homefront Red was the biggest hit. The juicy, ripe red fruit was appealing and the cause was compelling-and well-rated (Operation Homefront got an A from CharityWatch). It has a good story behind it, too, said my friend Kathy, who added that she would buy a case of Homefront because it's a good wine at a good price for a good cause.

In any case, several of the Murphy-Goode team members thought they were in a position to do something to help active-duty soldiers and veterans by financially supporting their families. Their solution was to make a tasty wine called Homefront Red ($15) and donate 50 cents of each bottle to Operation Homefront. Given the economics of wine, which includes a markup from the distributor and the store, Murphy-Goode actually gets less than $5 a bottle, so they are donating a pretty big piece of their final take. All of this would just be a nice thing, but thankfully the wine itself is scrumptious. It is a blend of massive red grapes like Syrah, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Merlot. Given that heritage, you might expect a high-alcohol wine that fights with food. Instead, it's an easy-to-drink, food-friendly wine that would pair perfectly with any type of grilled meat, whether a sizzling Porterhouse or a plump burger. Murphy-Goode wines are available all over town, but Homefront Red is new to the market, so you might have to ask for it.

A mix of syrah, merlot, petit sirah and zinfandel that's a real crowd-pleaser for its plush, abundant dark-red fruit flavors and aromas, smooth texture and clean finish; also a benefit bottling for Operation Homefront to aid families of U.S. military and the military wounded; taste good and do good.

Want to give meaning to your Thanksgiving? For every bottle of this sold, the producer will donate 50 cents to the national nonprofit that donates emergency assistance to veterans and wounded warriors. The wine - a blend of syrah, merlot, petit sirah and zinfandel - is very approachable, simple and delicious.

A good, robust Bordeaux-style wine that’s smooth and tannic, with full-bodied blackberry, cherry and herb flavors. Ready to drink now.

This is a good deal from the Alexander Valley. Merlot makes up 64 percent of the blend and the rest is cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Full-bodied but drinkable now with a variety of food. It would go well with barbecue and grilled meats. Dark cherry, cassis and plum notes.

A wonderful blend of 61 percent cabernet sauvignon, 25 percent merlot, and 14 percent petit verdot. This wine is an amazing winner in the mouth and exhibits a classic Alexander ripe fruit profile. Bright berry, cherry fruit flavors and nose with a hint of herbs, good acidity and soft tannins. This wine is ready now or can mature for three to five years.

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.

Napa, Sonoma dominate California Cabernet Sauvignon Over in Sonoma County, several valleys produce really good cabernet. Alexander Valley cabs, especially, can rival Napa. And the prices usually compare favorably. 2015 Murphy-Goode ($28). With family winemaking history in Alexander Valley since 1985 and farming before that, this is a nice everyday cab that delivers rather straightforward black fruits with suggestions of herbs and cocoa in a solid frame.

Best Buys in the Market Yes, Cabernet Sauvignon prices continue to climb, yet the variety’s popularity shows no signs of easing. There are, nonetheless, many tasty, well-made examples to be found that hit the mark for fine value, and, as the smart shopper will discover, good Cabernet does not necessarily have to be but an occasional treat. Heading up this month’s roster of Cabernets that prove the point...and the insistently fruity, medium-fullbodied * MURPHY-GOODE Alexander Valley 2015 are at once easy to like now and show the capacity to age nicely for several years. 1 star.

Murphy-Goode has a reputation for tasty wines at value prices and this beauty from Alexander Valley is no exception. Presenting an enticing nose and flavors of plum and cassis with a spicy edge and chocolate notes. Blended with 2 percent petite verdot, this wine is a pleasure to drink and would pair beautifully with grilled beef.

Mostly cab with small amounts of merlot and petit verdot, aged in French and American oak. This fresh and fruity cabernet is very drinkable, with some astringency and a trace of bitterness that would likely disappear when served with food. A good buy.

Yummy, intense, concentrated, velvet tannins, a steep backbone of acidity. Throw in the fruit - dark berries, dark chocolate, spice (inhale and the hairs in your nostrils twitch) - along with the vanilla and the infusion of French oak and you have a lovely mouthful. It's still tightly woven and has the stuffing to age a long time. It's a wine designed for a juicy beef tenderloin fillet or a marinated, grilled flank steak. It is sourced exclusively from Knights Valley as a single-vineyard wine. It's a Winery Exclusive.

What a buy: An intense, earthy, robust-flavored Cab braced with Petite Sirah, for added richness and depth, and Merlot to round out the palate. Tannins are supple, texture is creamy, and alcohol at 13.7 percent — is enough to give this package a nice kick. Flavor profile: dark berries, cherries, dark chocolate, black licorice, vanilla, sweet toastiness.

This is an approachable cab that's a great value. Notes of cherry, licorice, toast and vanilla. It's a great burger wine because it has good acid and bright fruit. Smart.

This baby is packed with dark berried fruit and caresses the palate with soft, silky tannins. It was aged 17 months in 71 percent French oak and 29 percent American oak. It's sourced from Alden-Ellis Vineyard, which is a mountain estate at an elevation of almost 1,200 feet above the valley floor. The rocky soils stress the vines to create small, intense berries that make an intense, concentrated wine still young and tightly woven. Think black currant, blueberry preserves, violets and toast. Winemaker Dave Ready Jr. says it will age for years to come. It's one of the Winery Exclusive wines.