Ruby in color, some purple.  On the nose this has some cherry juice and also some celery.  On the palate, the green streak is a bit out of balance.  There is some cherry fruit.  It seems a bit disjointed at present.  Perhaps it comes around with time.  I am told this sells for around $60.  Certainly worth drinking but not a great value for my tastes.  

Deep ruby in color.  The nose has dark cherries, some smoke, some leather and a bit of spice.  Great silky but full texture.  On the palate, dark and sour cherries with some forest floor.  Shows a nice complexity.  It opens beautifully in the glass.  Great with food.  Long finish.  This wine has soul.  

This is Cabernet Franc from Italy.  It is really quite good if a bit on the riper side.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, roasted herbs, and slight cigar box.  On the palate, this has a juicy acidity.  Plenty of dark cherry fruit.  Some tannins.  It is just getting to maturity at this point but not quite.  Certainly plenty of life left.  Food friendly.  Showing some complexity, it unwinds in the glass.  Has some upside for improvement.  

This is a field blend with over 30 different types of grape interspersed throughout the vineyard, much of it zinfandel and alicante bouschet, but also tempranillo, mondeuse, carignane and mourvedre.  Pop and pour, it is very interesting.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls.  The nose has a some barnyard which seems to be brettanomyces ( a yeast that is in wines).  It is possible its just from the Mondeuse or possibly some Mourvedre.  In addition, there is great black cherry fruit and a bit of anise.  On the palate, this has tart red cherry fruit with a bit of earthiness.  Slightly drying

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, cedar and a bit of menthol.  On the palate, this has nice cassis fruit with spice and slight dry earth.  It is ripe enough given the vintage.  Not a lot of depth but perhaps that might still develop.  Works well with food.  Drinks like an old school Napa Cab with nice balance.  Good finish.  

Some of the older standards of California wine get short shifted by the new comers.  Pride is one of those whose wines stand the test of time and over a variety of great wine makers.  This wine is purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, dark chocolate, spice and cedar.  On the palate, there is plenty of dark cherry fruit layered with brown tobacco notes.  There are firm tannins that seem to grow in the glass.  Despite being 11 years from vintage, this really needs time or air.  There appears to be enough fruit to outlast the tannins.  There is certainly more upside on this wine.  

From the shores of Lake Erie in Northeastern Ohio, this is a serious attempt at a quality Riesling.  And they succeed.  Light green gold in color.  The nose has some lemon, slight peach and slight petrol (kind of young for this).  On the palate, this has some green apple and peach.  It seems just slightly off dry but that may just be the fruit.  Good acidity but not bracing.  Nice finish.  This retails for $24 and is fairly priced.  I doubt many would guess its origins correctly in a blind tasting.  It probably won't make old bones and should be drunk in the next few years I would think (bu

Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with honey, ever so slight nuttiness, and some apricot.  On the palate, this is sweet.  Someone suggested "Jolly Rancher" candies and that is pretty accurate.  I might have said honeyed/sugary peaches.  There is good acidity to balance it out.  A little goes a long way.  This should last for decades to come.  

Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, saw dust, some plums and cedar.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Cherries.  Woody.  This is a simple California Cab available for around $15.  It makes not pretense about what it is.  Drinkable.  Good for a party.  

One of my go to wines for inexpensive but really good red wines.  This costs around $25 a bottle and really over delivers.  Purple in color.  The nose has some raspberries, dark cherries, a bit of bramble, and some char.  On the palate, this has a nice full bodied texture.  It is young now and would probably last 10 years except that I can't manage not to drink these.  Black cherries, boysenberries, some black licorice on the palate.  Light to medium tannins.  Good acidity.  Works well on its own or with food.  Nice finish.  Some upside potential to improve with age for a couple of years.