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.

Deep, dark ruby purple color; slightly closed cassis, blackberry notes on nose; big and tannic, there is ample blackberry and cassis fruit underneath, great structure and a finish that goes on and on. This Pinot is huge and tannic, but there's no doubt that this is a Pinot of character, I think the fruit is there to reward some patience in the cellar.

Form acidity is wrapped around a core of earthy, leesy, pear and citrus flavors, gaining complexity on the finish. A little time in the bottle may help.

Quite austere, with citrusy, appley, minerally flavors and tart acids. This is not your usual fruit monster, although oak and lees do their best to add nuance and complexity. A good wine that is versatile at the table.

From coastal counties between Mendocino and Santa Barbara, a nice, supple wine that has plenty of Pinot character. Don't expect depth or ageability, but this black raspberry-flavored wine has a soft, silky tannins and a spicy finish.

Simple and innocent, a small Sauvignon with hints of citrus fruits and figs. Very dry, with crisp acidity and a clean, peppery finish.

Expressive black cherry licorice cola compost aromas waft out of the glass. Definitely cherry plum and vanilla flavours with creamy smoke and just a dusting of tannin. Quite a spicy aftertaste. Despite an open top fermentation regime with punch downs four times a day and nine months barrel ageing in 44 per cent French oak barrels this unfiltered and unfined pinot is extremely elegant.

A very good wine for the price and a panel favorite. Supple with black pepper, mocha, blueberry, menthol, black fruit, spice and toasty aromas and flavors, soft yet complex.

A core of cherry fruit with a good dollop of oak. Notes of ginger and orange peel.

Smooth as a politician's promise.

Really good fruit, ripe and tasty. Plenty of nutmeg, but well-balanced, with nice restraint.

Orange blossom character atop sweet vanilla, toast, lime, baking spice and baked apples; flavors of mango, banana, pear and tropical fruit; round and full with decent acidity on the finish that shows some citrus and more toasty oak.

Rich and buttery - a big wine with sweetness on entry. Clean, bright aromas and flavors of vanilla, orange zest, papaya, fresh pineapple with toast and toffee. Nice balance of oak and malolactic characteristics.