Clean and blossomy aromas show sweet fruit and a touch of citrus pushing through lees and oak elements but depth is not evident at any step. Glycerin gives an impression of richness on the palate and, in spite of its slight coarseness, this one should drink well with chicken preparations.

This '96 reserve is what first rate Sonoma chardonnay is all about - powerful, sensuous yet finely tuned, with layers of texture and flavor. Scents of sweet pear and guava interplay with new French oak. It's ready to drink with something rich, like grilled quail stuffed with pancetta and white truffles.

Firmly tannic, with gamy leathery edge, it slowly reveals complex cherry and berry flavors, showing more complexity on the finish, where the flavors fold together nicely.

Tightly focused, with a core of ripe pear, spice, fig and light oak, showing depth, richness and complexity on the finish, where a dash of pineapple folds in. (Also appeared in 7/31/98 issue.)

"A touch earthy, it works its way into more mainstream fruit flavors, with ripe pear, apricot and toasty oak. Finishes with complex oak and more fruit." also appeared in the 7/98 & 12/15/98 issue

"Clean, with ripe, moderately rich and complex pear, fig, apple and smoky oak nuances. Finishes with a sense of elegance and polish and hints of pear and lime." also appeared in the 7/98 issue

Elegant, ripe and spicy, with pretty plum, berry-and cherry-laced flavors. Well balanced, supple and pleasing. (also appeared in the June '98 issue)

Very toasty nose, citrus and butterscotch, overripe pear; good acidity, viscous, slightly honeyed; excellent balance. Perfect with pork tenderloin with mustard.

Here is a wine that typifies to a "tee" the opulent, optimally ripe and highly oaked formula for success in latter-day Cabernet. From its dense, cherry-raspberry aromas to its broadly filled, wonderfully well-extracted flavors, it carries a wealth of very sweet oak spice, but it never leans so far to oaky excess that its fruit is lost. Fairly tannic and a little hot at the end, the wine is also very rich to the last, and we would expect that richness to remain throughout the called-for five to eight years of cellaring.

With a solid impression of well-ripened fruit the central theme of both its nicely focused aromas and substantial, slightly juicy flavors, this fleshy Cabernet is ling on richness, weight and staying power. And ,if sporting a full dose of toasty oak as a prominent player, it never veers too far from its curranty, ripe-plum essentials. It is at once both slightly supple and yet youthfully tannic and will benefit from several years of cellaring.

Low-keyed fruit gets a little help here from a dusting of oaky spice.

Perhaps limited by the vintage, this wine delights with big and rich aromas while delivering wholly enjoyable but somewhat less complete flavors. Initial impressions of black currant and sweet spice scents are enhanced by creamy, somewhat toasty oak, and it is this attractive mix that shows up as the wine enters the mouth.

Very good ruby-red. Inky cassis and blackberry aromas given lift by a highly aromatic floral nuance. Superb intensity of flavor and sweetness in the mouth: a real fruit bomb. This is remarkably expressive already and should provide pleasure sooner than the '95. Dense but somehow light on its feet, thanks to bright, framing acidity. Very long, sweet back end. Very impressive potential.

Red-ruby color. Perfumed aromas of dark berries, nutmeg, and nutty, spicy oak. Bright, juicy and tightly wrapped, with excellent flavor intensity and firm but harmonious acids.

Saturated ruby-red. Perfumed aromas of cassis, graphite and toasty oak. Spicy, intensely flavored and tight on the palate; currently dominated by its firm acid/tannin stricture. But quite ling on the back end. Wears its 14.3% alcohol gracefully.

More vinous aromas of dried tropical fruits, honey and nuts. Quite dense and tactile; sweeter than the Paradise Vineyard bottling but also livelier in the mouth, with enough harmonious acidity to frame the thick, tropical fruit. Big, rich and impressive, but distinctly sweet.

Saturated, dark ruby-red. Cassis, violet and charred oak on the nose. Large-scaled and layered in the mouth, with violet and mineral notes and significant power. The oak is not yet integrated. Finishes long and strong, with a firm tannic spine.

Roasted nuts, citric notes and honey on the nose. Lush and sweet on the attack, then surprisingly firm and minerally, with firm acidity giving the wine solid stricture and just enough clarity of flavor. Superripe fruit emerges with aeration.

Bright, spicy aroma of lemon ice. Dense, lush and sweet in the mouth, with nicely integrated acidity. Lingering, slightly sweet finishing flavor is spicy and firm.

More vinous, deeper pitched aromas of dried fruits, game, truffle and hazelnut. Fat, sweet and quite rich, with just enough acidity to maintain its shape. A finishing note of curry powder adds to its appeal.

Ruby-red. Cassis, black cherry and chocolate aromas are purer than those of the above wine. Juicy, fairly intense dark berry flavor; also slightly rigid, but there's plenty of richness here. Finishes with substantial tannins, but also possesses very good buffering fruit.

Red-ruby. Blackberry, cranberry, licorice, fresh herbs and a bit of heat on the nose. Juicy and leanish in the mouth; has sound acidity but could use more pliancy. Tannins turn a bit tough with aeration, but there's also lingering berry flavor.

Deep ruby-red. High-pinched but reticent aromas of dark berries and licorice. Sweet but firm on the palate, with a minerally graphite quality.

Dark red-ruby color. Cassis, black cherry and licorice aromas. Intensely flavored but quite tightly wound today, though the wine's firm acidity is nicely integrated. Currently the fruit is dominated by tannic structure.

Deep ruby-red color. Cassis and blueberry aromas complicated by licorice and floral notes. Somewhat simple berry flavors in the mouth; not especially fleshy or sweet and a bit lacking in generosity of texture. Finishes firm and rather oaky.