Cambria's gamey 2001 from Tepesquet in Santa Maria comes in at $19.

This Pinot is very dry, and it fulfills the basic varietal requirements of a silky texture with crisp acids. You'll find modest flavors of cherries and leather.

Intense and concentrated, if a bit dry and tannic. I'm left wishing there were more fruit to offset the tannins. Hints of currant and mocha peak through. Drink now.

Brawny, with blackberry, plum and currant tones folding into cedary oak, herb accents and chewy tannins that clamp down on the finish. Drink now through 2009.

Plenty of good quality zinfandel from a major player in California.

lemon, lime and spicy fig flavors.

Although its loosely fruity, clean-as-can-be style commends it for warm-weather quaffing, there are few varietal specifics to this light-bodied wine.

Saturated Ruby. Superripe but less extreme on the nose than the estate's second wine, Vignot, offering blackberry, minerals, licorice and dark chocolate. Dense, lush and chewy but classically dry despite superb breath and superripe notes. Notes of dark berries and smoke. Finishes broad, lush and sweet, with substantial dusty tannins and flavor of black raspberry. This reminds me of a very rich dry port. It's very early days for this wine, and my score may prove to be conservative

Grown predominantly on Central Coast hillside, mountain and benchland vineyards, this gentle syrah has a voluptuous texture enriched by red and blue woodland berry fruit. Pretty remarkable at the price, given its layers of aromatics, from licorice to dark-roast coffee and earthiness. Plenty of good quality Syrah from a major player in California viticulture....Kendall-Jackson's Vintner's Reserve is a steal.

Saturated ruby. Superripe but less extreme on the nose than the estates second wine, Vignot, offering blackberry, minerals, licorice and dark chocolate. Dense, lush and chewy but classically dry despite superb breadth and superripe notes. Notes of dark berries and smoke. Finishes broad, lush and sweet, with substantial dusty tannins and flavor of black raspberry. This reminded me of a very rich dry port. Its very early days for this wine, and my score may prove to be conservative

Scores good points for its bright and briskly fruity style.

fruit scents emerge out of the tar-black tannins of this wine, their bitter edge balanced by a floral aspect, like jasmine tea.

Serves up lots of ripe, juicy pear, apple and melon flavors with a nice citrus accent. Smooth. The flavors glide across the palate, ending with a complex aftertaste that echoes the flavors. Drink now.

Made in a popular style, this jammy wine has cherry, blackberry and spiced rum flavors that are ripe and pure, with a pleasantly tannic texture. Easy to like.

A rustic style, with a rich band of anise, wild berry and cherry fruit that's concentrated. Unfolds to reveal an earthy, mineral scent. Drink now through 2008.

A rich, ripe style. Flavors and aromas of apple, pear, cream, honey and butter. Nice use of oak.

Herbal and floral aromas with hints of violet, toasted oak, and dark berries. Still young and frisky, needs to mature to justify its lofty price. Concentrated fruit and firm tannins hold promise of lush complexity to come, as well as a longer finish.

Earthy, celery salt, sandalwood, spicy, black cherry, gamey, meaty aromas with a hint of strawberry tea. Soft, round, supple and dry with sweet cherry, vanilla, spicy, celery, strawberry jam flavours and a smoky, orange rind finish. Warm but balanced with good acidity. Fine effort and fine value.

Very good value if you like your zin with forward, ripe flavors. The palate includes raspberries, chocolate and spice.

definitely a wine designed for drinking rather than long-term keeping, sports plenty of well-defined fruit and a few fancy oak extras.

delivers a full measure of well-defined berryish fruit in a smooth and polished package.

Deep ruby to the rim. Aromas of blackberry, violet, bitter chocolate and licorice. Huge, broad and silky, with a wonderfully suave texture. Flavors of dark berries, chocolate and mocha. As fat as this is, it's also quite lively. Finishes with uncanny breadth, horizontal tannins and outstanding plalate-staining persistence.