Its ripe, well-oaked, eminently spicy aromas make for a very fine start here, and, while the wine's ample flavors similarly begin on a positive note, they run afoul of elevated acidity and palpable heat in the latter going. Still, there is enough depth and solidity evident to make this one worth a gamble, and a wait of three to five years should help immeasurably.

This concentrated, complex wine reminds me of Hermitage from a ripe vintage in that it needs time to fully express itself.

An appealing syrah with good balance. Complex, with notes of toast, leather and black pepper. Nice Oak.

Spicy and rich. Clean, ripe, fruit-forward flavors. Cherry, blueberry and plum. Nice and bright. Medium complexity.

Vibrant and showy. Full-bodied, with a rich texture. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, blueberry, mint and camphor.

A big jammy zinfandel, with blueberry and blackberry fruit flavors. Bright and tart, full-bodied and balanced. Notes of oak and chocolate. Nice finish.

Big, ripe, and tannic, with dark berry, black pepper and oak flavors. Tasty.

Sweepstakes winner at the New World International Wine Competition, a delightfully seamless example of the varietal, with a lift that just begs for it to be poured with tri-tip or some other cut of beef off the grill this Labor Day weekend. The wine is lush with suggestions of blackberries and raspberries, a touch of peppery spiciness and the caress of vanilla form the French oak in which it was aged.

A bit tart with raspberry and strawberry fruit flavors.

Bright purple cast. Moderately full-bodied. Full acidity. Moderately extracted. Mildly oaked. Mildly tannic. Briar fruits, vanilla. Aromatic, with a pleasant interplay between fruit and oak nuances. Well balanced and lively, with subtle tannins through the finish.

Sweet Talk - Decadent dessert wines to top off your meal A riot of jasmine and lavender wraps around juicy apple, Asian pear, and Meyer lemon.

Elegant and showy with lovely floral aromas. Expressive with notes of peach, apple and melon. Slightly grassy.

Crisp, yet rich. Nice blend of citrus and tropical flavors. Notes of lime, Mandarin orange, pear, ginger and toast.

Elegant, with enticing aromas of peach, melon, and tangelo. Flavors of apple, apricot and spice. Rich and Round.

This is a strange style of California Viognier, but an interesting one. The usual flower and fruit notes are undercut by much crier, tart notes of acidity. It's as if the winemaker wanted to make a leaner style of wine. It succeeds, but at the cost of losing varietal character. It's fresh and clean, but easy to mistake for Sauvignon Blanc.

Traditional viognier aromas of sweet nectarine and peach. A creamy, lighter style and yet crisp. Well balanced.

...There's a nuttiness to the aroma (that's a bit of wood age speaking) as well as a cool, ripe pear scent. Then in the mouth, it just floats along, juicy as a pear, creamy and deeply rich even thought the texture is relatively light: think of the richness of mascarpone cheese, then cut it with the cool, Pacific-tinged acidity...more mineral and breezy...more integrated, less rich but no less creamy, a comfortable and mouthwatering wine..."

"Elegant, with some interesting aromas and flavors: jasmine tea, apricot, nectarine and toasted oak. Long Finish.

dry, full-bodied, medium acidity, medium oak; Sumptuous--like lemon mousse with tart, creamy flavor and velvety texture.

Initial suggestions of sweet lemons take on a slightly sour edge as the wine opens, and its attractive vanilla bean and creme brulee qualities and a more rounded impression on the palate simply so not drag it back into contention.

The juicy, abundantly fruity La Crema 1999 Russian River Valley remains a highly recommended favorite...

Spicy aromas of pear, peach and vanilla. Soft, smooth and fruity; in a distinctly sweet style but with just enough acidity to give it shape. Spicy oak compliments but does not overwhelm the fruit. User-friendly chardonnay with modest length and grip.

Pretty aromas of vanilla, grapefruit and lemon oil.

Clean, correct and eminently likeable, the sweet appley and moderately creamy aromas find attractive parallel in flavors o fmedium depth and richness. Apples and oaky notes reach into the light but lingering finish of this nicely focused presentation.