This wine is similarly showy, with a cornucopia of ripe fruit: Think sweet and tart apples, bananas, honey, tangerines and just a bit of durian (the custardy texture and flavor, not the dismaying aroma). there is also just a hint of something resembling fresh chilies on the wine's finish.

An elegant Zin true to its varietal. lovely, ripe, jammy raspberry fruit. herbal note. Slightly short on the finish.

Medium-deep ruby color;deep, spicy, earthy red cherry aromas; rich ripe, tasty red cherry fruit; silky mouth feel, spicy, sweet oak; good structure and balance; long finish. This is a delicious, middle of the road Pinot that will really work with a lot of different meal choices.

Vibrant, spicy, with lovely flavors of cranberry, dried berries, herbs and white pepper. A great food wine. Balanced

A vibrant wine, notes of black cherry, cassis, herbs, cedar and rose petal. Integrated tannins. Elegant.

...the Kendall-Jackson is one gorgeous zinfandel, layered with rich berry flavors, peppery spice and caressing oak, but not so much wood to keep the fresh fruit from playing the leading role.

Kendall-Jackson's $10 Riesling comes in at just under 2 percent residual sugar--at the high end of off-dry--and the winery sells 180,000 cases a year, making it the state's largest producer of Riesling in 750-milliliter bottles.

2004 ALEXANDER VALLEY SNAKE EYES ELAINE MARIA VINEYARDS ZINFANDEL Rustic in its youth and blunt with raspberry jam flavors against staunchly dry tannins, this needs years to evolve into those tannins and the sharp, mineral acidity. It grows more complex and heady with air, a touch green, a touch pruney and entirely zin. (1,025 cases)

A substantial Pinot from first sniff to aftertaste, this full bodied bottling displays a bit of youthful narrowness to its ripe black cherry fruit, but it also carries a touch of enriching chocolate that helps fill things out. Plush and near to velvety in feel, the wine relies on the compelling richness that sets it apart to offset its finishing heat and tannin

With grapes grown on the Jackson Estate, this well-made chardonnay has lots of personality and ripe tropical fruit, citrus flavors. Soft, rich texture.

A full-blown example of the grand style of contemporary California chardonnay -- big, sweet and smoky with oak, but exquisitely balanced, with a length that leaves you marveling about how tiny grapes can yield juice with so much impact.

2005 EDMEADES ZINFANDEL, MENDOCINO COUNTY Zinfandel makes several different styles of red wine in California, roughly reflecting the county of origin. One of the most distinctive-and best-is that of Mendocino. This version from the reliable Edmeades winery is an excellent expression of the style-with high-toned, spicy, wild berry flavors, a pleasing acidity and well-concealed alcohol, even at 15.5 percent. It's an excellent value in a red wine ready for early consumption. Serve with pasta or grilled red meat.

Intriguing flavors of licorice, dark chocolate and coffee make the wine interesting; bright, rich flavors of red and dark berries practically beg for red meat or creamy cheeses.

A feminine chardonnay. Ripe and showy. Notes of butter, baked apple, caramel and toast. Medium complexity.

An unrestrained Super-Tuscan with a bold crescendo of ripe berry, toasted oak, tobacco and lavender flavors structured by firm tannin and mineral notes. Drink in 2-12 years.