2004 Reilly's Shiraz Dry Land

**2004 Reilly's Shiraz Dry Land (Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley)** The nose had mostly blueberry and tar. There was also a little bit of chocolate and licorice, some pepper, and a big shot of creme and cherry and the end. The palate was rich, sweet, and juicy. It had lots of cherry and blueberry, a touch of mocha, tar, and pepper, and a very good licorice finish. The tannins were nice and firm, so it should drink well for 5 or 6 more years at least. (91 pts.)

2007 Iron Horse Vineyards Chardonnay Unoaked

**2007 Iron Horse Vineyards Chardonnay Unoaked (USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley)** The first thing you'll notice about that this wine is the color. It's almost clear as water. The nose is very floral with apple and pear undertones. It also has quite a bit of spice. The palate is slightly sweet. There is lots of apple and pear fruit upfront. Underneath was some very nice spice. It finishes with some very tasty floral notes. This is my style of Chardonnay. (91 pts.)

2006 Michael-David Vineyards Zinfandel Gluttony

**2006 Michael-David Vineyards Zinfandel Gluttony (USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi)** The nose had sweet vanilla and blueberry, and some blackberry at the end. The palate was soft and sweet, with blueberry, blackberry, earth, and a very vanilla finish. (90 pts.)

2005 Pax Syrah The Terraces Alder Springs Vineyard

**2005 Pax Syrah The Terraces Alder Springs Vineyard (USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County)** The nose was very tight. I got a little licorice and blueberry, and a touch of floral notes at the end. The palate was thick and rich, with licorice, floral notes, and a blueberry finish. (91 pts.)

2006 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon

**2006 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)** The nose had black currant and spice, leather, and dirt. The palate was soft and sweet, with black currant, black raspberry, pepper, earth, and a big oaky finish. (88 pts.)

2006 5 Mile Bridge Zinfandel Margarita Vineyard

**2006 5 Mile Bridge Zinfandel Margarita Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)** The nose had blueberry and bramble, raspberry, and some vanilla at the end. The palate was smooth, with blueberry, raspberry, spice, pepper, and a slightly oak finish. (90 pts.)

2006 Donati Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Paicines

**2006 Donati Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Paicines (USA, California, Central Coast, Paicines)** The nose had black currant and raspberry, vanilla, and some earth at the end. The palate was spice and had lots of red and black fruit. It finished with a hit of oak. (90 pts.)

2007 Justin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

**2007 Justin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)** There was a lot of leather and spice on the nose. It also had cherry and plum. Towards the end there was some wet leaves. The palate was soft and fruity. It had cherry and plum, earth, caramel, and a good vanilla finish. (91 pts.)

2007 Sequana Pinot Noir Sarmento Vineyard

**2007 Sequana Pinot Noir Sarmento Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands)** The nose had black tea and root beer, cherry, blackberry, and a little clay at the end. The palate was very soft and had blackberry, tea, cherry, earth, and a very good plum finish. (92 pts.)

2008 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills

**2008 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills)** The nose had quite a bit of lemon and honey. There was also an herbaceous quality, along with minerals and wax. The palate was rich and slightly salty. It had a bunch of lime juice, plus some stone of the finish. A really nice Old World style wine. (92 pts.)

2006 Tenuta Sette Ponti Cieli Yantra Toscana Maremma Toscana IGT

**2006 Tenuta Sette Ponti Cieli Yantra Toscana Maremma Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Maremma, Maremma Toscana IGT)** There was lots of fruit upfront on the nose. Mainly plum with a little bit of cherry. I also got a little pepper and a bit of dirt. The palate had great acidity and ripe tannins. There was a lot of plum and pepper, followed by some spice and earth. It finished with some sour cherry. (87 pts.)

2005 Roberto Voerzio Dolcetto d'Alba Priavino

**2005 Roberto Voerzio Dolcetto d'Alba Priavino (Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba)** The nose was very tight, even though I decanted it for about 5 hours. I got a little blackberry, earth, and licorice. The palate was extremely acidic. It had quite a bit of blackberry preserves, plus some licorice. It finished with a little earthiness. I tried it with food, but even a hearty beef stew couldn't save it. It was drinkable, but just barely. (79 pts.)

2007 Pax Syrah Cuvée Christine

**2007 Pax Syrah Cuvée Christine (USA, California, Sonoma County)** Not one of the best Pax noses I have smelled. It was a lot more fruity than the others. There was black currant and cherry, small amounts of tar and pepper, and a rush of vanilla at the end. The palate was a bit thin, but it did have more of the smoke and tar I like so much. There was also cherry and black currant, and it had a nice pepper finish. (90 pts.)

2003 Royal Oporto (Real Companhia Velha) Porto Vintage

**2003 Royal Oporto (Real Companhia Velha) Porto Vintage (Portugal, Douro, Porto)** The nose had blackberry and figs, chocolate, and a tiny hint of spice. The palate was very thick, and had raspberry, raisins, milk chocolate, and a good fig finish. (95 pts.)

2000 Barone Ricasoli Vin Santo del Chianti Classico

**2000 Barone Ricasoli Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Vin Santo del Chianti Classico)** The nose had a lovely dried apricot and toffee aroma. At the end was some nuttiness and figs. The palate had a wonderful buttered toffee flavor. It also had coffee, figs, and a nutty finish. (94 pts.)

2004 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

**2004 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (USA, California, Napa Valley)** The nose had candied plums, chocolate, spice, and vanilla. The palate was soft, and had mocha, black currant, vanilla, and a good spicy finish. (90 pts.)

1996 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

**1996 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (USA, California, Napa Valley)** The nose was very earthy - dirt and cedar mainly. There was also spice, cherry, black currant, and some plum at the end. The palate had a lot of body. It had cherry and spice, black currant, dirt, and a great plum finish. (91 pts.)

2007 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja Veraton

**2007 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja Veraton (Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja)** The nose had a load of dark berries and vanilla, some rose petals, and a little cake spice at the end. The palate was soft and juicy, with raspberry and blackberry, cake spice, vanilla, and a nice floral finish. (93 pts.)

2007 Brancaia Tre Toscana IGT

**2007 Brancaia Tre Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)** The nose had raspberry and chocolate, cherry, a little earth and spice, and a hint of vanilla. The palate was soft and ripe. It had black currant and pepper, cherry, mocha, and a subtle vanilla finish. (92 pts.)

N.V. Perrier-Jouët Champagne Grand Brut

**N.V. Perrier-Jouët Champagne Grand Brut (France, Champagne)** The nose had a lot of smoke, plus some apricot and honey. It also had a touch of citrus. The palate was crisp, with great acidity. There was a quite a bit of yeast and citrus. It finished with a smoky honey flavor. (91 pts.)

2008 Dain Wines Pinot Noir Anticipation La Encantada

**2008 Dain Wines Pinot Noir Anticipation La Encantada (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills)** The nose on this is really big. I got black cherry and mushroom, a big shot of blackberry, a little asian spice, and a final dollop of vanilla. The palate was very rich and soft. It had blackberry and black cherry, forest floor, white pepper, and a fairly large oak finish. (92 pts.)

2007 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée

**2007 L'Aventure Estate Cuvée (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)** The nose had blueberry, burnt wood, blackberry, graphite and vanilla. The palate was thick and rich, and had blueberry, blackberry, pencil lead, charcoal, and an oak finish. (93 pts.)

2007 L'Aventure Côte-à-Côte

**2007 L'Aventure Côte-à-Côte (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)** This wine was a little tight. I did get some cherry, earth and licorice. The palate had black currant, dried leaves, licorice, and a cherry finish. (91 pts.)

2007 L'Aventure Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

**2007 L'Aventure Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)** The nose had blackberry, and pencil lead. It ended with some creme and smoke. The palate was soft, and had black currant, creme, graphite and smoke. (93 pts.)

2007 L'Aventure Optimus

**2007 L'Aventure Optimus (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)** The nose had lots of charcoal, plus some smoke, blackberry and cassis. The palate had good acidity, with blackberry, smoke, burnt wood, and some cassis on the finish. (92 pts.)

2005 Domaine Fond Croze Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée Vincent de Catari

**2005 Domaine Fond Croze Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée Vincent de Catari (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages)** The nose had a load of licorice and black currant. There was also a little cherry and dirt, and some floral notes toward the end. The palate was very juicy. It had black currant and dirt, some tar and smoke, and a pleasant cherry oak finish. (88 pts.)

2008 Buehler Vineyards Chardonnay

**2008 Buehler Vineyards Chardonnay (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)** The nose was fruity and spicy. It had apple, citrus, and a little peach. It ended with some floral notes. The palate was thick and a bit hot (I tasted this at room temperature). It had a lot of citrus and spice, and a subtle flower and oak finish. (85 pts.)

2006 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge

**2006 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge (USA, California, Napa Valley)** The nose had plum, licorice, earth, and spice. It finished with cherry. The palate was rich with dark fruit, but also had spice, licorice, and spice. The tannins were very firm, but tasty. (92 pts.)

2007 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank

**2007 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank (USA, California, Napa Valley)** The nose had blueberry, black currant, Ben-Gay, and some smoke at the end. the palate was big and juicy, with black currant, spice, smoke, and a finish that was a mix of blueberry and Ben-Gay. (93 pts.)

2006 Château Semonlon

**2006 Château Semonlon (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc)** The nose had cherry and spice, with some earth at the end. the palate was smooth, and had dark fruit, spice, and an earthy finish. (88 pts.)

2006 Carlton Cellars Pinot Noir Roads End

**2006 Carlton Cellars Pinot Noir Roads End (USA, Oregon)** The nose had loads of black fruit and spice. There was also a lot of oak. The palate was very sweet, with the same dark fruit and spice as the nose. Not my style of Pinot. (1 view)

N.V. Cain Vineyard & Winery Cain Cuvèe NV6

**N.V. Cain Vineyard & Winery Cain Cuvèe NV6 (USA, California, Napa Valley)** The nose had raspberry and sage, and a little vanilla. The palate was juicy, and had herbs and cherry, spice, and a raspberry finish. (88 pts.)

2004 Fattoria dei Barbi (Colombini) Brunello di Montalcino

**2004 Fattoria dei Barbi (Colombini) Brunello di Montalcino (Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino)** The nose had earth and tobacco, with some spice and cherry at the end. The palate had fair firm tannins, with sour cherry, earth, spice, and a tobacco finish. (91 pts.)

2007 Carlisle Two Acres

**2007 Carlisle Two Acres (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)** The nose had black currant and tar, cherry and pepper, and a nice smoky vanilla finish. After decanting for 5 hours, the palate was very soft. The acidity was good and it had a lot of juicy, dark fruit. It finished with a shot of tar, smoke, and pepper. (92 pts.)

2007 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors

**2007 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)** The nose had really bright cherry and cranberry fruit. Underneath were subtle hints of forest floor, pepper, and vanilla. The palate was soft and had good acidity. The cranberry was dominate with hints of cherry behind it. It finished with a very good pepper and earth mix. Very well done. (93 pts.)

2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard

**2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)** The nose was a little tight. It may be too young. I decanted it about 5 hours. I did get some raspberry and cherry, a little chocolate, and a hint of bramble towards the end. The palate was more explosive than the nose. It had raspberry and chocolate, and a nice cherry and bramble finish. The acid and tannins were very strong, making me think it needs a few more years. Still good now, though. (91 pts.)