2009 California Wine between $75 and $100

2009 Jensen possesses a deep, rich garnet hue. Luscious aromas of cranberry, violets, granite, turmeric and raspberry torte mix with an alluring bouquet of peppery nutmeg and black cherry. This fascinating wine offers flavors of baking spice, ripe strawberries, rhubarb pie, chalky minerality and sweet berry wrapped around a juicy, elegant core of fine grained tannins, then trails off to a long, pleasurable finish.

This 2009 Selleck Vineyard Pinot Noir is fascinating and simply stunning. It begins with evocative flowing aromas of gardenia, red currant, cranberry, flinty minerality, pine and faint black licorice. Flavors are concentrated, intense and velvety; lingonberry, dark cherry, a whisper of cinnamon and citrus rind, and seamlessly encompass the palate with a texture that is graceful, broad and beautifully balanced, then lingers slowly on into a juicy, almost ethereal, mouthwatering finish.

Aged in 100% new French oak, this 100% Cabernet is big, sweet and tannic. It's offering little beyond exceptionally rich, ripe flavors of blackberries, black currants and dark chocolate. It's almost like a Port wine whose high alcohol is an integral part of the package. Shows the dramatic flair of all Shafer's red wines, but you might want to cellar it for 5?6 years.