Remarkably complex, with rich tropical fruit flavors framed by pretty toast, vanilla and smoky oak notes. The core flavors of peach, fig and nectarine are bright and complex, gaining nuance on the finish.

Features a tight beam of citrus, pear and lemon drop, and subtle nutmeg shades that are deep and complex, finishing with a lively aftertaste. Drink now through 2006.

Features a tight beam of citrus, pear and lemon drop, and subtle nutmeg shades that are deep and complex, finishing with a lively aftertaste.

Elegant and polished, with understated apple, melon and light hazelnut flavors that build, offering depth and complexity.

Nicely proportioned, with rich, intense, smoky, toasty oak built around the core of pear, fig and citrus flavors. Gains complexity and nuance.

Lively, with fresh wild berry, blackberry and cherry notes, picking up hints of cedar, sage and cranberry. Nicely balanced.

Closing in on four years of age, this dense and complex wine hasn't come together yet. The tight structure seems to absorb all of its supple black raspberry and cherry fruit, giving the impression of richness and leanness at once. Give it time to mature and the tension between the fruit and structure should bellow into a satisfying and compelling whole.

Initial suggestions of sweet lemons take on a slightly sour edge as the wine opens, and its attractive vanilla bean and creme brulee qualities and a more rounded impression on the palate simply so not drag it back into contention.

The aromatic nose of raspberry, cola, blackberry and wood smoke is just plain huge. Exotic and very forward flavors of black fruits, cherry, clove, nutmeg, brown sugar and pepper expand in the mouth...this wine has a ease about it, as if nothing were forced. Extremely ripe...it could become liquid velvet with a couple of years in the bottle.

Plums and black fruits on the nose are rich and full bodied, buffered by a good dose of vanilla. This merlot is immediately likable but has a weight and grip on the mid palate, in addition to a supple and well rounded finish. Finally, a merlot that does not disappoint.

You can literally smell the rich texture along with the aromatic complexity in this wine after one swirl of the glass. Dark plum and blackberry fruit flavors are well extracted with a deep, chewy texture, perfect balance and fine, flavor sustaining acidity. A classic Napa cab, with Rutherford dust, that deserves some bottle age to really blossom.

Dark berry flavors, along with overtones of cherries and dried herbs are juicy and soft in the mouth. Well concentrated and moderately complex, the wine's stream of flavors doesn't quit and is enhance with a dollop of oak. More polished than the Napa bottling and delicious to drink now.

Raspberry, pepper, clove and brown spices sing out in this densely packed flavor package. The tannins, however, are silky and user friendly; it's spicy and briary enough to let you know it's zin but balanced enough to easily stand up to food without overpowering it. Serious stuff.

...aromas of peach, floral and musk seem almost viognier-like. Two exotic chard clones, Dijon and Rued, combine here to make the flavors bright and sunny, but also a bit spicy like muscat. It's sunshine in bottle merged with barrel fermentation and lees stirring that make this wine fascinating. Extremely distinct and very pleasant with a clean finish, the wine is like no other chard I've tasted.

...strong aromas of tropical fruit and vanilla that jump from the glass...good concentration and a nicely textured core of tropical fruit that meshes well with the oak...

Aromas of citrus and tropical fruit are interwoven with barrel spices. It's big and rich in the mouth with plenty of fruit but it has a certain leanness that's very appealing. This one's almost chewy in texture; there's that much substance along with plenty of depth. The tropical fruit, lemon drop and tangerine on the palate give way to pinpoint acidity and a long finish.

...this bottling has a nose of apple, pear and coconut, followed by a rich mouth feel of lemon, apple and pear flavors. A wine of finesse and elegance with the toasty oak well integrated, it seems representative of the barrel fermented/malolactic style but not necessarily identifiable as Sonoma Coast. Still, it's a real mouthful.

Attractive notes of apples, toast and sweet citrus fruits in the nose find parallel character in the direct, well ripened flavors of this neatly balanced, mid-sized Chardonnay. Composure, rather than unbridled richness, is the keynote here, and, if just a touch narrow at the finish, the wine will find useful service with both lighter chicken or meaty fish dishes.

While this succulent young wine may show some of the green elements that impinge on other wines of this vintage, here they add to the complexity, emphasizing the animale aspects of the fruit flavor. The smooth, chocolatey tannins balance sour cherry & new oak, all put forward with the kind of generosity that's at the core of merlot's appeal.

Complex, weaving together ripe plum, blackberry, mineral, sage and tea notes, elegantly balanced, long and flavorful on the finish.

Rich and refreshing, with pretty oak shading the fig, vanilla, citrus, mocha and tangerine flavors.

From a cold micro-climate on the Sonoma Coast, this 1998 Chardonnay emerges from a six-acre vineyard, and spent 14 months in barrel. Revealing a white Burgundy-like character, it possesses leesy, smoky, roasted hazel nut, lemon, and mineral notes. The acid profile is high (excessive for my palate), but that should ensure a healthy, long life (5-6 years). There is good weight and richness as well as a modest 12.9% alcohol content. 1998 was a cool year, and this offering certainly reflects that.

A ripe medley of fig, nectarine, vanilla and melted butter notes are highlighted by crisp acidity. The intensity lingers through the finish.