Deep ruby to the rim. Moderately full-bodied.Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Moderately oaked. Mildly tannic. Red fruits, vanilla, brown spices. Pleasantly aromatic, this wine has a soft and supple entry that sharpens up on the finish with some solid acidity and mild astringence. Well made and flavorful.

Dried fruits, resiny oak and honey on the nose, plus a faint citric quality. Oily, thick and a bit heavy, with elevated alcohol and a slight impression of residual sugar. Finishes with good length, but could use a bit more delineation and cut.

Oily, spicy nose exudes hints of dried fruits, caramel, roasted nuts and lime skin; slight Muscaty character. Rich and textured on entry, but the caramel oak quality dulls the flavors. Slightly tart and dry on the finish.

Deep and opaque blackish purple hue. Full-bodied. Balanced acidity. Highly extracted. Moderately oaked. Quite tannic. Black pepper, tar, black fruits. This youthful wine is still unyielding aromatically, with a tightly wound, compact palate. Firm through the finish with an occassional glimpse at the underlying core of dark, brooding flavors. Though large scaled, its balance bodes well for cellaring.

Medium red. Lively red-currant aroma. Slightly tart red berry fruit offers some restrained sweetness and lingering flavor but only modest shape and structure.

Good dark red. Cassis and game on the nose; a slight fumey quality quickly dissipated with aeration. Good weight and texture in the mouth, but the berry flavor seems rather pinched. Finishes with sweet notes of vanilla and toast, but the tannins are somewhat elevated.

Red berry, coffee and oak spice on the nose. Finishes with very fine, dusty tannins.

Medium red. More subdued but more complex aromas of cherry, dark berries and cola.

Medium red. Cassis, vanilla and toast on the nose; suggestion of hard candy. Similar flavors in the mouth; shows some slightly edgy acids yet seems rather undifferentiated. The tannins are even but slightly dry.

Medium red. Cherry, cranberry, plum, fresh herbs and oak spice on the nose, plus a whiff of celery seed. Finishes with modest tannins and slightly elevated acids.

Ripe and spicy, with a lively core of tangerine, pear, fig and melon. Spicy vanilla-tinged oak adds dimension, and it holds its flavor on the finish. also appeared in 7/31/98 issue

"Crisp and flinty up front, the fruit shows more depth and body at midpalate, with complex pear, peach and spicy oak flavors." also appeared in 7/31/98 issue

Another Wow! Wine, this gorgeous blend of Merlot and Cabernet from four different vineyards was my own pick for best wine of the tasting. It was smooth, elegant and complex on the palate, with raspberry and spice flavors that segued into a long, seductive finish. Not as heavy as some of its compatriots, it would go well with lighter dishes such as chicken or fish, as well as spicy dishes that would be piquant counterpoint to its refined nature.

Here's an example of syrah from a single vineyard (and a cooler region in California that brings out that deep, fleshy character of the grape with all its exotic spiciness and smoke.

Up-front oak and fruity nose, layered fruity flavors, toasty oak and ripe pineapple, hint of sweetness; long, fruity finish. Perfect with chicken with fruit salsa, calamari salad.

.wonderfully outgoing opus, and the wine seems to have gained added depth while its central fruit has blossomed beautifully. Intensely varietal, but with juice aplenty to balance the presence of its ample herbaceousness, it uses rich oak to perfect advantage and finishes with a very long, multi-faceted finish. In short, this one is even better now than when first reviewed and counts complexity, smoothness and keen integration of its many parts as proof that Sauvignon Blanc of ambition is well served by age.

Simple and quite unpronounced aromas on the nose. Quite crisp, refreshing orange flavours on the palate with limey overtones and a good tangy length.

"Simple and quite unpronounced aromas on the nose. Quite crisp, refreshing orange flavors on the palate with limey overtones and a good tangy length." Also appeared 9/98

Here Steve Test of Stone street defines what classic North Coast chardonnay should be. The focus is on excellent varietal flavors, balance and careful use of excellent oak. It's medium-bodied and ready now.

This solidly oaked California chardonnay shows butterscotch flavor in moderation, with plenty of lovely fruit and its natural acidity in balance. Here's a match for thick-cut swordfish steaks, lemonbasted, grilled and scattered with pepper.

.the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition, recently named the 1996 Sauvignon Blanc as one of the 10 finalists of wines best with raw oysters.

.texture and a certain delicacy.

Rich and sweetly oaked with a patina of butter and lees over deep, appley fruit at the heart of the aromas, this tasty wine is nicely assembled and well-structured. Lively, firm and crisp edged on the palate with a good display of apples and oak from entry to its lingering, focused finish.

A little closed on the nose for now but there is good dusty bramble fruit somewhere in there. Fine, gamey palate with savory leather intensity. Classic New World Merlot. Beautiful wood quality and layers of complexity.