.exhibits a medium garnet/ruby color, attractive sour cherry fruit that is sweet on the attack, and straightforward ripeness and roundness.

.displays a dark ruby color, attractive, peppery, cassis aromas, and a light to medium-bodied personality. It is ideal for drinking over the next several years.

.possess good tropical fruit, including some lemon zest and orange rind, medium body, and moderate amounts of new oak. They are well made clean, competent wines that require consumption over the next 1-2 years.

...displays a dark ruby color, a spicy, oak-dominated, berry-scented nose, ripe, medium-bodied flavors, and is overall a good, straightforward, competent effort. It should last for 2-3 years.

.a fine initial palate impression, but it shortens out in the mouth to reveal barely above average flavor concentration, and a spicy, slightly woody finish.

...a well made, lighter-styled wine. I particularly admired its citrusy, tangerine, tropical fruit flavors that are presented in a pure, crisp, medium-bodied style.

...similarly-styled, with less herbaceousness, as well as less flavor intensity. Softened round, it will provide competent drinking over the next several years.

...exhibits a strawberry and berry-scented nose, medium-bodied, and an elegant, light style. It is very perfumed and attractive in a low key sort of way. It should drink well for 4-5 years.

Light and refreshing for its soft berry and spice flavors.

Firm and intense, with a narrow band of earthy currant and cedar flavors.

"Pleasant enough, with mild acidity and a grassy edge, finishing with hints lemon and grapefruit. A bit hot on the palate, though." (Also appeared in May 1998 issue)

Well balanced, with supple coffee, herb, currant and cedary aok flavors, it turns smooth and polished on the finish, where the flavors fan out.

An elegant style. Ripe and spicy, with pretty plum, wild berry, tea, herb, and cherry flavors and a ling, fruity aftertaste with mild, polished tannins.

Smooth, ripe and creamy, with rich apple, pear, citrus and spice notes, even a touch of greenness around the edges. Flavors linger on the aftertaste. (Also appeared in the 7/98 issue.)

Offers a nice balance between its ripe blackberry, cola and spicy flavors and ripe bit firm tannins. Picks up traces of tea, spice and earthiness on the finish.

"Serves up a moderate range of ripe pear and apple-laced Chardonnay flavors and picks up dashes of spice and mineral on the finish. Shows only a small oak influence; drinks well now." also appeared in the 7/98 issue

"Ripe, bright and lively, with grapey cherry, snappy raspberry and wild berry flavors. Finishes with lots of fruit, firm tannins and good length. Best now through 1998." (also appears in the June '98 issue)

Smooth and elegant, with subtle herb, cherry, tea, earth and spice notes. Firms up on the finish, where the tannins show some strength. Try now and into 1998.

Fairly dense, fairly ripe and fairly oaky, this solid, well-filled young wine is also fairly herbal in the style of its district. Velvety smooth and consistent in its forthright fruit, it carries a complex touch of dried brush from start to finish.

Brushy tones, dried leaves scents, and earthiness in the nose and coarseness at entry undermine the initial appeal of this wine. Yet, it has weight and roundness on the palate and enough stuffing to overcome its off-putting start. Hearty, rustic dishes are recommended as the accompaniment for this wine.

While its clean, fruity, mid-sized aromas seem simple and straightforward, this wine shows a reasonable measure of cherryish fruit on entry. It hints at succulence but is too soon directed by very evident acids. The flavors suggest some depth, but never expand much, and the wine is fairly hard at the finish. This one will definitely benefit from three or four years cellaring.

Bright reddish purple. Medium-bodied. Highly extracted. Moderately tannic. Tobacco, vanilla, cedar, black fruits. Plush elegant aromas are strikingly attractive, leading a rounded velvety palate with textured tannins and a lingerin cedary finish. A charmer, drinking nicely now.

.Randy Ullom has produced a knockout Pinot Noir, for the first time includes a larger blend of North Coast fruit, mainly Sonoma Coast and Mendocino County. Any Pinot Noir fan will quickly find that this wine, just now coming into supermarkets nationwide, is classically silky, with deep plum flavors and a soft vanilla taste.

The nose has appealing hints of richness while sweet oak tones provide the seasoning to what emerges as fairly deep varietal fruit aromas. Round and well-balanced but never succulent or particularly supple, this is a firm, tough wine that has noticeable tannins and needs three to five years of cellaring to come into its own.