Although the wine exhibits a fine berry/briery character , good ripeness, and plenty of purity, the acid level is unintegrated at this stage.

could turn out to be excellent given its saturated ruby/purple color, attractive, moderately intense crème de cassis and blackberry-scented nose, and fruity, medium-boded flavors. Soft, with low acidity, and spicy, peppery notes in the background, it should age nicely for 4-5 years.

…is a deeper, richer wine with more color, body, and glycerin. Both of these Syrahs are made in a soft, round style meant to be drunk over the next 3-5 years.

…is a crisp, elegant, fruit-driven wine with adequate varietal character, melony, honeyed fruit, good purity, and a flavorful, crisp finish.

…the quality of the 1997 Pinot Noir's Vintner's Reserve was impressive. The wine possesses a light ruby color, and a red current, cherry, and blackberry-scented nose with spicy oak in the background. This medium-bodied, savory Pinot presents a accurate portrait of this varietal's character. There are many luxury-priced Pinot Noirs from both the New World and the Old World that are no as pleasurable as this offering.

It exhibits good, waxy, melony fruit, and like many of these wines, good purity and a fruit-driven personality.

…is one of the finest I have tasted in recent vintages. The bouquet offers up pear and tropical fruit notes in addition to apple-like aromas. This fruit-driven, medium-bodied, fresh, lively, tasty Chardonnay should be consumed during its first year of life.

…smokier, more herbaceous-scented wine, with more depth, body, and tannin…

…displays blackberry and cassis notes intermixed with dusty earth tones and pepper. It is soft, fruit-driven, and well-made.

…is a crisp, soft, light-bodied, fruity wine with a melony character.

Ripe, juicy plum and currant flavors…

Dark ruby cast. Full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted. Heavily oaked. Moderately tannic. Spice, black fruits. Generous aromas lead to a lush, velvety mouthfeel with a very firm structure. Tightly wound through the finish.

Saturated dark ruby. Moderately full-bodied. Moderately extracted. Moderately oaked. Moderately tannic. Anise, brown spice, black fruits. Chocolatey aromas show plummy, spicy accents that follow through on the palate. Finely wrought and flavorsome, with a long, dry finish. This has plenty of ripe, developed Cabernet flavors.

Deep ruby hue. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Mildly oaked. Moderately tannic. Black fruits, minerals, chocolate. Firm and concentrated, with a lush but tightly wound palate. Tannins rear up on the finish.

Tightly wound, tannic and firm, with exotic cherry-berry flavors and tannins that clamp down on the finish.

Deep ruby purple hue. Moderately full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extract. Mildly oaked. Moderately tannic. Minerals, black fruits, vanilla. Aromatically reserved, but flavorful and rich on the palate. Firm structure throughout, with tannins clamping down on the finish.

Another great first release from Lokoya. The '95 Diamond Mountain is saturated black in color with purple highlights and rich aromas of cassis, crystallized ginger, blackberry, cedar, spice and beef. Layers of black fruit, black pepper, soil and oak hit the mid-palate so intensely that you barley notice the tannins until the last bit of finish. It has powerful mountain fruit, yet the tannins and extract are tame enough to approach with some care.

This wine epitomizes what the Russian River Valley is all about: some of the best vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs in America. The grapes are cold soaked, hand punched, and fermented whole. The result is a delicious wine full of brambleberries and spice. It is the quintessential artisan Pinot Noir.

Unabashedly rich, with exotic flavors and elegant Russian River Valley styling. This is powerful stuff - from its dark, saturated color to the unusual aromas of ginger, nutmeg, sumac and thick black raspberry fruit. Add new French oak, and it's also pretty sensual. The mouthfeel is lighter than expected, with a tangy, pomegranate-like flavor - juicy, tart, dry and tannic.

This rich, concentrated wine has a great deal of extract - black cherry, plum and blackberry fruit - with herbal flavors and a high acidity. It's not refined nor subtle, but it captures the regional flavors of Sonoma Coast pinot.

A super-concentrated claret style, this deep and elegant wine reminds me of Napa Cabernet more than Sonoma zinfandel. But it does taste like zin, with sour cherry fruit and spicy soft tannins all highlighted by new oak.

Rich and flavorful, with a complex core of pear, fig, melon and toasty oak. Well focused, with deep, concentrated flavors and a long, rich aftertaste that fans out and lingers.

Distinctly and decidedly Gewürztraminer, with vivid pear, litchi and rose petal aromas and flavors that linger on the dry finish.

Tight and compact, with complex black cherry, blackberry, herb, sage and spice, very neat. Short-term cellaring will let it soften and evolve.