The realistically priced 2013 Merlot Home Ranch comes from a vineyard planted in 1996, and the wine was aged 18 months in 30% new French oak. Somewhat lean and austere, with new oak dominating, the wine reveals cherry fruit and a medium-bodied finish. For a Merlot, it is not nearly as expressive as I would have suspected. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.

A bevy of wines made from Bordeaux varietals include the 2012 Merlot Home Ranch, a solidly made, plump, corpulent Merlot revealing notes of black cherries and white chocolate, medium body, a fleshy mouthfeel and a soft finish. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.

Another reasonably priced, outstanding offering is the 2010 Merlot Home Ranch, which includes small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by notes of white chocolate, mocha, black cherries and vanillin in a medium to full-bodied, lush, round, generously endowed style. Consume it over the next 5-6 years. Tel. (707) 473-2992

The 2009 Merlot Home Ranch is a juicy, up-front wine. This unpretentious wine is best enjoyed over the next few years, while the fruit retains its vibrancy. Dark red cherries, plums, sweet spices and flowers emerge on the finish. The Merlot was aged in French oak barrels (100% new) and a dollop of Cabernet Franc was added to the final blend. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. Tel. (866) 222-4342

Another excellent value is Sbragia’s 2008 Merlot Home Ranch. A blend of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, it is everything a good Merlot should be. Round, luscious, heady, coffee-infused, black cherry and herbaceously-tinged mountain berry fruit notes are followed by a plump, medium-bodied, juicy, succulent wine to drink over the next 4-5 years. Bigger than life veteran winemaker, musician and general bon vivant, Ed Sbragia continues to turn out a bevy of realistically priced wines that offer great value. To add to the excitement, every one of his 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons performed better out of bottle than it did from barrel - always a sign of top winemaking and reassuring integrity. However, Sbragia, who may have the Midas touch with red varietals (particularly his beloved Zinfandel as well as Cabernet Sauvignon) also knows a thing or two about Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. 2008 is an average quality year for most Zinfandel producers, but Sbragia has transcended the vintage’s challenges. Sbragia is producing five separate Cabernet Sauvignons, and the in-the-bottle notes that follow demonstrate that each of them performed better from the bottle than it did last year from barrel. P.S. I tasted through all the Sbragia 2008 single vineyard Cabernets, including the Wall, Cimarossa, Rancho del Oso, Monte Rosso and the Dry Creek Andolsen vineyard. They all appear to be potentially 90-93 point wines. While they are not as impressive as the 2007s, if they improve as much from barrel to bottle as the 2007s, look for the 2008s to compete with that vintage. Tel. (866) 222-4342