Wine Spectator: Firm in texture, with chewy tannins surrounding berry and violet flavors. Needs time to soften the edges. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2014 ...

Wine Spectator: A forward style, with dark cassis, blackberry and black cherry notes spiked with a hint of damson plum. Long and velvety through the finish, with hints of black tea and tobacc...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Bright purple. Blackberry and cassis scents are complicated by notes of game, black pepper and bitter chocolate. Spicy dark fruit flavors show good concentration and focus, ...

Wine Enthusiast: Distinctly Sonoma Coast in the forest berry fruits and feral, earthy notes of anise, balsam and Dr. Pepper cola. Fine and silky in the mouth, with modest alcohol and a burst o...

Wine Spectator: Firm tannins underlie a smooth texture in this silky red. Black cherry, smoke, tar and mineral flavors are balanced and fresh, and this shows good focus and length. Drink now ...

Wine Spectator: This harmonious, elegant red delivers pure black cherry, blackberry, mineral and spice flavors. There's some power as well, evidenced by the finish, where dense tannins match ...

Wine Spectator: This delicious Pinot offers a great mix of ripe, succulent cherry and wild raspberry flavors, with plenty of licorice, cedar, cigar box and fresh sage aromatics. Tannins are s...

Wine Spectator: Marked by herb, dill and dried berry, yet pleasantly so, with touches of tobacco leaf and then currant and dried berry. Firmly tannic, but also well-balanced and easy to enjoy...

Wine Spectator: Firm, slightly dusty-edged plum and cassis fruit here, with a good sappy feel on the finish. Underlying tarry edge. Solid, if a bit reticent today.-J.M.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2008 Martinet Bru is a bit more forward and elegant. It can be approached now but will benefit from another 2-3 years of cellaring. Mas Martinet is owned by Jose Luis P...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: This big time sleeper of the vintage is a blend of 50% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. An outstanding effort, it boasts a dense ...

Wine Spectator: Candied cherry and milk chocolate mark this round, creamy red. This is well-structured, with some astringent tannins capping the finish. Should come around soon. Drink now thr...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Recently acquired by the owners of La Fleur Cardinale, Dominique and Florence Decoster, this is a 19-acre estate located in the sector of St.-Emilion known as St.-Etienne de L...

Wine Spectator: A good, winey core of cassis and blackberry is framed by a noticeable plum skin edge that is in turn offset by polished toast. Modern and direct in style.-J.M.

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: (merlot with some cabernet franc): Bright ruby-red. Lively, slightly medicinal aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice and flowers. Supple, sweet and nicely concentrated, wi...

Wine Spectator: This has good flesh, with a lilac note giving way to dark mulled plum and linzer torte flavors, studded with black tea and roasted spice hints. Shows nice drive on the finish....

Wine Spectator: Pretty Cabernet Franc aromas of crushed berries and some milk chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied, with soft and silky tannins. Long sweet fruit on the finish. -JS

Wine Enthusiast: A consistent performer, Yalumba's Hand Picked Shiraz-Viognier seems slightly bigger and chunkier in 2008 than in the past, with bold fruit-blueberries and blackberries-accente...