Vina Herminia 2001 Rioja Reserva

Dark ruby color.

Cherry smell, restrained oak, hints of leather and earthiness.

Medium body, red cherry flavor, oak, leather, blackberry, and peach, bright acid.

Good bottle for $24.99. A new purchase, this 2001 bottling is, in my opinion, not fading, but fully ready. It lacks the overwhelming oak that has long prejudiced me against Rioja. With this bottle I'm starting to come around, though. I'm thinking this'd match well with a simple roast beef.

Monticello Vineyards 2005 Napa Valley, Corley Family Syrah, Estate Grown, Signature Collection

Dark garnet color.

Prune and leather smells, floral notes in the background.

Warm dark stone fruit flavors, a bit bitter in the middle, gets a little thin at the end. Very good acid throughout, not always true of 100% Syrah so I suspect a little bit of high acid wine like Viognier in the blend, a good thing if true.

A "mixed message" sort of bottle for $23.99: a big flavorful mouthful at the start that tails away to an inadequate end.

King Estate 2007 Oregon Pinot Gris, Signature Collection

Extremely pale straw color.

Pronounced smell of grapefruit, apple, lemon, some melon.

Off-dry to dry apple flavor, with citrus and hints of petillance.

An adequate bottle for $21.99 but not much of a bargain. Food-friendly with enough acid to match even oily food, but without any other special merit.

Oreana 2005 Central Coast Pinot Noir

Darker-than-medium garnet color.

Smells of raspberry, blueberry, plum, then oak and alcohol are noticeable at the end.

Blackberry and prune flavors and warm alcohol.

A big punchy fruit-bomb that doesn't pretend to Burgundian character. Doesn't even attempt it. An enjoyable bottle for $19.99 so long as you're not offended by a Pinot Noir this brawny. Exuberant!

Sepp Moser 2007 Apetlon Muskat Ottonel

Water-pale straw color, considerable petillance evident.

Sweet perfumed smell with grapefruit and apple.

Mild barely off-dry pear flavor, thin in the middle and after, petillant. Flabby, lacks acid.

An unsatisfying bottle for $17.50. Lacks depth or conviction. After a nice smell typical of muscat, it just fades away without making an impression.

Chateau Potensac 2005 Medoc

Deep opaque reddish purple color, deep ruby in the depths.

Rich plum, black cherry, pencilbox cedar smells with a bit of mint.

Plum and prune flavors, cedar and herbs.

Good bottle for $21.99. Budget-priced Medoc was the first wine I learned to love, taught by my friend Phillippe, so this has a bit of Autumn reminiscencing for days of Spring in it. Experience (various cases of Robert Pepi Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon to wit) has taught that I can't adequately judge how well red wines will age, so I plan to drink this up. Shall I guess what makes up the blend? Lush Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot without a doubt, but I bet there's pedestrian Cabernet Franc in there and I wouldn't be surprised to learn of stemmy Petit Verdot and perhaps black Cot as well.

David Bruce 2006 Central Coast Petite Sirah

Opaque deep purple color. Petite Sirahs are traditionally described as "tooth-staining" and I am, I find, a traditionalist at heart.

Rich plum smell, black cherry, peach, moderate oak.

Full-bodied plum & prune flavors, black pepper. Restrained use of oak, bright acid, smooth tannins. Juicy and good!

A very satisfying, classy, $20.99 bottle from a winemaker better known for pricier Burgundian-style Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.