Wines Tasted In December

2005 Portteus Rattlesnake Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Right out of the bottle this seemed tight and a bit green. After a couple of hours open the fruit started to come to the front. However, the fruit tasted candied and a bit fake. There was a good dose of oak in the background with an element of toffee coming through. Almost no finish, the wine just sort of disappeared on the tongue. For the price it was alright, but I think that there are better options out there. Would probably not purchase again.

Non Vintage Dow Porto Trademark Finest Reserve Portugal, Douro, Porto - Not giving much up on the nose. Ultra sweet on the palate with flavors of cherries and raspberries. Fairly hot alcohol burn. Finish lasts a good minute. Not very complex, but a good dose of sweetness if you are looking for some desesrt. Would purchase again.

2002 JM Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Decanted due to copious amounts of sediment. Eucaliptus and blackberries on the nose. Lots of up front tannins that cut throught the richness of the braised short ribs. Once the food was gone the tannins were a bit harsh and overpowered the rest of the flavors. Hints of dark berries and oak. Finish was a bit thin. Not a great value for the price. Would not purchase again.

1999 Château La Fleur d'Or France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes - First Sauternes I have had. Much different than I was expecting. Not nearly as sweet. The balance between acidity and sweetness was perfect. Had all the elements of a very good non-desert white meritage, with a little sweetness on the end. Paired very nicely with an apple pie and whipped cream. Chose this wine tonight because it was the least expensive in the cellar. Thought it would be good to work my way up. Can't wait to try a higher end bottle.

2004 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc Legs USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Much better than the last bottle but the fruit is definitely fading. Glad that I opened this up now. Still really enjoyed the wine. Nice mouthfeel with a creamy finish. Would purchase the next vintage.

2002 Three Rivers Winery Meritage USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Crisp and fresh. Nice balance, went well with pork roast.

2005 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône Belleruche France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône - Bright ruby red to purple color. Light hint of blood on the nose along with some green vegetal aromas. The alcohol seems to also come through on the nose and gives your sinuses the same kind of reaction when smelling hard liquor. On the palate there is a metalic hit right up front, like licking a stainless steel sink. Then there is a quick flash of sour cherries that dies on the mid palate. Very drying tannins. About ten seconds after you swollow the wine it comes back to bite you. Very sour/bitter finish that makes you wish that you had spit the wine out. Would not purchase again.

2002 Lynfred Winery Fred's Red USA, Illinois - Very nice for a value priced bottle. Was incredibly balanced, tannins had integrated and the fruit was very smooth. After being opened a couple of hours it picked up a ton of cigar tobacco flavors. If I could get this in Seattle I would definitely purchase again.

2003 Toad Hollow Merlot Reserve McDowell USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley - Was hoping for a repeat of the 2000 vintage. This is a much different wine. If tasted blind I would have guessed a pinot noir. Decanted, but no sediment. The color was a light strawberry with a nose that reminded me of candied cherries. Mouthfeel was a bit thin with a slightly higher level of acidity than I would have preferred. Wine smoothed out a bit over a three hour period. Will wait a couple more years to open the next one and hope that it improves. Would not purchase this vintage again, but would purchase the wine.

2003 Hedges Family Estate CMS USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - The wood is showing through a bit too much. Glimpses of nice fruit, but nothing memorable.

2005 Isenhower Cellars Wild Thyme USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Such a smooth mouthfeel. Feels like running some silk pajamas across your tongue. Aromas of kalua pig...combo of oil, pork, salt and hickory smoke. Tanninsreally started to show up after the wine was open for an hour. Flavors of dark fruit, orange peel and a bit of mint. Oak didn't show up until after the glass was empty, but boy howdy did it show up. Wonderful bottle of wine. Would purchase again.

2005 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County - Another good vintage. The butter level has been decreased while the acid level has increased. Notes of tropical fruit. Medium mouthfeel. Would purchase again.

2006 Airfield Estates Pinot Gris USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - crystal clear with just the faintest hint of color. On the nose there were elements of pear and whipped cream. The palate had more pear and a huge flavor of dried banana chips. Just a little bit of sweetness on the back end, but a good dose of acidity to cut through. Really enjoyable bottle of wine. Would purchase again.

2003 Soléna Pinot Gris USA, Oregon - Fabulous. Nice bright acidity. Well balanced fruit. Would purchase again.

2004 Chatter Creek Cabernet Franc Alder Ridge Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills - Red Berries. This is a fairly simple cab franc. Don't know that I could tell much varietal typicity. Decent mid week wine. Paired nicely with home made mac and cheese (extra sharp cheddar). 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.

2004 Pomum Cellars Shya Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Decanted, not much sediment. Gave it about an hour in the decanter. Seems like the oak was taking a front seat tonight. There was a little bit of a cinnamon note on the nose. Wine had an alcoholic touch on the front palate but then developed into a great mid palate. Notes of sour cherry, black raspberry and just a hint of green bell pepper. Finish was a bit too thin and the great flavors on the mid palate didn't stick around long enough. Wine was good tonight, but couldn't quite figure out what it wanted to be. Would purchase again. Revisited 24 hours later. Left in the decanter on the kitchen counter overnight. Oak had integrated much better and I was getting more spice notes on the nose. The wine was also much more complete in the front and mid palate. The hottness from the night before had blown off and I was getting a stong black cherry flavor. Finish was still a bit clipped. Leads me to believe that this may be more of a longer term hold to really get everything out of it.

2004 Stevens Syrah Black Tongue USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Really disjointed right out of the bottle. Took about a half an hour in the decanter to come around. Subtle nose of heavily smoked bacon. Dark fruits on the palate with a good full mouthfeel. Would purchase again.

2002 K Vintners Syrah Milbrandt Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope - Started out very closed. Took about four hours to start to come around. Never got all that complex. Was pleasant, but nothing remarkable. Will wait another couple of years before I open my next one. Would not purchase again, not good enough QPR.

2004 B.R. Cohn Zinfandel USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley - 2004 just wasn't a nice year to california Zins. The wine wasn't bad, just not very memorable. Right upon opening the bottle there was an aroma of stewed fruit. However, there was not much fruit to speak of on the palate. After an hour open, the wine turned into liquid wood. Both the nose and palate was like sucking on a piece of cedar. Mouthfeel had medium weight, but died fairly quickly on the back of the tongue. Not terribly sad to see the last of these bottles go. Would not purchase again.

2004 Boudreaux Cellars Syrah Desert Hills Vineyard USA, Washington - Popped and poured. Nose of smoked mushrooms. Wasn't getting a lot on the palate tonight. There was a nice crisp acidity on the finish. Would purchase again.

2002 Sterling Vineyards Merlot USA, California, Napa Valley - Day 1: Green. Seems to have a vegetal/leafy taste to it. Some interesting flavors hidden underneath that I hope will come out with the bottle open for 24 hours. Would not purchase again at this stage. Day 2: Didn't improve very much. Was a little bit softer tonight, but the green element was still very much in the fore front. Not bad enough to pour out, but I didn't enjoy it very much. Would not purchase again.

2002 Dunham Cellars Three Legged Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Still heavy on the oak, but settling down somewhat. Pleasant bottle of wine to drink, but nothing overly complex.

2003 Vin du Lac Viognier USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - For $5 I would purchase this wine just for the aroma. Reeally heavy scents of tropical fruit just jumped from the glass. Was too tart on the palate, made me pucker up like sucking on a lemon. Other people in the group liked it, but it just didn't do it for me. Would purchase again if I were serving it to other people.

2004 L'Ecole No. 41 Sémillon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Always a good choice. Consistent performer. Well balanced. Creamy mouthfeel. Would purchase again.

2004 Cadence Coda USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Good and tasty. Bright tannins without being overly drying. Nose of tobacco, blackberries and bramble. Would imagine that this will smoothe out with some time in the cellar. Would purchase again.

2004 Estampa Assemblage Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley - Much better than the last bottle. Still a bit too vinegary for my liking. Will drink up the last bottle I have soon. Would not purhcase again.

2002 Covey Run Merlot Winemaker's Collection USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Good QPR. Dark berry nose though somewhat simplistic. Nice smoothe finish. Would purchase again.

2006 Zolo Torrontés Argentina, Mendoza - Nice tropical fruit flavors. Consistent with prior bottle. Would purchase again.

2004 Illusion Cabernet Sauvignon Dionysus USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Tons of sediment in this bottle. Needed to decant. Very light nose of prune, but not much else. There was some bright acidity on the palate that made this wine pop. Good red fruit characteristics. Finish was short'ish but smoothe. Would purchase again.

1998 Aldo e Riccardo Seghesio Langhe Bouquet Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC - Floral nose of roses and violets. Nice acid level. People drinking this with me both thought the tannin level was still a little harsh, but I didn't get that at all. Doesn't jump out and grab you, but is a nice complex thinking man's wine. Would purchase again.

2003 Columbia Crest Merlot Grand Estates USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Great QPR. Lots of dark fruit and cocoa on the nose. Smoothe tannins. Finish was a bit clipped. Would purchase again.

2003 Columbia Crest Merlot Grand Estates USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Great QPR. Lots of dark fruit and cocoa on the nose. Smoothe tannins. Finish was a bit clipped. Would purchase again.

2006 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc Athought USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Drinking really well right now. Initially served well chilled and there were aromas of granny smith apples. As the wine warmed up there was a distinct smell of fresh baked rolls from Paradiso Italian restaurant in Kirkland. Flavors of star fruit and lime dominate. Good amount of crisp acidity. Paired well with a olive oil, garlic and crushed red pepper sauce on my pasta. Would purchase again.

2003 Matthews Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Big, dark and brooding wine. Color was nearly black. I was worried about the alcohol level (14.9%), but didn't pick up any heat at all. Nose had a big blackberry element and very little oak. Wine was mouthfilling and had a good long finish. Would purchase again.

2002 Chelan Estate Merlot Stillwater Creek Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - One big bottle of blueberry pie. Huge nose. After about an hour the tannins started to show through on the palate. Would purchase again.

2004 Chatter Creek Cabernet Franc Alder Ridge Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills - Consistent notes with last bottle. Simple but tasty. Would purchase again.

2000 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Drank to celebrate the power coming back on after five days of dark. Decanted, copious amounts of sediment. Dark purple with a clear rim. Served with tenderloin steaks. Wine was initially served a bit colder than normal (56 degrees). Paired nicely with the steaks. Very balanced with a long finish. However, it was hard to pick out any one element to the wine. Did not impress me as much as the merlot, but still very tasty. Don't think that I would pay retail prices for this. After two hours the wine warmed up to mid 60's and it became an oak bomb. All other elements dissapeared. All in all enjoyable wine, but not at the level I was hoping for.

2006 Arlington Road Cellars Riesling Imperium Charbonneau Farms USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Nose was not giving it up that much tonight. Slight hint of oak, but it was definitely dancing in the background. Paired with a kung pau recipe, balanced nicely with the heat of the dish. On the palate there was a laser focused flavor of satsuma orange rind. Slightly sweet with alright level of acidity (would have preferred a bit more). Finish lasted a good minute. It was pleasant to drink, but maybe a bit too one dimensional to seek out. Would not purchase again.

2002 Cana's Feast Winery (Cuneo) Pinot Noir USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley - Much bigger style of Pinot Noir than I typically go for. Nose had a bit of oak and some strawberry. On the palate there was more strawberry and little green leaf. Enjoyed the wine but can't say that it made that big of an impression on me. Would not purchase again as I prefer a more feminine style.

Non Vintage Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut France, Champagne - Opened this up to drink while putting up the Christmas tree. Very strong nose. When I opened up the bottle it just filled the area with the smell. The only way to describe the aroma is to say that it smelled like a condom rubbed with liquid smoke laying on top of rising bread dough. The rubber element was unmistakeable, but I actually got some liquid smoke out of the pantry to double check what I was thinking. The wine tasted like a burning campfire smells. The mouthfeel was nice and on the heavy (creamy) side. Finish lasted a while, but I don't know if that is a good thing. Very interesting Champagne, but not one that I would go out looking for again. Would not purchase again.

Non Vintage Francis Coppola / Niebaum-Coppola Sofia Blanc de Blancs USA, California - Won't be purchasing this again. Metalic taste dominated.

2004 Gallagher U Brew Pinot Gris USA, Oregon, Yamhill County - Funk is gone. color is butterscotch. Nose reminds me of semillon more than pinot gris. Smoothing out. Looking forward to this as my go to summer wine of 2007.

2007 Stevens Viognier Divio USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Nose of peach with a hint of orange marmalade. Flavors were nice and refreshing though I couldn't put my finger on any one flavor. Nice mouthfeel with balanced acidity. Would purchase again.

2004 Waving Tree Sangiovese Estate USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Good drinking wine. Opens up nicely after about 2 hours. Light rose petal nose. Would purchase again.

2004 Columbia Crest Shiraz Two Vines USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Wow, this was not showing well tonght. Aroma of stewed tomatoes. On the palate there was more stewed flavors, this time of plums and prunes. Would not purchase.

2004 Desert Wind Vineyard RUAH USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope - Strong scents of buttered corn and oak. Kind of disjointed on the finish. Tannins have not resolved very well. If I was going to a wine "sniffing" I would really enjoy this wine, but the tasting kind of killed it. Would not purchase.

2005 Cougar Crest Viognier USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley - Had a taste at a Christmas party. Not giving much up on the nose, but may have been served a little too chilled. Hints of kiwi and pineapple on the palate. Very crisp acidity, which by itself was a bit over the top. May have improved with food. For the price there are better options out there. Would not purchase.

2004 Pomum Cellars Shya Red USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Nicely balanced wine. Dark fruit, oak and spice. Good mouthfeel and a finish that lasted a good thirty seconds. Would purchase again.

2005 Winemaker's Loft USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Heavy on the oak and somewhat one dimensional tonight. I remember it being better at the winery. Hoping that this is just an off bottle. Would not purchase again if it doesn't change.

2005 Stevens Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Drinking well right at release. Bit of an herbal element on the nose. Palate has a bit of blackberries and a floral twinge. Very soft mouthfeel, with just a hint of tannins on the finish. Definitely made as more of a near term drinker. Would purchase again.

2004 Pomum Cellars Syrah USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Huge nose on this wine. Scents of bloody meat and lots of gamey notes. Aroma pulls you into the glass and slaps you around a bit before letting go. Palate doen't quite match the aroma. Still very good, but does not have the weight to match. Subtle dark fruits with a little bit of smoke. Curious to see how this will develop, but it is hard to keep hands off right now because it is drinking so well. Would purchase again.

2005 Boudreaux Cellars Merlot USA, Washington - A bit tannic right out of the bottle, needed about an hour to open up. Nose of vanilla bean and lots of sweet bright cherry on the palate. Could use some more time to settle the tannins down. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Graham Porto Six Grapes Portugal, Douro, Porto - Started off very hot and searing. Heavy aroma of tobacco and black licorice. On the palate it was pretty much the same. Hoping that this will develope some more interesting flavors. Right now it is a little too one dimensional.

2005 Stevens Sauvignon Blanc Pose #11B USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - This is designed for early drinking. Bright tropical scents and flavors. Just a hint of grassiness in the back palate. Would purchase again as long as I was planning on drinking within the first year after release.

2006 Bodega Emina Rueda Spain, Castilla y León, Rueda - Very crisp and acidic. Needed food to cut through. Nose was pretty tight, though pear, pineapple and unripe peach came through on the palate. Paired with a plate of manchego cheese, feta scalion spread and olives. Could see this being a great summer pick me up when it is really hot outside and you have shellfish grilling on the BBQ. Would purchase again.

2004 Bodegas Bretón Rioja Loriñón Crianza Spain, La Rioja, Rioja - Wine changed a couple of times over the course of an hour and a half. Initially not giving up much on the nose, but the flavor profile had bright berry flavors. After a bit the nose gave up a bit of oak and the flavors became fairly tart cherries. In the end the flavors took on more dark berries and the nose closed up again. Was a decent bottle of wine and would probably purchase again if i came across it in another restaurant.

Non Vintage Toad Hollow Crémant de Limoux Amplexus France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux - Very tasty. Think that this is a good QPR. Notes of tart apple and nice mouthfeel. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Cantine Collalto Prosecco Piave Italy, Veneto, Piave - Slightly corked. But not bad enough not to drink it. Most everything was muted but we needed a toasting wine for a large group. Oh well.

2000 Yakima River Winery Shiraz Port USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - Very nice end to a Christmas feast with my family. This was a Syrah port. A bit spicy with hints of dried fruit. Finish lasted 15-20 seconds. Toward the end of the second glass the wine got a bit tired, dulling somewhat. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Made into mimosas for Christmas brunch. Poured before the orange juice. No very heavy on the bubbles. Extremely dry with just a hint of green apple. Decent for mixing, but don't know about on it's own. Would purchase again.

2004 Nota Bene Cellars Syrah USA, Washington - Had a taste from a bottle that had been opened for two days. Couldn't finish the glass of wine. Fruit was all gone and all that was left was green tobacco flavors and tannins. Don't feel like I can make a reasonable judgment of this wine on the taste.

2006 Azienda Agricola Perazzeta Sangiovese Sara Toscana IGT Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT - Brought to my parent's house for Christmas dinner. Really simple wine. Not much coming through on either the nose or palate. It was wine, nothing more nothing less. Would not purchase again.

2005 Zenato Valpolicella Superiore Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella - Brought to parent's house for Christmas dinner. Nose of potpouri and spice. Very bright sweet bing cherries on the palate. Finish fell off very quickly. Not a terribly complicated wine, but tasty. Would purchase again.

2006 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Alamos Argentina, Mendoza - Brought to parent's house for Christmas dinner. Color was very dark purple bordering on black. Nose had a little bit of leather and smoke. On the palate there was more smoke and some sweet dark berries. Wine finished fairly tannic. When paired with meatballs and gravy the finish was much more pleasant. Would purchase again.

2002 The Hess Collection Chardonnay Hess Select USA, California - Highly acidic, paired well with food(roast chicken, spicy corn soup). Satisfactory wine, but nothing special. Would not purchase again for the price($19).

2001 Three Rivers Winery Syrah Columbia Valley USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Really nice balanced wine. Almost black in color. Smokey aromas. Would purchase again.

2002 Covey Run Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker's Collection USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Drank rather than analized. It was tasty. Would purchase again.

2001 Covey Run Merlot Barrel Select USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Last bottle. Not as deep as the previous bottle. Hint of mint. Good wine for the price. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Rodier Pere & Fils Champagne Reserve France, Champagne - Good sparkler. lots of toasty elements. Nose of brioche and buttered toast. Crisp mouthfeel with more toast. Not much fruit to speak of. really enjoyed this with a slice of apple pie a la mode. Would purchase again.

2004 Fess Parker Syrah USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County - Popped and poured. Dark color. Nose of brown sugar, molasses and a bit of smokey bacon fat. On the palate there was more dark sugar along with a touch of mintiness. Finish was a bit short. All in all a solid effort. Would purchase again.

2004 Masquerade Merlot Klipsun Vineyard USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain - Really tasty bottle of wine. Decanted for about half an hour before drinking. Lots of smokey dark fruit on both the nose and palate. Nice silky mouthfeel with just enough of a tannic bite for interest. Don't see this as being a long term drinker, but is well worth it right now. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage Yalumba Galway Pipe Australia, New South Wales - Nutty, butterscotch, raisins. Pleasing palate, the nose is a little weaker than I was hoping for. Nice mouthfeel. I would buy for myself as an everyday tawny.

1999 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Willamette Valley USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley - Oh I miss pinot's with funk. However, this was nice in it's own way. Bright ruby red color. Nose of cranberry and cola. On the palate there was more cranberries and tart raspberries. Finish was very short. Paired well with seared duck breast. Decent bottle of wine, but wish that I could find more pinots with that mushroom/wet forest funk. Would not purchase again.

1999 Barón de Oña Rioja Reserva Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja - Very nice bottle of wine. Paired wonderfully with most of the meal (not so much with desert). Decanted, not much sediment. Right out of the gate this wine hits you with tons of saddle leather. Took about a half an hour to calm down and start to let the fruit through. Bright red fruits (pomegranate primarily) on both the nose and palate. The leather was still there along with some cedar cigar box aromas. Good acidity to match with the food. Would purchase again.

1992 C.H. Berres Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer - Started off that I didn't like the wine, but it was interesting enough to keep me drinking. Upon opening there was a heavy aroma of diesel. After about two hours the diesel started to mellow and there was an increase in the spice element. At this point the wine got much more enjoyable. Left a couple of glasses worth in the bottle for day 2 tasting. Will update tomorrow. Day 2 - Less diesel and more spice. Enjoyable, still needs spicy food to bring the wine out. Day 3 - Almost no diesel left. The residual sugar has really come to the forefront.

2005 Nefarious Cellars Gewürztraminer Antoine Creek USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Paired with spicy takeout from our local Mongolian grill. The sweetness nicely offset the spicy of the food. On the nose there was a distinct aroma of Smarties candy just out of the wrapper. After about an hour open, the wine took on more of an orange, lime and lemon peel nose. On the palate there were more citrus notes as well as a bit of coriander. Good mouthfeel, though the finish didn't last quite as long as I would have liked. Would purchase again.

2005 Stevens Syrah Black Tongue USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley - This wine is starting to settle down a little bit. Nice dark color. Still young and very fruit forward. Nose was not giving up a lot to me tonight. A bit of oak was coming through. On the palate there was plenty of blackberry liquor and black cherry flavors. Finish lasted a good 30 seconds. Paired with a chicken and sausage pot pie. Held up very nicely to the bold flavors of the dish. Would purchase again.

2004 Waterbrook Mélange USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Starting to mellow out. Tannins were in check. Decent mouthfeel and a touch of spice. Would purchase again.

2005 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County - Old standard. Not as buttery as past vintages. More apple notes. Good QPR year after year. Would purchase again.

2003 Red Sky Merlot USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Wine was served in odd shaped thick lipped glasses. Have a feeling that it took something away from the overall impact of the wine. However, it was still drinking nicely. Aromas of fresh popped popcorn along with a nice drizzling of butter. Tannins were well resolved and the mouthfeel was balanced and smooth. Bit of red fruit and aok on the palate. Was surprised at the alcohol level (15.31%) as the wine did not seem hot or over the top in any way. Would purchase again.

2003 Challenger Ridge Pinot Noir USA, Washington, Puget Sound - Notes very similar to the last bottle. Alright easy drinking red, but no varietal character to speak of. Would not purchase again.

Non Vintage Cristalino Cava Brut Spain, Catalunya, Cava - Very dry. Good toasting wine when there are a number of non champagne drinkers in the room. Would purchase again.

2002 El Paseo Valencia Spain, Valencia - Spicy. Would purchase again.

2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County - Nice bottle of wine. However, doesn't have the juiciness or spice of other vintages.

Non Vintage Francis Coppola / Niebaum-Coppola Sofia Blanc de Blancs USA, California - Won't be purchasing this again. Metalic taste dominated.

Non Vintage Francis Coppola / Niebaum-Coppola Sofia Blanc de Blancs USA, California - Won't be purchasing this again. Metalic taste dominated.

Non Vintage G. H. Mumm & Cie Champagne Carte Classique France, Champagne - Color was much darker than I would have expected, nearly identical to fresh squeezed apple juice. Bubbles were pretty large also. right out of the bottle this wine had a strong odor of animal urine. Not very dry on the palate and the flavor was pretty much non existent. Would not purchase again.

1999 Brian Carter Cellars Solesce USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - Decanted. Decent amount of sediment. Right out of the bottle it was very fresh and lively. Hints of smoke and brown sugar. Color was deep red. After about three hours in the decanter the color was start to brick. Still a fairly tannic and drying wine, but enough fruit on the back end to balance it out. This wine is drinking really well right now, but it has the stuffing to go on for a while longer. Not sure if it will improve any more though. Would pruchase again.

2003 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington - Should have decanted this for both sediment and to give it a little more time to open up. Sweet nose of black raspberries and chocolate. More dark fruits and a bit of vanilla on the palate. The mouthfeel on the Boudreaux wines are what set them apart, just luscious. Would purchase again.

Non Vintage J. Dumangin Fils Champagne Brut 1er Cru Grande Reserve France, Champagne - Very good bottle of champagne. High level of yeasty aromas and plenty of apple and pair notes. Mouthfeel was thick and creamy. Really enjoyed. Would purchase again.