Allegrini-Valpolicella-Dry Red-Fumane-Italy-2007-$11.99-A nose of cherry, ruby in color.  A smooth, easy drinking, food friendly red.  Cherry, berry, herbs, medium bodied, a good value.          RP-87               WS-86                CR-4                    Good with chicken, cheeses, salads.

Novelty Hill Winery-Syrah-Columbia Valley-Washington State-2005-$15.55-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color.  Black and blue berries, some pepper, licorice, more medium bodied, good finish, good not great.               RP-89                WS-89                  WE-91            CR-4          Good with ribs, chicken, pasta.

Bergevin Lane Vineyards-Cabernet Sauvignon-Columbia Valley-Washington State-2005-$20.99-A nose of dark fruit and spice, very dark in color.  A smooth, pleasant Cab, cherry, black currants, blackberry, sweet spices.   I have had this wine multiple times in the past year, consistent each time.             WS-90           RP-89         CR-4-4.5        Good with chicken, meats, pasta.

Parducci Wine Cellars-Petite Sirah-Mendocino County-California-2006-$10.99-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color.  A smooth not over the top, full bodied red with blackberries, blueberries, chocolate and spice, a very good value.                 WE-90              WS-86                CR-4                Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

Bodega Monteviejo-Altitude 1050-Malbec-Mendoza-Argentina-2005-$19.98-A nose of dark fruit and some spice, dark amber in color.  A smooth, easy drinking Malbec, maybe a bit past it’s prime, very food friendly.              NR           CR-3.5-4            Good with chicken, pork, pasta.

Bergevin Lane Vineyards-Cabernet Sauvignon-Columbia Valley-Washington State-2005-$20.99-A nose of dark fruit and spice, very dark in color.  A smooth, pleasant Cab, cherry, black currants, blackberry, sweet spices.   The third time I have tried this wine in the past year, consistent each time.       WS-90        RP-89         CR-4-4.5        Good with chicken, meats, pasta.

The Colonial Estate-Expatrie-Reserve Semillon-Barossa-Australia-2006-$14.88-A nose of spice, lemon and citrus, medium golden in color.  Crisp, juicy lemon crisp, honeysuckle, minerals, a smooth enjoyable white wine.           RP-90            CR-4-4.5         Good with seafood, cheese, salads.

Mercer Wine Estates-M & H-Horse Heaven Hills-Cabernet Sauvignon-Washington State-2005-$23.99-A nose of dark fruit and currants, dark ruby in color.  A smooth silky, black cherry, plum, some tobacco, decanted for one hour.           WS-90            CR-87            CR-4-4.5            Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

Agrupacion De Cosecheiros-Dom Bardo-Albarino-Rias Baixas-Spain-2007-$6.99-A light nose of citrus and spice, light golden in color.  Crisp, minerals, lemon zest, good amount of acidity, light to medium in body, dry on finish, pleasant for the value.              RP-88            WS-79           WE-86          CR-3.5        Good with cheese, chicken, salad, seafood.

Charles Smith Wines-Boom Boom!-Syrah-Mattawa-Washington State-2007-$13.98-A big nose of dark fruit, very dark, blackish in color.  A big mouth feel, full bodied, blueberry, blackberry, spices that end in a long finish.  Very interesting label.              WS-89            CR-4           Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

Columbia Crest Winery-Grand Estates-Cabernet Sauvignon-Columbia Valley-Washington State-2006-$9.99-A soft nose of dark fruit, dark amber in color. A smooth, easy going medium bodied Cab, black cherry, cocoa, and spice. A very good value for a mid week wine.           WS-89        WE-87         CR-4          Good with chicken, pasta, pork.

Southern Flinders Ranges Estate-Flinders Run-Shiraz-Australia-2006-$16.99-A interesting nose of toasty oak and dark fruit, very dark purple in color.  A big but enjoyable, mouth filling Shiraz, blueberry, plum, licorice.  Great Label design as so many Australian wines have.            RP-92        WS-91          WE-87           CR-4-4.5            Good with steak, ribs, pasta.

Linne Calodo Cellars-Rising Tides-Grenache-Syrah-Mourdedre-Paso Robles-California-2006-$55.00-A candied nose of cherries and spice, dark ruby in color.   A elegant, smooth interesting wine.  Black cherry, spice, licorice, easy drinking.   Linne Calodo makes some of the best Rhone blends in California, hard to find, their wine club has a waiting list.  Expensive but well worth the price for what their wines deliver.              RP-94          CR-4.5-5         Good with veal, chicken and pasta.

The Magnificent Wine Co-My House Is Your House-House Wine-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Syrah-Sangiovese-Malbec-Cabernet Franc-Columbia Valley-Washington-2006-$9.99-A sweet nose of cherry, medium in color.  Interesting, medium bodied, raspberry, spice, smooth but did not have a long finish, not bad not great, interesting label.            WS-86         CR-3.5          Good with chicken, meats, burgers.

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards-Prologue-Cabernet Sauvignon-Napa Valley-California-2007-$16.99-Very interesting nose of dark fruit and green vegetables, very dark color, a unique taste for a Cab, I enjoyed it very much, was smooth for what would be considered a very young wine. This vineyard puts out some great Cabs, most in the $50 range, so this delivers like a $35 bottle due to its unique qualities.            NR         CR-4-4.5        Great with steak, burgers, pasta.

Forth Vineyards-Historie-Cabernet Sauvignon-Medocino-California-2006-$14.27-Another great value, this northern California area has been putting out some very good wines. Distinct nose, good favor, just a solid Cab, drinks also like a $25 wine.          NR          CR-4-4.5         Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

Bergevin Lane Vineyards-Cabernet Sauvignon-Columbia Valley-Walla Walla-Washington- 2005-$20.99-A nose of dark fruit and spice, very dark in color.  A smooth, pleasant Cab, cherry, black currants, blackberry, sweet spices.   The second time I have tried this wine in the past year, consistent both times.          WS-90        RP-89         CR-4-4.5        Good with chicken, meats, pasta.

Caldwell-Rocket Science-2006-Proprietary Red-Napa Valley-California-$45.00-Another wine I had a few months back, and also from one of my favorite Napa Valley wineries, Caldwell Vineyard. I have met John Caldwell a few times at tasting dinners, he is a character, makes great wine. This is the third vintage of Rocket Science that I have tried and is the best so far.  It is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot and is already a smooth drinking wine despite being young. Big wine, spice notes, vanilla and clove. Drinks like a $80-100 Napa Valley wine. The bottle is a collectable one since it’s shaped like a rocket ship, the base is wide and the bottle tapers towards the top, the label is cool, the design is unique as far as wine bottles go.              WS88    CR-5           Great with steak, burgers, pasta.

Hunt Family Cellars-Cab Ovation-Destiny Vineyards Mt. Christo Block-Cabernet Sauvignon-Paso Robles-California-2001-$62.50-A big bold nose of dark fruit, very dark dense color.  A big smooth Cab, black cherry, currants, butterscotch, vanilla with right amount of toasty oak.  A special wine from a winery that delivers with all the different wines they make, beautiful property located in the Central Coast region in California.        NR      CR-5      Good with meats, pasta, ribs.

Conn Valley Vineyards-Anderson’s-Prologue-Cabernet Sauvignon-Napa Valley-California-2006-$16.99-Good nose of dark fruit.  Nice dark ruby color.  A solid Cab, smooth, good mouth feel of dark fruit, not over oaked.  Hard finding a Napa Cab at this price. The interesting difference between the 2007 which I recently reviewed and the 2006 is quite different and a great example of how the vintage can change from year to year.          NR            CR-4           Good drinking with streak, chicken, pasta.

Chateau Faugeres-Saint-Emilion-Grand Cru-Red Bordeaux-La Reserve-France-2006-$26.98- Now I am not a big French wine drinker, but a good friend brought this wine to dinner after we had played a round of golf. It had a good nose, less earthly and more fruit and after we let it breathe some, was very good, especially for a wine that should sit for another 5 years before it starts to reach it’s potential.  It was too young to drink, had lingering tannins that had not smoothed out yet,  it opened after we used a bottle aerator and the wine got better as the meal went along. A very good wine, especially since it’s a Grand Cru.    WS-91   CR-4-4.5   Great with pasta,  and most foods since a good French wine is so food friendly.

Forth Vineyards-All Boys-Dry Creek Valley-Cabernet Sauvignon-Sonoma County-California-2006-$15.99-A nose of dark fruit, normal Cab nose, dark color.  Dark berries, some chocolate, a bit tannic, liked it more the last time I tried it, decent for the price.          NR        CR-3.5         Good with chicken, pasta.

Louis M. Martini-Reserve-Cabernet Sauvignon-Napa Valley-California-2005-$17.99-A big dark fruit nose, dark red color.  a blush, mouth filling red, black currants, black cherry, cedar, right amount of oak.  A enjoyable wine that delivers like a $50 Cab.            RP-89         WS-85      CR-4.5      Good with steak, pasta, ribs.

Truchard-Syrah-Napa Valley-California-2004-$16.99-I enjoy a Syrah, a Californian one every now and then, enjoy an Australian one also except I believe you notice the difference more than how it’s spelled.  I especially enjoy a good Syrah that has aged a few years to smooth it out, this is one, it used to sell for $30.00 a few years back  so now it’s a steel.  Good nose, dark color, smooth, just a very enjoyable drinking wine, it might be hard finding this year..worth the search.                   WS-90       CR-4-4.5        Great with steak, pasta, chicken.

Dusted Valley Vintners-Stained Tooth Syrah-Syrah-Columbia Valley-Walla Walla-Washington-2006-$23.99-Big nose of dark fruit, very dark, almost black in color.  Nice smooth mouth feel of dark berries, spice, chocolate, a enjoying drinking wine.  I have become a big fan of a Syrah, expand your tastes and try one.       WS-90      RP-89      CR-4-4.5     Good with steak, pasta, chicken.

Rosenblum Cellars-San Francisco Bay-Heritage Clones-Petite Sirah-California-2006-$13.99-A big rich nose of dark fruit, very dark purple, almost black in color.  A smooth rich mouth feel of dark chocolate, spice, blackberry syrup.         WS-89       CR-4       Good with pasta, meats.

EAGLEPOINT RANCH-PETITE SIRAH-CALIFORNIA-2005-$22.50.  Thick full bodied, dark fruit, spice, great with a steak or without food. This wine is from Mendocino County which is North Coast area above Sonoma, its wines are up and coming, allot of natural winemaking methods.  Wine will cellar for another few years.       WE-93      WS-84     CR-4-4-4.5     Good with steak, pasta, chicken.

Moillard-Les Violettes-Cotes Du Rhone-Rhone Red-France-2007-$10.00-A light fruit nose,

medium in color.  A simple smooth red, cherry, flowers, drinkable.       WS-84       CR-3.5     Good

with salads, cheese, pizza.

Bergevin Lane Vineyards-Cabernet Sauvignon-Columbia Valley-Walla Walla-Washington-

2005-$20.99-A nose of dark fruit and spice, very dark in color.  A smooth, pleasant Cab, cherry,

black currants, blackberry, sweet spices.   The second time I have tried this wine in the past year,

consistent both times.       WS-90        RP-89         CR-4-4.5        Good with chicken, meats,

pasta.