Blue fruit, spring flower, charcoal, and crushed rock aromas emerge from the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain. This wine possesses terrific ripeness, beautiful, surprisingly sweet, well-integrated tannins, plenty of black and blue fruit flavors, full body, and good harmony and overall equilibrium. It can be drunk now or cellared for two decades or more.

From the Reverie Vineyard, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain spent 22 months in 100% new French oak. Cedar, crushed rock, creme de cassis, smoke, and earthy characteristics are both compelling and complex. This mountain-styled Cabernet reveals soft tannins, a supple, full-bodied mouthfeel, and an elegant yet substantial personality. It should drink nicely for 15+ years.

The wild blackberry scents along with the vibrant minerality of the tannin identify this as a mountain wine. The brisk tannin yields more supple, rich fruit as the wine mellows a bit with air.

The inky/purple-tinged 2007 La Joie exhibits the most cedar, fruitcake, incense, tobacco, roasted herb, and creme de cassis characteristics. Graphite-like flavors appear on the palate of this multidimensional, layered 2007. The huge finish (it lasts nearly a minute) reveals excruciatingly high tannins. Despite the sweetness of the tannins, this wine will need 4-6 years of bottle age, and should keep for 30 or more years. (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 brilliant 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Speciale 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 24 months in French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered tastes like a Sonoma version of a Bordeaux Pauillac. Aromas of cedar, licorice, chocolate, and creme de cassis as well as a hint of toast jump from the glass of this full-bodied, concentrated, fleshy wine. It possesses a French-like structure, but Northern California’s enticingly pure, ripe fruit is on vivid display. This wine can be approached now because of the sweetness of the tannins and its terrific equilibrium, but it will age effortlessly for 15-20 years.

The dense purple-colored 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana offers sweet aromas and flavors of charcoal/burning embers, blueberries, and black currants, a deep, full-bodied style, silky, but noticeable tannins, and a long, authoritative finish. The overall impression is one of serious substance as well as undeniable complexity and elegance. This 2005 should drink beautifully for 15-20+ years.

Notions of earth, mushrooms, underbrush, black cherries, and charcoal intermixed with good minerality characterize the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. The most backward and austere of this quartet, this Keyes Vineyard (formerly the Liparita Vineyard) cuvee is full-bodied, but broodingly tannic. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades.

The 2006 Syrah Kuljian Vineyard from Dry Creek. is a limited cuvee of less than 200 cases, it is a sumptuous Syrah packed and stacked with blackberry fruit interwoven with notions of camphor, pepper, meat juices, and tar. There is not a hard edge to be found in this oak-aged, unfined, unfiltered Syrah.

For nearly 40 years, Arrowood has been California’s undisputed master of auslese, beerenauslese, and trockenbeerenauslese-styled sweet Rieslings. He has been on target with these wines since he first began making them at Chateau St. Jean 30 years ago. The auslese-styled 2007 Special Select Late Harvest Riesling Saralee’s Vineyard contains 21.7 grams of residual sugar as well as terrific acidity, and gorgeous aromas of lychee nuts, apricots, peaches, and apple butter. This sweet white should drink easily for another 5-6 years.

The 2007 Chardonnay Broken Road and 2007 Chardonnay Red Point, both lighter versions of the Upper Barn. Stonestreet is becoming an excellent source for small lots of Chardonnay, although the basic Alexander Valley cuvee is very plentiful (6,500 cases). The single vineyard offerings (between 120 and 350 cases produced of each) are impressive efforts that are more similar than dissimilar since they all come from single vineyard lots, are aged in 50% new French oak (except for the Gravel Bench), and spend 11 months on their lees before bottling.

The liquid minerality of the 2007 Chardonnay Gravel Bench brings to mind a grand cru Chablis. Abundant wet stone characteristics along with a liqueur of rocks are accompanied by lemon blossom, nectarine, and quince notes. It should drink well for 5-6 years.

The 2007 Zinfandel High Wire Vineyard exhibits more blue and black fruit characteristics along with notions of damp earth and spice, and a full-bodied, brilliant display of briery black fruits. This spicy, peppery Zinfandel is refreshing, full-bodied, and a total delight to drink. Drink this hedonistic effort over the next 5-6 years.

The deep ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Zinfandel Hartford Vineyard exhibits intense aromas of flowers, black raspberries, and cherries, a full-bodied, rich, layered, opulent style, and a hedonistic display of fireworks. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.

Supple red cherry flavors more than match the oak influence of this wine, which deepens those flavors to chocolate richness. It finishes on a savory note. For roast lamb.

Sharing the same winemaker, Graham Werts, as the Stonestreet winery, the 2006 Legacy is a 1,400-case blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec. This gorgeous 2006 boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as aromas and flavors of spicy oak, creosote, burning embers, and copious quantities of black currant and blackberry fruit. Full-bodied with a subtle smoky component, multilayers, a round, generous texture, and sweet tannin in its silky finish, it can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20+ years.

Although the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is a softer wine, it still begs for additional bottle age. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, it offers graphite, blackberry, cassis, toasty oak, and earth notes in a full-bodied, rich style with slightly less tannin and concentration than its monster sibling.

Nearly as awesome is the 2007 Chardonnay Broken Road and 2007 Chardonnay Red Point, both lighter versions of the Upper Barn. Stonestreet is becoming an excellent source for small lots of Chardonnay, although the basic Alexander Valley cuvee is very plentiful (6,500 cases). The single vineyard offerings (between 120 and 350 cases produced of each) are impressive efforts that are more similar than dissimilar since they all come from single vineyard lots, are aged in 50% new French oak (except for the Gravel Bench), and spend 11 months on their lees before bottling.

The 3,000 case lot of 2007 Chardonnay Carneros is superb. Complex notes of hazelnut, popcorn, orange marmalade, and background oak are subtle yet persistent. Drink this beauty over the next several years.

The 2007 Chardonnay Laura’s is still in barrel, but it almost came across as tannic. However, it is loaded with crisp white peach, white currant, and quince aromas accompanied by strong mineral undertones. It is medium-bodied and more backward than its siblings. All of these Chardonnays have 4-6 years of aging potential, perhaps even longer.

From a 23-acre vineyard planted on the so-called red Rutherford dust, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche Vineyard is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot. While it does not reach the level of some past legends (1974), it reveals a sumptuous perfume of creme de cassis, loamy soil, and spicy oak, followed by tightly-constructed, medium to full-bodied flavors with sweet tannin, outstanding concentration, and admirable overall equilibrium. While it still plays it close to the vest, its quality/pedigree is obvious. Consume it over the next 15+ years.

Very ripe and new oaky, but the acidity is so vibrant, it provides the much-needed balance kick. Flavor-wise, this Chard is a blast of orange Slurpee, pineapple tart, vanilla crème brûlée and cinnamon spice. It sure is an easy wine to drink.

A lovely Viognier that shows the variety's exotic richness while maintaining dryness and elegance despite high alcohol. The tropical fruit, wildflower, spice and honey flavors are deliciously balanced with crisp acidity.

The 2006 Syrah Saralee’s Vineyard exhibits tell-tale tar, roasted meat, and bouquet garni aromas, intense, ripe blackberry fruit, hints of smoke and licorice, and a long, heady finish. Aged in French oak for 18 months, and bottled unfined and unfiltered, this luscious, sexy Syrah should provide plenty of pleasure over the next 6-7 years.

Saturated with blueberry-rich fruit and tannins that give it a cedar and cherry-bark tone, this wine is firmly structured and lasting. It's complex, needing time to develop in bottle.

The earthier 2006 Pinot Noir Russian River displays scents of clove, allspice, licorice, and dark cherries. This is a meaty, earthy example of well-made Pinot. Drink it over the next 3-5 years.