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This bottle is doing well and while not quite up to the level of a bottle a couple years ago, that seems more bottle variation or just a different day.  Purple in color.  The nose is deep with cassis, and spice.  Perhaps a bit more air would have allowed the wine to open more.  On the palate, this has a nice energy.  Cassis, a roasted herbal note and slight tannins.  Worked well with food.  This still seems like it easily could coast for another decade.  A nice way to get a great Cab in the house style without paying for the Monte Bello.  

This is from the Cortina vineyard which is older low yielding vines.  It is a bit pricier but still a nice value in the red wine world and an outstanding wine.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  Clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, baking spice and black pepper.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Rich and velvety yet the wine is concentrated.  Lots of depth and complexity as well.  Black cherries, earth, bramble and slight pepper.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  A very pretty wine that was better on Day 2.  This should easily last a decade although for th

This drinks like an old school Zinfandel.  It took some time to open and then drank quite well.  It is not a fruit bomb.  Deep ruby in color.  Really a very interesting color for a Zinfandel.  On the nose this has nice cherries with a peppery quality to it.  Very concentrated.  On the palate, this is also concentrated.  Layers of cherries, black cherries and warm earth.  Some pepper on the finish.  This is great on its own or with food as well.  Seems like it should last a decade as its "claret" qualities come out.  A pleasure to taste.  Better on day 2.  

Boy, this is in a nice place right now.  Delicious and enjoyable and seems to have put on a bit of weight and showing more complexity than it did on release.  Purple in color, clear and dark.  The nose has nice black cherry fruit with a bit of dust and a bit of bramble.  Slight tannins.  The black cherry fruit continues to the palate.  There is some depth here along with a bit of warm gravelly notes.  Long finish.  This makes easy drinking and was just as good on Day 2.  It is great on its own and will go well with BBQ and other hearty or spicy foods.  Great value!

Copper/salmon pink in color.  The nose is very clean with watermelons.  On the palate, this is light in style with cherry fruit.  Clean and refreshing with a long finish.  Served to a group of our friends, it was very popular.  This is better with food.  It has a nice acidity and works well with almost all foods.  Made from "traditional Rose" varietals according to the back label.  

Bonterra specializes in using organically grown grapes.  Pale silvery salmon pink in color.  The nose is light but has some nice strawberries.  On the palate, the fruit is more watermelon and quite pronounced.  Juicy watermelons at that.  Very refreshing.  There is a slight bitterness on the finish but overall this is a quality rose that is very enjoyable.  This is (well) under $20 and a very nice value.  While some say we should drink Rose all year round, I can't wait for the weather to warm up and sip some on a warm evening outside.  This will sip great on its own or work well with fruit

Whether you like this wine comes down to style.  It is well made in the "classic" new world style with rich, opulent tropical fruit, butter and oak.  It does seem to be a bit past its prime so drinking sooner than later is called for.  Golden in color.  The nose has butterscotch, spice, mango and butter.  On the palate, this has a voluptuous texture.  Decent acidity certainly helps it work with food.  The buttery and spice notes are predominant on the palate but there is some tropical fruit quality.  This is not my preferred style of Chardonnay but it is certainly better than many in the ca

Sadly Ulises Valdez has passed away too young.  This bottle was opened for a time when tasted (I believe for 24 hours), so take that into account.  It is drinking very well though.  Golden in color with a bit of straw.  On the nose, this is nice with slight green apples, some hay and some butterscotch.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  There is some depth here.  Drinking very well with some lemon/citrus and a nice minerality.  Good finish.  Worked well with some appetizers as we stood around talking.  

This was quite good.  It is still young but drinking great.  It should continue to evolve and mature and should be good for another decade and probably more.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim.  On the nose, this has nice bramble, black cherry fruit, raspberries, pepper and spice.  A very nice lush texture.  Black cherries on the palate with underlying char and dry earth.  Long finish.  This is delicious and continued to open though it didn't take long to finish the bottle.  Would work well with spicy foods and grilled foods.  

Paso Robles is making some of the best Syrahs anywhere in the world.  They have a warm fruit profile and are delicious.  Dark purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, slight roasted meats, black pepper and spice.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy yet lush.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with pepper notes and some underlying char.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This works with roasted foods.  Another good match are Indian foods.