2006 Carlisle Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley

I let this wine breath for 6 hours.

The nose had lots of bramble and earth, with some blackberry and mocha, and nice hint of blueberry and oak at the end. The palate was sweet and rich, with blackberry liqueur, dirt, blueberry, and a finish of vanilla and spice.

2006 Carlisle Syrah Russian River Valley

I let this wine breath for about 5 hours.

The blueberry and violets really jump out at you on the nose of this wine. I also detected some hints of spicy earth and blackberry. The palate is very rich, and had blackberry, blueberry, earth, spice, and a good floral finish.

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.

2005 Bodega Mustiguillo Mestizaje

I let this wine breath for 5 hours.

The nose had lots of blackberry and blueberry fruit mingled with damp, fresh earth. The palate had a bit of sweetness on the initial attack, but softened out with strong flavors of blackberry, a little licorice, and a nice finish of wood and dirt.

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.

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.

2004 Three Rings (3 Rings) Shiraz Reserve

The nose was full of burnt forest, with some licorice and blueberry liqueur. The palate had blackberry and cedar, and finished with some licorice and earth.

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.

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.