Jim Gordon of Wine Enthusiast describes ‘Good fruit concentration and a velvety texture make this deeply colored, dry wine substantial enough for a special occasion. It smells like spicy oak and tastes like ripe black cherries and blackberries, with a smooth mouthfeel. #77 on the Wine Enthusiast 2016 Best Buy Top 100.’ Full-bodied & Smooth.

Tasty plum and red cherry flavors and an easygoing texture make this medium-bodied wine a pleasure to drink. The aromas are quite fruity and fresh, accented with oaky, spicy notes, and the flavors seem generous. A touch of tannin provides welcome structure.

This fruity cocktail of dark berries, plums and spice is infused with smoky oak and braced with sturdy acidity for balance. Tannins are velvet. Alcohol is 13.9 percent — giving it lots of body.

Hint of oak, aromas and flavors of black cherries and black pepper, full body, firm tannins.

Soft and sweet, with black raspberry and spice flavors.

This is the kind of Merlot people will love. It’s smooth, soft and silky, with rich, sweet flavors of raspberries and cherries. There’s even a candied note of chocolate-covered mint.

Soft and rich, with flavors of black raspberries and spice.

A merlot with aromas of cherry, plum and spice. Notes of tangy cherry, anise and pepper. A good quaff.

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.