Le Ragose Valpolicella Classico Superiore Le Sassine 2003: Leather, garlic greens, sour cherry, black pepper, dried apricots, brown sugar. Utterly delicious in an old-world way. Very complex and surprising. Classically proportioned and well-structured. Fabulous accompaniment to fresh pasta w/ vegetables.

Jean Milan Champagne Blanc de Blancs Spécial NV:Doughy nose, with seashells. A little nutty, with a bright and fresh mouthfeel.  Elegant. Fleeting finish holding this back from really rocking.

Alban Central Coast Viognier 2006: Ridiculous nose of flowers, Ivory soap, Big-League Chew, Skittles, pineapples. Brings a serious rainbow of tropical flavors. A little hot (~16% ABV) and syrupy. Coconuts, peaches, and fruit cocktail. Probably the most hedonistic white wine I’ve ever had - I loved it, other tasters were not so hot on it’s over-the top fruit ripeness.

Amisfield Central Otago Pinot Noir 2003: The 04 was excellent, and this 03 probably even better. Fragrant as all hell. More wood and tobacco notes to support the Cherry Cola / Dr. Pepper - truly one foot in the old (leafy tobacco, black olives) and one foot in the new world (big cherries). Silky in the mouth - medium-to-full bodied, but not heavy. Another stunner of a Pinot.

2006 ~$40US, 68% Roussanne and 32% Viognier, Paso Robles, CA

Chalky minerality was the first impression -  followed by peach, floral notes, and almonds on the nose. Unfortunately spritzy, and not by design. A zingy entry (tiny bubbles), revealing a full-bodied, lush and soft wine in the mouth. Peach cobbler and peach nectar (the juice from the canned fruit coctail…) notes coming through very clear. Delicious with a sweet and long finish, but lacking in acidity to give it any backbone. Great flavors, but presented in a disappointing way - it didn’t pair particularly well with food. Not a rebuy, but I am curious to try more new and old-world Roussannes and Viogniers. Possibly too young at this point - perhaps the bubbles die down with cellaring?

~$16US 60% Grenache /24% Syrah /12% Mourvèdre /4% Counoise, Paso Robles, CA

This is my first Tablas Creek wine - A joint venture between the Perrin Family of the Rhone, (Chat. Beaucastel) and their longtime importer, Robert Haas. This, their entry-level offering, was a medium transparent ruby. The nose was shy at first but opened with time to reveal syrupy cherry, raspberry, and saline. The palate was medium-to-full-bodied and hot (15.2% ABV difficult to integrate here), but very juicy and lush. A nice surprising minerality and unique maritime character supported the upfront fruitinesss, with some great dried herb notes - oregano and anise. The herbal notes continued to the finish, but the alcoholic bite bittered the final impression.

This is an exciting wine. There are more complex wines in this price point, but there is nothing wrong with a linear, fruit-forward wine when it delivers the goods without going to Candyland. Most importantly, it achieves real character and a sense of place, which is (arguably) the most profound expression a wine can make. It might have been a tad more alcoholic than it’s framework could support, but the overall feeling was a fine counterpoint and challenge to the typical Cotes-du-Rhone.

~ $18US Paso Robles 50% Cabernet Sauvignon / 45% Merlot / 5% Petit Verdot

This Bordeaux-via-Cali blend poured a bricky-red colour and presented a strong strawberries and cream nose. Tasted very red-fruity and juicy, then a huge burst of super-woody oak. The wood gave some vanilla and creaminess, and there was little structure and balance. The flavors felt very disjointed and awkward - almost like they combined 2 entirely different wines to make it (a fruit monster and oak monster). Definitely a learning experience, and not my favorite in style.

Like eating a strawberry shortcake in the lumber aisle of Home Depot.