The 2007 Zinfandel Tofanelli Vineyard (from 50-year old Napa vines) exhibits a dark ruby hue in addition to a bouquet of roasted Provencal herbs intermixed with licorice, pepper, and abundant berry fruit. The acid levels provide crispness, and there is plenty of spice and fruit in this full-bodied Zinfandel. Drink it over the next 3-4 years. 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 2006 Zinfandel Tofanelli Vineyard is dark ruby in color and shows good ripeness, some underbrush and licorice, along with some pepper and herbs. The wine is medium-bodied and best drunk over the next 2 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