Simple, sweet and direct, with honeyed flavors of raspberries, crunchy vanilla granola, vanilla pastry and cocoa. Make it drier, and it would score higher.——S.H.(12/15/2009)—— 83

From a winery that names their wines after hummingbirds comes this Merlot. Hard to imagine a red wine getting fruitier and still remaining technically dry. Floods the mouth in melted cherry jam, blackberry marmalade, milk chocolate, blueberry and licorice flavors. Could use greater acidity, though, because it’s a little flat.——S.H.(10/1/2007)—— 85

Young and tart in citrusy acids, and very dry. Has vibrant blackberry, cherry and coffee flavors. It’s a well-structured wine that needs time to breathe. ——S.H.(3/1/2006)—— 86