California Wine between $75 and $100 ()

Another brilliant offering is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve. It possesses a dense ruby/purple color along with terrific structure, lots of creme de cassis, minerality, beautiful purity of black currants and cherries, a judicious touch of oak, and a full-bodied, structural profile that is almost Bordeaux-like. This complete, rich and promising effort should be a 25-30-year wine.

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.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five comes across as silky and seductive. Ripe red berries, flowers, mint and spices caress the palate in this understated, gracious wine. The 2009 impresses for its seamless texture and long, polished finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

"Bright dark red. Complex, lively aromas of cherry, licorice, chocolate, tobacco leaf and spices. A juicy, spicy midweight with excellent tension and finesse to its youthfully imploded fruit, spice and chocolatey oak flavors. A very successful offering from Silver Oak, finishing with substantial dusty tannins, noteworthy length and a light touch. Aged for a full two years in 100% new American oak, but the oak element is not at all overbearing."

Dark ruby/purple-hued with sweet black currant, spring flower, cedar and subtle earthy notes, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Fay Vineyard Estate is a classic Napa Cabernet with both elegance and complexity. It can be drunk now or cellared for 12-14 years.