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.

Complex, with a pretty, focused array of black cherry, blackberry, vanilla, spice, cola and tea, finishing with crisp, well-integrated tannins.

Tight, with firm tannins, hints of cola and black cherry, sage, and spice, finishing with a spicy blackberry flavor.

Firm, ripe and marked by plummy cherry and raspberry flavors, this wine combines ripe, rich, supple fruit with firm, structured tannins that turn soft and fleshy.

One of the better Vintner's Reserves of late smooth, ripe, and creamy, with complex pear, apple and spice notes that are supple and tender.

Folds together lots of ripe cherry, plum, and blackberry flavor and finishes with dashes of cedar and spice. Firms up on the finish, so allow some time for the tannins to recede.

Its ripe, oaky, fruity, will-rounded flavors and slightly sweet finish appeal to many people who probably wouldn't care for flinty, Chablis-style wines or leaner California bottlings.

Something wonderful is going on at Edmeades, and this heritage bottling captures the magic. Ninety-year-old vines yield tiny quantities of complex fruit, layered with dried cherries and plums, tobacco, violets, and sweet spice. Zinfandel this elegant, balanced, and textured is worth every nickel.

In typical California coastal style, this wine serves up lots of wonderful fruit in the nose and mouth. You name it and it is probably here - citrus, apple, pear, melon - all accompanied by well-balanced amounts of oak and a very pleasant finish. One of the best values in this price range.

Deep purple. Flavors running from blackberry into cassis, with streaks of licorice, coffee, and toast. Hartford Court, part of Kendall -Jackson's Artisans & Estates portfolio, specializes in small lots of old-vine Zin and delicious Pinot Noirs. Good now, with the heft and tannins for cellaring.

…is a nice marriage of vanilla and cherry/berry fruit flavors. Medium bodied and well balanced, it's not lavish or overdone. The silky mouthfeel helps give it a fine sustained finish.

A big, sweet, candied nose jumps out of the glass. Delightful flavors of peach, apricot and nectarine skin are embellished with vanilla, while the finish is resilient and lasting.

Black cherries and currants dominate this wine from another big California house. Additional flavors of chocolate and raspberries make it a wine that shows well now, but underneath is good evidence that it will get even better in seven or eight years.

Brightly focused with fine fruit, medium body and a long subtle finish, this is an excellent example of the pinots which are bringing Russian River Valley to the forefront for the variety.