One of the more overt wines in the lineup, the 2010 Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard wraps around the palate with layers of juicy, generous fruit. Exotic hints of spices and orange peel linger on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. Winemaker Ed Kurtzman describes 2010 as a year with a very cold summer, and frequent periods of fog and drizzle that led him to believe the fruit would never ripen. It did, of course, and these are very pretty wines, especially the Pinots.Tel. (415) 225-2891; www.augustwestwine.com

The 2009 Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard wafts from the glass with all sorts of flowers, sweet herbs, tobacco and red cherries. It is a feminine, understated Pinot that impresses for its delicate, mid-weight personality and fabulous overall harmony. The lingering, floral finish is quite beautiful. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. August West is a partnership between Gary Franscioni, Ed Kurtzman and Howard Graham. The wines are delicate, see relatively low levels of new oak and are bottled without fining or filtration. Most of the wines are made from Franscioni’s Rosella’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands but I have included notes on the Russian River bottlings for ease of reference.Tel. (415) 225-2891; www.augustwestwine.com