2005 Tempus Two Shiraz

The nose had a wonderful stewed tomatoes aroma, along with cherry, raspberry, mocha, and vanilla. The palate had the same stewed tomatoes as the nose, plus raspberry, spice, and a coffee finish.

2006 Tempus Two Mélange

The nose had nice honey and peach, with hints of apricot and orange. The palate was rich, and had peach and lemon, and finished with honey and orange.

2005 Ramey Claret

The nose had pencil lead, tobacco, cherry, and cassis. The palate had red and black currant, and finished with spice and graphite.

2004 Pax Syrah Richards Family Vineyard

A beautiful nose of espresso, lavender, earth, blackberry, and cassis. The palate had blackberry and truffles, a little cassis, and a floral finish.

2006 Cooperativo Bodegas San Gregorio Calatayud Manga del Brujo

A lovely nose of tobacco, cedar, and cherry, with a bit of blueberry and earth at the end. The palate had cedar and earth, and a cherry and tobacco finish.

2006 El Burro Navarra Kickass

The nose had a bunch of nutmeg and cinnamon, with hints of raspberry and strawberry at the end. The palate was very jammy, and had currant and cherry, and finished with cedar and spice.

2004 Bella Vineyards Zinfandel Lily Hill Estate

The nose was mainly fruit - cherry, raspberry, and blackberry. The palate had blackberry and cherry, and a nice raspberry jam finish.

2005 Francis Coppola / Niebaum-Coppola Merlot Diamond Collection Blue Label

I decanted this wine about 1 1/2 hours.

The nose was loaded with chocolate and oak, along with generous helpings of plum and raspberry. The palate was very tannic and had quite a bit of heat. It also had raspberry and plum, and finished with spicy vanilla. The wine was drinkable, but had way too much oak for my taste.

2006 August West Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard

The nose had loads of cherry and pomegranate, along with some spice, and a touch of vanilla at the end. The palate was smooth and sweet, with pomegranate, cherry, pepper, and a little earth on the finish.

2006 Linne Calodo Outsider

The nose had chocolate, blackberry, and cherry. The palate had blackberry and spice, and finished with some black currant.