Twenty Rows Napa Valley Merlot 2007

Deeply-hued with a plum-jammy scent with saturated vanilla and black cherry syrup. A big merlot that has an enormous presence. Big and willful - wine that you don't forget.

Cline Small Berry Mouvedre Contra Costa County 2007

Small-vineyard production this wine is also deeply garnet hued with a cherry tinge. Predominant scents are barnyard, leather, black cherry, vanilla. Sees nearly 100% new oak and has a generous flavor of raisin, maple syrup, fresh cherry, vanilla and has a nice elegant finish. Also 15%.

Cline Ancient Vines Mouvedre Contra Costa County 2007

Grape-skin scent with nice deep garnet hue and high in alcohol 15%. Even toned with a hint of rum-raisin and a black cherry finish. This wine is a little heavily scented on the alcohol size.

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel California 2008

A cloudy transparent rouge that smells of warmed prune pie with a fruity sugarplum juiciness. Looks so light in the glass- deceptively so- because there's so much depth. Sees 80% used and 20% new oak and gives a pretty balance to the fruit and acidity. Good.

Cline 2007 Sonoma County Syrah

Rich berry colored with a warn toasty scent. The predominant scents I get are: plum, cassis, cherry tobacco. It's rich and light at the same time- mouthfull of cherry and plum jam. Not jammy though because the acidity maintains control. Shows a great deal of elegance on the finish. Very likeable.

Cline 2008 Cashmere

Mouvedre 47%, Grenache and Syrah blend. Nicely toned nose with a good balance with fruit and acid- leaning toward acidity. Aged in used oak- imparts a slight woody character. I think this wine would be great with fatty roasts, egg noodles and carbonara.

Cline 2008 Californai Zinfandel

All the Cline wines are from 100% solar powered vineyards and are organically grown but not certified organic. Rhone style wines are Cline's strength. This zin is medium-cherry colored cherry-cola on the first scent and has bright notes after the first taste. THe finish is dry and lean. A bit restrained. But a decent zin for the cost.

Cline 2008 California Viognier

Pale green hued wine with 100% viognier stored in stainless steel. Nice ripe pear and starfruit scent with a hint of stone and chalk. Dry with nice acidity on the finish. Doesn't have much body that I'm looking for.

Sutton Cellars "la solera" 2nd bottling

A sherry or banyuls-style wine (using syrah and zinfandel with a dash of Carignagne) blended from 8 vintages. Looks cloudy, raisin-colored with a wonderful fruitcake character that starts with a delicious acidity and creme caramel with full prune center and a fresh cherry center. This is another special treat from Carl Sutton- a winemaker who certainly marches to his own drum. Try it, before it disappears. Only 300 cases produced.

Guenoc California Selections Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Deep garnet color with sweet cherry pie scent. Medium bodied and fine. A decent everyday wine for $10.

Guenoc Californai Selections Merlot 2006

Woodsy scent with black cherry on the initial sniff. The body is light and non-descript. A fine 'house wine' for a cheap restaurant. Not great.

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2007

California 14.5% alcohol. Medium to big and jammy ripe fruits with cedary flavor and a mouthful of berries. Very drinkable, pair with salty foods and nuts.

Cline Syrah Sonoma County 2007

A mouth full of blackberry and a nice back flavors of pepper, cassis with a dry finish.

Goyette Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

The winemaker from Stephen Vincent, Robert Goyette and formerly of La Crema. This nearly opaque red. Nice blackberry and cassis or currant. Not as powerful in the palate as it is to the nose. Perdominant flavors are: cherry, plum jam and cigar box at the end. Slightly juicy and has a lingering mouthwatering finish.

Clockspring 2006 Zinfandel Amador County

Organic. Nice, ripe berry aromas with a hint of vanilla and cassis. Bright and acidic on the finish but has a fairly rich body with flavors of cherry, raisin, and a hint of mint. Very nice for such a reasonable price!

Stephen Vincent Pinot Noir 2008

70% Clarksburg, 30% Central Coast California. Translucent garnet color with violet undertones. Fully berried in the scent: blueberry. Nice acidity and medium bodied with red cherry and a spiced finish.

Backhouse Cabernet Sauvigon 2008

Deep plum colored with blackberry jam scent and full flavor with vanilla and raspbery finish. Decent.

Backhouse Chardonnay 2007

Light colored with a straw hue. Unoaked. Tart with decent acidity. Nutty with white peach and light body; a fine chardonnay for only $9

Clos Pegase 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Very dark and opaque in the glass with garnet edges. Big pipe tobacco, ripe black cherry with a top note of cherry and spice. Silky but not rich in the mouth with flavors of black licorice, black cherry and bark. A hint of coffee and dark chocolate on the finish round out the wine and keeps it from feeling too dense. Very nice.

Tamas Estates 2007 Double Decker Red

Owned by Wente, from Monterey. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah and barbera. Black-cherry flesh color with lighter edges. Smells warm like red raspberry pie with a floral note like narcissus. A soft, medium bodied wine with a good deal of sweetness. It feels overripe to me- without enough body or tannins to hold it all together. Nah.