With the massive honeyed sweetness, this dessert wine is easy to enjoy, but it has more going for it than just that. There are also polished apricot, pineapple brûlée and vanilla custard flavors.

Actually from a smallish block of a large vineyard in this rocky, cool part of Salinas Valley, this Pinot shows a silky structure, velvety tannins and crisp acids. The flavors are rich and savory, suggesting cherries, cola, vanilla, smoke and mint.

Juicy and jammy, with aromas and flavors of black cherry, pepper, toast and caramel. Approachable.

This seems like classic Alexander Valley Cabernet, which always gives off an intriguing, foresty, piney scent to accent dark cassis and plum aromas. Its flavors are all in the blue and purple fruit spectrum, with an herbaceous background note that gives the wine elegance and complexity.

In my experience, it's rare Chardonnay that manages to display rich, succulent, mouth-filling flavor while at the same time offering crisp acidity and a firm structure - the best of both worlds, if you will. Well, this one does just that. It tastes opulent but feels refreshing, a delectable combination.

Rich, ripe and complex, with tropical fruit; tart finish.

The cool climate of California's Sonoma Coast gets this wine crisp, concentrated pear flavors to complement its smooth vanilla notes. Pair with creamy pasta dishes.

This mountain Cab, blended with a little Petit Verdot and Syrah, is grown at 2,400 feet in the Mayacamas Mountains, which provide the east wall of Alexander Valley. The wine is know to be an ager, and the '04 should develop for many years. It's a tremendous wine, the equal of almost anything from Napa, which, after all, is just a geographic boundary away. Fabulously concentrated in cassis, currant, smoky cherry, licorice and chocolate flavors, its tannic structure is nearly perfect.

The top red wine cuvee is the sensational 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher’s Vineyard from a 2,400 foot elevation site on Jess Jackson’s Alexander Mountain Estate Vineyard. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, this sensational, dense ruby/purple-hued 2005 exhibits notes of crushed rocks, blackberries, blueberries, charcoal, and graphite. Full-bodied, powerful, and rich, it is meant for long-term aging. Forget it for 5-6 years, and enjoy it over the following three decades.

The 2007 Chardonnay Four Hearts, aged in 40% new oak and 100% barrel-fermented, boasts a creamy, creme brulee-like character along with oodles of orange blossom, nectarine, and crushed rock notes, a full-bodied mouthfeel, stunning richness and purity, and zesty acidity. Like so many of the 2007s, its sensational fragrance and fruit purity are dazzling.

A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, the inky/purple-colored 2006 La Joie (1,300 cases) reveals aromas of graphite, creme de cassis, unsmoked cigar tobacco, and incense. It possesses a rich, full-bodied personality with mouth-filling levels of tannin, extract, and fruit. Forget this 2006 for 5-7 years as it is a long-term monster in the making. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2045. With Bordeaux winemaker Pierre Seillan in charge, owner Jess Jackson has clearly positioned Verite as one of the two or three flagship wines in his impressive empire. These cuvees represent California versions of Bordeaux appellations, with the Merlot-dominated La Muse very Pomerol-like, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated La Joie a hypothetical California version of a Medoc, and the St.-Emilion look-alike, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend, Le Desir. These wines are fashioned from the finest Sonoma vineyard sites owned by Jackson, and are meant for long-term aging. In 2007, the Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) grown in California’s North Coast exhibit sweet tannins as well as superb fragrance and purity. Yet, Verite’s wines are among the more structured, dense, and powerfully backward of the vintage.

The inky/ruby/purple-colored 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder exhibits a sumptuous nose of charcoal, burning embers, incense, black currant liqueur, blueberries, and hints of espresso roast and white chocolate. A sensationally concentrated, dense, full-bodied effort with high levels of sweet tannin, decent acidity, and a stunningly layered mouthfeel, this is a profound Cabernet Sauvignon to drink between 2012-2030+.

A perfect balance of the rich and the vibrant, this is a textbook Napa Valley cabernet. It's blended from vineyards on Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain, Stags Leap District, Spring Mountain and Oakville (To Kalon). The flavors layer black currant and black cherry with redder fruit tones and floral notes. Remarkably, it maintains that detail and freshness even with the youthful potency of its structure and the aggressive power of its extract, you can virtually see the tannin dripping down the sides of the glass. A lovely young wine to decant for Kobe beef, this has the stamina for aging ten years or more.

Rich and satisfying, this opulent Chardonnay dazzles with sheer deliciousness. Master winemaker, Richard Arrowood has pulled out all the stops on this Burgundian-style wine. The flavors, of pineapple custard, lemon meringue, green apple butter, crème brulée and gingersnap cookie, are balanced by perfect acidity. This is by far Arrowood's greatest Chardonnay in recent memory.

The 2007 Chardonnay Stone Cote is a limited cuvee of 740 cases that comes from a specific block in the Sonoma Coast’s Durell Vineyard. White peach, honeysuckle, unbuttered popcorn, and hints of tropical fruit and wet stone-like aromas and flavors are present in this full-bodied white. Good intensity, uplifting acidity, and excellent minerality suggest this stunning Chardonnay should drink well for 4-6 years.

Another outstanding wine in the making is the 2007 Le Desir. Its spicy perfume exhibits notes of roasted herbs, sweet black cherries and black currants, scorched earth, licorice, and toasty oak. Exceptionally concentrated and full-bodied but backward, it displays superb aging potential. As always, these are individualistic reds that should only be purchased by those with serious patience and cold cellars as they are not meant for near-term gratification. (Not yet released) With Bordeaux winemaker Pierre Seillan in charge, owner Jess Jackson has clearly positioned Verite as one of the two or three flagship wines in his impressive empire. These cuvees represent California versions of Bordeaux appellations, with the Merlot-dominated La Muse very Pomerol-like, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated La Joie a hypothetical California version of a Medoc, and the St.-Emilion look-alike, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend, Le Desir. These wines are fashioned from the finest Sonoma vineyard sites owned by Jackson, and are meant for long-term aging. In 2007, the Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) grown in California’s North Coast exhibit sweet tannins as well as superb fragrance and purity. Yet, Verite’s wines are among the more structured, dense, and powerfully backward of the vintage.

The 2007 La Muse possesses oodles of mocha and espresso-infused black cherry and black currant fruit aromas, rich black fruits in the mouth, and loads of glycerin, fruit, and depth. Yet the tannins kick in in the back, and, in all likelihood, this 2007 will turn out to be as backward as the 2006. At this stage of development, it reminds me of a 2002, which turned out fabulous for Verite. (Not yet released) With Bordeaux winemaker Pierre Seillan in charge, owner Jess Jackson has clearly positioned Verite as one of the two or three flagship wines in his impressive empire. These cuvees represent California versions of Bordeaux appellations, with the Merlot-dominated La Muse very Pomerol-like, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated La Joie a hypothetical California version of a Medoc, and the St.-Emilion look-alike, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend, Le Desir. These wines are fashioned from the finest Sonoma vineyard sites owned by Jackson, and are meant for long-term aging. In 2007, the Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) grown in California’s North Coast exhibit sweet tannins as well as superb fragrance and purity. Yet, Verite’s wines are among the more structured, dense, and powerfully backward of the vintage.

This 1,500 case cuvee is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months. Made from a combination of mountain vineyard fruit (from Mt. Veeder, Howell Mt., and Spring Mt.) and fruit from valley floor sites in Oakville, St. Helena, and Stags Leap, for a 2006, this cuvee offers surprising accessibility and openness. A sumptuous bouquet of cedarwood, black cherries, black currants, licorice, and wet rocks/crushed stones give way to a broad, opulent, fleshy wine offering sweet tannin, abundant quantities of sexy, ripe fruit, a full-bodied, layered mouthfeel, and a velvety finish. This is an atypically sumptuous 2006 that should drink well for 15-20 years. Kudos to winemaker Christopher Carpenter for this brilliant effort.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota comes across as a rich wine. Its opaque purple color is followed by a stunning aromatic display of lead pencil shavings, espresso, roast, chocolate, blackberries, and cassis. The wine is deep and full-bodied with sweet tannins, decent acidity, a harmonious mouthfeel, and a seamless integration of acidity, oak, tannin, and alcohol. This beauty can be drunk now or cellared for two decades.

The 2006 Le Desir (900 cases) is a combination of Cabernet Franc (49%), Merlot (41%), Cabernet Sauvignon (8%), and Malbec (2%). The most forward and complex of this trio at present, it offers up sumptuous aromas of fruitcake, black fruits, pain grille, chocolate, earth, and truffles. The complex aromatics are followed by a wine with an inky/ruby/purple hue, excellent fruit, dense, full-bodied flavors, and softer tannins and more accessibility than its siblings. It should be drinkable in 2-3 years, and keep for 25 thereafter. With Bordeaux winemaker Pierre Seillan in charge, owner Jess Jackson has clearly positioned Verite as one of the two or three flagship wines in his impressive empire. These cuvees represent California versions of Bordeaux appellations, with the Merlot-dominated La Muse very Pomerol-like, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated La Joie a hypothetical California version of a Medoc, and the St.-Emilion look-alike, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend, Le Desir. These wines are fashioned from the finest Sonoma vineyard sites owned by Jackson, and are meant for long-term aging. In 2007, the Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) grown in California’s North Coast exhibit sweet tannins as well as superb fragrance and purity. Yet, Verite’s wines are among the more structured, dense, and powerfully backward of the vintage.

The star is the 2007 Chardonnay Upper Barn, which was made famous when Helen Turley used to make this wine for her Marcassin label. From this great grand cru site, this powerful Chardonnay reveals notes of popcorn, citrus, nectarine, and lemon blossom. Made from the old Heritage Wente clone (as are many of California’s top Chardonnays), it possesses plenty of minerality, a big, full-bodied mouthfeel, good acidity, and a long finish. Drink this profound Chardonnay over the next 5-6 years.

From one of California’s grand cru vineyards, Monte Rosso, Dick Arrowood produces a Cabernet Sauvignon from very old vines. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard boasts a dense ruby/purple color followed by a big nose of loamy soil, cedarwood, black currant, sweet cherry, and oak characteristics. Dense, full-bodied, muscular, and more broodingly backward than the Reserve Speciale, this wine will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and drink well for two decades.

Ultrarich and concentrated, with layers of the fig, citrus and tangerine flavors that are shaded by toasty oak, filing out the flavor profile and ending with a complex marshmallow edge. Drink now through 2011.

The outstanding premier cru Meursault-like 2006 Chardonnay Reserve Speciale is fashioned from some of the top Russian River vineyard sites. It spent additional time in French oak, resulting in a creamier texture and is a bigger, nuttier-styled Chardonnay. Aromas of roasted hazelnuts, marmalade, creme brulee, honeysuckle, and tropical fruit emerge from this beautiful effort. Enjoy it over the next 3-4 years.

The 2006 La Muse (86% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec; 900 cases produced) displays the structure, austerity, and tannic framework of a top Bordeaux. Even though it is dominated by California-grown Merlot, it is not an up-front, forward, seductive effort. It exhibits notes of underbrush, earth, cedar, black cherries, and espresso roast in a medium to full-bodied, tannic, concentrated, extracted style. It requires 3-4 years of bottle age, and should evolve for 25+ years. With Bordeaux winemaker Pierre Seillan in charge, owner Jess Jackson has clearly positioned Verite as one of the two or three flagship wines in his impressive empire. These cuvees represent California versions of Bordeaux appellations, with the Merlot-dominated La Muse very Pomerol-like, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated La Joie a hypothetical California version of a Medoc, and the St.-Emilion look-alike, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend, Le Desir. These wines are fashioned from the finest Sonoma vineyard sites owned by Jackson, and are meant for long-term aging. In 2007, the Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) grown in California’s North Coast exhibit sweet tannins as well as superb fragrance and purity. Yet, Verite’s wines are among the more structured, dense, and powerfully backward of the vintage