By Tom Marquardt

and Patrick Darr

We have lots of new wines to recommend after some hard work in the cellar. No time to waste — here they are:

Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 ($50). This Santa Barbara County producer makes a series of pricey pinot noirs that are loaded with rich, hedonistic fruit. This one has ripe plum aromas and cranberry, cherry flavors with allspice and clove notes. We also liked the Las Alturas Vineyard pinot noir from Santa Lucia Highlands — forward blackberry and red currant notes.

Luna Vineyards Napa County Pinot Grigio 2006 ($15). Fermented partly in French oak, this wine has some nice complexity and balanced acidity. Good spice and tropical fruit notes.

Beringer Nightingale 2004 ($40). We wish we had more stamina to enjoy dessert wines. This one would be at the top of our list. A blend of semillon (70 percent) and sauvignon blanc, this botrytised wine exudes intensely sweet apricot, spice and butterscotch flavors. It is harmony in a bottle. Match it with cheese or any rich dessert.

Paraduxx Napa Valley Red Wine 2004 ($51).  A wonderful proprietary blend of 65 percent zinfandel, 28 percent cabernet sauvignon and 7 percent merlot. Opulent nose of berry fruits with deliciously integrated flavors of cherry, berry fruits and vanillin oak. Firm tannins allow this wine to be enjoyed now with a nice piece of beef or easily aged for 3-5 years. Just a great glass of wine.        

Meridian Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 2006 ($8-13). We really liked this uncomplicated, refreshing chardonnay that can frequently be found on sale. Good fruit in the mouth with nice citrus elements. Medium bodied and balanced and at a no brainer price when on sale.

Mission Hill Reisling Reserve Icewine VQA Okanagan Valley 2004 ($80- 375ml). This wine hails from British Columbia, and although very expensive offers a mind-blowing tasting experience. The grapes are harvested frozen at an amazing 41.2 brix during the dead of winter. This wine has 11.5 percent alcohol. Intensely sweet, but with great balancing acidity, this dessert wine exhibits a very ripe sweet very ripe apricot nose with a nice mineral edge. In the mouth, this wine shows sweet unctuous ripe apricot flavors, some citrus and mineral elements. The finish goes on and on. An awesome wine.

Gallo Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay Sonoma County 2006 ($15). This is a delightful non-fussy wine to drink. Citrus and vanilla nose with melon, citrus flavors and a nice length in the mouth. Good value.    

Paul Jaboulet Aine Beaume-de-Venise “Le Paradou” 2005 ($18). We are more familiar with the interesting muscat sweet dessert wines that come from the Beaume–de-Venise region. But this is a red table wine made from grenache and syrah grapes and exhibits a delightful nose of ripe strawberries and cherries with tart cherry flavor and a nice cedar finish. Drink with beef and pork dishes.

Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay Sonoma County 2006 ($15). A scent of lemons and oranges in the nose. Citrus flavors with a nice creamy presence. Pleasing fruity creamy finish. Fun to drink.

Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2004 ($24-27). At a trade tasting of dozens of wines, this beauty stood as our favorite. Ninety percent sangiovese, 7 percent canaiolo and 3 percent colorino, this wine puts aside forever the bad old days of thin acidic chiantis. Nice dark color, with a rich ripe nose of berries and cherries. Ripe cherries and a hint of earth in the mouth. This wine would be a wonderful accompaniment to any Italian red sauced pastas or roasted or grilled  meat dishes.    

Beringer Chardonnay Sbragia Limited Release Estate Napa Valley 2003 ($45). This is an amazing wine. It literally reminded us of fresh baked apple pie in a bottle, complete with cinnamon and nutmeg spices. Great baked apple nose, this rich and round wine has a terrific length in the mouth. For those who love full throttle chardonnays. The currently available vintages are the 2004 and 2005, so buy them now and hold for 2-3 years and enjoy.