The 2,000 case cuvee of 2006 Pinot Noir Carneros exhibits a dark ruby color followed by aromas and flavors of sweet raspberries, kirsch, forest floor, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied with lovely fruit and length as well as ripe tannins, it should be drunk over the next 3-5 years.

There are 6,200 cases of the 2007 Chardonnay Russian River. It exhibits plenty of tropical fruit and honeysuckle along with a touch of spice, full-bodied, rich flavors, and a subtle note of oak. This wine was 100% barrel-fermented and was put through 100% malolactic fermentation, but the oak is kept in the background.

The 2007 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast offers up aromas of orange blossoms, lemon oil, and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied with crisp, fresh fruit, a subtle touch of oak (9% is barrel-fermented), a long, pure finish, and fashioned by winemaker Melissa Stackhouse, this impeccably made Chardonnay should provide enjoyment over the next 2-3 years.

One of my favorites of this group is the 2006 Pinot Noir Hailey’s Block Arrendell Vineyard. It exhibits a medium ruby color along with notes of clove and allspice intermixed with pomegranate, red berry, and currant scents. With beautiful fruit, medium body, and no hard edges, it can be drunk now and over the next 2-3 years.

Hartford Court’s 2007 Zinfandel Russian River reveals gorgeous sweet black cherry fruit, medium to full body, loads of spice, supple tannins, and that fresh exuberance that makes Zinfandel so appealing. Enjoy it over the next 3-4 years.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (a blend from various sites) is a soft, sexy combination of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. A big, sweet nose of Asian spices, smoky oak, and plenty of black and red fruits, are followed by a lush, round, generously constituted wine with medium to full body, decent acidity, and velvety tannins. Enjoy it over the next 8-10 years.

You get a lot of bang for your buck with this dry, complex young Syrah. Although the tannic structure is rich and sturdy, it shows a wealth of blackberry, black currant, grilled meat and pepper flavors. Drink now through 2010.l

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.