2013 Galerie Wines Equitem Sauvignon Blanc, Knights Valley, Sonoma County (100 percent sauvignon blanc): cut grass aromas, crisp and lively, with flavors of lemons, grapefruit and minerals; $30.

The floral aromas are heavenly. Night jasmine wafts out of the glass and with the first sip, a creaminess washes across the palate, uplifting a stream of white peach, grapefruit and honeydew. A top note of minerality is constant. The 2011 Galerie Naissance Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc has arrived.

Tasting Fine Napa Valley Merlots Freemark Abbey is storied in California wine history because its vintage 1969 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1973 Chardonnay were both included in the 1976 Paris Tasting. Winemaker Ted Edwards shared that their first merlot release was the result of an abundant 1985 harvest. Plans to sell off the excess changed after sampling the quality and they have released merlot as a single varietal wine since. Freemark Abbey produces a Napa Valley Merlot,aged 16 months in French oak, with 11 percent added between cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, malbec and cabernet franc. However, the 2015 Freemark Abbey Merlot Bosche’ Vineyard, with 99 percent merlot from the Rutherford district, expresses exceptional depth of flavor and aroma. It’s rich, concentrated flavors of black cherry combine with nuanced spice elements.

Wines of the Week Sourced from vineyards on Howell Mountain and Atlas Peak, this Merlot offers a quintessential Napa Valley character that my tasters really enjoyed. Look for ripe black cherry on both the nose and palate with nuances of spicy oak, chocolate, anise and dried herbs.

Old school winery. New school Merlot. Freemark Abbey was one of the winemaker submissions at the Judgement of Paris (red and white) which catapulted them into fame. I wish this Merlot was on par with their legacy. If you like high alcohol Merlot with a slight burn to it for that medium rare steak on a sunny day, then this is for you. Under the burn there are nice notes of licorice and plum with some cigar box thrown in and a nice acidity, but that 14.5% of alcohol comes at you first, sacrificing the initial pleasure of the characteristics. Rating - B-.

Wines of the Week Freemark Abbey winery dates back to the pre-prohibition days of the late 19th century when the historic stone winery was constructed by Antonio Forni and named Lombarda Cellars after his birthplace in Italy. Today, the winery follows traditions going back to 1967 when modern-era Napa winemaking favored Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. This rich and hearty Merlot was voted top marks by my tasters for its spicy dark fruits, smoky oak and lingering palate of plum, vanilla and caramel.

West Favourites Presenting a deep opaque red ruby color in the glass, this Merlot expresses rich dark fruit aromas composed of dark cherry, plum and dried herbs. There is a milk chocolate nuance with integrated spicy oak. Coupled with the rich dark fruit, there is a hint of arugula adding to the complexity. The entry and finish are very smooth with integrated fruit resembling black cherry. The wine’s depth, coupled with its rich flavours, provides a finish that’s long and harmonious. Well done.

The sybaritic style of Freemark Abbey One of the most impressive red wines in the portfolio is a 2013 merlot with dramatic varietal character (traces of dried herbs such as thyme and sage plus olives). It tastes best after decanting.

Let's hear from winemaker Ted Edwards: Our Merlot expresses rich dark fruit aromas of cherry, boysenberry, Santa Rosa plum, bay leaf and dried herbs. There is a milk chocolate nuance with integrated spicy oak. Coupled with the rich dark fruit there is a hint of arugula adding to the complexity.

Light in weight and texture, this wine was aged in both French and American oak. Smokiness surrounds the otherwise restrained offerings of plum, dark cherry and herb.

Inhale the spice, the dark berries, dark plums, dark chocolate, vanilla and smoky oak. The flavor profile, the depth of the flavors, the acidity, the weight in the mouth, the density in the glass: It's just so Napa. It's off five noted vineyards in Napa, including Suscol and Stage Coach. It has small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec blended in.

A seamless merlot with a great concentration of fruit. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, mocha, toast and a hint of black raspberry. Nice length.

Hint of oak, flavors of black raspberries and bittersweet chocolate, hearty and smooth, long finish.

2011 Freemark Abbey Merlot, Napa Valley (83 percent merlot, 9 percent cabernet sauvignon, 7 percent petit verdot, 1 percent cabernet franc): aromas and flavors of black cherries and bittersweet chocolate, smooth and rich; $34.

Aromas of green herb, cherry and currant are joined by cedary oak, lead pencil and pencil shavings, giving it an austere edge and ending with dry, herbal tannins.

A big, fleshy and flashy merlot, with mouth-puckering tannins on the attack for fat; better at table than alone in the glass, but here's to that.

2008 Freemark Abbey Merlot, Napa Valley: hint of oak, flavors of mulberries and cocoa, full-bodied and hearty.

...dense fruit (black cherry and plum jam), with whispers of cedar and tobacco; well-knit tannin and a touch of earthy dust; lingers; grilled portobello with herbed butter.

Blackberry and black coffee aromas and flavors, full-bodied, rich and smooth, long finish.

Blended with cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot, this interesting merlot has plum and blackberry flavors and coffee, chocolate aromas.

Freemark Abbey's Napa Valley merlot is a triumph of precision blending - 79 percent merlot, 11.2 percent cabernet sauvignon, 8.9 percent petit verdot, 0.53 percent petite sirah. 0.23 percent malbec and 0.14 percent cabernet franc. When new flavours are added almost by the eye-dropperful, it might sound like too little to make a difference. But I've gone to many blending demonstrations, and I can attest that even 1 percent can create a change you can taste.

Reasonably aromatic and then sandpaper dry on the end but without quite enough compelling fruit in the middle. Relatively lean (for a Napa Valley wine) with some freshness. Probably not such a bargain as a really good Chinon. 16/20

Earning 4.5 out of possible 5 Stars in the Press Democrat's recent 10-Year Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective Tasting.