The Roman's Lot ll 2010 Pinot Noir SLH is an impressive and value packed Pinot that is not to be overlooked. All of the components of a good Pinot are expressed in this smooth, medium bodied well made wine. Right from the start, bright red fruit along with a touch of vanilla and spice jump from the glass. The body of the wine sings with Strawberry/Cherry Cola fruit, good acidity and spice that is backed up with a backbone of soft minerality. I've tasted many other Pinot's that are more expensive that don't come close to the balance and structure of this wine. The 2010 Roman's Lot ll Pinot Noir is "one of those finds" and true value that will not disappoint.     

This is a chewy Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet and Merlot from Sonoma County.
Leather, tobacco and dark red fruit dominate the palate. The finish is just as chewy with firm tannins and sweet oak.   

The 2010 Byron Pinot Noir is a nice everyday drinker that is expressive. 
The nose provides notes of rose petal and spice. The mid-weight body offers flavors of plum, cranberry and more spice. There is a smokey, satisfying finish.


 

This is a wine of exceptional character and dimension at this price point.
Right away the nose offers notes of cedar, leather and spice. The body of the wine provides waves of flavor expressing ripe figs, tobacco, stewed fruits and herbal notes. The finish is long and dry tempting you to take another sip. This is an Italian wine you drink and enjoy without food. I highly recommend it.

This is a domestic Napa Valley blend made to complement the French Cotes du Rhone style. As you might expect the fruit is the dominate element. What it lacks in comparison is the acidity common in a true French C-D-R. However based on its own qualities, this is a nice everyday wine. It has good balance and structure, juicy fruit, spice, and a long finish.    

I am all ways on the look out for an inexpensive Pinot so I decided to give this one a try. The body of the wine is a bit thin but the flavor is rich and spicy. What I missed is a balance of acidity. Ripe cherry and raspberry are pronounced on the palate followed with lingering spice on a long finish. It's a unique, spicy Pinot, similar to "Picket Fence" and at about the same price point.  

Definitely a Best Buy! If you have had previous vintages of the Phantom you will be surprised to find the 2009 vintage far more complex, structured and balanced.   Yes, it is still full bodied and fruit forward but it is a leaner and more focused version of past vintages. The nose provides aromas of vanilla and cedar followed by flavors of cocoa dusted berries, tobacco with a hint of black pepper in the body. Rich, integrated oak is present in the long satisfying finish. This wine rocks at this price point.   

This is a "go to" Chardonnay for both the price point and quality. Don't let the logo put you off, this wine packs a lot of flavor into the bottle. On the nose there are notes of citrus blossoms and vanilla followed in the rich body by bright apple and pear fruit with just a hint of toasty oak.   

The fruit of the 2010 Chanson Nuits~Saint~Georges is pretty, soft and rich. The backbone of this wine is it's racy and vibrant acid. The combination provides a wine with finesse from this respected maker.

This is a youthful and approachable Pinot reflecting the style of the Monterey region. The wine offers a nice level of acidity, a juicy mid-palate and full fruit flavors of cherries and other red berries followed by a touch of oak.  
 

This might be the nicest, least expensive Chardonnays I've had in a while.
Michael~David is known for their fruit forward wines and have produce this Chard to run in-line with their 7 Deadly Zins' price point. 
This Chardonnay is not as fruit forward but you will experience apple and pear in the rich body of the wine. The fruit is followed with a distinctive flavors of creme' brullee and vanilla. At only $10.95 this wine is one to enjoy as an everyday drinker and would be prefect for parties and events. 

I really enjoyed this wine, it is far more dimensional then described in the tasting notes. It is rich and favorable from beginning to end. The nose offers floral notes mixed with vanilla, the body of the wine is full of ripe currant, cherry and plum and the finish is long and spicy. Nice value, not to be missed.  

This is an exceptional field blend or cuvee at a reasonable price. It is easy drinking and will pair well with any meat preparation. I particularly enjoy it with grilled lamp chops on a lazy Sunday evening. It is from the Alexander Valley and is made by a small producer with care and love for wine. It is a blend of 52% Cabernet, 25% Merlot, 13% Cab Franc and 10% Syrah. Don't pass this one up.   

I've recently rediscovered the Buehler N.V. Cabernet and enjoyed it as much as I have in the past. It is a classic mid-priced Napa Valley Cab that doesn't take a back seat to a host of others in that price range. I thought past vintages were a bit more fruity then the 2009 which to me has deeper and more developed flavors. This wine is a good value and will not disappoint.

Absolutely a "Best Value".
This wine is rich and creamy with layers of flavors that stay with you. 
It has a beautiful jewel-like golden color and the nose is full of apple and vanilla.
The body of the wine offers lots of mango, papaya and stone fruit flavors along with a bit of butter and light oak. Nicely made, this wine drinks like a far more expensive wine.  

This California wine celebrates the character of wines from the Northern Rhone. It is pure and simple yet dimensional. All of the notes of a true Syrah are present, it is rich, balanced and smooth. I think the quality and price point make this wine a winner. 

The producer may not like me saying this but the qualities of this Pinot are more in tune with California then Oregon. It is rich and juicy, fruit forward and loaded with character and dimension. Nice wine and worth the price.     

What a treat, this wine was excellent. The color is a jeweled yellow/gold. The nose expresses citrus blossom notes. The body is round and rich offering flavors of tropical fruits, vanilla and mild oak. There is just enough acidity with hints of minerality all the way through its long finish. Hooray for California Chardonnays,
this wine represents them well. 

The 2009 Saint-Joseph by E. Guigal is a nice balance of terrior and fruit. Red berries, spice and slate dominate the flavors and are followed with just a hint of oak. It is rich and round and has enough tannins to give this wine a long and satisfying finish.  

I was really surprised with this wine, a wine made for mass distribution, was as sleek as any Napa Cabernet. It's smooth yet it is deep and dense at the same time.
Lots of classic Napa elements with blackberry, chocolate, tobacco, and herbal notes followed by just enough oak. Considering the price point, this wine delivers as well as those costing two and three times more.

I've scored this wine excellent for both value and quality. Far more complex, structured and layered then comparable wines. Don't let the floral and herbal nose mislead you, this wine goes beyond with dark red fruit, soft oak and a hint of spice followed with a long finish. Nice, ... you won't be disappointed. 

Rombauer Chardonnay fans would be very pleased to be served the Merryvale 2010 Chardonnay Carneros. This wine is as rich and full bodied with just enough oak to be mistaken for the Rombauer Chard. Apple, pear, vanilla and spice are pronounced  throughout. This might become my summer favorite.  

This is a rich and racy, SUPER - CHARGED Cotes du Rhone. I loved the deep fruit, the medium body and spicy finish. The Grenache plays the lead role. An excellent wine and price. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 

What a nice surprise this Pinot Noir turned out to be. I was expecting a lot of big extracted fruit. What I got is a lush, well balanced Pinot offset with an earthiness and slight minerality. It has all of typical flavors of the Santa Rita Hills; cherry, cola and a bit of spice but it's the structure and lushness that makes this Pinot a winner.
  

I've not been a fan of Justin wines but on a lark I decided to try the 09 Syrah thinking that coming from Paso Robles it might be a safe bet. I was not disappointed. What makes this Syrah different is how dry it is, yet the fruit comes through and the tannins support the finish. It's dry, it's spicy and a mouth full of dark fruit and cigar box notes. A nice Syrah for the money. 

Unique in every way this wine is a value as well.
It is full bodied, aromatic, and tannic. I picked up on the fig and tobacco as mentioned in the notes. You have to try it yourself to experience it.

This is a rich, dark and full bodied Syrah worthy of it's 94 point score from Wine Advocate. There is a lot of black fruit upfront followed by spice and smoke. I enjoyed this wine and would recommend it to any Syrah drinker.

The 2008 Trilogy from Flora Springs is a rich but not over the top. It is nicely structured and balanced mixing dark fruit flavors with a hint of spice and oak.
 

Are you looking for a summer wine that will compliment grilled foods and won't break the bank? This is it. The 2007 Mas Belles Eaux Les Cotteaux Languedoc provides layers of flavors and a lingering spicey finish at a moderate price.  

Here is a reasonably priced Chardonnay that is well balanced from start to finish. The Karia is a light yellow/gold hue. On the nose you will find honeysuckle and lemon. The medium body is a balance of fresh acidity, spice and stone fruit flavors. The finish stays with you and echos the spice. Nice wine, sure to please.  

This is a Bordeaux style Meritage from Napa Valley. The color is a deep, almost opaque garnet. On the nose you will pick up blueberries and leafy floral notes. The body of this wine is nicely structured and offers flavors of earthy olive and herbs, vanilla and violets. It has a good mouth feel and long tannins. This is an elegant wine. Try comparing it side by side to Stag's Leap Hands of Time ($25.95). 

From vintage to vintage this Pinot has been a favorite. It is consistantly above par and delivers everything a good California Central Coast Pinot should. The nose is rich with red fruit, a bit of smoke and spice. The body of this wine expresses strawberry, cherry and cola flavors and then again echos the bit of smoke and spice. The finish is long and lingering. If you have never tried this elegant Pinot I recommend that you do.    

Americans' need to reach out and enjoy more Rose' then they do.
Here is a great example of an excellent Rose', the 2011 Domaine Du Gros Bandol Rose'. I enjoyed the nose, the body and finish of this wine. There is a bit of floral and red berries notes on the nose. The body of the wine is balanced between rich dark cherry flavors and racey adicity on the mid pallet, giving it some weight. The finish is spicey and lingering. It may seem a bit pricey but I believe it's worth every penny. Raise a glass of Rose this summer and share it with friends. 

Do not hesitate to buy this wine. It's steal considering it's heritage. 
This wine is multi-demensional and full of character. The nose is rich and full of mococa and spice. The full body provides waves of rich flavors; chocolate, vanilla, and dark cherry. The finish lingers on and on and on. You can not go wrong at the price point. 

What a nice surprise, this wine is exciting. 
It has a beautiful big nose providing scents of smoke and perhaps tar. The body is deep and is full of dark red fruits, again, smoke followed by spice. The finish is long and lingering. Very nice, an Italiian that you'll appreciate with or without food. 

You'll need two bottles of this wine. One to enjoy while grilling and one to enjoy with the grilled dinner. This is an aromatic wine offering various herbal notes on the nose. It is a bit rustic and earthy on the palate but the fruit is bright and lingering. Enjoy!

This is a very refreshing Riesling. The nose expresses floral notes which is followed by green apples. The medium bodied wine is bright and echoes the green apples. It has very nice acidity. Makes me want to serve it with soft cheeses.

This is a beautiful and expressive wine well worth the price.
It is demensional with layers of intragrated flavors while remaining balanced through the finish. The nose provides a smokey earthiness and floral tone. The body of the wine is full of mineral, blackberry and spice. It has a long finish which brings all of the flavors back together.  

I've been a big fan of Rusack Syrah going back several vintages.
This wine has it all; big fruit, spice and oak but it didn't seem to be as seemless as previous vintages. I'm still recommending it as a good example of Central Coast Syrah.       

This is a juicy, full bodied Syrah that is almost black in color. The body is thick and chewy and expresses stewed fruit and smokey flavors with a hint of spice.

Very interesting and unique. This wine expresses a lot of herbal notes on the nose, perhaps sage would define it best. It's a medium body wine with bright red fruit & toasty oak and finishes with more herbal flavors. This Pinotage is easy drinking, fun and definitely different.   

The Poppy Pinot Noir has been consistantley a winner. The 2010 dosen't disappoint. There is a good balance of acid and friut in this wine as there should be in a Pinot. It's not made to be terribly complex, it is made to be solid everyday drinker. It is fresh, rich and full of strawberry and raspberry flavors. Believe me, you won't go wrong in choosing this wine as a go to wine to enjoy by yourself or share with friends.   

Is this wine only really $14.99? What a nice Pinot at the price. It diffentley has a high price to quality ratio. It is rich a Pinot with a great mouth feel. The nose provides a lot spice and subtle smoke. The wine itself offers a medium body with rich cherry flavors and subtle acid. Try it, you'll like it and will come back for more. 

Wow, what a nice Chardonnay. I haven't given a wine an excellent rating until now.
I was totally surprised by this wine. I've not been a fan of unoaked Chardonnay, this wine has changed my mind. The wine is all about the fruit which makes up for the lack of oak. It is rich and creamy and layered with flavor. Peach flavors are followed by nectar of pear and cream. I am going to enjoy this all summer long. 

Nice wine. Anyone who enjoys syrah should give this wine and others from Terlato & Chapoutier a try. It's earthy, floral and full of mineral flavors. Both pepper and spice are pronouced in this dark, easy drinking wine. It's not typical of either a Califorina or Washington Syrah nor a Australian Shiraz, the difference is in the French influence and the terrior.  

Being a big fan of Conn Creek products I decided to try out their 2007 Angels 50th Anniversary Cabernet to see if it was similar to the 2007 Conn Creek Napa Valley Cab. It's close. The difference is that it has a bit more acid, a little less mocha and an extended sour cherry finish. Conn Creek doesn't disappoint so let the label sway you from trying this wine. At only $9.95 this is a great buy.      

I have always enjoyed this wine from vintage to vintage. The 2010 seems even a bit more special then the 2009. True to it's roots this is a Cote Du Rhone in every way, rich and juicy with mixed spices, cherry, leather with a hint of mineral. I would have given it a five star rating except for the price point considering how many other good C-D-R's there are out there for less. 
 

What an interesting blend! Juicy, rustic and fruity from start to finish.
The nose on this wine expresses alot of earth with spice. 
The body is a bit rustic but in an easy drinking way. There is alot of extracted red berry fruit that stays with you through the long finish. 
Nice, and worth a try. 

If I were drinking this wine in a blind tasting I would have guess I was drinking a French wine. Musty, forest floor and mushroom dominate the nose. It's medium body is flavored with a bit of sour cherry and raspberry. The wine did open up during the evening and it seemed a bit more demensional. The finish did linger but then again, like a French wine it was all about the forest floor.   

When I frist opened this wine I was neither underwhelmed nor overwhelmed. I thought, this is an average example of a SBC Syrah. To my surprise, the wine opened up in short order and became much more expressive. This wine is full bodied and has a great mouth feel. On the nose you get herbal notes along with smoke and chocolat. The fruit is rich with blackberry and plum followed by a hint of bacon fat, spice and pepper. In the end I was very pleased and would recommend this wine.

I really enjoy Cotes Du Rhones for their juicy, zippy fruit which makes them easy to drink with all types of food. Most of the ones I have had, have been what I descrip as a medium body wine. The Ferraton 2009 is unlike those all together. It's big & bold with dark rich fruit that has a long finish. This wine is a terrific deal, I love it.

I really enjoy Cotes Du Rhones and this one is a steal at only $9.00. The wine is very round and balanced which makes it an easy everyday drinker. It provides rich, dark fruit mixed with spice and herbs. A real winner.    

Unusual and exciting is the best way to explain this wine. There is a blend of floral and herbal notes on the nose that lead to bright fruit and spice. Can't wait to have it with food. I strongly recommend giving this wine a try.

Here is a French wine that California wine drinkers will enjoy. It's 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache and will compete with any California Central Coast blend. The wine is big & bold yet graceful throughout. The fruit is very concentrated and gives off flavors of dark cherry, spice and smoke. Very rich, enjoy. 

This a rich wine at a budget price.
Lovely peach and melon flavors mingle with hints of mineral.
Put away the Chardonnay and give this a try.

This is a really good rose. It's racey, fresh and vibrant.
There is plenty of crisp acidity with hints of red raspberry, strawberry and watermelon. More Americans should be enjoying Rose, this wine is would be a great starting point.

This isn't your neighbors Riesling, this is a knock it out of the park Riesling.
Yes it is twice as much as the popular, everyday brands but it is so much more.  This is a dry Riesling that balances citrus and stone fruit flavors with some mineral notes. 

This is alot of wine for the money, it drinks like a far more expensive Cabernet.
It has layers of dark fruit flavors that really evolve in the glass.
This wine is generous yet well balanced. I really enjoyed the quality, taste and value.

Chocolate is dominate in the nose, the mouth and through the long finish.
This wine also offers flavors of plum and coffee. It's very rich for a wine at this price.

From one vintage to the next, this cabernet always drinks like a more expensive bottle then it is. The nose provides aromas of cherry and plum while the in the mouth you'll discovery layered flavors of  medium oak, spice, vanilla with a hint of chocolate. This is a complex wine that is rich and velvety with a satisfying & lingering finish. It doesn't disappoint, if you have not tried this wine you must give it a try.       

This wine may be something to revisit during the dog days of August.
It has a great color and nose that reveals floral notes mixed with citrus.
The mouth feel is okay at best and suggests flavors of minerality.
The aromatic finish is somewhat short but may be enlightened drunk with the right food paring.   

At 92 Pts. by the WA and at only $15.00 this wine is a good pairing for any tomatoe based Italian dish. It's a bit rustic yet full bodied with fairly good structure. It has a floral nose with hints of violets and earth. In the mouth it has a velevty texture with flavors of plum, leather and licorice. I believe this wine is a good value and one to try if you haven't. Definitely drink this wine with food.  

I love this wine.
What a great example of cold weather syarh.
Allow it to breathe, after 15 minutes it's ready to pour.
The nose provides hints of smoke and spice followed by stewed fruit. 
The mouth feel will tell you that this wine is nicely stuctured, balanced and expressive. This wine delivers on generous tastes of black cherry, plum, spice and bacon fat. The finish is long and lingering. 

Zin lovers drink this wine now!
It is ready and delivers big blackberry fruit with stucture.
It's age provides focus and balance.
Definitley a full body wine with a long finish. Pairs well with BBQ.

An elegant wine that will continue to keep on giving. 
2009 is proving to be a good vintage for California Cabernets's and this wine is going to be a star. Nicely stuctured and a balanced body with flavors of bright currant and black berry fruits offset with rich tannins. 
This wine has a long and savory finish. Drinks like a much more expensive wine.
A terrific value at only $28.95  

Nice Wine, I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this Merlot. 
It is a beatiful ruby red and is full bodied. The nose is sweet and spicey. It fills your mouth with tastes of black cherry, chocolate and vanilla. It had a long and satisfying finish.     

This wine represents Santa Barbara County Pinots' fairly well at the price point of only $16.95. It has a nice texture that embellishes flavors of cherry, cola, spice and smoke. It's not a complicated wine, but a nice everyday sipper and good value.  

The 2008 Gary Farrell Chardonnay RRV is a multi-demensional wine with character.
The color is a bright, lemon yellow. The nose is full of apple and pear. This is a medium body wine that follows with flavors of toast, vanilla and citrus. It can be a sipper but I believe that it would be better served with full flavored seafood and chicken. 

Interesting Pinot, ... more in style with a French Burgundy then New World Pinot. The nose expresses a faint smokiness with hints of maybe black tea. This wine has a medium body with a lot  of acid and flavors of pomegranates and plum. It has a long lasting mineral finish. Not a sipper, I suspect it will pair well with food.    

I really like this wine! The 2008 Aia Cabernet has a beautiful nose and mouth feel. It is well structured and comes across far more complex the wines at twice the price. The Aia is loaded with cherry flavors, spice and a hint of earth. It has a long lasting and satisfying finish. I think this wine is a great value coming from Napa.   

This $11.95 wine is unpretentious and is a delightful everyday drinker. It expresses all of the qualities of a Pinot Noir, good acidity, strawberry flavors, a hint of cola and spice with just a touch of oak. I suggest serving with a dinner of simple roasted chicken or grilled salmon. The Poppy Pinot Noir consistently represents a great quality to price ratio.                  

This wine is a rich with flavor and is multi-demensional.
The nose is pronounced with hints of vanilla and oak. It is full bodied and persisant. Deep berry falvors are complimented by chocolate, and just a bit of licorice and perhaps salt. The finish is long and spicey. This wine evolves in the glass. I enjoyed this wine because of it's character and potenial to compliment food.