designation: Steinerhund Reserve

description: Broadening out into a sophisticated wine, this has spices, almonds and generous acidity to go with pure apples and a lovely, elegant texture.

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description: Complex, deep and difficult to precisely describe, with a mix of floral aromas, olive and herbs accenting sinewy fruit. It's the type of wine that could age for another decade, although some tasters may question its relatively narrow construction.

designation: Riserva

description: Bursting red fruit stands opposite sophisticated oak-driven aromas of spice, coffee and tobacco to create a successful aromatic union. You can taste the wood rendering with more precision in the mouth, and the texture is consequently rich and smooth

designation: Bramante

description: Spice, toast and black fruit drive the nose of this plush and ripe Brunello di Montalcino. There are loads of cherry, clove and eucalyptus-like aromas at the back that give the wine a more youthful and fresh impact and fresh acidity seals the deal. The wine is rich and velvety in the mouth.

designation: Vigna Soccorso

description: Here's a dark and concentrated Brunello with thick aromas of spice, smoke and tobacco lavished over a solid core of black fruit. The nose is definitely on the oak-driven side but the mouth is bursting with fresh fruit notes. It makes for an excellent ensemble.

designation: Reserve

description: Despite its reserve designation, this elegant wine emphasizes feminine grace over pure power. The alcohol is cited as 13.5%, and the fruit has the spicy tang of just-ripe berries, not sweet or jammy. Spicy herb details illuminate a wine wrapped in smooth milk chocolate barrel flavors. Drinking well already, but should improve over the next five or six years.

designation: Cuve Tradition

description: Inviting, layered nose of raspberry, strawberry, molasses, smoke, black olive, licorice and gamy notes. Nicely complex and flavorful with lots of ripe berry fruit, leather, black pepper and roasted meat notes. Medium to full-bodied with moderately firm tannins. Fresh, richly textured and dense without being heavy.

designation: C?te Est

description: Each Le Cadeau wine has a different consulting winemaker, and some are down in Ukiah, hence the Oregon AVA, although this is estate-grown, Willamette Valley fruit. This new C?te Est (eastern slope) is still tight, very young and a bit withdrawn. There are earthy flavors around the spicy purple fruits; it's balanced and fine, and seems to have a more delicate, feminine spin than the other new releases from Le Cadeau. Time will tell. Decant it or, even better, cellar it for about five years.

designation: Riserva

description: Buoyant and fresh with penetrating aromas of red berry, cola, licorice and natural rubber, the bouquet hits the nose in a vertical and direct manner. The wine is firm and textured in the mouth with a thick tannic coating that moves slowly over the palate.

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description: Kendric's best Pinot yet, from this magnificent vintage. Strikes a fine balance between lushness of raspberry fruit and a stony crispness that pulls back tantalizingly into dryness and minerality, then returns to spicy richness on the finish. It will be interesting to watch this wine evolve over the next 4C8 years.

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description: This ruby-colored Brunello offer a distinct mineral accent that is surrounded by fruity tones of wild berries, cassis and cherry cola. There's also a meaty or smoky quality here that gives the wine more heft and determination in the mouth. Drink it with grilled sausage.

designation: Riserva

description: Cherry, red apple, spice and moist tobacco emerge from the nose of this Brunello Riserva. The wine offers impressive intensity and density in the mouth and the finish is long lasting and very enjoyable.

designation: La Vie Douce

description: Here is an off-dry Roussanne absolutely bursting with delicious flavors of Meyer lemon, breakfast tea, yellow tropical fruits and hints of papaya. It's all set against vibrant natural acidity that keeps it food-friendly rather than limiting it to dessert.

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description: This pretty Brunello opens with a dark garnet color and segues to aromas of black cherry liqueur, blackberry, soy sauce, cola and dark spice. It's a brooding, austere expression from Tuscany with polished tannins and silky texture.

designation: Riserva

description: Austere and elegant with ethereal tones of Spanish cedar, cherry cola, eucalyptus and licorice, this Brunello represents some of vintage 2004's best qualities. The wine is elegant and tempered yet determined and enduring in the mouth. Pair it with pork rolled with prunes.

designation: Riserva

description: Ripe fruit and oak nuances emerge from the nose of this modern Brunello Riserva. Aromas include black cherry, blackberry preserves, spice and smoke. Bright fruit flavors and smooth tannins characterize the mouthfeel.

designation: Val di Suga

description: Toasty notes of spice, plum, cherry cola, mesquite and moist earth make this textbook Brunello. It has all the aromatic qualities you seek in a wine of this workmanship and sophistication. There's better density and thickness here too which helps propel the wine's persistency on the palate.

designation: C5 Stefani Vineyard

description: This very dry wine shows the spicy, briary flavors of Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. The flavors are of wild black and red berries, currants, brambly nettles, pepper, Chinese 5 spice, espresso and a hint of earthy dark chocolate. Quite a fine, complex drink that wants smoky, charred meats, like barbecued ribs, pork, or a rich grilled steak.

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description: One of the most underrated Rieslings from Washington, Seven Hills always delivers the goods. This is off-dry but drinks as dry. Bonus: the alcohol is around 11%. Wonderfully fragrant and stony, it seems dusted with lemon and honey, tea and a hint of orange marmalade. In the mouth it turns rich and substantial, yet the floral highlights remain.

designation: Esculle de Solabal

description: A ruggedly dark and modern Rioja with cola, rooty black fruit and burnt toast draped on a thick, mocha-laden nose. The palate is huge and grabby as well as rich and lovable, with black fruit, mocha, coffee ice cream and slight raisin flavors. Tannic and tough on the finish, with spice, herbs and chocolate. Drink from 2011 through 2015.