Casillero del Diablo Carmenere

06 Carmenere Chile (Concha y Toro) $7 TJs

This has become my favorite line for decently priced wines. The CS is good, and this is great.

Light purple. A little spice on the nose-not very strong though. light-med body, very smooth, low tannins. Midway through is where it really shines. Some blackberries at first and finishes with chocolate/mocha. Amazingly balanced. Note: Drank it w/Goat Cheese-bruschetta...perfect. I will definitely buy again...probably a case

Purple Moon Merlot

05 Merlot, CA (Monteca) $4 TJs

-Cherry on the nose. Fairly dark for a merlot. A bit zippy, which I liked. For the price, It's a great party wine. Light body w/a pretty decent finish. Not usually a merlot fan, but I was in the right state of mind to drink this. Would recommend, but wouldn't talk too much about it until i tried it again.

Centine Banfi

05, Tuscany
-Sangiovese, CS, Merlot

-chocolate finish. Blackberry. Medium body. Very quaffable and enjoyable. First wine in almost a week that I'd recommend to another. More flavor than a typical chianti-I think this is called a "super tuscan" but I'm not positive. I'll just call it a "chianti w/balls"

Update: finished the bottle 4 days later: lost the balls, but still pretty good.

Peachy Canyon Zinfandel

Paso Robles, 05, "Incredible Red"
-Very little on the nose. Definitely missing the high-impact feeling that I like Zins for. Slight black pepper taste, but nothing in-your-face. Also some blackberry/black cherry flavor. Decent finish. Enjoyable, but not if you're in the mood for a powerful Zin.

Update: Tried it a few days later w/dark chocolate--kept the smoothness; a few days helped it a bit. Still missing the impact, but the blackberry flavor came more to the front. Almost more like a Cab.

Trader Joe's Syrah

~$6, CA 06
-full body, very dark color. Tobacco on the nose, slight sweetness. very smooth for a syrah. almost too smooth-leaves very quickly and doesn't leave any happiness in your mouth. not awful, but wouldn't repurchase

Louis Bouillot

Rose Sparkling Wine
Brut
Cremant de Bourgogne
15.99

Very smooth, slightly dry, sweet with a berry overtone.
Probally best with a dessert or as any sparkling celebration

Cline Syrah 05

Sonoma. $9

Some black pepper up front. Needs to sit for a while before drinking, probably be better if I decanted it. A bit too intense, very little balance. Long finish. Hints of blueberry, but strongly outweighed by the black pepper.

I much prefer their Zinfandel. Won't buy the Syrah again unless eating I'm spicy sausage or very flavorful meat.