2004 Marquès de Càceres

Two days old, but still a nice tempranillo showing aromas of wet earth and spicy red fruit. The aromas remind me of this wine in particular.

2006 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon

A Paso Robles Cabernet with little, if any, aging potential--two day test yielded mostly oxidation as opposed to fruit and secondary flavors, three day test revealed what little fruit was remaining.

2005 D'Arenberg The Stump Jump

I think the wine glass had soap residue leading to the initial tingly taste in the mouth. I thought the wine was one of Wine Spectator's Best Values, but it turns out the white was the Best Value. That being said, I still found the wine to pair nicely with Pizzeria Regina Margherita pizza (medium basil, no parmesan, well-done) because it cut through the cheese enough to go with the tomato sauce.

2007 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier

Aromatic, with melon and many other aromas that are difficult to distinguish which proceed its lusciously sweet, yet crisp flavors of Chinese pear. Surprising, a nice choice for my first voyage with Pine Ridge's Chenin Blanc-Viognier. The beauty of chenin blanc is that the winemaker's touch can have such a dramatic effect on what it turns into. In this case the viognier adds