Herbal in cedar, this medium-bodied wine is simply layered, with a thickness of tannin and oak, its mouthfeel substantial yet smooth. Black fruit speaks loudest—a mix of black cherry, blueberry and blackberry jam.

From various sites across appellations, this well-made red offers soft, smooth tannins and full-bodied ripeness, the flavors defined by cherry, vanilla, oak and clove. It’s ready for steak.

Dark ruby color; smooth, lush and herbal - Dick Arrowood's velvety style (although he's no longer at his namesake winery) - with loads of polish for the modest price.

Made from two vineyards in the appellation, this shows black cherry, cedar and tobacco, with a graphite element not far behind. Sticky tannins provide grip and weight, as full-bodied richly ripe blue fruit and plum form a continuum between hits of clove.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Smothers-Remick Ridge is a powerful, explosive wine. Super-ripe red cherry and French oak are dominant. Other recent vintages have been both more compelling and also more expressive of site. Thirty two months in 100% new oak is probably too much for this wine. Hints of raspberry, blood orange, mint and tobacco add a measure of complexity. In my view, the Smothers-Remick Ridge Cabernet has the potential to be more than just merely outstanding.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) is an absolutely delicious wine that shows just how compelling Sonoma Cabernets can be. Rich, dark and powerful, the 2013 exudes notable depth in its dark stone fruit, savory herb, smoke, leather, spice and tobacco flavors. Drink this racy, intense Cabernet over the next decade or so.

A classic, boldly full-bodied offering of the variety from vineyards in Sonoma Valley, Knights Valley and Alexander Valley, this wine is defined by blackberry, cassis and mocha, its mouthfeel velvety and luxurious. The finish is lengthy and accented in sage.

This is classic in herbaceous aromas and flavors, rich in juicy blackberry and blueberry while also offering savory pencil shavings and dark chocolate. Leathered, firm tannins complete the picture, providing structure and integration to a wall of well-managed oak.

Smooth and velvety with ripe plum and cassis; bright and showing fine acid structure and complexity; dense, rich and long. 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc.

Deep ruby. Ripe cherry, cassis, tobacco and vanilla on the nose, with a subtle herbal undertone. Fleshy dark fruit flavors are supported by gentle acidity, taking on spiciness with aeration. Finishes sweet and persistent, with the dark berry and tobacco qualities lingering. This nicely balanced cabernet is approachable now.

The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma includes fruit from the famed Monte Rosso Vineyard. Aged in a combination of French and American oak for two years prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered, it is an outstanding Cabernet boasting a deep ruby/purple color along with copious aromas of creme de cassis, graphite and spice box. Full-bodied with supple tannins, a generous, even corpulent mouthfeel and a long finish, it should drink well for a decade.

Saturated with blueberry-rich fruit and tannins that give it a cedar and cherry-bark tone, this wine is firmly structured and lasting. It's complex, needing time to develop in bottle.

The 2008 Cote de Lune Blanc Saralee's Vineyard (41% Marsanne, 39% Roussanne, and 20% Viognier) offers up intriguing notes of licorice, lychee nut, honeysuckle, clove, and yellow apples. This well-made, medium to full-bodied, richly fruity, complex white is meant to be consumed during its first 1-2 years of life. This is another impressive group of wines from one of the most consistent winemakers and long-time veterans of the California wine scene, Dick Arrowood. He has always had the Midas touch with white varietals, yet he also continues to impress me with what he can do with red varietals. Moreover, Arrowood is also one of the pioneer Rhone Ranger producers, and his Syrah program has been supplemented with red and white French Cotes du Rhone-like blends called Cote de Lune as well as an outstanding Viognier.

This is a deep and concentrated white wine, ripely adorned in honey and apricot with a streak of honeysuckle dancing on the nose throughout. Creamy and round, it is buoyed by a fresh sprinkling of orange blossom and rind.

Smooth and creamy with vanilla and lush style; rich, mellow and balanced with a long, ripe finish.

Arrowood's 2011 from the exceptional Saralee's Vineyard exhibits delicate notes of honeysuckle and stone fruits, with exquisite balance between fruit and acidity. This suave Viognier is long and lively on the palate. If only more domestic Viognier was this clean, refreshing and satisfying.

Bright gold. Exotic aromas of nectarine, sweet butter, violet and candied ginger, along with a zesty mineral overtone. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering intense pit fruit and tangerine flavors and a sexy honeysuckle nuance. At once rich and lively, finishing with good cling and lingering florality.

Lush and ripe with vanilla, aromatic fruit and lovely balance; tangy and fresh; long and rich with good acid structure; lovely.

Pale gold. Ripe orange, melon and nectarine on the fragrant nose. Fleshy and supple in texture, offering vibrant honeydew and pit fruit flavors lifted by a nervier touch of citrus pith. A floral note comes up with air and carries through a long, seamless finish. Shows surprising restraint for a New World viognier; this will be extremely flexible at the table.

Bright yellow. Textbook viognier aromas of peach, pear, anise and pungent flowers. Graceful and precise in the mouth, offering juicy pit and orchard fruit flavors and a lively touch of bitter lemon zest. This delicious wine is very fragrant and shows no excess fat.

Light, bright yellow. Sexy, highly perfumed nose displays textbook varietal aromas of peach, pear, flowers and orange peel. Round and fleshy on entry, then tightens up in the middle palate to offer tangy orange and green apple flavors. The finish leaves sappy pear and sweet citrus notes behind. I find this very pretty.

A pioneer with high quality Viognier, Arrowood's 2008 Viognier Saralee's Vineyard continues his mastery of this difficult varietal. It is easy to make a competent wine from this varietal, but it is very hard to produce a top-flight example. Arrowood is able to keep the acidity and minerality in the background, while not sacrificing the exotic tropical fruit and lychee nut characteristics of Viognier. This rich, medium to full-bodied 2008 should be drunk over the next 2-3 years. This is another impressive group of wines from one of the most consistent winemakers and long-time veterans of the California wine scene, Dick Arrowood. He has always had the Midas touch with white varietals, yet he also continues to impress me with what he can do with red varietals. Moreover, Arrowood is also one of the pioneer Rhone Ranger producers, and his Syrah program has been supplemented with red and white French Cotes du Rhone-like blends called Cote de Lune as well as an outstanding Viognier.

The 2006 Viognier Saralee’s Vineyard is 100% barrel-fermented and 100% malolactic-fermented, yet always seems to retain crisp acidity. It has the exotic lychee and tropical fruit notes of Viognier, but more minerality and definition than most wines made from this varietal tend to possess in California. The wine has good fruit and should drink nicely for another 1-2 years.

2005 ARROWOOD VIOGNIER SARALEE'S VINEYARD The 2005 Viognier Saralee's Vineyard exhibits a big, open-knit, rose petal, litchi, and apricot-scented nose, delicious fruit, good freshness, and a full-bodied palate.

26.5% residual sugar. Impressive in its enormous concentration, this wine drifts a bit into a dried grape character with touches of brown sugar invading the peach and flower Riesling notes. The wine, as expected, is incredibly viscous and luscious, and even if it is not as bright and energetic in its acidity as others, it is still an amazingly deep wine whose role with or as dessert is unquestioned.