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This is a series of new wines honoring "Brazen" women.  This one honors Josephine Baker whit was a 1920's showgirl and spy.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is a bit dusty with tart cherries.    It is better on the palate.  Dark cherries, some cassis.  Easy drinking but some depth.  Sour cherries on the finish.  Some alcohol shows despite it being listed at 13.5%.  This is a solid wine that needs some hearty food.  It will benefit from a bit of air.  

This is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Grenache.  It is a very drinkable wine that lists 13.5% Alc.  It retails for around $10 and this is a great value.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cocoa and plums.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Light tannins.  A nice varietal complexity.  Tart acidity. Long finish.  This probably should be drunk in the next few years.  Will work with a wide variety of foods.  Easy drinking and fun.  

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, slight tobacco and slight cocoa.  A bit drying on the palate.  Nice cassis fruit.  Some depth, there may be some upside to cellaring this wine for a few years.  Light tannins.  Not a huge wine at all.  Will work with a wide variety of foods.   Available at Nakedwines.com.  

Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, dust and a bit of spice.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Slightly tart acidity.  Plenty of cassis fruit with an underlying grittiness which is interesting.  It is a big and easy to drink Napa Cab but should have some upside over the next few years.  Plenty of fruit and not over ripe.  Will work with medium and heavier bodied foods.  Available at Nakedwines.com.

Screw capped.  Pale silvery/green/gold in color.  The nose is a mythical combination of New Zealand and old school California.  That is to say, lots of tropical fruits (guava and pineapple) and also a grassiness to it.  Very pleasant and easy.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  The tropical fruit carries thru.  Nice acidity to counter.  Dry.  Slightly oily texture (a good thing).  Long finish.  This is an easy drinking wine, but has some depth.  Works with lighter and medium bodied foods.  It probably won't get better but should drink well for a few years.  Available at Nakedwines.com.

Golden in color.  The nose is classic Rhys and gorgeous.  Lemon cream and vanilla with an underlying rocky minerality.  On the palate, this is almost seamless in a creamy texture.  Lemon and vanilla notes.  Bright fruit.  It is not as big as some vintages but this is not reticent either.  Delicious.  Still youthful.  It opens in the glass and improves in the bottle.  So good right now it might not be worth risking holding, but it should still get better.  One of the best California Chardonnays I have had.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries and some roasted meats.  On the palate, this has sweet black raspberry fruit.  It approaches cloying but not quite.  Also some blueberries.  This is a big jammy fruit filled wine.  It will probably a difficult food match but drinks easy and great on its own.  Hard to say how long it will age but drinking in the next five years should be safe.  

This is a $10 bottle of Zinfandel.  It is just about exactly what one would expect (in a good way).  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cherries with some alcohol.  Slightly candied.  On the palate, cherries with some heat.  A bit dusty.  No complexity but nothing really off either.  This would make a nice choice at a large party.  

Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, slight bramble, and a bit of pepper.  On the palate, this is lighter in style.  Cherry fruit.  Some warmth.  It doesn't seem like this will improve but it makes for enjoyable drinking.  Works better especially well with spicy Indian food.  Probably should be drink in the next few years.  

This was surprisingly open and drinking well if still youthful.  Purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, char, and black pepper.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  Boysenberry fruit with some pepper.  Nice complexity.  Good finish.  This should improve for the next five years.  Needs big food.