Andremily makes some of the best Rhone varietal wines anywhere.  This on is 92% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah and 3% Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with  plums, black cherries, coffee, spice and anise.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, plums and anise.  Some coffee/chocolate add to the finish.  Drinking well now if still a bit young.  This should drink well for another ten to fifteen years (and probably more).  Great on its own, this would go very well with a cassoulet.  

This is is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, pencil lead, cedar and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is a big but not over sized Cab.  Lots of cassis with some char and minerality.  Drinking well now but may still improve a bit.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this would be a classic pairing with a roast or steak.  

This is a blend of 35% Zinfandel, 26% Mourvedre, 19% Tempranillo, 11% Syrah, and 9% Petite Sirah.      Purple in color with some ruby hues.  Opaque and dark.  The nose is nice with black cherries, plums, cherries, char and spice. Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is drinking at peak and delicious.  Complex and deep.  Notes of black cherries, cherries, and plums with underlying asphalt/gravel.  Long finish.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  Great on its own, this will need big food.  Ribs off the grill would be a good match.  

Another excellent world class Chardonnay from this New Zealand producer. Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is very nice with lemons, slight peach and slight tropical fruit. Medium bodied. Crisp. On the palate, this is young but plenty of depth. Lemon and peaches with some minerality. Long finish. This is drinking well now but should improve a bit. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years. Great on its own, this will work well with lobster.

Fattori began making wine in 1900 in this Northeastern region of Italy. Now, as a 5th generation run operation, they are turning out wonderful wines. Made from 85% Corvina along with Rondinella, Molinara and a few other varieties, this offers light, bright cherry, black cherry, pomegranate, rhubarb and plum notes. This fairly simple wine is an ideal companion with a diversity of foods. It’s not an aggressive, heavy tannic thing, but a mellow, warm and delightful wine meant to work well with others. Briefly aged, the fruit is perky and beaming.

This is not your typical Santenay.  For one thing, it is white.  For another, this is one of the best.  100% Chardonnay.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Vibrant nose of peach, apple and slight tropical fruit.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep and complex with peach, apple, minerality and slight salinity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and should for the next five to eight years (and maybe more).  Better with food, this will go well with chicken or tuna salad.  

This is a nice wine.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  It has a very pretty nose.  Peaches with a floral note.  Slightly viscous texture.  On the palate, nice acidity.  Peach fruit notes.  Good finish.  This is refreshing and an excellent value.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This would be nice with lighter foods such as fresh seafood.  

Tensley is an excellent source for excellent wines at fair pricing.  This one is a blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache.  This was a Magnum only release.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted herbs and a hint of floral notes.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black raspberry fruit with some pepper and underlying char.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for another ten to twelve years.  Very nice on its own, this would also be nice with roasted vegetables.  

Of course, this is the "It" wine right now as it was just named the Wine Spectator Wine of the Year.  It proved to be love or hate at a recent tasting with many rating it as their favorite and a few putting it closer to the bottom.  Of course, even the later voters thought it was a fine wine overall.  It also proved pretty easy to pick out blind as most or the group was able to.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has a strong cotton candy note (others said sweet tarts or "Smarties) along with some cassis.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palat

This is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc from Washington.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cedar and spice.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is a big, ripe wine (especially for Walla Walla) but there is some depth.  Black cherries, some cassis and cedar notes.  This drinks well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years.  It drinks very well on its own but should work well with food to go with the ripeness (i.e. Duck a L'Orange).