The deep ruby/purple-colored 2001 Shiraz offers straightforward, sweet blackberry aromas with a whiff of spice in the background, considerable flavor, a surprisingly rich texture, and admirable suppleness. It is a big, fruity, round, delicious Shiraz to consume over the next two years.

The winery in McLaren Vale has produced a light to medium-bodied 2001 Chardonnay revealing plenty of tropical fruit with a hint of oak. Stylistically, it reminds me of the popular, well-made Lindeman's Bin 65 Chardonnay. Enjoy over the next year.

This leesy, spicy Chardonnay offers notes of ripe fruit,medium body, and a fine finish. Drink this well-made, Burgundian-styled 1999...

...displays an enticing, moderately intense bouquet of Red Delicious apples and pineapples. This friendly, light, dry, crisp Riesling is made in a true German kabinett style.

The dry, crisp, fresh, light-bodied 2001 Sauvignon Blanc Vintner's Reserve exhibits notions of citrus, lanolin, honey suckle and melon.

The 2000 exhibits surprisingly good tropical fruit characteristics along with a subtle whiff of spice. Light to medium-bodied and refreshing, with admirable flavor intensity as well as texture...

The dark ruby-colored, medium-bodied 2000 Pinot Noir Julia's offers aromas of plums, cherries, smoke, and earth. Lush and elegant, with a short finish, it will drink well for 2-3 years.

Smoky, complex aromas of sage, juniper and eucalyptus. Sweet cherry flavors with an undercurrent of black pepper.

Kendall-Jackson's Great Estate portfolio includes a Chardonnay from Arroyo Seco which is as intense and complex as any New World Chardonnay.

(89% merlot and 11% cabernet sauvignon) Saturated medium ruby. Smoky aromas of redcurrant, Cuban tobacco and game. Dense, concentrated and silky; suggests almost roasted ripeness yet also possesses excellent verve and lift. This has lovely fruit. Finishes with dusty tannins and excellent length. 92 points

If unabashedly oaky and long on leesy complexities, this broadly filled youngster never forgets its fruity duties, and, from first sniff through to its lengthy finish, it keeps ripe apples well within its varietal crosshairs. Slightly oily in feel and moderately full in body, it finishes with a crisping bit of acidity and a nicely managed touch of heat that confirms its minor bias to ripeness.

Surprisingly true to its variety for this price, a lush, juicy, mouth-filling wine with smooth tannins and pretty flavors of berries and cherries. It's just what you think of in Merlot, an easy-drinking wine that's rich and full-bodied, yet silky and accessible.

Round, with plump peach, tangy citrus, anise and stewed apple tones carrying through the finish. Easy to like, and easy on the budget.

Medium-Full; Dry; Ripe raspberry and smoked-bacon aromas; richly textured flavors, ripe berry notes, full refined tannins.

Medium; Dry; Layered fruit, smoky oak aromas; good texture and length, layers of ripe berry fruit, concentrated, good length.

Complex and bright. Tart, with soft cherry sweet fruit. Notes of plum, bell pepper, cocoa and cedar.

Or try Yangarra Park..., with distinctive balance between crisp acidity and polished texture; it's the first wine from the new Australian venture of California winery Kendall-Jackson.

Has subtlety and elegance. It's on the light side, but is generous with its peach and ripe apple fruit, with hints of spice and citrus on the finish.

Medium Red. Aromas of cherry, raspberry and crystallized blackberry, with hints of spice and menthol. Juicy and firm, with currant and oak spice flavors. Finishes slightly aggressive and warm.

Medium bodied, it's relatively lean for a zinfandel but very flavorful and spicy.

The Edmeades 1999 Zeni Vineyard Zinfandel, which comes from vines just under 100 years old, epitomizes everything that is best about Mendocino Ridge Zin.

When Zin gets this ripe, all you can do is make a strong, heady, sweet wine. Here, 16.9% alcohol and 2.8% residual sugar make for a powerful, warming brew, distinctive in its own right, and one that has many fans.

Full ruby color. Smoky aromas of currant and roasted tobacco. Lush, sweet and rich; a huge wine with a silky utterly mouthfilling texture but also plenty of underlying structure. Finishes with very fine tannins, superb sweetness and lingering notes of black cherry and violet. Built to age but distinctly user-friendsly today.

Full, bright ruby. Aromas of blackcurrant, espresso and spice, lifted by a perfumed violet component. Silky and compellingly sweet; may not be as fat as the '99, but this is extremely stylish and aromatic, thanks to the addition of the cabernet franc. Wonderfully delineated and vibrant in the mouth. Finishes extremely long and subtle, with thoroughly suave tannins. The Verite wines appear destined to become California collectibles.