...a wine that many of the judges liked because of its depth, body and intense berry fruit. This Monterey pinot noir is characterized by its rich, full body and forward cherry flavors. Hint of nutmeg and pepper. A very good pinot noir for the money.

Dark color, with a deep, rich, young nose that leaps out and bites you back. Edgy. Serious breeding and awesome fruit. Black-cherry wine. Definitely one for the future.

Medium-Full; Dry; Bright black-cherry and chocolate aromas; medium texture and tannins, juicy flavors, bracing acidity; medium finish.

A gorgeous chardonnay that rivals the best of Burgundy. Highly aromatic with spiced apple and pear wafting from the glass, and backed up with racy acidity and well-integrated oak. Made from Dijon clone fruit grown in Monterey's cool climate, the wine is structured, focused and layered.

Its ripe, well-oaked, eminently spicy aromas make for a very fine start here, and, while the wine's ample flavors similarly begin on a positive note, they run afoul of elevated acidity and palpable heat in the latter going. Still, there is enough depth and solidity evident to make this one worth a gamble, and a wait of three to five years should help immeasurably.

Offering up a bit of the plummy fruit and peppery spice of the grape, this very open and smoothly textured wine shows little of Syrah's potency or richness of feel and flavor. It smacks a bit of simple sweetness and, while perfectly gulpable, stands among the mildest of its class.

The blue glow at the edge of the glass suggest this syrah might be oxygen-starved, but it's not. Instead it's round and generous, the wine filling the mouth with the sphere of its alcohol, the taste filled with black raspberry. It's all about sweet fruit, yet there's a structure there, a stoniness gently insistent underneath.

At first, this is all angles, the clean cherry fruit warmed by coffee, burnt at the edges, slightly bitter, sweetened with vanilla. Then air settles the factions and brings the smooth fruit into focus. It takes on a smoky, masculine Carneros style, expressing its power as a big black wine. Drink it now if you like aggressive, muscular wines, or wait it out for a more graceful conclusion.

This pinot is Russian River Valley in its texture, in the balance of softness and firmness it strikes, the fruit so ripe it's tarry and black, yet still fresh. Flavors of blackberry, rose and cherry merge in a density that remains clean and clear. It's still grapey, a bit blocky in its youth, but this is structured to age.

Potent ripeness takes the fruit to melon and golden grape jam flavors; it brings out a rich soil character as well. This is cool and dense up front, then the oak's tannin kicks in.

This simple viognier is fragrant rather than aggressively floral. Its generous texture and green, grassy bite...

A shiver of fruit comes after rose, coffee and jasmine scents, then this wine ends light and pleasantly bitter...

Deftly balanced, achieving ripe, rich, concentrated flavors without being too ripe. Shows off currant, pencil lead, blackberry and cranberry notes. Excellent structure. Firm tannins, but maintains a fleshy texture.

Complex, if on a small scale, with elegant, toasty oak wrapped around pear, fig and apple flavors that fan out nicely.

Light and zingy, with tart cranberry and cherry flavors. A distinctive style, but not a typical Cabernet.

Don't let the nearly 16 percent alcohol fool you (at 17 percent you start getting into ports and fortified wines), this full-bodied wine is rather elegant. The fresh herbal, black cherry aromas hint at the cool-weather growing conditions, while the flavors wow you with characteristic pepper and spice.

Medium-Full body; Dry; Forward berry/spice aroma; slightly jammy flavors, big tannins, hint of mint; good length.

This concentrated, complex wine reminds me of Hermitage from a ripe vintage in that it needs time to fully express itself.

A consistently popular wine full of apple and pear fruitiness complemented by well-balanced, spicy oak flavors and a barely perceptible, but appealing, touch of sweetness.

Elegant, light, perfumed nose with good alcohol. Soft, undeveloped ripe strawberry fruit. Well structured and polished wine.

Fresh respberry nose which is straightforward, not too oaky with a hint of violets. Fresh, clean, not complex, yet pretty, well-made wine.

Tight, youthful, raspberry and blackberry fruit. Good quality feel. Ripe jammy fruit, firm tannins, very youthful, undeveloped violet fruit. Good potential and structure.

Big, juicy and oaky. Obvious but good.