offers a floral, honey, melony-scented nose, medium body, excellent flavor concentration, and a dry, rich finish.

...lush, hedonistic, and well-made.

...marked by new oak. While very good to excellent, it does not possess the flavor, length, and overall equilibrium of the 1995.

.exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, followed by a sweet nose of cassis and smoky oak, and an excellent layered, supple, rich, concentrated palate with intense, ripe flavors.

...exhibits a deep ruby color, followed by a spicy, roasted vegetable, meaty nose with cherry and cranberry fruit lurking in the background. The wine is soft and round, but leans toward the vegetal side of Pinot Noir. I suggest drinking it over the next 2-3 years, before it begins to taste like V-8

.possess good tropical fruit, including some lemon zest and orange rind, medium body, and moderate amounts of new oak. They are well-made, clean competent wines that require consumption over the next 1-2 years.

.l.possessgood tropical fruit, including some lemon zest and orangerind, meium body, and moderate amounts of new oak. They are well-made, clean, competent wines that require consumption over the next 1-2 years.

Some sexy black plum and cassis fruit are present in both the aromatics and flavors of this flashy wine.

...appears to be very good, possibly excellent, but the wood is intrusive, and, again, the wine's tannin seems slightly elevated for the amount of fruit and concentration. Despite the wine's angularity, I would recommend drinking it early, as I do not believe the fruit will survive the tannin.

I also enjoyed the waxy, pungent, light-bodied, citrusy 1996 Semillon VR.

...a delicious floral and melony-scented, medium bodied soft Sauvignon that is ideal for drinking over the next year. It is one of the better values in the marketplace.

...a sweet vanillin and red currant-scented nose, plenty of ripe, spicy, cherry fruit, medium body, a good attack with noticeable oak, and a clipped finish.

The soft 1995 Pinot Noir exhibits a smoky, gamey, animal-scented nose with jammy blackcherry fruit in the background. Elegant, with good spice, and lush, sexy, overripe plum-like flavors, this medium-bodied wine is ideal for drinking now and over the next 3 years.

.exhibits a medium garnet/ruby color, attractive sour cherry fruit that is sweet on the attack, and straightforward ripeness and roundness.

.displays a dark ruby color, attractive, peppery, cassis aromas, and a light to medium-bodied personality. It is ideal for drinking over the next several years.

.possess good tropical fruit, including some lemon zest and orange rind, medium body, and moderate amounts of new oak. They are well made clean, competent wines that require consumption over the next 1-2 years.

...displays a dark ruby color, a spicy, oak-dominated, berry-scented nose, ripe, medium-bodied flavors, and is overall a good, straightforward, competent effort. It should last for 2-3 years.

.a fine initial palate impression, but it shortens out in the mouth to reveal barely above average flavor concentration, and a spicy, slightly woody finish.

...a well made, lighter-styled wine. I particularly admired its citrusy, tangerine, tropical fruit flavors that are presented in a pure, crisp, medium-bodied style.

...similarly-styled, with less herbaceousness, as well as less flavor intensity. Softened round, it will provide competent drinking over the next several years.

...exhibits a strawberry and berry-scented nose, medium-bodied, and an elegant, light style. It is very perfumed and attractive in a low key sort of way. It should drink well for 4-5 years.

Light and refreshing for its soft berry and spice flavors.

Firm and intense, with a narrow band of earthy currant and cedar flavors.

"Pleasant enough, with mild acidity and a grassy edge, finishing with hints lemon and grapefruit. A bit hot on the palate, though." (Also appeared in May 1998 issue)

Well balanced, with supple coffee, herb, currant and cedary aok flavors, it turns smooth and polished on the finish, where the flavors fan out.