Brilliant ruby-red. Smoke-tinged cherry, dark berries, candied flowers and a hint of vanilla on the deeply perfumed nose. Intense black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show impressive depth and turn sweeter on the back half. Finishes very long and chewy, with a resonating floral quality, repeating spiciness and youthfully solid tannins that avoid intruding on the wine's juicy, lingering dark fruit. (16% whole clusters and 50% new French oak)

Saturated violet. Dark berry liqueur, fruitcake, smoky oak spices and vanilla on the deeply perfumed nose. Stains the palate with juicy black and blue fruit, bitter cherry, mocha and floral pastille flavors; sweet chewing tobacco and mineral nuances add lift and back-end cut. Fleshy and deep but energetic as well, finishing on a youthfully tannic note, with sharp focus and dark-fruit- and spice-driven persistence. Raised in a 50/50 mix of French and American oak, 75% of it new.

Brilliant straw. Citrus pith, dried pear, fennel, savory herbs, and a hint of toasty lees on the deeply perfumed nose. Chewy and tightly focused on the palate, offering concentrated, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruit flavors that flesh out and become spicier with aeration. In an ample style but not lacking for vivacity thanks to its core of juicy acidity. A long, nervy finish emphatically repeats the pear, mineral and fennel notes. 15% new oak.

This impressive wine builds on ripe black-cherry fruit with a wide seam of cola. The tannins are polished and provide plenty of grip, but do not dominate. The Petite Sirah was cofermented with 7% Roussanne. —P.G.

Limpid red. Potent cherry and black raspberry scents are complemented by suggestions of violet, musky underbrush, and cocoa powder. Chewy and tightly focused on entry and then more supple in the midpalate, offering appealingly sweet red and dark berry flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate. Finishes long and chewy, with resonating florality; subtle, steadily building tannins add framework and support. (25% new French oak)

Brilliant violet. Ripe dark berries, licorice and a hint of cola on the perfumed nose. Fleshy and seamless in texture, offering lush boysenberry and cherry liqueur flavors that show good depth and a touch of spiciness. In an ample but lively style, finishing sweet and quite long, with fine-grained tannins contributing gentle grip.

This is a blend of 31% Carmenère, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 19% Malbec. Dark fruits and light toast from a small percentage of new oak barrels lead through a substantial wine, with firm tannins and a streak of graphite. —P.G.

Ruby-red. Spice-accented dark berries, cola and a floral nuance on the deeply fragrant nose. Plush blackberry and bitter cherry flavors pick up a smoky nuance with air. A hint of dark chocolate sneaks in on the broad, clinging finish, which is given shape by discreet, rounded tannins. 24% new oak.

Bright purple, Cherry, dark berries and a hint of licorice on the deeply perfumed nose. Bitter cherry, black currant and dark chocolate flavors are sharpened by a spicy hint of cracked pepper. Finishes long and smoky, with solid, tannic grip and repeating licorice and cherry notes.

Produced and bottled by Aberrant Cellars, this Southern Oregon, Bordeaux-style blend is made from 35% Carmenère, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Malbec. Blackberry fruit, cola and light details of earth and wood are set in a well-structured, polished frame.

This new imprint from Aberrant Cellars is off to a good start. The barrel fermented Chardonnay offers excellent texture and detail, with elements of clover, citrus, apple and pear, along with juicy acidity. Some 20% spent time in new French oak, adding a welcome softness and a touch of butter to the finish.

This young wine needs a bit more time to soften up the stiff tannins and meld its components... it has interesting flavors of black cherry, chocolate, and graphite. Aging in roughly one-quarter new French oak brings up baking spices through the finish.

This is rather tight and tannic for a grape that is more often fruity and forward. Flavors of blueberries and graphite come up, with hints of stem. The tannins retain some earthy astringency.