Much leaner than the '99 vintage, this shows mineral, slate and citrus fruit flavors and high acidity. It’s very dry, and feels like liquid steel gliding over the palate, ultra-clean and tart.

This wine is perfectly balanced and presented, showing both concentration and elegance. The brambly blackberry, blueberry and plum fruit flavors and aromas are quite inviting and will compliment many dishes...

Made from grapes from Santa Barbara, Monterey and Sonoma County, this is a full-throttle California Chardonnay. We prefer this wine as a stand alone since its big tropical fruit and elegant oak aging make this a wine to ponder and savor. A full symphony all by itself.

Merlot should be plush and appealing, and this polished wine is. Flavours of plum and chocolate dominate, with little tannin in the way. Drink now.

Zesty black cherry, spice.

At only 300 cases, this will be hard to locate, but worth the search. It's tightly wound, with citrus, herb and grilled-nut aromatics, rich, buttered-pear flavors and a silky, velvety mouthfeel that's to die for.

Supple and intense, the velvet texture of this wine seems to start right from the black color and black fig aroma. It's dense and perfumed, with violets and heady spice, while the flavors taste pure and delicious. The rich middle comes up against hard tannins, ending on black pepper and pomegranate, suited to age. Remarkably evocative of McLaren for the price.

Buttery and Spicy, with cinnamon and nutmeg dusted over baked apples. A full, verging on fat, mouthfeel is balanced by long, acidic finish that leaves your tongue tingling.

Kendall-Jackson's project in Australia has captured the austere richness of Coonawarra cabernet, here in a contrast of tight and firm structure filled by fruit that's gentle, almost lush. Ripe black cherry scents and cool blackberry jam in the middle turn toward blueberry in the end, lasting in that contrast with all the black tannin. Lean and correct, this should put on weight as it ages.

Offers a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and a red plum-fruit core, with caramel and tobacco accents. Aromas are of figs and Indian spices; one reviewer found the fruit a bit candied. This is a very good Cab. ...Finishes with bitter chocolate.

Fragrant scents of yellow herbs and chamomile, flower blossoms and pollen give this clean wine a light touch. Match its honeyed spice to a spring salad of beets and arugula.

Hard, lean and minerally, with mouth-tingling acidity and flavors of stone, herbs and citrus fruits. The finish turns honeyed, with hints of peaches.

A bit closed, but black cherry and plum on the nose, hint of earth, pine and herb; similar flavors plus black currant, tea and light spice; firm, integrated tannins.

Bit restrained, with leafy, green apple, honeysuckle, mint and lime flavors giving complexity.

Great intensity, creamy and lush, Hesser said. Ford liked the smoothness and balance, and detected eucalyptus aromas. Prial called it long and powerful with good fruit and a tarry taste. But Asimov felt it was too oaky.

From one of Sonoma County's best pinot noir producers, this La Crema packs a lot of raspberry fruit with additional notes of nutmeg and spice on the finish. A wonderfully fruity wine with lots of class and complexity.

As perhaps the most important Cabernet designation in Napa, Oakville has generated some of the best Bordeaux-style blends outside of France. Only a very few of them, however, can match this label for its silky elegance. While the grapes are sourced from a variety of vineyards located both in both the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountain ranges, as well as from Peter Michael's Les Pavots vineyard, this Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend remains pure of flavor, with a texture that shimmers like fresh-spun silk. Winemaker Chris Carpenter has rendered a sinuous yet smooth vintage that integrates an array of essences-chocolate, currant, coffee, and exotic woods-into a luscious, gratifying whole.

If far from being the deeper and more involving Sauvignons Blancs of this issue, this friendly, balanced, clean-as-can-be wine delivers lots of direct, citrus- and ripe-melon fruitiness for the money. and it becomes an especially noteworthy buy when found at a typically discounted price.

Makes for a noteworthy trio of priceworthy performers and warrant repeated mention.

Deep, dark ruby purple color, rich black cherry, chocolate, earthy notes on the nose; dry, full lots of black cherry and plum notes, incredible depth, toasty oak, great balance and a finish that goes on forever. Incredible concentration of flavor, rich and mouthfilling! Hartford Court is making some of the finest Pinots in California. The Arrendell is no exception - truly exceptional Pinot.

Deep, dark ruby color, full black cherry and plum aromas with a hint of spice; highly concentrated, very clean and full on palate , black cherry, plum flavors, complex with jus the right amount of toasty oak; great structure, mineral notes, long finish. WOW! Big style with incredibly deep fruit - this is a terrific Pinot for the cellar at an unbelievably low price!

A rich, unctuous, almost syrupy style, deeply concentrated and packed with exotic fruit and fancy oak barrel flavors. Lots of tropical fruit, pineapple, pear and honeysuckle flavors have a wonderful perfumed character, finishing with a gush of juicy flavors. Drink now through 2007.

Deep, dark ruby purple color; spicy, cinnamon, deep black cherry aromas; deep full, intense and concentrated black cherry and plum flavors with a touch of bacon, tobacco and spice; very good structure, acidity and balance, finishes with a toasty oak note. One of the biggest Carneros Pinots I've had in a long time, the Sevens Bench bottling still manages to be balanced and complex.