Although the 2001 Merlot (30,000 cases) is acidic, with hard tannin in the finish, I enjoyed its heady aromatics (chocolate, mocha, and smoke). Drink it over the next 4-5 years.

The 2001 Syrah exhibits deep colors, but had hard tannins, a certain austerity, and a noticeable lack of texture as well as persistence on the palate.

The 2001 Pinot Noir Seascape exhibits medium ruby color along with sweet and sour red cherry aromas with hints of currants and wood smoke in the background. The closed, pinched finish reveals tart acidity.

The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits deep colors, but have hard tannin, a certain austerity, and a noticeable lack of texture as well as persistence on the palate.

The 2001 Merlot exhibits deep colors, but has hard tannins, a certain austerity, and a noticeable lack of texture as well as persistence on the palate.

offers attractive currant and mocha-infused fruit. Drink this medium-bodied Merlot over the the next 4-5 years.

a classic example of this varietal, offering up aromas of peaches apricots, and apple skins in a light-bodied, off-dry style. With good acidity as well as fresh, lively fruit.

Vanilla aromas, sweet golden-apple flavors, rich, fat, sweet.

A ripe pinot, with complex flavors of concentrated cola, cherry, mint and eucalyptus. Lean texture. Tasty with turkey.

Curse the common quality of this wine, but it's more than luck that makes the Vintner's Reserve the second-most popular restaurant chardonnay and the top-selling chardonnay in stores. You get a lot of flavor for your money and a touch of sweetness that so many consumers love. Forward fruit flavors include peaches and tropical fruit. It's quite a mouthful.

Mainly from Rutherford, a beautiful wine. Opens with alluring aromas of blackcurrant and cassis and the tilting perfume of French Oak, with its smoky vanillins. In the mouth, supple and polished, long on Cabernet flavor, with rich, sumptuous tannins. The tannins are already melted, making it drinkable now.

This lovely Cabernet is rich and polished, with firm tannins supporting a sleek core of sweet, juicy currant and blackberry fruit. Shows a touch of fresh leather, plum and lavender, hints of cedar and spice and a firm backbone. Excellent balance.

Zingy, spicy raspberry and coffee flavors, very crisp, very fruity, medium body.

Black cherry and dark chocolate flavors, rich and smooth.

...Opulent and smooth.

A kind of Sonoma Cheval Blanc, Verite Le Desir is a 33/5/16 blend of cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon all from Sonoma Mountain vineyards. The nose is a mix of tobacco, black pepper, spice, licorice, earth, black cherry and prune and vanilla aromas. It's very rich, round, concentrated with ripe tannins but again with super balance. Beautiful licorice, black cherry, cassis, vanilla, coffee spicy orange rind flavours. Very complex, long and classy. BC $175.00

Big, mango, pineapple, toasted, smoky, lees aromas with honey, marmalade and citrus scents. Very rich, round and oily yet well balanced on the palate. Expect intense baked apple, spicy lees, creamy mango, citrus and honey flavours. Very long with good acidity, a top quality chardonnay for those who like intensity and we do. Sensational bottle of wine.

Big resiny, smoky, black cherry jam, mineral, compost and liquorice root nose with a hint of tobacco and compost. Ripe, round and elegant with soft, supple tannins. Very flavourful with black cherry, raspberry, smoky, mineral vanilla and liquorice root flavours. Long, balanced and intense.

The '99 is a 79/21 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot all from Reverie Vineyard on Diamond Mountain. Expect intense ripe blackberry jam aromas mingled with pepper, licorice, clove, dried poblano, vanilla and floral aromas. Very aromatic. It's rich, ripe and concentrated on the palate with fine tannins. More blackberry jam, cooked cassis and tobacco flavours with an earthy, spicy, clove finish. Balanced with potential to age for the next 7-12 years. Very fine effort.

Peppery, blackberry jam aromas with dark earth, leather, vanilla, coffee, and mulberry scents. Ripe and big with round balanced tannins. Again, big peppery, blackberry jam, spicy, clove, vanilla leather and earth flavours and a long creamy vanilla/coffee finish. Big and young and will need at least 3-5 years to approach maturity. Excellent wine.

Floral, citrus, honey, baked apple, vanilla cream and mineral aromas waft out of the glass. Ripe and round with big spicy, citrus, floral, mango, peaches and cream flavours and a creamy, vanilla orange finish. Elegant, crisp and long with a spicy, lees aftertaste. Very stylish.

Ripe mango, pineapple, citrus, mineral aromas with fine toasty, spicy lees, vanilla and honey notes. Rich, ripe and round but elegant with oily, creamy, mango, pineapple, spicy vanilla flavours and a long toasty, honey, mineral finish. Good acidity and length, extremely fine and tasty.

One of the great zins of recent memory; a gentle giant with super fragrant and authentic zin aromas of blueberry, lavender, forest scents and mild oak sweetness. Same delicious, ripe fruit drenches the palate yet there is great balance of firm acidity and alcohol. The latter stands at a whopping 15.9% but there is so much sweet fruit that it barely registers as a heat on the finish. Very dense yet well proportioned, with excellent length. Best now to 2009. ON Classics Catalogue Spring 2003.

Don Hartford tends this 90-year old vineyard located on approximately seven acres in the Russian River appellation of Sonoma County. The wine is magnificent. Anise and aromatic scents mark the nose with chocolate, mocha, dark fruit spice. Opulent and probably the way zin fans really like their wines.