The 1994 Chardonnay Reserve exhibits more toasty, smoky oak, more depth, and an enticing, creamy-textured feel. This well-made, medium to full-bodied Chardonnay should drink well for 1-2 years.

...The 1995 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, one of the hot beds for promising Pinot Noir in northern California (along with the Sonoma Coast and Russian River), is a tasty, soft, delicious, dark ruby-colored Pinot Noir with copious amounts of strawberry and cherry fruit, a nice dollop of spicy oak, and a round, medium-bodied, silky texture.

Edmeades is known for its delicious, fruity Zinfandels from Mendocino.

The 1994 Sonoma Chardonnay is a smoky, tropical fruit-scented wine with soft, creamy-textured fruit, modest complexity, and an attractive, soft mouth-feel. It should be drunk over the next 12-18 months.

The 1994 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is richer, with sweeter fruit, as well as an attractive black currant/chocolatey character, good acidity, medium to full body, and a slightly tannic finish.

Other very good efforts in the Grand Reserve program are the 1994 Grand Reserve Merlot... The Merlot exhibits medium body, plenty of mocha/coffee, ripe berry fruit, a soft texture, and fine finish. The 1994 Grand Reserve Merlot reveals tannin in the finish, but that component is not out of balance with the wine's concentration. At $40 a bottle, this wine hardly qualifies as a good value, but it should drink well for 6-8 years.

In 1995, the Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve, which has thousands of loyal followers, is once again a well-made wine. A blend of 50% tank-fermented and 50% barrel-fermented Chardonnay, this wine, which is made in enormous quantities, is remarkably consistent. The 1995 reveals lovely, buttery, ripe tropical fruit aromas and flavors, excellent purity, a soft, fleshy texture, and a ripe finish. Drink this straightforward yet mouthfilling, well-made Chardonnay over the next year.

The 1994 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard exhibits a dark ruby color, followed by a peppery, spicy, herbal-scented nose, intermixed with aromas of jammy cherries. This medium-bodied wine should be drunk over the next 1-2 years. It is a mid-weight, soft, straightforward style of Pinot Noir.

The price tag of $14 is not unreasonable for a medium-bodied, soft, slightly peppery and herbal, richly fruity, cherry and berry-scented and flavored wine." This Pinot is meant to be drunk over the next several years.

The well-made 1995 Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, light-bodied, tasty, melony-scented, fruity, user-friendly Sauvignon that should be drunk over the next year.

The 1994 Merlot Vintner's Reserve, no longer a value at $17, offers a medium ruby color, an herbal, berry-scented nose, adequate, ripe, medium-bodied flavors, and a spicy finish.

The nose offers gingersnap and black cherry. Forward fruit fills the palate; berries, cherry and ginger spice. Tasty and ripe, full bodied and generous. This is a wine for serious fruit lovers.

Warm, full aromas of wood smoke, with hints of coffee and black plums. Rich and complex. Smoky, meaty flavors vie with sweet fruity ones in a nicely framed, mouth-filling treat of a wine. Well balanced and lingering.

The nose offers gingersnap and black cherry. Forward fruit fills the palate; berries, cherry and ginger spice. Tasty and ripe, full bodied and generous. This is a wine for serious fruit lovers.

Dense and chewy, with an earthy, leathery accent to the currant, dried cherry and mineral flavors. More complex on the finish where the flavors fold together nicely. Given the tannin level, cellaring into 2000 is advised. (Also appeared 11/15/96).

Supple and harmonious, with a range of cherry, herb and olive flavors that linger. Drinks well now.

Pleasant band of cedar, spice and currant flavors, but they lack richness and lose concentration on the finish. (Also appeared 9/15/96).

"With its great black cherry aroma and fleshy, supple texture, this pinot is a real winner. It shows considerable depth, has a hint of toasty oak." (Also appeared 11/27/96 & 11/26/97).

Rich and concentrated, with an aroma of toasted nuts and silky citrus and lightly buttery flavors. Only a hint of green bean holds it back.

Kendall-Jackson deserves its reputation as one of California's finest, and their 1995 Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay is a prime example of that winery's expertise. Filled with complex fruit flavors, nicely integrated with a touch of oak barrel aging, this white is ideal with holiday food fare or with other special meals that include roast chicken, seafood, or pastas prepared with a cream or butter-based sauce.

Relatively ripe and relatively oaky, much in the in-vogue style, this nicely fruited wine features apples and lemon blossoms amidst creamy and toasty elements. Initially frontal flavors of fresh fruit give way a bit in the latter palate to green apple acidity making this a good choice for grilled seafoods like Dover Sole.

Relatively ripe and relatively oaky, much in the in-vogue style, this nicely fruited wine features apples and lemon blossoms amidst creamy and toasty elements. Initially frontal flavors of fresh fruit give way a bit in the latter palate to green apple acidity making this a good choice for grilled seafoods like Dover Sole.

The impressively concentrated Stonestreet 1993 Legacy is a show-stopping effort that is guaranteed to get even better with time.

Purple ruby. Medium-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted and oaked. Cloves, coffee, black fruits. Well concentrated, with soft textured but ample tannins and a subdued finish. Seems somewhat closed at present.

The nose offers gingersnap and black cherry. Forward fruit fills the palate; berries, cherry and ginger spice. Tasty and ripe, full bodied and generous. This is a wine for serious fruit lovers.