2005 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Los Alamos Vineyard

I let this wine breath for 5 hours.

The nose had a nice mix of cherry and rhubarb, a little spice, and hints of earth and vanilla. The palate was silky smooth, and had berry and rhubarb, some cherry, and a nice finish of spicy oak.

2006 Summerland Pinot Noir Solomon Hills

I let this wine breathe about 5 hours.

The nose had nice cherry and cola aromas, along with forest floor, spice, and hints of strawberry. The palate was smooth and sweet, with cherry and forest floor, and a nice spicy finish.

2006 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

I let this wine breath for 5 hours.

The nose had a pretty heavy dose of cherry, but this was tamed a little by the dried herbs and dirt that followed. It ended with some nice licorice and strawberry. The palate was silky and a little sweet, with a nice cherry and strawberry mixture, a hint of dirt, and a finish that had some nice tartness.

2006 The Australian Premium Wine Collection Pinot Noir Hill of Content

The nose had a whole lot of plum aromas mixed with some cherry and a little smoked meat. The palate had cherry and plum, plus some earth, and finished with spice and meat.

2005 Two Hands Shiraz Sophie’s Garden

The nose had nice plum and cherry, plus earth and stone. The palate was too hot, but it did have plum, earth, and a little spice.

2006 Cooperativo Bodegas San Gregorio Calatayud Papa Luna

The nose had raspberry, cherry, vanilla, and dried herbs. The palate was hot, with good acidity, and had raspberry and spice.

2005 Martinelli Pinot Noir Zio Tony Ranch

The nose had cherry and earth, and some truffle and spice at the end. The palate was rich, and had cherry, mushroom, and a earth finish.

2006 August West Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard

I let this wine breath for about 6 hours.

The nose had lots of black cherry, with hints of cloves and a bit of cinnamon underneath. It ended with some toasty oak. The palate was silky and a little sweet, and had cherry and grapefruit, a little spice, and a very good earth and oak finish.

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.

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.