Another surprisingly strong effort, which comes from a combination of Napa and Knight's Valley vineyards. A French oak-aged (16% new) blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, it exhibits big, ripe, black currant notes intertwined with cedar smoke licorice and earth. Medium-bodied, with ripe fruit as well as fine balance, this value-priced Cabernet will drink well for 5-7 years.

We wonder in quiet amazement at this winery's ability to make such attractive and affordable wines in such sizeable lots...this well-polished and brightly balanced offering is nicely fruited, deftly sweetened with oak and gets the job done at a very fair price.

If a little in the light and fruity mold, this likeable young wine is one to remember when the gang comes to call. Its directly cherry and vanilla character is carried by a somewhat rounded, slightly supple texture in the mouth, and while never a strong wine, it is well-balanced and reliable.

Up-front fruit is teamed with a nice bit of oaky sweetness in this easy-to-like, mid-sized Chardonnay...it gets the job done at a very fair price.

Reveals a lighter style along with good elegance and suppleness. It will require consumption during its first 7-8 years of life.

Better than the Vintner Reserve effort, displaying more chocolate, mocha, and berry fruit, medium body, and a straightforward finish that possesses good power and depth.

Deep ruby/purple color is followed by gorgeous aromas of black truffles, scorched earth, tobacco leaves, blackberry and cassis liqueur, and notions of minerals as well as acacia flowers. This stunning red can be drunk in 2-3 years or cellared for two decades.

Dense aromas of creosote, burning wood embers, blackberries, blueberries, and violets are offered in the full-bodied, fabulously complex perfume. Full-bodied, with tremendous complexity, a voluptuous texture, and flavors of plum liqueur, figs, chocolate, espresso, and minerals, this is a tour de force in winemaking. It is the most approachable of these three 2002s. Anticipated maturity: now-2020.

Boasts an extraordinary perfume of lead pencil shavings intermixed with charcoal, blueberries, blackberries, and cassis. This provocative Cabernet possesses the highest tannin level. But also the most concentration, texture, and depth. As it sits in the glass, scents of flowers, espresso roast, and black fruits emerge. A tour de force in Cabernet Sauvignon, it requires 4-5 years of aging, and should last for two decades.

From a cold sector of the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River, the extraordinary nose of kirsch liqueur, raspberries, smoked herbs, game, and Asian spices is followed by medium to full-bodied flavors with superb purity, a fascinating texture, and a 60+ second finish. A compelling example of a Burgundian-styled Pinot Noir, it is no wimpy wine at 14.8% alcohol, and yields were a miniscule 0.86 tons of fruit per acre. This 2002 Pinot should drink well for 5-6 years, but who can resist it now?

From an extremely cold terroir, it possesses terrific acidity, a liquid minerality, and hints of orange zest intermixed with white peaches and honeysuckle. Produced from tiny yields (255 cases from a 5-acre vineyard), it should drink well for 4-5 years.

This inky/purple-colored Pauillac-styled red boasts notes of cedar wood, licorice, and black currants along with smoky, ripe, full-bodied palate impression, terrific concentration, sweet tannin, and multiple layers. It should hit its peak in 2-4 years, and last through 2020.

Possesses a more floral / crème de cassis personality with licorice, chocolate, and earth characteristics. This powerful, concentrated 2002 is a classic mountain Cabernet Sauvignon with singular style. The tannins are firm, but sweet.

Boasts a sweet nose of chocolate-covered blueberries, blackberries, melted licorice, smoked herbs, and earth. This opulent, full-bodied, luscious 2002 conceals plenty of tannin behind its voluptuous personality. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020+.

Exhibits a Château Marqaux-like nose of flowers, raspberries, black currants, cherries, licorice, and smoky oak. Rich and full-bodied, with beautiful fruit, considerable elegance, and fine balance, this full-throttle wine is a pure expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.

It reveals a Côte de Nuits-like earthiness with forest floor, underbrush, Allspice, plum, pomegranate, and cherry fruit characteristics. Rich, savory, well-textured, super-complex, and totally different than the Arrendel cuvée, the Sevens Bench will also drink well for 5-6 years.

Possesses aromas of white flowers intermixed with spice box, licorice, black currants, raspberries, cherries, toasty oak, and background scents of volcanic/scorched earth. With lovely richness, medium to full body, impressive purity, and a long, heady finish, it should hit its peak in 3-4 years, and last through 2020+.

Offers red and black currant, cherry, crushed rock, and smoky burning ember-like characteristics. With great purity and richness as well as full body and a long, heady finish, it will be drinkable between 2008-2020.

reveals loads of complex mineral, tobacco, black currant, blueberry, and licorice characteristics. Medium to full bodied, with sweet tannin as well as a firm, mountain-styled personality that begs for patience, it will be at its finest between 2010-2020.

Exhibits cola, raspberry, strawberry, and floral notes along with great ripeness, medium body, tremendous purity, and wonderful fruit presence.

Offers rich aromas of lemon butter, wet rocks, pears, peaches, and honeyed grapefruit. As Mike Sullivan said, this cuvée is for Chardonnay lovers who enjoy the so-called stone fruits in their wines. Elegant, full-bodied, and rich, with fine acidity giving uplift to the aromatics and flavors, it should be consumed over the next 3-4 years.

The most flamboyant of this trio, exhibiting more tropical fruit (pineapples, oranges, and papaya) in a full-bodied, complex, extroverted style. Pure, rich, and long, this is a beauty to drink over the next 2-3 years.

The 2003 Stature Meritage exhibits copious quantities of cassis fruit along with notions of smoke, earth, licorice, minerals, and flowers. This impressive, large-scaled, rich, age worthy 2003 should evolve for a minimum of two decades.

Offers pretty raspberry/floral notes with a Château Margaux-like finesse and complexity. Medium to full-bodied with a more elegant, restrained style than its younger sibling, it possesses a Bordeaux-like structure, beautiful fruit, firm tannin, and a long finish. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2024.

A beautiful wine for the price. Aged nine months on its lees, it offers abundant quantities of pear, honeysuckle, and toast notes in a medium to full-bodied, exotic, fruit forward format. It is hard not to get excited about this delicious Chardonnay, which begs for consumption over the next 1-2 years.