Wines Tasted in November

2005 Basel Cellars Cabernet Franc Reserve Chelle Den Millie USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Roasted coffee all over the nose. Lots of green vegetal aromas (in a good way) along with a background of blackberry. Smoothe, but punctuated tannic structure. On the palate there are lots of veggie flavors. A bit like drinking a sodium free V8. Flavor doesn't last terribly long, but the tannins are sticking with me for a couple of minutes. Would purchase again.

2004 Pomum Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills Decanted, not much sediment. Tooth staining color. The aroma of red bloody meat that was so heavy on this wine when I first tried it has subsided into the background. This has been replaced with what I would call a scorched earth smell, smokey and dirty (a good thing). I wasn't getting much on the palate in the beginning, though the mouthfeel was thick and there was plenty of sweet tannins. After about two hours the flavor shifted over to an intense blueberry tart. Finish lasted a while. Based on the structure and how it opened up over time I would say this can last a few more years. Would purchase again.

2002 Stevens Merlot Tiki USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Not one of the strongest offerings from Stevens. Still a very good drink, but the other wines I have had are more in the WoW range. Fruit was very restrained but did start to show up after a couple of hours in the decanter. Tannins were nicely resolved and smoothe. The second day the oak has started to dominate and the acid level has stepped up a notch. Nose of vanilla and black raspberries.

2003 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington Let me caveat this with the fact that I have a slight head cold. Buttered corn on the nose. The palate had a little alcohol twinge up front that smoothed out once the wine was in the glass a few minutes. Great fruit flavors that sat behind some strong but fine grained tannins. A little bit of smoke to round it out. Wine still has a lot of upside as it comes together. Would purchase again.

2004 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County Consistent with prior bottles. Would purchase again

2003 Edge Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley Somewhat one dimensional. Sweet fruit right in the front of the tongue, but then the wine just gets flat. Prefer a more complex wine. Wouldn't purchase again.

2002 Penny's Hill Shiraz Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale Very nice. Decanted for sediment and then let sit two hours to breathe. Wonderful mouthfeel, silky yet substantial. Nose of dark fruits. No alcohol burn. Tannins were still grippy without being overpowering. Could use more time in the bottle to settle down more, but is drinking fine right now. Saved a glass for the next day and the wine picked up a nose of scotch, what I would describe as a light peaty smoke. Would purchase again.

2003 SYZYGY Red Wine Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Slight hint of VA. Mouthfeel is kind of thin. Flavors of sour cherries. Wine just didn't come together like I was hoping for. Would not purchase again.

2001 Domaine Coteau Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Yamhill County DOA. Oh well, was hoping that the last few bottles were just an abberation.

Non Vintage Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Pulled this out to either celebrate(we did) or drown our sorrows. Simple, yeasty apple cider. Kind of a harsh metalic undertone. Decent for what it is and the price point it sits at. Good to have on hand for informal celebrations. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Nothing wrong, nothing great. Drank half the bottle, used part for cooking and will see if the rest can last one more night.

2003 Inniskillin Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Series Dark Horse Estate Vineyard Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA Decent drink. Not alot of complexity, but was very enjoyable. Muted cherry nose, none of the earthiness that I typically like. For the price it is a good midweek pinot to go with salmon. Probably wouldn't break it out for a dinner party. Would purchase again.

2001 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Not exactly a syrah, but it fit in nicely with the other two bottles. Softer than the 2002 Rulo Syrah and more complexity on the nose. I had a hard time deciding which was from Washington and which was from France. Very similar wines.

2002 Rulo Syrah Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Very nice bottle. Nothing remarkable about this wine, but if were put in front of me on a nightly basis I would drink it. Drinks easily right out of the bottle, no need to decant. Medium length finish. Goes well with duck.

2002 Wolf Blass Shiraz Presidents Selection Australia, South Australia Somewhat green at first and highly volitile. I picked up notes of mint. After about two hours in the decanter it opened up and softened quite a bit. I would decant this wine a day ahead next time to soften it up.

2005 Stevens Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Nice merlot with a good structure. Typically I find 100% merlot a little too soft and mushy. This has a nice backbone of acidity and is not too fruit forward. Drank over two days. Was still holding up very nicely after 24 hours. The oak only made one appearance about four hours into the first night and then went back to an accompanying role. Nose wasn't giving up a lot, but the palate had plenty of black cherries and blackberries. Finish could have been a bit longer. Would purchase again.

1999 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Dedication Series USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Decanted, not too much sediment. Really well balanced wine. Color was not showing it's age, but the dustiness on the mouthfeel showed that this was starting to mature. One the nose there was a huge amount of cedar cigar box with an underlying note of black cherry and oak. On the palate there was a strong element of mintiness. Finish didn't last as long as I would have preferred. The wine was so good, I was hoping it would stick around a bit longer. Definitely need to start adding some of the Old Vines to the cellar. Would purchase again.

2001 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes Paired with an apricot tart. Was worried about the nose as soon as I poured into the glass. At first thought that it might be corked(it wasn't). The nose was somewhat closed with a bit of a mustiness. Didn't find that the nose opened up even with time and air. In total contrast, the palate was lively and lush all at the same time. Flavors of peach, apricot and fig. The mouthfeel was pure heavy cream. Plenty of acidity to keep the back of the palate clean. Would purchase again.

2007 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc ASecondThought USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Didn't pre chill the bottle, so first glass was a little warm. Mouthfeel was a bit fatter than I typically like with my Sauv blanc. Hints of grass and stone fruits. Second glass was more in line with what I was expecting (once it was chilled). Acidity was much more in the fore front and crisp. Flavor profile turned tropical. Paired well with an arugula blue cheese salad with vinagrette. Would purchase again.

2007 Sleight of Hand Cabernet Franc Magician's Assistant Rosé Frenchtown Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Bright pink strawberry bubblegum. Paired well with spicy pork stir fry. Very refreshing. Really just a solid effort. Would purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Really wish that I had purchase a couple more cases of this wine. Did not decant. Such a great mouthfeel. Very balanced, this wine has a good combination of dark fruits, oak, smoke and sweet tannins. Would purchase again.

2006 Bodegas Ochoa Navarra Spain, Navarra Had a bottle at Andaluca in Seattle. Nose and palate started off with tart raspberries and then the palate moved on to sweet cherries. Towards the end of the meal the wine picked up a distinct chocolate covered espresso bean flavor. Tasty wine. Would purchase again.

2001 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rufina Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rufina Nice. Lots of dried flowers. Has a nice balance of acid to cut through the food. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Zinfandel USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi Has the homemade funk. Just not coming into it's own. Kind of dissapointing. Guess that we will have plenty of cooking wine unless this start to come around.

2003 Hedges Family Estate CMS USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Haven't been a fan of this in the past but it was drinking nicely tonight. Smokey dark fruits. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Consistent with prior bottles. Good wine to open when you need multiple bottles. Would purchase again.

2004 Avery Lane Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Good QPR bottle. Somewhat of a band-aid scent that blew off after a while. Good dose of sweet fruit flavors. The tannins were a bit lacking and so the back palate was somewhat flabby. Would purchase again.

2001 Terra Blanca Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Decanted. Inky black. Loads of dark fruit. On the back palate there is a hint of mint. Nicely complex. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Another solid bottle of wine. Bit of apple, oak and pear. Decent amount of acidity. Would purchase again.

2003 Bergevin Lane Calico Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Still a good idea to decant. Wine is slowly starting to mellow. Was still a bit harsh, but there are some really good things going on just below the surface. Would purchase again.

2004 Waving Tree Sangiovese Estate USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Nice, light sangiovese. Needs food. By itself it was a little flat, but with red pasta sauce the floral elements came to life. Not as complex as chianti, but definitely good for a midweek pasta night. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Merlot Two Vines USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Kept getting recommendations to try this wine. Was very impressed for the price. Going to go out and buy a bunch more for an everyday kind of wine. Needs to be decanted because of lots of sediment. Had a nose that reminded me of vintage port. Will purchase again.

2004 Latitude 46 The Power and the Glory USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Popped and poured. Probably should have done a decant just for the sediment. Nose was like a smore with blackberries instead of chocolate. Elements of graham cracker and burnt sugar along with huge blackberry. Mouthfeel was very full with nicely resolved tannin structure. Palate was mostly oak with a little bit of black fruit. Finish was medium length. Would purchase again.

2005 Rulo Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Only got a couple of tastes from this bottle as I brought it to a tasting. Double decanted 3 hours before the tasting. Initial aroma was packed with smoke. Maybe 5 hours after initial opening it really settled down and was lush and smoothe. Really enjoyed this wine and I think it is a great QPR in the state of WA. Would purchase again.

2004 Stevens Cabernet Sauvignon XY USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Only had a little bit of this at a tasting tonight. Double decanted 3 hours before the tasting. I was not feeling this wine tonight. Way to sharp on the nose and the mouthfeel was thinner than I remember. However, I may have been smoking something as it was the wine of the night for a number of other people at the tasting. As I can say it was just an off bottle for me (others I have had have been consistantly great) I would purchase again.

2004 Patrick M. Paul Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Cork was soaked all the way through to the top. Nose wasn't giving much up right away. Opened up a little while later with a little bit of sharp red fruits. On the palate it tasted like a sweet tart dusted in cinnamon. Finish was short. Ok bottle of wine, but nothing special. Probably would not purchase again.

2004 San Juan Vineyards Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Drank rather than studied the wine. Didn't seem to be overly oaked or buttery. That being said it was not a steely beast either. Good fruit flavor, but can't for the life of me remember what flavors they were??? Nice wine, would purchase again.

2004 Waters Interlude USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Really solid effort. Color of this wine was a little odd, reminded me of triaminic cough syrup. It was a light pomegranate. Nose had good amounts of dark fruit and a bit of smoke. Nice fruit forward flavor profile with light tannic bite. Medium length finish. After about three hours the wine became a bit dumb and one dimensional. Oak flavor started to dominate. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Meriwether Pinot Noir Discovery USA, Oregon Dry dry dry. Not much fruit or anything else for that matter. Just dry sparkling wine. Fit the bill for what I wanted it for. Going to use the rest of it this morning in momosas. Would not purchase again.

2000 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Willamette Valley USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley Did not decant, but opened and let breathe for 2 hours before drinking. Heavy candy element. My wife pinned it as twizzlers. Not really my style of Pinot, prefer to have some mushroom or forest floor. After about 4 hours being opened the acidity took over and the wine fell apart. Decent drink, but didn't get me excited. Would not purchase again.

2006 El Mirador Counoise USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Can't say that I crave this wine, but it is very interesting. Very light coloring, kind of similar to a Pinot Noir. On the nose there are elements of blueberry and strawberry with a strong aroma of green peppercorns. Flavors were similar to the nose. Bit of sourness. Short finish. Was worth it one time, but would not purchase again.

Non Vintage Prager Winery and Port Works Petite Sirah Port USA, California, Napa Valley Very nice young port. Aromas of chocolate covered raisins. Flavor was dominated by the fortification. The wine was somewhat of an aftertaste. Goes nicely as an after dinner drink. Don't think that this would last more than a few years in a cellar.

2004 Vin du Lac Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Nice dark color. Notes of green vegetables and mulling spiceson the nose. More green notes on the palate. Too much of a tannic bite on the tongue. Short finish. Wife really likes this wine, I find it a little too harsh. Would not purchase again.

2002 Dunham Cellars Three Legged Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Fruit forward. Very nice early out of the bottle. Heavy on the oak as the wine sits. After 20 minutes in the glass you lose almost all of the fruit and have oak left. Nice wine to "drink", not the best to taste.

2003 Owen Sullivan M Klipsun Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Decanted. Still a bit young, could use a couple of years in the cellar. Really opened up when it was paired with a rare tenderloin steak. Good fruit flavors, balanced and a thick but smoothe mouthfeel. After a couple of hours the oak component started to show it's face. Reminded me a lot of the first time I tasted Cedergreen Cellars Thuja. Going to purchase more of this and let it age a bit. Will purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Not much of a nose right out of the bottle. After an hour there was a bit of baking spices and then a sweet berry flavor really popped. Oak started to come through and then really started to dominate. Finish was very short. Not the wine it once was, but still tasty. Would purchase again.

2005 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros Big Chardonnay bordering on obese. Huge nose of vanilla creamsicle. One of the best mouthfeels I have had in a wine. Felt like I was drinking cream on the front palate, without that gummy part of the cream in the throat. Flavors of creme brulee and cooked honey. Oak was present but not dominating. Acid structure in the beginning was enough to pair with dinner (lemon basil chicken) but the wine started to get tiring by the end of the evening. Really enjoyed this wine, but may have been a little over the top. Think of Holloween as a kid, you start off the night looking forward to all of the candy and it is very satisfying when you dig into the first few pieces. But by the end of the night your stomach hurts and the idea of stuffing one more item in your mouth doesn't sound so good anymore. Would I drink this with a bunch of friends? Yes. Would I split a whole bottle with my wife again? Not likely. Worth purchasing for the right scenario.

2005 Mannina Cellars Sangiovese USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Very light color with a little touch of cloudiness. Color reminded me of unfiltered cranberry juice. Aromas of earth, flowers and a touch of orange peel. Oak was present on the palate with more elements of earth. Notes of sour cherry and lots of chewy tannins. Very pleasent drinker. Would purchase again.

2005 Guardian Cellars Gun Metal Conner Lee USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Needed some air. Unfortunately I forgot to enter my note right away and don't remember specifics. I did enjoy the wine and thought that it was a good value for the money. Give it a good hour decant. Would purchase again.

2006 Hence Cellars Riesling USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought the magnum to Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house tonight. Figured, how often do you have the need to open up a magnum of Riesling. I really enjoy this wine. Very little residual sugar. Nice crisp acidity. The wine was served slightly too warm which brought out more of the oak profile. Was only picking up the slightest bit of the petrol aroma that I got off of the last bottle. Notes of pear and apple. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought to Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house tonight. I know I had a glass or two of this wine, but it left no lasting impression on me. I am going to have to say that it was probably consistent with prior bottles, as it didn't leave any new thoughts. Would purchase again.

2003 Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Consistent notes from other bottle drank tonight. Would not purchase again.

2003 Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought this over for Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house. Nose was a bit closed and there was a very strong green stemmy element on the palate. The fruit seemed over the top fake, almost like cheap candy. Would not purchase again.

2004 Columbia Crest Shiraz Two Vines USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought over to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner. Did not get to try any of this wine. My cousin consumed one whole bottle of this so I figure it probably tasted decent. Would purchase again for a party.

2004 Columbia Crest Shiraz Two Vines USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought over to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner. Did not get to try any of this wine. My cousin consumed one whole bottle of this so I figure it probably tasted decent. Would purchase again for a party.

2002 Woodward Canyon Red Table Wine USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Would buy again only if I was planning on drinking the whole bottle quickly. This was two wines in three hours. Right after the bottle was opened, the nose had charcoal and black pepper with a faint hint of the 93 WC cabernet I had recently. The taste was somewhat flat, lacking any distinctive character. Came back to the wine three hours later and the nose had completly closed up. The palate had become bitter and sour, like sucking on a lemon.

2004 Seven Hills Riesling USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Had with Thanksgiving dinner. A little too sweet for my liking. Nice complexity on the finish. Would purchase again.

2006 Georges Dubœuf Beaujolais Nouveau France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Beaujolais Nouveau Had with Thanksgiving dinner. It was about what I expected. Light color, high on the fruitiness level on the tongue. Not much on the nose. It reminded me of home brew wine. It was a interesting experience, but I don't think that I will do it again.

2003 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône Belleruche France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Had with Thanksgiving dinner. Nice quaffable wine. A little light in both color and aromas. Paired nicely with the dark meat of the turkey. Would purchase again.

2005 O'Reilly's Pinot Noir USA, Oregon Drank at Thanksgiving dinner. None of the earthiness that I like in pinots, but had a nice strawberry candy flavor. At the price it was a pleasent wine. Would purchace again.

2004 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Corked

2005 Cline Cellars Zinfandel California USA, California Had with thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately it was all gone before I got to it. Others said it was tasty.

2006 Masi Valpolicella Classico Bonacosta Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico Kick you in the teeth bright cherry flavor profile. Not much on the nose. Singular dimensional wine, but was great for the large group at the Italian restaurant. Would purchase again.

2005 Michele Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti Superiore Le Orme Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti Superiore PUrchased two bottles to go with a family style meal at Maggianos. Little bit of oak on the nose. Lots of ripe plum flavors on the palate. Decent finish. Paired nicely with the cream based pastas, but not so much with the salmon. Would purchase again.

1997 Shafer Merlot USA, California, Napa Valley Lots of sediment, left about an inch and a half of wine in the bottom. Bright color. Was on the downside, but still had a hints of tasty wine. Finish was clipped.

2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Very tasty. This wine is my Chardonnay alternative. Good amount of butter, oak and tropical fruit flavors. Nice mouthfeel with a crisp acidity on the finish. Nose has a slightly offputting aroma, but can't put my finger on it. All in all, a good bottle of wine. Would purchase again.

2002 Stevens Cabernet Sauvignon Big Easy USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Yummy. Tim does some wonderful wines. Great nose right after the bottle was opened, lots of black fruits. Fruit forward palate, decent mouthfeel and medium finish. Decent amount of acidity that paired wonderfully with a rare slice of prime rib. Not sure if this will get much better, so will probably drink the rest of mine in the near term.

2004 Stevens 424 USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley BOOM!...Goes the fruit bomb. Was just crazy over the top fruitiness tonight. Aroma just jumped from the bottle and filled the kitchen as soon as I popped the cork. Copious amounts of raspberries, plums, cherries and blackberries on the palate. Good dose of acidity to round it out a bit. Tannins were "grippy" but not overpowering. Can't wait to see how this developes over a few years. Would purchase again.

1996 Opus One USA, California, Napa Valley Young and fresh. Popped out at you.

1995 Northstar Merlot Walla Walla Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Past it's prime.

1981 Château Cheval Blanc France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru Incredibly balanced. Smooth and supple.

2003 Stevens 424 USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Wonderful stuff. Tim puts out good wine one after another. Decanted for one hour before pouring. Fruit forward with a good dose of smooth tannic bite on the back end. Enjoyable now, but should improve with a year or two in the bottle. Would purchase again.

2002 L'Ecole No. 41 Syrah Seven Hills Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Good bottle of Syrah. I usually prefer them with at least 5 years on them, but this is hitting on all cylinders right now. Dark and brooding, lots of meaty aromas with plenty of fruit. Double decanted, then let sit for an hour before pouring. Would purchase again.

2004 Nefarious Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope Second bottle of this young wine where the wine was soaked more than half way up the cork. Right off the bat there was a huge nose of alcohol. This blew off with about 10 minutes of air. Mouthfeel on this is just a bit too thin. Flavors of dark fruits. The wine is nice enough, but doesn't really fit the style of syrah that I enjoy. Would not purchase again.

2002 Rulo Syrah Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Smokey! Would purchase cases if I could. Rulo does such consistently good wines.

2000 Terra Blanca Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Wonderful wine, especially for the price. Tannins are still a bit in the forefront, could use a bit more time in the cellar. Would purchase again.

2003 Gallagher U Brew Italy, Sicily Good, Needs some air before it comes to life.

2005 Tsillan Cellars Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley More of a california profile than Washington. Good dose of vanilla and oak. Aromas of nectarines, peaches and white pepper. Good balanced acidity and a thick mouthfeel. Finish lasted a good 30 seconds. Would purchase again.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley This wine evolved over a couple of hours. Decanted, not much sediment. Nose of black currant, green peppers and tart cherries. Very feminine mouthfeel up front with grippy tannins on the back end. Nice finish. Would purchase again.

2004 Estampa Assemblage Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley Hoping that this is just an off bottle. Can't imagine that the wine would have gone down hill this badly in the span of 5 months. Fruit smelled stewed and there was a heavy aroma and flavor of vinegar. Poured half of it down the drain.

2003 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County Not quite as impressive as past vintages. Fruit was hidden by excessive tannins. A bit one dimensional. Would not purchase this vintage again.

2001 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Kept thinking that this was just an off vintage as most of the bottles I have had so far were a little too green. Opened one up last night to try and start getting rid of my stash and was a bit better than the last couple of bottles I have had. Got called away to do something else and left the open bottle on the table. Came back four hours later and the wine had opened up and was tasting very good. The green element was gone and there was plenty of dark fruit aromas and flavors. The mouthfeel was still a little thin, but what do you expect from a $5 wine? Next time I open one I will definitely let it sit out for a couple of hours before I start drinking. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley A little bit of jasmine on the nose. On the palate there was a mix of citrus elements and plenty of mouthwatering acidity. Age is starting to show through a bit as the mouthfeel is not as big as past bottles. Would purchase again but only for near term drinking.

Wines Tasted in October

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County Consistent with other bottles.

2001 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Not as good as the 2000 vintage. A bit more of a green note. Still a good mid week wine for a great price.

2002 Leonetti Cellar Merlot Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Complex. What I am coming to find with higher end wines is that they are head and shoulders above other wines in complexity. There was nothing drop dead tasty about this wine (though it was very good), but it was interesting from start to finish. The balance was amazing. I have never had that much oak in a wine while never once thinking about the wood. Don't know if I would ever purchase this wine again to drink. This wine makes you want to contemplate.

2005 Mannina Cellars Sangiovese USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Light color, reminded me of pommegranate juice. Wonderful nose of earth and a floral element. Good amount of fruit on the palate. Paired well with a potato and leek soup. Got a bit spicy as the evening wore on. Love it when Sangio is done right. Would purchase again.

2001 Ledson Chardonnay Russian River Valley USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley Long finish. Nose was somewhat dull. Good pear and honey flavors. Medium on the buttery texture.

2002 Frog's Leap Chardonnay USA, California, Napa Valley Heavy green apple nose and palette. Very refreshing for a hot day.

2001 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Time to start drinking these up. Still has the drying, green flavor profile. Was hoping that it was just the last couple of bottles, but no such luck. Not bad by any means, but I don't think that this is going to improve any more with age.

2006 Animale Grenache USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Popped and poured. Wife liked this better after about an hour open. Got a bit of oak and some spicy dirt. Nose was very perfumed, but could not pick up on what it was I was smelling. A bit bighty on the palate, but enjoyable. Finish was nice. Would purchase again.

2001 Terra Blanca Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Fruit forward, blackberry front palate,tannic on the backend.

2001 Domaine Coteau Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Yamhill County Cooked. Signs of seepage.

2005 Alexandria Nicole Shepherd's Mark Destiny Ridge Vineyards USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills Paired with a chantrelle crusted chicken breast. Nose was hiding a bit tonight. Getting a little bit of grassiness and green fruit. Decent amount of acidity without making the wine sharp. Enjoyed. Would purchase again.

2006 Arlington Road Cellars Riesling Imperium Charbonneau Farms USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Baking spices on the nose. A little bit of sweetness. Not as much acidity as I would like, tended to get a little bit flabby by the end of the bottle. Flavors of peach and pear. Better efforts out there for the same price point. Would not purchase again.

2003 Ross Andrew Winery Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Losing some of it's primary fruit and starting to get a bit more complex. Nose of smoke and roasted stuffed green peppers. Smoothe mouthfeel and tight dark fruit flavors. Finish was soft, but lasted a good while. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Gloria Ferrer Brut USA, California, Sonoma County Green apple quick step. Very dry, TART green apple nose and flavors. Quick finish. Decent bottle of sparkling wine for a non special occasion.

2002 Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi Still nice. Starting to lose some of it's spiciness. Tasted more like a cabernet than your typical zin. Would purchase again.

2004 Château Rouquette sur Mer Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape No nose to speak of, and the flavor is starting to fail.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Always a good bottle of wine. Decanted 3 hours before dinner. Paired with braised short ribs over gorgonzola polenta. Very complex nose that was not giving up it's mysteries tonight. Aroma was great, but couldn't put my finger on any specific items. Tannins are smooth and integrated. Nice medium length finish. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Yes USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Nice, easy drinking mid week wine. Solid fruit forward aromas and flavors. light on the tannins. Goes down nice and smoothe. Would purchase again.

2000 Château Roûmieu-Lacoste France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes Really well balanced. Noted of honeysuckle and orange peel. Good bit of acidity to offset the sweetness. Definitely not cloying. Mouthfeel was starting to get thick. Would love to see what this would taste like with some age on it. Would purchase again.

2002 Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Reserve USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Started off very tannic and then the wine completely dissapeared. Not sure what happened. There was a smell to the wine that I could not identify, but was not pleasent. Glad that I had four people around to help me finish off the bottle so we could open a different one.

1993 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Walla Walla Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Had a few years left in the cellar if I had been more patient.

2002 Buty Chardonnay Conner Lee USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley I don't tend to like Washington chardonnay, but this is wonderful. Just enough creaminess without being heavy and not overly acidic. Went well with roasted chicken in a cream and sherry sauce. Would definitely purchase again.

2004 Five Star Cellars Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley This wine went through a bit of a curve tonight. Right out of the bottle there was a heavy dark fruit component that blew off quickly. It was then taken over by a heavy roasted coffee aroma. It was nice oak, but too much oak in my opinion. Mid palate left something to be desired and the finish was slightly bitter. I expect a bit more smoothness and a more round mouthfeel from Washington Merlot. This wine was alright, but not a great QPR. Would not purchase again.

2007 Stevens Cabernet Franc Mary Jeanne USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Light red color. Have not really liked this in the past, but it was alright tonight. Paired with kalua pork sandwiches and other picnic fare. Decent bottle of wine.

2007 Trust Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Bright pink. Paired well with kalua pork sandwiches and other picnic fare. Would purchase again.

2003 Patrick M. Paul Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Powerful right out of the bottle. Did not decant. Bright ruby red color. Strong dark fruit smells. Clamed down aver an hour to more of an earthy tone and aromas of roses. Wonderful stuff. Would purchase again.

2000 Waterbrook Meritage Red Mountain USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Double decanted about an hour before dinner. Dark fruit aroma right out of the bottle, but this faded relatively quickly. Very dry wine with the tannins and oak starting to dominate. Hoping that this was just a slightly off bottle. Would purchase future vintages.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Popped and poured. Telltale sign of Boudreaux, there was just a little heat on the nose even though the wine says 13.5%. Spice component was a bit tight tonight. Still lots of dark fruit aromas and flavors. Mouthfeel was great and the finish lasted a good long time. Would purchase again.

2004 Masquerade Merlot Klipsun Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Tasty bottle of wine. Nose of roasted coffee and coconut shells. Nice balanced acidity. Flavors of dark black fruit along with a tinge of cocoa. Smoothe, though short finish. Would purchase again.

2003 Waterbrook Mélange USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Still very young. Was better the second day. Think this could use 2-4 more years in the bottle to reach it's full potential.

2003 Hedges Family Estate CMS USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Still a bit rough. Could use more time to settle down.

2004 Avery Lane Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Good as a second bottle of wine of the night. By that point anything mediocre with work. Don't remember anything particular about this wine, but it was pleasing to drink. Would purchase again.

2000 Terra Blanca Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Lots of pipe tobacco, starting to dry out, not sure how long this will keep holding. Was still very tasty though. Drink 'em if you got 'em.

2003 Walla Walla Village Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Equinox USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley A little tight right out of the bottle. Mellowed with air. Still very tasty second day. Not a lot of primary fruit flavors. Would purchase again.

2003 Edmonds Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Decanted, slight bit of sediment. Initial nose of roasted corn with butter and dog "poop". Thank goodness the poop smell blew off after a little bit. Nose turned more towards oak and smoke. There was also a fruit in there, but couldn't put my finger on it. Big wine, though the mouthfeel was a little thin. It was tasty, but there are many other producers out there at this price (and below) that deliver a better overall experience. Would not purchase again.

2006 Zolo Torrontés Argentina, Mendoza Crisp and refreshing. Slight effervessance. Tropical fruits and flowers, offset by a bit of grassiness. Just the right amount of acidity. No residual sugar, but there was just a hint of sweetness on the finish. good QPR. Would purchase again.

2005 Justin Vineyard Chardonnay USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Good retrained flavors. Not too buttery, has more of a sauvignon blanc steely edge. After about an hour the wine developed some very focused tropical fruit notes. Really pleasant. Would purchase again.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay Bishop's & Homestead USA, Washington Not the wine it once was. Golden color bordering on light amber. Very muted nose with just a little bit of fruit left. Sweet apple and caramel on the palate. If you got 'em, I'd drink 'em. Would purchase future vintages.

2004 Pomum Cellars Shya Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Popped and poured. Color was similar to dark cranberry juice. Nose is definitely a little tight, but I blame that on my drinking it so quickly out of the bottle without time to let it breathe. Hint of cranberry on the nose with some other tart fruits thrown in. Mouthfeel was nice and smoothe. More tart flavors on the palate. Finish was short but clean. would purchase again.

1999 St. Supéry Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley Very happy with this wine. Think it is a great QPR for a domestic wine that can hold some age. Starting to develope more secondary notes. More hints of leather and tobacco. Still ample dark fruit aromas and flavors. Double decanted for sediment and poured immediately. Drank over two hours and the wine did evolve nicely. Picked up a more round and full palate. This wine could cellar for another few years very comfortably. Would purchase again.

2000 J Vineyards & Winery Vintage Brut Russian River Valley USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley Nice and dry. Bought the bottle because we received one on our wedding night from the hotel and it was our four year anniversary. One of my favorite domestic sparklers. Not a lot of yeast smells which I tend to prefer, but crisp and refreshing. Would purchase again.

1997 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve USA, California, Napa Valley Had with dinner for our 5 year anniversary. Talk about a bottle of wine with a lot of time left. Decanted, lots of fine graned sediment. Deep purple core with no age showing on this wine. Lively dark fruit flavors. Nose was a bit closed. Came back to the wine three hours later and it was still young and fresh. Based on current condition, I would say that this bottle will drink well for another ten years.

2003 Four Vines Zinfandel Old Vine Cuvée USA, California Decent wine. Had with a big plate of bolognese. After a while the nose took on elements of spiced crackers. Would purchase again.

2002 Merryvale Sauvignon Blanc Starmont USA, California, Napa Valley Good. Crisp apple flavors. Had more substance to it then most Sauv Blancs I have tasted. Drink in the next six months.

2005 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Two Vines USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Needed something that would just go down easy. Showing a bit of age (odd for how young it is). Color was starting to orange a little bit and there were notes on the nose that indicated older. All in all it was uninspiring, but that is about what I expected. Would purchase again to serve a specific purpose.

2003 Boudreaux Cellars Merlot USA, Washington Has a long life ahead. Decanted. Not a lot of sediment. Dark purple. Notes of sweet fruit from a distance, the closer your nose got to the wine the tighter the wine got. Hints of dark bitter chocolate. Lots of dark fruit flavors and very grippy tannins. Would like to let this sit for a few years to see how the tannins resolve. Surprisingly, even though the wine came in at 13% alcohol, there was a touch of heat on the back of the palate that I normally associate with higher alcohol wines. Would purchase again.

2002 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County Buttery and smooth. Consistent with other vintages I have had of this wine.

2005 Fall Line Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Decanted, not much sediment. Needed about an hour to start opening up. Red fruits on the nose with a little bit of tartness. Mouthfeel was silky. Flavors were more toned down from the last time I had this wine. More red fruit, mostly raspberry. tannins and oak were nicely integrated. Finish was short but clean. Would purchase again.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley A little heavy on the oak tonight for some reason. Decent flavors. Good mid week wine. Would purchase again.

2005 Northwest Totem Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Not bringing much to the party tonight. It was good wine, but nothing stood out for me. Tannic structure was a bit soft. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this wine, but neither did anything stand out. Would not purchase again.

2001 Il Vescovado Chianti Italy, Tuscany, Chianti Too bad this was the last bottle. At $2.50 a bottle it was a great QPR. Nothing spectacular, but a great mid week wine. Paired nicely with the spaghetti Carbonara. Would purchase more if I could find it.

2005 Des Voigne Cellars Sangiovese San Remo Seven Hills Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley very light color, even more so than a pinot noir. Nice nose of rose petal, spice and a green strawberry element. Nice weight on the palate. Spice flavor comes through as well as some cherry. Nice wine. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Tefft Cellars Cabernet-Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Best boxed wine ever.

2004 B.R. Cohn Zinfandel USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley Wanted to try one of my bottles to get a base line for this wine. Purchased without tasting. Think that 2004 may have been a down year for Zin. The wine is a bit primary right now. Bright red coloring. scents of tobacco and clove. For the alcohol level I was expecting the wine to be a bit more extracted on the fruit side. Have had better Zin's in the price range and will probably go back to the Seghesio when the 2005 vintage comes out. This was a good wine, just not a good QPR. Will try another bottle in six months to a year to see if it gets better. Would not purchase again at this point.

2003 Challenger Ridge Pinot Noir USA, Washington, Puget Sound A bit harsh right out of the bottle, could have used some decanting. Started to soften up about an hour after being open. It was an alright wine but nothing struck me as Pinot. My overall impression was that it was a light boddied, easy drinking red. Would not purchase again.

2002 Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir Crannell USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley Uninspiring... Light red to orange. Fairly closed on the nose and not alot of flavors going on. It was fine to drink, but there was nothing memorable about it. Would not purchase again.

2001 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Good wine for a great price.

Wines Tasted in September

2004 Mission Hill Shiraz Reserve Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA Green peppercorns and smoke. Good dark color, however it is a much lighter style than aussie shiraz's. Not a fruit bomb at all. Some elements of fresh blackberrys, but the dominant profile is the spice. Would purchase again.

2006 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Back to a more solid effort on this wine. Better mouthfeel and structure than the 2005. Still lots of oak, but on the silky side of things. Would purchase again.

2002 Jackson-Triggs Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietors' Reserve Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA Great steal at the grocery store. They had this in their bargain bin for $5. Would have been happy to pay $12-13 for this. Very dry wine. There is an element here that I can't put my finger on but is consistent with other wines from the Osoyoos area. Probably could have used a steak to round this out a bit more, but was pleasent to drink all by itself. Would purchase again.

2004 Nefarious Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope Decanted. Wine had soaked through about half way up the cork. No sediment and very light red color. Hot on both the nose and palate. Elements of red fruit, but the wine wasn't giving up much tonight. I prefer a bit of a heavier, meatier style of Syrah. Would not purchase again at the price point.

2003 Amity Vineyards Pinot Blanc USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley Citrus notes. Acidic, but not too much. Very nice every day white. Would purchase again.

1995 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Vintage Reserve USA, California, Sonoma County, Carneros Going fast. Almost needed some raspberry liquor. Drink em if you got em.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Bricco USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley Day one...Nice wine. Hints of dried flowers. Could have used some spaghetti sauce. Think that this would be much better with food. Would purchase again.

2004 Stevens Cabernet Sauvignon XY USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Bottle was double decanted at the release party and then recorked. Drank over the next two days. Was still going strong at hour 72. The fruit faded a little bit each day, but there was plenty of stuffing to keep it going. Second day got a lot of smoke and sweet oak. Tannin structure was nice and balanced over all of the days. Would purchase again.

2002 Waterbrook Mélange USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Much softer than the previous bottle. The alcohol was still present, but was not the dominant sharpness like the last one.

2004 Château Rouquette sur Mer Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape Decent for a mid week white. Used partially for cooking. Paired with blue cheese pasta and chicken. A bit heavy on the acid.

2004 Waving Tree Sangiovese Estate USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Fresh and fruity. A little bit of spice on the back end, but fairly smoothe. Nicely pairs with tomato sauce. Great QPR. Would purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley popped and poured. Fruit really shining tonight. The smoke that I normally associate with this wine was more of an accompanyment tonight. Good tannic balance. Would purchase again.

2007 Stevens Cabernet Franc Mary Jeanne USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Just not my thing. Seems medicinal and heavy to me. I enjoy a good rose of cab franc, but this one just loses something in translation. My wife just can't get enough of this so it must be a palate thing. Would not purchase again for me.

2001 Three Rivers Winery Meritage USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Needs a good two hours in the decanter to open up. Still a bit tannic. Lots of oak. Could use some more cellar time to integrate. After it opened up a bit I could have sworn that I was smelling a Syrah. Nice mouthfeel, chocolate, good fruit but it gets overshadowed quickly after each sip by the tannins. Would purchase again and wait a few years to see what happens.

2004 Pomum Cellars Shya Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Drank over two nights. I think that this may be in a dumb phase as this wine was not representing based on other bottles I have had. Upon opening the wine smelled hot and alcoholic. The typical elements of spice were missing and replaced with a heavy dose of tobacco. The mouthfeel of this wine reminded why I enjoy it so much. The finish was a bit sour and didn't last terribly long. Day 2 - Alcohol had blown off and the spice element had started to re-emerge. Mouthfeel was still silky. Finish was plesant, but still a bit too short. Would purchase again based on impressions from day two.

2004 Zefina Serience Blanc Alder Ridge Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley POW!!! This wine grabs you and smacks you around a little bit before letting go. Good bit of acid that pairs well with food. Lots of tropical fruiits on the nose with a good dose of grass on the back end of the palate. Should be well chilled. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc Athought USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Nicely paired with a pan seared Salmon. Starts off somewhat subdued, but the fruit shows up on the back end. Nice acidity to clean the palate. Definitely a wine I like young. Would purchase again.

2001 Beaulieu Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Sonoma County Lots of herb on the nose. Slightly dull taste, left me wanting more from this wine.

1997 Terra Blanca Gewürztraminer December Harvest USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Excellent wine. Hints of pear. Could have cellared for a few more years.

Non vintage Toad Hollow Crémant de Limoux Amplexus France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux Very dry. Unfortunately had this right after desert and it made it even more puckering to begin with. Settled down after our palates got used to it. Good value sparkling wine. Would purchase again.

2000 Terra Blanca Onyx USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Fabulous. Wonderfully complex but subtle. There was still fruit flavors, but they were more in the background. Paired well with beef pot roast. Great special occasion bottle. Would purchase again.

2001 Portteus Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Spectacular nose. Palette was weak. Flavor died before it hit the back of the throat.

2007 Stevens Cabernet Franc Mary Jeanne USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Wife adores this, just not my thing. Took a sniff from the just opened bottle and got the same stuff as last time. Would purchase more for my wife.

2002 Alto Vineyards Chambourcin USA, Illinois Was very harsh night we opened. Nearly poured down the drain. Came back to it three days later after being gone for the weekend. Had softened and gotten much better. Had elements of port without the high alcohol burn. Chocolate, ripe fruit. Was told that this wouldn't age well and to drink up soon, but three days in a decanter on the counter and it's much better. So you make your own call.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay Bishop's & Homestead USA, Washington WOW! Don't want to finish the bottle. It is so good that you want it to last forever. Wonderfully complex with a good dose of acidity. No one element ofthe wine stuck out, it left you with a feel that it was created with perfect balance. Going to keep one bottle for mid term drinking and age the last bottle and see where this might go with some years on it. Would purchase every bottle that I could get my hands on.

2002 Columbia Crest Two Vines Sémillon-Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Decent mid week wine. Used part for risotto and drank the rest. Good acidity, nice green apple flavors. Would purchase again.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Syrah Desert Hills Vineyard USA, Washington Opened and decanted for an hour. There was some fine grained sediment in the bottle, but not too much. Nose just explodes with oak and funk (the good kind). Beautiful deep cherry color. There is a fruit aroma hidden in there but I can't put my finger on it. Wine changed a few times over the evening, starting out a bit smokey and then changing to more of a mushroom element. In the end there was just a hint of rubber (the kind you put on when your in the mood). The mouthfeel on Rob's wines are wonderful. Heavy without being thick. Tannins are in check. Finish is nice and medium length. Would purchase again.

2005 Hence Cellars Cultivar USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Tasty but not exciting tonight. Nose was somewhat closed upon opening the bottle. Soft tannins and good (but simple) fruit flavors on the palate. Finish was nice and lasted a while. Expected more complexity from this wine. Not a good enough QPR to purchase again.

2002 Austin Robaire Syrah La Petite Fille USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Starting to think that I am drinking all of my syrahs too early. Though this wine was softening somewhat I still felt that it was wound pretty tight. Bit of an earthy funk upon opening that I really liked, but it blew off fairly quickly. Tannins started to show up as the wine was opened about 20 minutes. They didn't dominate, but I would have preferred that they were a little more resolved. Good dark fruit flavors. Would purchase again and hold for a few more years.

2005 Benson Vineyards Viognier Estate USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Fruit is starting to dry up a little bit, but still a very enjoyable wine. Scents of pineapple and peach. Nice balanced acidity. Would purchase again.

2004 Brian Carter Cellars Tuttorosso USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Paired with pasta and meatballs. Initially the nose was very tight and all I was getting was oak. After a while it opened up with some cranberry aromas. Flavors were tart with some fine grained tannins. All in all it was an ok wine. Would purchase again.

2001 Zenato Valpolicella Superiore Ripassa Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Superiore This wine needs a tomato based sauce to really come to life. Had with hamburgers the first time and it just didn't seem right. Last night had with pasta, tomato suace and hot italian sausage. Really opened up the wine. Had one glass after dinner and it just wasn't the same without the food. Would purchase again.

2004 Avery Lane Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Consistent with prior bottles. Would purchase again.

2001 Windsor Vineyards Zinfandel Signature Series Mendocino County USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County Let breathe minimum one hour. Was extremely tight when first opened. After it was decanted for one hour, strong black pepper notes. Long finish.

2000 Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley Lighter than some. Didn't have the pinot funk that I like. Sour cherries on the finish. Nice wine, not memorable though.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County Consistent with prior bottles.

2006 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc Athought USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Nice bottle of wine, though it is definitely on the down hill side. Nose is starting to close up a bit and it is not nearly as bright as it has been in the past. Still notes of green apple come through. Acidity isn't quite as sharp and the mouthfeel is a little bit fat. Finish is still very plesant. Would purchase future vintages.

2004 Gallagher U Brew France, Rhône None of the bottle funk that I am accustomed to in the home made wine. Nose and Palate were a little flat, not bad, but nothing stood out. Got better as the evening progressed.

Non Vintage Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Paired with chicken masala. Good counterbalance to the spice in the dish. Very dry with a little bit of yeast and not much fruit. Decent Tuesday night sparkler. Would purchase again.

2006 Arlington Road Cellars Riesling Imperium Charbonneau Farms USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Sweetened green apples with a little bit of a kick at the end. Deep golden color. Nose belies the sugar hiding beneath the surface. Slight hint of diesel. Mouthfeel is a bit heavy and viscous. Finish dies too quickly. Decent bottle of riesling, but on the down hill end of good. Would purchase future vintages.

2004 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc USA, California A tale of two wines. Upon first opening this wine there was overwhelming aromas of tropical fruits. Huge acidity that cleansed the palate. After an hour the fruit was gone and there was a glass full of freshly mown hay. Somewhat of a mineral edge and the acidity was still there. If I had the two tastes blind, I would have thought that they were two different wines. Bright, crisp white. Would purchase again for a hot summer day.

2000 Toad Hollow Merlot Reserve McDowell USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley Knew this was going to be good as soon as the cork popped out. Filled the area around the bottle with a heady aroma. Lots of smoke and still some good tannins. Had an element that I can only equate to the smell when you are carving a pumpkin. Added another dimension when paired with the beef tenderloin. Would purchase again.

2004 Avery Lane Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Consistent with prior bottles. Would purchase again.

2003 Stevens Cabernet Sauvignon XY USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Popped the cork and let the bottle breathe for about two hours before drinking. This wine was just singing tonight. Vibrant purple color. The aromas and flavors from this wine were so complex that I was unable to pick out any one element. Mouthfeel was very silky and the finish was smoothe and lasted a good amount of time. Wine started to fade at about 5 hours. No reason not to be drinking and enjoying these wines right now. Would purchase again.

2005 Rulo Viognier USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Still a bit lively, but starting downhill. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Toad Hollow Crémant de Limoux Amplexus France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux Average. Too bad, had a bottle of this a while ago and was very impressed. Nothing bad about it, but nothing memorable.

2000 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Consistent tasting notes. Wish I would have purchased more of this.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County No bottle funk. Seems like this is finally coming into it's own.

1976 Warre Porto Colheita Portugal, Douro, Porto Nutty, caramel with a bit of maple syrup. A bit hot right out of the bottle, but with 20 minutes in the glass it really settles down. Very nice bottle of wine. Would purchase again for a special occasion.

2002 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley Unfortunately this wine was mostly corked. It took me a couple of sniffs to pick it up but then the wet cardboard came out. It wasn't so bad that I was going to pour it down the drain. You could tell that there was some really wicked fruit just underneath. Hoping that my other bottle is in better shape.

Wines Tasted in August

2000 Waterbrook Meritage Red Mountain USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain Good bottle of wine, needs a little more time. Tannins in the first hour dominated, making the wine dry and spicy. After about two hours of decanting the wine got very smokey and smoothed out. Lots of dark fruit, predominantly blackberries. Might wait a couple more years before trying my next bottle.

2004 Finca Allende Rioja Allende Spain, La Rioja, Rioja Paired with pan seared duck breast and a goat cheese tamale. Right out of the bottle the nose was very smokey. On the palate there was more smoke on the front and then a bright cherry core on the mid palate which turned overly tannic on the finish. After about an hour the cherries disappeared and the nose and palate took on green vegetal notes. Nose reminded me of the inside of a green bell pepper right after you cut into it. Not sure how this wine will develop over time. I'd like to try it again more out of curiousity of an "interesting" wine, rather than saying "Mmmmmm, that was good". Would purchase again.

2004 Château Rouquette sur Mer Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape Don't know what was wrong with this. Smelled fine, but the taste was off. As my wife put it "bleh"

Non Vintage Conte Collalto Piave Italy, Veneto, Piave Decreased amount of pressure in the bottle upon opening. Still good amount of bubbles. Dry and tasty. Didn't hold up for very long, got a little bit flat.

2006 Mollydooker Shiraz The Boxer Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale / Padthaway Needed about an hour in the decanter to blow off the alcohol. Smelled of fruit loops cereal and menthol. Big extracted wine on the palate, but not as hot as I was expecting. Tended to tire out the palate quickly. It was alright, but for the price there are better options. Would not purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Tasty as always. Lots of fruit, oak is integrating nicely. Would purchase again.

2006 Inama Soave Classico Italy, Veneto, Soave Classico The structure on the nose really stood out for me. Not overly oaky, but had a depth of aroma and mouthfeel. Solid fruitiness, but not sure which ones. Really enjoyed this. Would purchase again.

2005 Bodega Norton Malbec Reserva Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo Crazy dark color, made my teeth stain after the first couple of sips. Nice dark fruit flavors with a balanced amount of oak. Good smooth finish. Drank this wine out of really small cheap wine glasses. Interested to see how it would have improved with the appropriate stemware. Would purchase again.

2002 Isenhower Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Lab Cab USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Wine was singing tonight. A bit tannic right after opening, but softened with about 15 minutes in the glass. As wine opened up I got a hint of steamed asparagus (a good thing) on the nose. Wine was spicy. Don't see this getting much better. Drink em if you got em.

2002 Covey Run Merlot Winemaker's Collection USA, Washington, Columbia Valley A little green out of the bottle. Softened up by the second glass. Still needs some time to develope. Decent Tuesday night drinker. Would purchase again.

2003 Christopher Bridge Pinot Noir Satori Springs USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley Flat. Good wine but no excitement. Gained a little complexity with about an hour of air. None of the earth flavors that I search for in Pinot. Bit of cherry and wild strawberry. Would not purchase again.

2006 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Still going strong. Nose of honeysuckle and jasmine. Flavors were very citrusy with lots of lime and acidity. Finish left my mouth watering. Would purchase again.

2001 Il Vescovado Chianti Italy, Tuscany, Chianti Good mid week wine. Would purchase again.

2004 Château Rouquette sur Mer Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape Better bottle than the last. Slight hint of pineapple on both the nose and the palate. Nothing fancy, but works if you are not going to serve it to anyone.

2001 B.R. Cohn Zinfandel USA, California, Sonoma County Very good to begin with but completely closed down after about two hours. Would purchase again. Lots of upfront fruit with eucaliptus. Right out of the bottle I thought I might have opened a Cabernet???

2003 Barrister Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Really smokey right out of the bottle. Settled down after about a half an hour. Picked up more of a blackberry nose with just a hint of roasted spices. Nice well balanced wine. Tannin structure could have been a little tighter. Plesant though shortish finish. Would purchase again.

2001 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Good QPR wine. Bit drying and a touch of green, but the fruit flavors are still present.

2001 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley Nice, but could use some more bottle time. Tannins are heavy and need to integrate. Had an element of bing cherries on the back palate. Looking forward to more of this wine in about five years.

2004 Baer Winery Ursa USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Really nice bottle of wine. The menu said 2003, but the bottle showed up as a 2004. Paired with a med rare rib eye steak. The fat of the meat really complimented the wine. Very dark purple. Loads of dark fruit flavors and the tannins have not yet integrated. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County Very light funk. Just a hint of tropical fruits. Wine seems heavy and clumsy tonight. Just sits on the palate.

Non vintage Sleight of Hand The Spellbinder USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Needs at least an hour of air to show it's best side. Right out of the bottle the arooma was dominated by tighness. Not much fruit. With air, the wine shows some green peppercorn notes. The cab franc really dominates this wine. Hard to tell that there is any Sangiovese in the blend. Would purchase again if on sale.

2003 Amity Vineyards Pinot Blanc USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley very acidic. Not a lot of fruit. Drank on very hot night, so might have clouded opinion. Somewhat heavy and brutish. Was looking for light and crisp.

2005 Rulo Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Again, Rulo has a winner. Will be much better in a few years based on prior vintages. Wine was smokey and meaty with a mineral streak running through. Not much fruit to speak of at the moment. The oak elements were in check. Looking forward to seeing how this one develops. Would purchase again.

2007 Sleight of Hand Cabernet Franc Magician's Assistant Rosé Frenchtown Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Very refreshing on a hot day. Nose of slightly underripe strawberries. Thirst quenching wouthfeel. Finish is a little bit short. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Cristalino Cava Brut Spain, Catalunya, Cava Very low on the bubbly quotient. Odd nose of anise. Decent taste, but not memorable. Would not purchase again.

2006 Stevens Yes USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Nice bottle of wine for what it is. Needed a drink last night and pretty much pounded the bottle. Sweet fruit and lots of toasty oak on the nose and palate. Would purchase again.

2004 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County Consistent. Good bottle. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Drinking very nicely. Good balanced acidity. Second bottle of the night for me, so we will leave it at that. Would purchase again.

2006 Eagle Haven Madeleine Angevine USA, Washington, Puget Sound Interesting wine. Seemed to me like a muted Reisling. Just a touch of sugar on the palate. Nose had a bit of an apple cider element. Palate had good acidity, but the flavors were a little bit lacking. The wine seemed pretty simple. Fairly refreshing on a hot day, but not terribly interesting. Would not purchase again.

2002 Covey Run Syrah Winemaker's Collection USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Not terribly impressed. Too much of a green flavor for my taste. Not enough fruit to offset. Too many good wines at the $10 price point to make me interested in purchasing this again. Oh well.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Brought to an after party for the Auction of Washington Wines. Only got a quick taste as I was drinking all of the wines that other people brought. It was good and I would purchase it again.

2003 Belle Pente Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley Day 1: Decanted. Has all of the musty forest floor aromas that I look for in a Pinot Noir. Deep and heady on the nose, but so light and feminine on the palate. Will wait til tomorrow and see how this develops.

2003 Veramonte Primus Chile, Aconcagua, Casablanca Valley Heavy oak. Sweet than drying tannins. Decent enough wine. Nothing complex about it. Kind of hits you in the mouth and then stays there for a good 30 seconds. Unfortunately by the end of the 30 seconds all you can taste is the oak. Went well with a steak, mellowed it out a bit.

2004 Barrister Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Nose started off with grahm cracker and a little bit of menthol tobacco. Palate had subtle oak and sweet cherry flavors. Finish was smooth though disappeared too quickly. Would purchase again.

2002 Piety Flats Mercantile Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Very nice, could still use some time to soften the tannins. Will open another bottle in six months to a year.

Non vintage Frank Family Vineyards Blanc de Noirs USA, California, Napa Valley Wine was starting to go downhill. The first concern was that the cork was very easy to get out and it didn't hiss as much as a normal sparkling wine. Wine was still very pleasent. Very dry, reminded me of a nice dry rose. Not as fresh and lively as when we purchased it. Would purchase again and drink in the near term.

2004 Avery Lane Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley At $3.85 a bottle how can you go wrong. Nice bright fruit. Not much in the way of tannins. Paired nicely with a strip steak. Would purchase again.

2004 Powers Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Champoux Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills Nose opens up with a strong graham cracker aroma. Fruit is a little subdued and the oak is showing through right now. Tannins are present, but not overpowering. Finish was short but tasty. Alright bottle of wine, without being all that memorable. For the price I'd buy it again, but there are other wines out there that provide a slightly higher QPR. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County Last bottle to be filled, only came up 80% and had to be drank. Needs at least six more months. Still a little to fruity. Will mellow with time.

2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County Decent mid week bottle of wine. Just not as good as prior vintages. Will wait to purchase more when the 2005 comes out.

2004 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Oaky in all the right ways. Good bit of acid to balance things out. Just need to go out and purchase a case or two of this to be my everyday white. Paired wonderfully with poached chicken in tarragon cream sauce.

2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County Very dry. Just doesn't live up to the

2003 vintage. The fruit is hidden in the background. Decent wine, but not exciting. Will keep purchasing future vintages hoping for a return of the 2003.

2004 Avery Lane Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Consistent with prior bottles. Would purchase again.

2002 Cedergreen Cellars Thuja Conner Lee - Radar Hill USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Decanted. Think that this might be closed right now. Had it about a year ago and it was singing. Last night it just wasn't giving much up. There was a hint of sweet tobacco on both the nose and palate. May have to purchase a few more and see if they open up after a few more years in the cellar.

2003 Lake Chelan Winery Stormy Mountain Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Smoke was the dominant element. Nice wine, but not a good QPR. Consistent with prior bottles. Would not purchase again.

2006 Trust Riesling USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Not as sweet as I remembered from the tasting room. The nose was really closed, and did not open up over a couple of hours. On the palate there was an element of banana chips as well as pear. Nice full mouthfeel. Finish is a bit short and tart. Alright tonight, but don't think that i would purchase again.

2006 Hence Cellars Riesling USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Really impressive wine. The little bit of residual sugar was masked by the wonderful crisp acidity. Paired wonderfully with a tomatillo/jalapeno salsa. Every so often I would get the slightest hint of petrol in the background. Made me think of aged German Riesling. Would purchase again.

2000 Baron Philippe de Rothschild Sauternes France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes Pleasant wine. Not as much acidity as some sauternes that I have had. This is definitely a young drinker. Not overly complex. Would purchase again if I needed an average desert wine.

2003 Toad Hollow Merlot Reserve McDowell USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley So much better than the last bottle. The color still makes me think that this is actually Pinot Noir rather than Merlot. Lots of oak showing through on the nose and palate. Notes of black cherry and raspberry. Tannins are still somewhat dull. Developing into a nice wine. Would purchase again.

2003 Bergevin Lane Calico Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley A little too heavy handed on the wood. There is some fruit in the background, but wood dominates. Finishes with a green element. Decanted for an hour, heavy sediment.

2002 Basel Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley Very nice bottle of wine. Decanted due to sediment. Aromas of strawberries. On the palate there was strawberries, blackberries and black cherries. Nice and spicy on the finish, not black pepper, but more of what I would call mild indian spice mix. Good bit of tannin, but was not overpowering. Would purchase again.

2005 Pontin Del Roza Sangiovese Angelo Pontin USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley Very light color, almost a dark rose. Lots of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Bright cherry and pomegranate flavors jump from the glass. Little bit of spice on the back end. Enjoyable wine, but not as memorable as the 2001 vintage. At new price point, this wine would be hard to justify. Would not purchase this vintage again.

Wines Tasted in July

2006 Alice White Shiraz Australia, South Eastern - Pretty much grape juice. Slightly sweet with a bit of oak. Would not purchase again even at this price point.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Syrah Del Rio Vineyard USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley - Decanted due to copious amounts of sediment. Huge wine. Dark and brooding. Tannins are still the dominating force, will probably wait another 3-4 years before I open my next one. Very tasty now, but will be excellent when the tannins calm down a little and stop overshadowing the wonderful dark fruit flavors. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Yes USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Great QPR. Was it a Wednesday night? "YES" Did we want an inexpensive wine? YES" Did this wine serve it's purpose? "YES" Nose was filled with red fruits. Oak was a bit on the front end, but not too overpowering. Nice flavors, thought the mouthfeel was a bit thin. Would purchase again.

2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Much more oak than prior vintages. Tended to overshadow the fruit. Though paired nicely with the baked salmon. Hoping that this was just a heavy handed bottle and maybe the next one will be a little softer. We shall see.

Non Vintage Vashon Isletage USA, Washington, Puget Sound - Bright crisp acidity. Lots of steely flavors and no oak to speak of. Bit of lime and mineral. Interesting but not something that I would go out and search for. Would not purchase again.

2003 Covington Cellars Cabernet Franc Seven Hills Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - No need to decant, no sediment to speak of. Tannic in a good way. Dark purple. Saturated flavors of black cherry and raspberry. Finish grips the tongue for a good 30 seconds. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Toad Hollow Crémant de Limoux Amplexus France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux - Pleasent. Good everyday sparkling wine.

2001 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Ensemble USA, California - Good. Smoky notes. Would purchase again.

2003 St. Supéry Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley - Really good for the first couple of hours, and then it kind of fell off a cliff. Definitely heavy handed on the oak, but in a good way. Flavors were contrasting, both elements of green bell pepper with a little bit of prune. Finish was nice. After a few hours it was all alcohol and old leather. Near term drinker. Would purchase again.

2004 Matanzas Creek Winery Chardonnay Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County - Lots of acid. makes for one crisp chardonnay. Was hoping for a little more of a butter bomb, oh well. Plus the over acidity masks the fruit. Somehwat muted nose with a little bit of oak. It's nice, but not really the style that I like.

2003 Sam Hill Winery Vino Della Marinata USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Not a drinking wine. Winemaker had some of this left over that he didn't care for and so bottled it specifically for use as a marinade. Made the flank steak taste good.

2006 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Really tasty and refreshing. Served cellar temperature and that was just right. Notes of pineapple and grapefruit. Good amount of acidity to cut through the food. Paired with ono skewers seasoned with hawaiin sea salt. Wine was just what I was expecting. Would purchase again.

2001 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Starting to dry a little bit, but it is enhancing the tobacco notes of the wine. Good everyday wine. Would purchase again.

2002 Rulo Chardonnay USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Very nice bottle. Don't typically like Washington chardonnay, but this was good. Full mouthfeel, deep yellow color. Wife liked it a little bit more chilled, brought out the acidity. I liked it a little warmer, tasted more robust. Would purchase again.

2005 Benson Vineyards Viognier Estate USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Surprisingly this was still going very strong. Initial nose of honeysuckle and other strong floral elements. After a while it picked up more of a white pepper nose. After a few hours there was even a bit of a hint of salt water shellfish. Good balanced acidity on the palate. Would purchase again.

2006 Darby le deuce USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Honeysuckle and peach. decent amount of acidity. Paired nicely with the seafood paella. Would purchase again.

2003 Sam Hill Winery Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - DOA. Volatile acidity. Fruit was toast. Oh well!!!

1998 Maison de Padgett USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Nice port, but not a very good QPR. Think that there are many other ports out there that I could spend less $$$ on and get just as much enjoyment from. Heavy on the brandy with notes of white chocolate and caramel.

1995 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée USA, California, Sonoma County, Carneros - This bottle a little better than the last. Still think that it is time to drink this wine up while it is refreshing.

2004 Gallagher U Brew France, Rhône - Used for Sangria

2004 Gallagher U Brew France, Rhône - Used for Sangria.

2004 Château Rouquette sur Mer Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape - Tasted heavy and clumsy. A bit of acid in the background but not in a good crisp way. This is best really cold on a hot day.

2002 Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Vine USA, California, Sonoma County - Nice bottle fo zin. Nothing spectacular, prefer the Lodi it is much more interesting.

2002 Pepperwood Grove Syrah USA, California - Nothing special, but decent drinkable wine for the price.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Good stuff. Double decanted three hours before dinner. There was a little bit of sediment, but not too bad. Nose was a bit hot, which is funny at 13.5% alcohol. Aromas of baking spices and dark fruit. Palate was awash in black cherries. As always, lovely mouthfeel. Would purchase again.

2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - This batch just seems to have a bit too much oak for my liking. Paired well with a cob salad (the fat from the bacon settled the oak down a bit). Very thick mouthfeel, but the fruit is a little too covered up. Would not purchase more of this vintage, but would continue to purchase the wine in the future.

2001 Il Vescovado Chianti Italy, Tuscany, Chianti - Decent bottle of wine. Needs a little decanting to open up. Good mid week pasta wine.

2005 Gaetano D'Aquino Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - Light red color. Little bit of oak. Not a lot of fruit. It works if you have to drink something. Would not purchase again.

2003 Gaetano D'Aquino Chianti Riserva Italy, Tuscany, Chianti - thin insipid wine. Ended up using it for cooking.

2002 Argyle Brut USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley - Wasn't feeling this wine tonight. Popped and noticed right away that the bubbles were lacking. Color was like golden apple juice. Not really any nose to speak of. On the palate it was an odd blend of bitter and sweet. Not sure if there is any residual sugar in this, but it tasted like a possibility. Finish was "meh". Would not purchase again.

2003 Camaraderie Cellars Cabernet Franc USA, Washington - Would have guessed this a cab sauv rather than a franc. Much darker with a heavier mouthfeel than I typically have found with franc. Smooth and tasty, though there wasn't much unique to make this wine stand out. Would purchase again.

2000 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Proving that inexpensive wine can be very good and develop complexities over time. Nose started out with mint and caramel. Good deep fruit on the palate with only a slightly heavy handed bit of oak. Stayed fresh and lively over a two hour period. Wish that I would have picked up more of this originally. Would purchase again.

2005 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Dry USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - pineapple, honeysuckle. Nice acidity. Paired well with the spicy pork stir fry.

2002 Kana Dark Star USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - This bottle is all about the spice. Needs to be filtered when decanted due to heavy amount of sediment. Still a bit of a grainy mouth feel. Both the nose and taste were filled with pumpkin pie spice. Made me think of fall. Enjoyable, but somewhat one dimensional. If it were October and I was looking specifically for a spicy wine, I would choose this. However, don't know if I would purchase again for anytime drinking.

Non Vintage J. Bookwalter Red Table Wine Lot #20 USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Really had high hopes for this upon opening the bottle. The nose was heady and expressive. Lots of oak and dark fruits. Unfortunately the palate was flat and uninspiring. Only the oak showed through and there didn't seem to be any fruit to be tasted. Would not purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Starting to lose the bottle funk. Decent bottle on a hot day when the wine is cold.

Non Vintage Olympic Cellars Go Girl Red USA, Washington, Puget Sound - Decent bottle of wine. Was really concerned when I pulled this out of the cellar as the color was very pale red bordering on dark pink. Pleasant nose though somewhat simplistic. Just the faintest hint of sweetness on the palate. Not a wine to be kept for very long. Would purchase again.

2001 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay USA, California, Napa Valley - Big, huge California chardonnay. Thick mouthfeel. Tons of oak. Lemon custard. Wonderful with roasted chicken. Would purchase again.

2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Seems to be better after two days open. The oak has settled down some and the fruit is still there. Maybe I start opening these up a day before I want to drink them. Would purchase again.

2004 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc Legs USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Not as refreshing as I remember at the winery. The wine seems to have picked up an off note that I can't put my finger on but is unpleasently distracting. Very crisp wine, the flavor of the steel tank grabs hold of you. Let this breath for 2 hours and it softened a little bit, but not as much as i'd hoped. Should have drank this when I purchased it upon release???

2005 Winemaker's Loft USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - This wine started off the evening on the right foot and then fell apart into a one dimensional oak monster. Right after popping the cork there were aromas of vibrant red fruits. Flavors were more on the sour side but still pleasant. After about an hour all you were getting from the wine was wood. On the nose, palate and finish was a bunch of oak. If this was a wine for a party where everyone only got one glass it would be a good thing. If you are going to revisit this throughout the evening, I would probably pass. Would not purchase again.

2006 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay Bishop's & Homestead USA, Washington - Really do enjoy this style of Chardonnay. Completely unfiltered so the wine had a cloudiness to it. Color was a muted gold. Aromas of pineapple and coconut with just a hint of oak. Flavors were leaning towards the tropical fruits. Nice balanced acidity. Thing about Rob's wines is that he knows how to get the mouthfeel just right. There is a weight to the wine without feeling to heavy. Would purchase again.

2005 Red Sky Sémillon Rosebud USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Timothy Leary where are you??? This wine hit with masive amounts of acid. Color reminded me of dijon mustard. Not much nose to speak of, but I had it in the fridge too long and it was too cold upon opening. Tasted like a key lime custard. Finish was tart in a good way and stuck with you for a while. Would purchase again.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Smoke and oak in just the right combination. Fruit didn't start coming out until about 2 hours. Nicely complex. Really enjoy this wine. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Still a bit of the bottle funk. Hope that a little more time in the cellar will clear that up. Decent bottle on a hot summer evening.

2004 Woodinville Wine Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Danielle Artz Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Very refreshing. Lots of tropical fruit flavors and bright acidity. Just a whisper of sweetness. Would purchase again.

2004 ÀMaurice Cellars Premier Blend USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Wicked good wine. Reminded me a bit of the Boudreaux Cellars cab. It was a bit tight upon opening, but with an hour in the decanter it started to sing. Oak was not overbearing, though it could use some more time to integrate. Lots of different fruits popping to the surface. Finish had a bit of a green tinge. Would purchase again.

1998 Château Cabrières Châteauneuf-du-Pape France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Notes of iron, similar to blood. Possible heat damage?

2006 Stevens Yes USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Bit of an alcoholic nose right out of the bottle. This blew off with a few good swirls. Nose of wintergreen mints. Flavors of plum and cedar. Somewhat tannic finish. Could use some food to balance it out. Would purchase again.

2002 Ash Hollow Estate Blend USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Someone charred the barrells a little too much. Campfire in a bottle. Very smokey, hard to find any fruit underneath all of the charred oak. It's not that the wine was bad, it just wasn't good. Would not purchase again.

2005 Cougar Crest Vivace USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Tonight this was speaking all about grapefruit. Mouthwatering crispness. The nose was somewhat muted, though the citrus notes were coming through. Not as enjoyable as the last time, but still a good bottle of wine given the price point. Would purchase again.

2005 Rulo Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - I quit smoking 15 years ago, but after drinking this wine I feel like I just smoked a whole pack of Camels. Nose of dried smoked cherries. On the palate there was more smoke and lots of oak. Hoping that this will calm down a bit over time. Interesting right now, but a little too much over the top for my preference. Would purchase again, but would hold off a couple of years before opening up the wine.

2003 Stevens 424 USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Decanted, not much sediment. Fruit is starting to fade a little bit and the wine is becoming more complex. Nose has plum and tobacco. Tannins were in check and the wine had a nice long finish. Would purchase again.

2003 Canon de Sol Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - First two hours this was screaming, then it developed a tart finish. So drink it up in the first two hours!!! Heady aroma, earthy and gamey. Really enjoyed this wine. Would purchase again.

2007 Efeste Riesling Evergreen USA, Washington - Paired with a blackened (very spicy rub) mahi mahi filet. The little bit of sweetness to the wine really cut through the heat of the rub. That being said, the wine seemed really simple tonight. Nose had elements of apple cider. Flavor was nice but uninspiring. Would not purchase again for the price point. There are many other alternatives for half the price.

2002 Brian Carter Cellars L'Étalon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Predominant element of this wine was smoke. The fruit was very muted. There was nothing much to complain about this wine, but there also wasn't much to get excited about. Would not purchase again at this price point.

2002 Waterbrook Mélange USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Part of a three bottle vertical tasting 2002-2004. Starting on the down hill slide. This wine was dominated by a sharp alcohol flavor. There were decent fruit flavors, but it was hard to get past the sharpness of the alcohol. The wine's tannins were well integrated.

2003 Waterbrook Mélange USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Part of a three bottle vertical tasting 2002-2004. Drinking really nice right now. The high proportion of sangiovese really mellowed this wine out and gave it a good floral nose. Tannins were starting to integrate and the wine was balanced. Hoping that the 2004 will show this well with another year in the bottle. Would purchase again.

2004 Waterbrook Mélange USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Part of a three bottle vertical tasting 2002-2004. Needs a little more time to settle down. Tannins were overshadowing the fruit at this point. However, there were some good flavors underneath that will be very good eventually. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc Athought USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Paired very nicely with herb crusted halibut. Was a bit like sucking on a fresh cut lemon and lime wedge, though not quite as tart. Good acidity. Nose wasn't giving up a huge amount tonight. Would purchase again.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Nebbiolo Del Rio Vineyard USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley - Much lighter color than I was expecting. Light ruby color. Decanted 20 minutes prior to drinking. Aromas of rose petals jumped from the decanter. Nice flavors of black cherries. There were plantiful puckering tannins, however they did not take away from the wine. Added a healthy zip to the finish. Going to wait a couple more years until I try the next bottle. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - A little bit of the funk.

Wines Tasted in June

2003 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Cracked open this bottle for my 35th birthday dinner. Paired with a medium rare hunk of tenderloin. Decanted for about 2 hours, there was a bit of sediment in the bottle. As with some other "top shelf" wines I have had, there were not a lot of unique aromas and flavors. The wine just melded very well around little bits of this and that. One of the elements of Rob's wines that I just adore is the mouth feel, just pure silk. Finish lingered on the tongue for a while. All in all very good effort. Would purchase again.

2001 Sanford Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Wine was really nice right out of the bottle but faded too quickly. Lots of cherry cola on the nose with a bit of tart cranberry coming through on the palate. Tartness overwhelmed after about a half an hour. Finish became clipped and astringent. Think that this might be at the end of its life.

2005 Canon de Sol Viognier USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Somewhat one dimensional, but in a good way. Huge nose of honeysuckle. Nice crisp, fresh flavors on the palate. Nice balanced acidity. Would purchase again.

2002 Cechony Gold Label Champoux Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Very light in color with a thin clear line around the edge. Nose was somewhat closed. Upon opening there was slight hint of cherry liqueur on the palate. After about two hours the flavors turned smoky. Tannins were absent; this is a wine to be drunk young. Had one glass left after three days. Flavor was a mix of candied fruit and smoke.

2003 Townshend Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Lots of sediment in the bottle, unfortunately the restaurant we were at doesn't decant wines. Right out of the bottle this had a heavy fruit forward aroma. This died quickly as the oak took over. Way too much wood for my liking. Would not purchase again.

2005 Cougar Crest Vivace USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - This wine is a blend of 70% viognier and 30% chardonnay. The buttery element of the chardonnay were coming through more tonight than the last time I had this wine. There was still a good amount of tropical notes from the viognier, but just not the dominant force. Lots of crisp acidity on the finish. Would purchase again.

2004 Rulo Combine USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Decent. Not nearly as mind blowing as the Chardonnay/Viognier mix from the 2003 vintage. Better whites out there for the price...At least for this vintage.

2003 Januik Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Oaky, Complex, Smooth. Needed an hour to open up. Would purchase again

NV Scharffenberger Brut USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County - Consistent Notes.

NV Scharffenberger Brut USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County - Very dry. Pleasant to drink. Wife likes Gloria Ferrer better. Would purchase again.

1999 Beringer Vineyards Alluvium USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley - Lots of green notes. Heavy on the dill. Doesn't seem ready for consumption, may need a few more years.

2002 Cedar Creek Meritage Platinum Reserve Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley - Decanted due to lots of sediment. This was a huge fruit forward wine. Bordering on a fruit bomb! Notes of cherry, raspberry and mint. Fruit was very sweet even though the wine was dry. Tannins showed up after about a half an hour in the decanter, balanced at first than drying out. Good amount of oak but well integrated. Very good wine and I would love to purchase more, but the winery treated me like such crap when I was there I have to pass just on principle.

2002 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay Belle Terre Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley - Consistent Notes.

2002 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay Belle Terre Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley - Smooth and Buttery. Similar to the basic blend, but a little softer. Really enjoyable wine. Not sure if the extra money for the vineyard designate is worth it?

2001 St. Supéry Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley - Consistent Notes.

2001 St. Supéry Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley - Tight. Needs more time in the bottle or a minimum of three hours decanting to mellow. I like their wines a little older.

1995 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée USA, California, Sonoma County, Carneros - Starting to go down hill a little bit. Just not a fresh as some of the other bottles I have had. Still enjoyable, but time to drink up.

2003 Lake Chelan Winery Stormy Mountain Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Nice but unremarkable wine. Smoky with a bit of oak and tobacco. Very short finish. Not much fruit. Better wines out there for the price. Would not purchase again.

2005 Woodinville Wine Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Artz Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Good. Pineapple and hay. Would purchase again.

2003 Penny's Hill Shiraz Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale - Consistent Notes.

2003 Penny's Hill Shiraz Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale - Consistent Notes.

2003 Penny's Hill Shiraz Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale - Great, wonderful, yummy. Decanted 30 minutes prior to dinner. Cherries and Strawberries. Good amount of oak, but not overwhelming. Tannins were well integrated. Need to buy a case of this. Plus...Have read that this was a down vintage. Can't wait to try my 2002.

2005 Isenhower Cellars Wild Thyme USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Very earthy right out of the bottle, but that blew off quickly. Nose of plum and smoke. On the palate there were tons of tart berry flavors. Mouthwatering acidity brought the finish along. Enjoyed the wine tonight, but it didn't match the mouth feel and complexities of flavor from the last time I had this. Would purchase again.

2004 Soléna Pinot Gris USA, Oregon - Consistent Notes.

2004 Soléna Pinot Gris USA, Oregon - Fabulous. Melon and citrus. Classic example of what I think of when I drink Pinot Gris. Would purchase again.

2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County - Consistent Notes.

2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County - Needs lots of time to open up. Spicy. Good potential, but tight right now. Not as much of a fruit bomb as past vintages. Would purchase again.

2001 Salmon Harbor Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - It was wine. Not bad, not good, just wine.

2007 Sleight of Hand Cabernet Franc Magician's Assistant Rosé Frenchtown Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Really refreshing. Had a bubble gum color. Aromas of strawberries still on the vine and just a hint of green peppercorns. The wine had a thicker mouth feel than I was expecting. Flavors of cranberry and canned peaches with raspberry syrup. Paired quite well with mac and cheese with a side of ham steak. Looking forward to this on a really hot day in the summer. Would purchase again.

2004 Nefarious Cellars Pinot Noir Vista Hills USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley - Nice light red color. Nose of oak and tangy fruit. On the palate you get lots of strawberry twizzler. Decent length finish. Balanced acidity. Would purchase again.

2002 Spring Valley Vineyard Merlot Muleskinner USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Much drier than I remember at the winery. The fruit is hiding more in the background now. Could use a nice fatty steak to open up. Tasty...But...Think that there are other better choices at this price point.

2004 Rulo Chardonnay Sundance Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Steely, no butter here. Needed food to balance out the acidity. Not really my style of Chardonnay.

2000 Terra Blanca Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Consistent Notes.

2000 Terra Blanca Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Consistent Notes.

2000 Terra Blanca Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - At peak but possibly starting down the other side. Still very tasty. Recommend that you start drinking them if you got them. Would purchase new vintages.

2005 Buty Merlot/Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Really balanced bottle of wine. Dark purple to red color. Tannins are present but not overwhelming in any sense. Nice mix of fruit flavors along with herbal, tobacco, spice thing going on from the cab franc. Medium length finish. Not sure where this wine could get better as all elements seem in complete balance. Would purchase again.

1985 Porto Rocha Porto Vintage Portugal, Douro, Porto - Cork broke in half, and then the bottom crumbled as I was trying to get it out. Did not decant. Poured very slowly and the cork fragments stayed in the bottle. Was not showing well tonight. Have had this on three other occasions and it sang. Felt a little flat and gritty tonight. Very dry and not a lot of fruit to be found. Hope that this was just an off bottle.

2004 Cougar Crest Viognier USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Consistent Notes.

2004 Cougar Crest Viognier USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Can see why this winery is getting some good press. One of the best whites of the cruise. Reminded me a lot of the 2003 Rulo Combine. Tropical fruits that last and last. Good balanced acidity. Would purchase again.

2004 Rulo Syrah Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Rulo syrah just never lets me down. Dark and brooding. Still a bit young, but opened up nicely with an hour of air. Heavy(in a good way) with a touch of spice. Would purchase again.

2003 Bergevin Lane Calico Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Decant, decant, decant. Opened this wine (did not decant) and drank over four hours. The first three hours it was green and harsh. From three to three and a half hours it opened up into an extremely tasty and complex wine. By hour four all that was left was wood. Will wait another six months and hope that I can get that half hour window to be the majority of the flavor profile.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Chardonnay Bishop's & Homestead USA, Washington - Fruit starting to fade a little bit. Still a nice balanced wine with a hint of caramel and lots of apple. Great mouth feel, just fills every bit of the mouth and has a nice long finish. Still drinking wonderfully, but probably won't hold for all that much longer. Would purchase again for near term drinking.

2004 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Great wine year in and year out. Heavy wood flavors but in a way that doesn't taste over powering. Has the mouth feel of heavy cream. Would purchase again.

2001 Terra Blanca Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Consistent Notes.

2001 Terra Blanca Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Consistent Notes.

2001 Terra Blanca Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - At peak. Great everyday or special occasion wine. Smooth. Nice dark fruit flavors. Paired well with a porterhouse. Would purchase more, but only for near term drinking.

NV Scharffenberger Brut USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County - Consistent Notes.

NV Scharffenberger Brut USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County - Consistent Notes.

2003 Toad Hollow Merlot Reserve McDowell USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley - And then the fruit disappears. Color on the wine still makes me think that it is Pinot. Deep pink, with just a hint of a cherry center. All that was left tonight of this wine was the barrel. Total oak on both the nose and palate. Wasn't bad enough to pour down the sink, but not something that I'd want to drink again anytime soon. Maybe 2003 just wasn't a good year. Would not purchase again.

2004 Viña Estampa Assemblage Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley - Decent everyday wine. Starting to mellow out. Would purchase again.

2004 Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Sonoma County - Nice though unremarkable wine. Started out with a floral fruity aroma that turned grassy as the wine warmed a bit. Crisp acidity. Decent QPR, would purchase again.

2004 Chandler Reach Vineyards Corella USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Going to have to pick more of this up. Nice mid week wine with great QPR. A bit spicy with a good mouth feel. There are some dried floral aromas from the sangiovese with more roundness from the cab and syrah. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Maybe slightly corked, but not enough to tell for sure. Maybe just an off bottle.

2007 Trust Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Paired with burgers and potato salad. Color was T-Mobile Magenta. Crisp fruit on the nose with bits of strawberries. Flavor profile was nice but didn't last very long. Finish was clean but uninspiring. Decent wine for a warm day with a picnic. Would purchase again.

2007 Sleight of Hand Cabernet Franc Magician's Assistant Rosé Frenchtown Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Paired with burgers and potato salad. Light pink color. Nose was a bit sweeter than the last bottle, but the wine was nice and dry on the palate. Very refreshing. Would purchase again.

2005 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County - Bright purple color. Lots of up front fruit with a bit of spice. Not a lot of oak on the nose, but it is there on the palate. Very good sit and relax wine. Would purchase again.

2004 Powers Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Champoux Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills - Opened bottle without decanting for two hours prior to drinking. Nose was still a little muted at first and took a good swirling to open up. Notes of chocolate, cassis and black liquorice. Fine grained tannins that danced across the tongue. Full mouth feel with a finish that lasted 20 seconds. Would purchase again.

2004 Gallagher U Brew France, Rhône - Funky in all the wrong ways. Can't say that this bottle is corked, but all of the kit wines I have made have this off aroma and flatness to them. Turned the bottle into the base for Sangria. With the extra fruit and alcohol it covers up the wines flaws.

2004 Robert Karl Cellars Claret USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Popped and poured. Right out of the bottle this was very young and primary. Bright red purple color with the slightest clear rim. Bit of a stemmy aroma with candied fruit behind. Thought that this was a merlot (wife picked it and made me taste it blind to see if I could tell what it was). After an hour in the glass the fruit was taken over by a smoky tobacco aroma. There was still the fruit on the palate with a balanced tannin level. Definitely needs to be decanted right now to get the best out of the bottle. Would purchase again.

2004 Nefarious Cellars Pinot Noir Vista Hills USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley - Wow, this bottle was singing tonight. Right out of the bottle there were tons of mushroom aromas as well as wet dirt (love that pinot funk). There was also an element of strawberry twizzler. On the palate there was a hint of sweet tart candy along with more of the forest floor notes. Finish was smooth but didn't last an overly long time. Mouth feel was very nice without being too heavy. Would purchase again.

2005 Northwest Cellars USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Served too cold at first. Better once it warmed up. A little bit of oak and a good to slightly heavy amount of acidity. Green apples on the nose and palate. Not as creamy mouth feel as the last bottle. Decent. Would purchase again.

2003 Bergevin Lane Calico Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Good for everyday wine. Short clipped finish. Finally mellowing out, the tannins are in check. Burger or BBQ wine.

2004 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County - Good all around wine. Buttery and smooth. Would purchase again.

2003 Montirius Gigondas France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas - Wine had notes of minerality and black pepper. Tannins were somewhat in the forefront of the wine until I paired it with a med rare rib eye. Then the wine really started to come out of its shell. Would purchase again.

2004 Stevens Cabernet Sauvignon XY USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Popped and poured, should have done a splash decant. Wine was singing after a little while in the glass. Mouth feel was bordering on heavy (a good thing). Aromas of oak, dark fruits and a roasted corn element. Palate was complex yet simple. There were a multitude of flavors going on, but they melded into one singular taste and so it was difficult to pull any one element out. Finish lasted a while. Would purchase again.

2004 B.R. Cohn Zinfandel USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley - The nose on this wine has really popped since the last bottle I had. Spot on aromas of clove dominates. The taste leaves lots to be desired. A bit metallic and thin. Improved a little over time, but not markedly. Decent wine to drink on a weeknight, but not a good QPR. Would not purchase again.

2006 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Much spicier than I remember this wine being in the past. Typically there are a lot of floral elements, but I was getting a heavy arugula aroma. Good balanced acidity and nice crisp mouth feel. Finish stuck with me for a while. Would purchase again.

2005 Francis Coppola / Niebaum-Coppola Chardonnay Diamond Collection Gold Label USA, California - Not a good bottle of wine. Drank from 375ml. Nose jumped right out of the glass and had tons of burnt caramel and cream. Palate was all new wood. Finish just disappeared right after the wine left the tongue. Would not purchase again.

2003 Stevens 424 USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Brought to Gig Harbor "open" tasting.

2005 Nefarious Cellars Riesling Antoine Creek USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Brought to Gig Harbor "open" tasting.

2005 Buty Merlot/Cabernet Franc USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Brought to Gig Harbor "Open" tasting.

1999 Erath Pinot Noir Reserve USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Still tasty but starting down the hill. Wasn't nearly as inspiring as the last time.

2004 Chatter Creek Cabernet Franc Alder Ridge Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills - red core with a pink rim. Nose is a bit hot with some green elements. Fruit is starting to die on the palate, leaving a sour finish. Tannins are still present. Overall I think that this is on the downhill. If you got 'em, drink 'em. Would not purchase this vintage again.

2004 Chatter Creek Cabernet Franc Alder Ridge Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills - Drank rather than analyzed this tonight. It was good, would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Nose was not giving up all that much tonight. On the palate there was a lot of lime and a bit of kiwi. Not terribly complex tonight, but it was drinking just fine for the fact that it was hot out today. Would purchase again.

2005 Nefarious Cellars Gewürztraminer Antoine Creek USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Still going strong. The nose is starting to close up a bit, but I think that I had it chilled a little bit too much. Very distinct flavor of Satsuma orange peel. Touch of residual sugar balanced nicely with the Jerk chicken. Acidity could be a little higher. Finish was pleasant and lasted a good 30 seconds. Would purchase again.

2004 Mission Hill Shiraz Reserve Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA - Cork was soaked through and spongy. DOA.

NV Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut France, Champagne - Decent bottle of wine, but did not live up to my expectations. Extremely tart and this covered the fruit flavors. Medium sized bubbles. Would not purchase again due to low QPR.

2003 Inniskillin Pinot Blanc Single Vineyard Series Dark Horse Estate Vineyard Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA - Decent bottle of wine for a weeknight. Nice floral aromas and pleasant tart(crisp) flavor. It was a bit too one dimensional, but at the price point it is hard to expect complexity. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Tasting more like Sauv Blanc tonight. The floral elements are definitely going away. The wine was much grassier with lots of tropical fruit flavors. Acidity is really taking over the finish with laser like focus. Would purchase again.

2005 J. A. Balistreri Vineyards Merlot Little Feet Lovies USA, Colorado, Grand Valley - Tastes like sacramental wine. A bit sweet like there is a touch of residual sugar left in the wine. Very jammy, not much acid. Tends to be a bit flabby on the tongue. Would not purchase again.

1999 Woodward Canyon Pinot Noir USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Very nice. Evolved over a four hour period. Decanted, threw about a teaspoon of sediment. Started with a hint of mint (I find this in a lot of Pinot Noir, my wife thinks I am crazy. Maybe it's not mint, but that's how it tastes to me). An hour later the wood showed through then changed into tobacco. Last glass had lots of sour cherries and eucalyptus. Overall the wine still had some tannin left. Could age a bit more.

2004 Mark Ryan The Dissident USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Thought this was a very nice but nothing "wow" about it. Heavy oak nose and flavors. Gave it an unsweetened vanilla profile. Extremely ripe and primary fruit flavors. Finish was neither long nor clipped. Though this wine was good, for $22 I can think of too many other wines that offer much more "wow".