This Zinfandel-dominated wine (there is 17% petite sirah and 5% Pinot Noir in the blend) reveals a dark ruby color, followed by a fragrant, smoky, oaky, raspberry and cherry-scented nose. Supple and medium to full-bodied, with easy-going fruit, this is a friendly open-knit, expansive wine to consume over the next 1-2 years.

A Burgundian-like, straightforward, cherry and earthy spiciness in both the aromatics and flavors gives this wine a soft, easy-going, charming appeal. Neither deep nor complicated, it is elegant, pleasant, and ready to drink.

Massages the intense tannins with supple currant and plum-laced flavors, shows off cedar, spice and mineral, too. Holds its focus through the long and complex finish. (Also appeared 11/98)

A full-textured, somewhat oily wine, with hints of gooseberry, herb, lemon and grapefruit. Toasty butterscotch notes

…from California is supple and seductive, with ripe cherry-berry fruit in sweet vanilla, white chocolate and spicy nuances.

Ripe and more than a little oaky in style, this full-bodied effort shows attractive dried straw and toasted oak tones in its light, melon-backed aromas. Round and fairly glyceriney in palatefeel, this wine is a bit milder in flavor than its heft might suggest and turns fairly brisk and even a bit stiff in its clean and medium-length flavors.

.tropical fruit flavors and a slightly sweet impression on the palate but with just enough acidity to bolster the layered fruit.

…revealing an attractive tropical fruit and citrusy-scented nose, good ripeness, medium body, and off-dry flavors that are nicely balanced by the wine's acidity.

…grassy, herbaceous, citrus qualities generally associated with Sauvignon Blancs, though its acid was balanced by a touch of sweetness in the finish. It's a full bodied wine with a pronounced creamy texture, making it a good match with shellfish in assertive sauces, toasted nuts or grilled vegetables.

Deep-set floral aroma, earthy, slightly herbal accents; light apple/mineral flavors; medium balance and finish.

It is magnificent, lush and dense with firm structure and lots of ripe plummy fruit. It provides a seamless marriage of fruit, oak and soft spices. It is drinking brilliantly now, displaying a seductive generosity, a rich robe and a seemingly endless finish. I would expect this lovely wine to only get better over time.

Dark, tannic and rich with lots of smoke, spice and tangy plum fruit; rich and long.

Toasty, creamy and lush with ripe, smoky oak flavors and lots of honey and butterscotch.

Has a nice sense of harmony and finesse, striking a fine balance between its core of cherry and raspberry flavors and its light oak shadings.

Soft and easy to drink.

Soft fruit nose with a rich, structured body - a very elegant wine.

The super-ripe pineapple, banana and mandarin orange fruit flavors typical of Santa Maria chardonnay meet up with ginger and marzipan flourishes as the wine breathes.

Lemon and herbal scents provide the central theme for this wine's aromas with oak adding a bit to the complexity. The wine is round and firmly balanced, and while its flavors could certainly be richer and more intense, they are nicely focused. A pineapple tone surfaces towards the finish and lingers in the aftertaste.

Rather tangy, spicy style with some authority- good balance. (Also appeared in 9/98 issue.)

Rich, fine, sweet red fruits on the nose and vanilla spice with richly flavored dark cherry fruit and a sweet middle.

Ripe blackcurrant and sweet oak nose. Mouthfilling, ripe, sweet blackcurrant fruit with a smoky complexity.

Quite peppery on the nose with hints of black cherry. Soft and juicy and has some charm but lacks length and finesse.

Strawberry fruit on palate with lovely oak and balanced with ripe fruit. Elegant with good extract and very good length

This wine is sourced primarily from Napa and Sonoma counties, giving it a fairly dark appearance with sweet plum, chocolate and American oak aromas.