The top Cabernet, which comes from hillside selections, is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Ame. A denser, deeper, richer offering, it reveals high tannins, an earthy personality, and a firm, austere structure. All of these Bordeaux varietal offerings are less concentrated with harder tannins and more austere styles than their 2007 counterparts.Quietly and confidently, Bruce Neyers, the national sales representative for Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, has built his Conn Valley winery into a facility producing over 12,000 cases of wine.Tel. (707) 963-8840; Fax (707) 963-8894

The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Ame comes from the estate’s finest block of Cabernet Sauvignon. It sees more new oak during the aging process than the Neyers Ranch cuvee. Made in limited quantities, it possesses a dense ruby/purple color along with a distinctive perfume of blackberries, cassis, smoke, camphor, and earth. Deep and full-bodied, with plenty of sweet, well-integrated tannin, it will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age, and should last for two decades thereafter. This is a reliably strong portfolio from Bruce Neyers, the national sales representative for Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. His winemaker is Turley Cellar’s highly renowned Ehren Jordan.Phone: 707-963-8840; Fax: 707-963-8894

The proprietary blend (although in this case it’s 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from specific sites from the home vineyard) is the 2006 Ame, which means “soul” in French. A beautiful black currant nose with hints of spring flowers, licorice, and spice are present in this full-bodied wine with beautiful fruit, sweet tannin, and a long, heady finish. This is very serious Cabernet that should drink well for 15-20 or more years. One would think Bruce Neyers has little time. After all, he is the full-time (or over-time) national sales representative for Kermit Lynch importing company. Yet Neyers also has an impressive portfolio of wines, some of which come from his own estate vineyards tucked away in the Conn Valley. His winemaker is none other than Turley Cellars’ highly respected Ehren Jordan. I thought this was the strongest line-up of wines Neyers has yet produced, although last year the tastings were nearly as good, so he seems to be on a roll. He has produced a very strong group of Chardonnays from a vintage that one has to be somewhat careful with given the problems with botrytis in many of the lower-lying vineyards. These are all pure, clean examples of Chardonnay.Phone: 707-963-8840; Fax: 707-963-8894