2006 Pax Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard

I let this wine breath for about 6 hours.

The nose was loaded with licorice and tobacco, but it also had hints of stone and plum. The palate was rich and thick, with blackberries and plum, and a nice 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.

2005 Frog’s Leap Merlot

The nose was heavy with dried herbs, with a little blueberry and cherry on the back end. The palate had plum and tea, and finished with some raspberry and tobacco.

2000 Château La Bessane

The nose had lots of vegetables, mainly brussels sprouts and asparagus, along with berry, spice, and hints of tobacco. The palate was silky, and had lettuce, celery, berry, and spice.

2003 Irony Cabernet Sauvignon

I decanted this wine about 3 1/2 hours.

A lovely nose of cocoa, tobacco, and violets, with a little berry at the end. The palate was soft and had black currant, raspberry, and a dirt finish.

2006 Graham Beck Cabernet Sauvignon Gamekeeper’s Reserve

I’m really starting to like some of the wines coming out of South Africa. The nose had some wonderful sweet berries, a little tobacco, and some stone at the end. The palate was rich, with blackberry jam, cigar box, and a finish of spice.

2005 Oakville East Cabernet Sauvignon Exposure

The nose had nice cherry and plum aromas, and ended with some tobacco and coffee. The palate had plum and cherry, and finished with chocolate and spice.

N.V. Henriot Champagne Blanc Souverain Brut

A simple, but good wine. The nose had bread and citrus. The palate had tobacco and citrus, with some bread on the finish.

2005 Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon Rainin Vineyard

A good nose of blackberry, cherry, and a bit of tobacco. The palate was soft and had stone and black currant, and finished with some tobacco and spice.

2004 Château Jonc-Blanc Montravel Le Rubis

I decanted this wine about 5 hours.

The nose had blackberry and dirt, a touch of plum, and some tobacco at the end. The palate was silky and had blackberry and black currant, and finished with tobacco and earth.