The question mark relates to the extremely high levels of wood that mark the aromatics and flavors of this deep plum/ruby-colored effort. The Terraces does offer attractive chocolatey, briery, berry fruit notes in a fat, luscious style, but its brazen display of oak borders on excessive. However, it carries its 14.9% alcohol gracefully.Tel. (707) 963-1707

The wine serves up beguiling black cherry and smoke at its center, then fans out to reveal more toast, blackberry and anise flavors. The tannins and oak get a little out of balance, however, and overshadow some of these attributes. Still a good wine.——W.E.(11/1/2003)—— 87