Smooth Shiraz

Product: Cockatoo Ridge Shiraz 2002

Assessment:

• great for $8
• light yet had good body
• not too tannic on the backside
  

Grade: A

Sacred Crap

Product: Sacred Stone Master's Red Blend

Assessment:

• tannic
• big red
• better warmed up
  
• not fruity enough to back up the tannins
  

Grade: C+

Protocolo

Product: Protocolo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla 2002

Assessment:

• juicy
• really good
• medium to light body
• very flavorful
  

Grade: A+

Rheingau Schmengau

Product: Royal Rheingau Riesling

Assessment:

• excellent
• crisp
• sweet but not overpowering
• easy drinking
  

Grade: B+

Carmenere Great

Product: Calina Carmenere Reserva 2003

Assessment:

• damn good
• dry yet slightly sweet
• light body
• good front
  

Grade: A

Toad Hollow Deux

Consumed: April 24, 2005

Product: Toad Hollow Amplexus - Sparkling Wine

Assessment:

• dry
• refreshing
• very good
• good amount of sparkles
• pretty cheap
  

Grade: A

Sparkling Currant

Consumed: April 24, 2005

Product: Kir Royal - Cuvee Prestige Sparkling Wine

Assessment:

• pretty good
• yummy, sweet
• fair dryness
  

Grade: B

High Malbec

Product: Terrazas Alto - Malbec 2003

Assessment:

• needs to warm up
• spicy
• strong but tasty

Grade: B+

Of Asti

Product: Barbera D' Asti - Guasti Clemente 2002

Assessment:

• very light
• slight body
• refreshing but average
• fairly balanced

Grade: B

Rias

Product: Monte Do Ceo Albarino - Rias Biaxar

Assessment:

• citrusy
• slight apple
• dry (fairly)
  

Grade: B-

cheap Cab

Product: Ehlers Grove Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Assessment:

• not too good
• simple Cabernet
  

Grade: C-

Failed Zin Buy

Consumed: April 14, 2005

Product: Sausal Family Vineyards Alexander Valley Estate Grown Zinfandel 2001

Assessment:

• needs to oxidize
• rich, tannic
  
• fruity, too light a body
  

Grade: B

Big House GOOD

Consumed: all the time!

Product: Ca' del Sol Big House Red (around $7-$10)

Assessment:

• good, robust
• easy to drink
• good going down
• decent overall wine, especially for the price
  

Grade: A

Decent Old Vine

Consumed: April 6, 2005

Product: California Old Vine Red Geyserville, CA

Assessment:

• tannins, though easy to drink
• can really taste layers, especially petite syrah
• overall good stuff
  

Grade: B

Cellar Cecilio

Product: Cellar Cecilio Negre Priorat 2001 (40% Grenache, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carinera)

Assessment:

• amazing!
• almost perfect balance
• nice body
• tart, bold
  

Grade: A