2001 Bridgman Cellars Yakima Valley Sangiovese $ 14

Here is a wine that I was not looking forward to trying but glad I did. Almost purple in color with soft strawberry's and little spices. I am going to guess that with the strawberry notes being what they were, the vines were only a few years old and they were trying to get all the money out of the vineyard they could. A bit smokey on the palate yet made the wine taste good. I believe there was a brush fire near by as some other 2001's had the same smokey note. I like it but I do not think they are making it anymore. Tasted 1/04.

2000 Guenoc North Coast Petite Sirah $20

Light in color, looked like a dark fruit punch kool-aid, minus the "OH YAH." Nose was pretty solid but lacked the spice I was looking for. Medium body with a light finish. Not bad, but for the price I would rather just pick up a nice bottle of CSM. Tasted on 1/04

1999 Langtry Meritage $25

Deep red in color and tight as nails on the nose and palate. I was having a hell of a time trying to pull anything out on the nose and was having even more of a time trying to get anything but acidity and tannins on the palate. The finish was pretty much no there since the tannins were sitting in my mouth. tasting this wine was like being at a heavy metal concert, but not being able to hear anything and wanting to put your fist in the air and not having any hands. Tasted 1/04

1999 Guenoc North Coast Claret $25

I find it funny that they don't make the same wine anymore. The current vintage is the 2005/06 Meritage and comes form Lake County. The 1999 I tried came from the North Coast and even though they called it a Bordeaux blend it was more like a general Meritage. Brick red in color with a nice rich vanilla nose. Fruit was lacking on the palate and the finish did nothing for me. Tasted on 1/04

2000 Guenoc North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon $20

Brick red in color with very light red legs. Must have been a hot harvest or hot that summer. On the nose there is nothing but oak and dark red fruit, at least the fruit came out on this one. On the palate though there was some nice fruit to compliment the fruit on the nose. Pretty decent acidity and the alcohol was actually on the lower side when it came to the palate. Finish was a bit off but was not unpleasant. Nice. Tasted on 1/04

2000 Guenoc Lake County Zinfandel $10

Wine had a light red color, almost the color of a not fully ripen cherry. Loads of black spices and herbs with a hint of cinnamon on the nose. On the palate there was a helping amount of tannins and acidity. The palate and the nose did not match. I have a feeling that they might be trying to cover the lack of fruit with oak. None of those jammy notes that you want in a nice zinfandel. Wine was tasted in 1/04

2002 Abbazia di Novacella Sylvaner, Trentino $18

Almost lemon peel yellow with some good but light wet stone and wet fir-like plant leaf going on. There even seemed to be a light petrol note as well. Pretty decent acidity on the palate with some nice wet stone and petrol notes again. Finish wise, this was amazingly long for a sylvaner but was drinking very well. Again, light petrol on the finish. Wine is 100% sylvaner, spends 1 year in stainless steel and 4 months in the bottle prior to shipping. Good stuff.

2002 FRASCATI D.O.C. SUP. Regillo Black Label $10

This is one of those great little gems that is nice to have around the house when people show up. Goes great with loads of different foods. Clear with a nice lemon/perfume nose. On the palate, things are jumping around, has a light almond finish and leaves you wanting more. Great for those summer nights. Talk about a blend of grapes though...Malvasia di Candia - Trebbiano - Malvasia del Lazio - Bombino - Greco.