Good full ruby. Very pure flavors of cassis, blackberry and licorice. Dense, rich and pure, with quintessential cabernet flavors of cassis and licorice. Like a finer-grained, fleshier version of the classic but tightly wound 2001. As rich as it is, this also boasts terrific inner-palate energy. Carries a distinctly moderate 13.8% alcohol. Finishes with big but ripe tannins and superb length. This should age for 15 to 20 years. Rated 93-95. ‑ Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Issue 120 May/June 2005. Regularly $100.00 the bottle, on sale now at:

Napanook is made solely from grapes grown in the historic Napanook Vineyard near Yountville, Napa Valley, California. Napanook is blended from blocks in the vineyard carefully selected for their lively fruit, soft tannins and early maturing characteristics. The 2004 vintage is produced from a portion of all five red Bordeaux grape varieties, to wit 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Deep ruby in color; complex aromas suggest ripe plum, dried cherry, freshly shaved chocolate and clove; sleek and polished on entry; then rather more substantial and structured after aeration with ripe tannins that go rich and velvety and vivid ripe fruit flavors that stretch out long onto the toothsome finish.

Vinified under the supervision of Christian Moueix’s winemaking team in Yountville, California, the 2005 Carpe Diem exudes the essence of classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Crimson red in color with fresh straightforward aromatics of cassis, tobacco leaf, graphite and pepper; smooth textured with velvety tannins; holds its shape well on the tongue, building in volume and richness and intensity of flavor with aeration and so easily outclassing its price. Seize the day? Seize this Cabernet!

Rhinefarm Vineyard Sonoma Valley Gundlach Bundschu, established in 1858, was Bonded Winery Number 64 in California. For almost 150 years now, as they say, "since buffalo roamed the plains, through an earthquake, prohibition, beat poetry, and disco," Gundlach Bundschu has been growing world class wine grapes and producing world class wines. The winery operation itself was resurrected by fifth generation family member, Jim Bundschu, in the early 1970s. Gundlach Bundschu has since been producing superlative wines from their Rhinefarm Vineyard, some 300 acres of contiguous vineyards in the southeastern corner of Sonoma Valley. And they’ve been producing this fine Sonoma Valley Merlot since before anybody cared about "Merlot," and then when they did, then didn’t, did, didn’t and now again do. Gundlach Bundschu Merlot transcends fashion. Lovely ruby red in color; aromas suggesting a whole panoply of red fruits like plum, cherry, cranberry and pomegranate, with hints of savory herbs like oregano and sage; elegantly textured, supple and ripe and round on the tongue with a nice nudge of fruity acidity that keeps flavors bursting fresh and lively into the long, warming embrace of a finish. It’s time for wine.

Cool, rainy weather in early spring delayed budbreak, but clear skies by late March brought flowering and a good set by mid-May. Above average temperatures throughout the summer moved ripening along, and we started to sample for flavor in late August. Mild fall weather with occasional fog slowed maturation while allowing color and flavor to deepen. Harvesting began in mid-September and extended over twenty days as each of the thirty-three parcels ripened fully. The separate lots fermented on their natural yeasts, and were pressed at dryness (average seven days); once natural malolactic was underway, we began assembling the finest and most characteristic. Because of the zinfandel's unusually firm structure, we included very little petite sirah. As in most years, the 120-year-old carignane was an elegant, vibrant addition. This outstanding vintage aged fourteen months in air-dried american oak. Rich primary fruit gives the wine immediate appeal; it will develop greater complexity over the next ten years. - Ridge Vineyards' winemakers Eric Baugher and Paul Draper, December 2006, paraphrased from http://www.ridgewine.com/. Regularly $32.50 the bottle, on sale now at:

LIOCO was founded on the principal that "great wine is made in the vineyard." Following this, founders Matt Licklider and Kevin O’Connor have set out to partner with disciplined, conscientious growers, aiming to make wine with minimal manipulation, allowing the "voice of the vineyard" to be heard, to maximize control of the creative process "from bud to bottle," to be dynamic and demystifying at every turn and to over-deliver for the price point. Faithful Austinites that we are, we dig their concept. And we really dig their wine. The 2006 LIOCO Chardonnay Sonoma County has fresh and vibrant aromas that would suggest Pacific Ocean fog-cooled ripe Chardonnay fruit, with hints of citrus and chamomile; sleek and clean and ripe and round on the tongue, just fills the mouth with cool, clean, delicious and vibrant fruit flavors and flashes of minerality that go on and on. This one is just screaming "drink me!" Way to go, LIOCO!