• 09 Von Schubert Maximin Grünhauser Riesling (Mosel): Quite aggressive citrus edge, even for a young Mosel. Very good (but not great). $35 B+ #
• 06 Wallis Family Diamond Mtn. District Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Unabashedly chasing big scores, & will get them; it's superb $85 A- #
• 08 C. Donatiello Middle Reach Chardonnay (Russian River Valley): Fans of big CA Chards will be hard-pressed to find a better example. $NA B+ #
• 09 Pascal Jolivet "Attitude" Rose (Loire): Handsome illegitimate love child of Pinot Noir / Gamay / Cabernet Sauvignon three-way. $16 B- #
• 07 Pina D'Adamo Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Soooo dark. Soooo smooth. Soooo concentrated. Soooo good. Toooo BIG. $75 B+ #
• 08 Guy Saget Domaine de la Perriere Sancerre: Don't even think about touching this racy, flowery beauty w/out buying her dinner first. $22 B #

• 06 d’Arenberg “The Sticks & Stones” (McLaren Vale): The violet nose will never hurt you. But the hot finish might sting a little bit. $35 B
• 09 Frisk Prickly Riesling/Muscat Gordo (Victoria): Gives a whole new (fruity) meaning to having a fun, bubbly personality. $10 B-
• 09 Xplorador Cabernet Sauvignon (Central Valley): I don’t mind green pepper, but this sucker had me green-peppered out way too fast. $9 C+
• 09 Xplorador Merlot (Central Valley): Green Pepper Monster raises its ugly head, but only *just* over the black cherry & coffee horizon $9 B 5:36 PM
• 09 Xplorador Chardonnay (Central Valley): Uncomplicated – not complex but it won’t drive you nuts looking for a good food match either $9 B-
• 08 Xplorador Sauvignon Blanc (Central Valley): Short on aromatics but long on balance & food-friendliness. Needs grilled scallops. $9 B- 5:33 PM
• 03 Judd’s Hill Estate Grown Red Wine (Napa Valley): I hear Judd can turn a mean magic trick. He certainly worked some magic on this. $70 A-
• 08 Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese (Mosel): The spice is ginger. The finish is lemon. And the kung-fu is strong. $30 A- #
• 06 Emblem Oso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): More dark chocolate than a Dove bar, & thankfully not enormous for a big Cab $50 A- #
• 08 King Estate Signature Pinot Gris (Oregon): Tropical fruits galore, but feels more like it belongs in the Prince’s estate instead. $23 B- #
• 07 Aresti Cabernet Sauvignon (Curico Valley): The main pyrotechnics here? Those would be the green-pepper-pyrazine-o-technics. $11 C+ #

• 09 El Coto de Rioja Blanco (Rioja): Short on balance, but plenty long on herbs, flowers and tart citrus for the price. $9 B- #
• 08 Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz (Barossa): Hot vintage births a hot wine. Still, it’s a great opp. to sample those 100+ yr old vines. $22 B #
• 08 Tres Sabores Farina Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma Mntn): Round but also vibrant thanks to some “previously inspired” French oak $22 B+ #
• 07 Tres Sabores Rutherford Estate Zinfandel (Napa Valley): Eminently enjoyable & spicy black berry marred only by a bit too boozy edge $35 B #
• 07 Tres Sabores “Por que No” (Napa Valley): Zin blend that will very likely make you the upscale hero of your next BBQ picnic. $25 B+ #
• 06 Tres Sabores “Perspective” Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford): Besides the price, there’s a lot to love in this dark, dusty wonder. $80 B+ #
• 07 Tres Sabores Petite Sirah (Napa Valley): If you like dark chocolate, then buy this, pronto (if you’re lucky enough to find any). $45 B+ #
• 08 Cantina Novelli Trebbiano Spoletino Bianco (Umbria): Old vines, herbs & almonds have taken squatters’ rights in the citrus house. $18 B+ #
• 06 Cantina Novelli Rosso (Montefalco): With such light oak, it probably shouldn’t be this far into the “Old” of the “Old World” style $27 B- #
• 07 Cantina Novelli Bianco Cube (Umbria): Looks as yellow as the fruits it tastes like. And the yellow tastes are pretty tasty indeed. $14 B #
• 07 Domaine Rochette Pisse-Vieille (Brouilly): Futher berry, peppery proof that you can’t really go too far wrong with Cru Beaujolais. $18 B+ #

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• 09 Benziger Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma/Lake County): Clean & charming. Kind of the Mr. Clean of Cali. SBs, only without the earring. $15 B+ #
• 08 de Coelo "Terra Neuma" Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast): Challenging vintage births a juicy, mouthwatering fist full of dark cherries. $69 B+ #
• 08 de Coelo "Quintus" Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast): Mysterious stranger in a dark coat (an earthy, spicy, black cherry kind of coat). $69 A- #
• 07 Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma): Struggling between "Brooding" (dark berry, espresso) & "Lively" (cola). Oh, yeah, and "Heat". $20 B #
• 07 Benziger "Tribute" (Sonoma Mountain): Pepper, Cedar, plum, graphite, spice; almost the entire kitchen makes a grand entrance here. $80 A- #
• 08 August Briggs 'Dijon Clones' Pinot Noir (Napa Valley): The good news? It's velvety, dark & tasty. The bad news? It's damn hot! $40 B #
• 08 August Briggs Pinot Noir (Russian River): Big, spicy, juicy & seductive. For those who like their Pinot "the bigger the better." $38 B+ #
• 08 Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Rheinberg Kabinett Riesling (Nahe): Flinty minerals spiking a lime & mango core. Could drink this all day. $19 B+ #
• 08 Guy Saget Le Domaine Saget Pouilly-Fume: Not too complicated but textbook flinty P-F. Wish more SB from the U.S. tasted like this. $29 B+ #

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