Dark red. Deep cherry and dark berry aromas show rooty, cola and herbal qualities reminiscent of a wine from Morey-Saint-Denis. Suave bitter cherry and blackcurrant flavors are framed and enlivened by juicy acidity. Fleshes out on the finish, with the cherry and cola qualities repeating. This is the most backward of this impressive set of pinots.

Dark red. Deep cherry and dark berry aromas show rooty, cola and herbal qualities reminiscent of a wine from Morey-Saint-Denis. Suave bitter cherry and blackcurrant flavors are framed and enlivened by juicy acidity. Fleshes out on the finish, with the cherry and cola qualities repeating. This is the most backward of this impressive set of pinots.

Good red-ruby. Musky aromas of currant, iron, leather and smoke. Lush, fat and nuanced, with noteworthy purity and depth to its flavors of black cherry, game, spices, mint and earth. Very full and round but not at all sweet or easy. Compared to the Helena Montana, this shows a tad less energy and finishes with more obvious though fine tannins.

(100% cabernet sauvignon, planted at an altitude of 2,400 feet) Full ruby-red. Dark berries, graphite, cedar and spicy herbs on the nose. Sweeter and lusher than the regular Alexander Valley bottling, with complex flavors of currant, melted chocolate and flowers. Here the acids are more harmonious, framing and extending the flavors through a broadly tannic finish. Even in 2005, the crop level at this altitude did not exceed 2.5 tons per acre, according to winemaker Graham Weerts.

Light gold. Fresh lime and orange on the nose, along with honeysuckle and dusty minerals. Bright and juicy, with suave citrus and honey flavors underscored by tangy lemon zest and quinine. Refreshing, sharply focused and strikingly pure, with excellent finishing lift and cut.

Glass-staining purple. Powerful blackberry and cassis aromas are complicated by incense, Asian spices and lavender. Deep, sappy and sweet, offering pure dark berry preserve flavors, terrific mineral lift and fine-grained tannins. Impressively balances richness against elegance, with outstanding finishing thrust and lingering dark fruits.

Bright gold. Ripe apricot, peach nectar and floral honey aromas are brightened by zesty minerals. Round and juicy, with sweet pit fruit and melon flavors, creamy texture and building spiciness. Impressively juicy for a wine with such depth and sweetness, finishing sappy and long, with very good clarity.

Good full ruby. Spicy aromas of currant, brown spices, lavender and tobacco, along with a whiff of dill. Sweet and creamy yet at the same time penetrating, with a juicy quality to the currant and tobacco flavors. Boasts an attractive tangy intensity and finishes with rather suave tannins for a Howell Mountain wine.

Deep ruby. Fresh red and dark berry aromas, complicated by smoked meat, tobacco and fresh flowers. Surprisingly tangy on the palate, displaying intense, medium-bodied raspberry and blackcurrant fruit. Dusty tannins build with air, adding firmness to the long, intensely spicy finish.

Opaque purple color. Flamboyantly aromatic bouquet of blackberry, blueberry, licorice, sandalwood and fresh flowers. Deep, sweet and velvety, offering dense black and blue fruit flavors, soft tannins and building spiciness. Finishes with surprising vivacity and impressive persistence. This is already delicious.

Good bright ruby. Precise aromas of blackberry, currant, minerals and licorice pastille. Juicy, intensely flavored and tightly wound, with lovely spicy high notes and firm minerality lifting the berry fruit. Not shortage of power here. Tannins are substantial but broad and fine-grained. Finishes with lovely length and lift.

13.2% alcohol following a bit of saignee Good bright ruby. Precise aromas of blackberry, currant, minerals and licorice pastille. Juicy, intensely flavored and tightly wound, with lovely spicy high notes and firm minerality lifting the berry fruit. No shortage of power here. Tannins are substantial but broad and fine-grained. Finishes with lovely length and lift.

Good ruby-red. Dark berries, bitter chocolate, violet, spices and a whiff of coffee on the nose. Dense and supple, with good fat for 2006 but also noteworthy detail and inner-mouth energy. The deep dark fruit flavors are complicated by a cedary nuance. Finishes with broad, ripe tannins and very good grip.

Deep ruby-red. Musky, very ripe aromas of roasted dark fruits, beefsteak tomato and maple syrup. Then almost surprisingly bright in the middle (this actually has a relatively low pH of 3.55 and high total acidity), with powerful chocolatey fruit and a strong tannic backbone. In fact, today the wine's big, sandy tannins cut off the fruit. Winemaker Seillan predicts that this extremely young wine will age for 50 years; it will certainly require six or eight of them to become more approachable. But subsequent vintages are more suave.

Inky purple color. Dark cherry, chocolate and woodsmoke on the nose, along with dried flowers and underbrush. Sappy dark fruit flavors offer good palate coverage, with no rough edges or excess weight. A muscular, somewhat firm style, in need of some time to stretch out.

Deep ruby. Very smoky aromas of cherry, blueberry and grilled meat; smells like syrah. Pliant dark fruit flavors are supported by juicy acidity and framed by supple tannins. Picks up a spicy quality on the long, zesty finish. Very fresh and easy to drink now.

Good deep ruby-red. Black fruits, mocha, dark chocolate and licorice on the nose. Sweet, lush and full for the vintages, with fruit-driven flavors of currant and blackberry enlivened by minerality. Tannins are suave for the year. This has turned out well.

Good bright ruby-red. Sexy aromas and flavors of black cherry, licorice, herbs and flowers. Juicy on entry, then tight in the middle, with firm acidity giving the finish a slightly tart quality. I find this only moderately ripe.

Deep ruby. Aromas of blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate. Sweet black fruit flavors are complicated by mocha, tobacco and pepper, with oakiness growing as the wine opened in the glass. I find this a bit overripe/underripe in character. Boasts good stuffing but finishes with slightly gritty tannins and a faint greenness.

Saturated ruby. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice, graphite, bitter chocolate and smoky oak. Juicy, minerally and firmly built, with lively acids leavening its sweetness. But this has excellent flavor intensity, and the dusty tannins avoid dryness.

Good deep ruby-red. Superripe aromas of smoked meat, mocha, licorice and game. Fat, round and sweet, with a slightly rustic texture to the vinous black cherry, licorice and bitter chocolate flavors. Just this side of heavy. Finishes with substantial tongue-dusting tannins and very good lingering sweetness.

Good deep ruby-red. Superripe aromas of smoked meat, mocha, licorice and game. Fat, round and sweet, with a slightly rustic texture to the vinous black cherry, licorice and bitter chocolate flavors. Just this side of heavy. Finishes with substantial tongue-dusting tannins and very good lingering sweetness.

Full medium ruby. Aromas of black fruits, licorice and bitter chocolate. Supple and juicy, with a saline quality adding interest to the black fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes fresh and fairly suave, with finer-grained tannins than past vintages of this wine.

(produced at Chateau Lassègue, from the lower portion of this property) Full medium ruby. Aromas of black fruits, licorice and bitter chocolate. Supple and juicy, with a saline quality adding interest to the black fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes fresh and fairly suave, with finer-grained tannins than past vintages of this wine.

Sumptuous, with coffee'd oak aromas. Dark and smoky oak flavors dominate to complement black plum fruit.