Chandon Reserve Brut

Sparkling Wine, Napa & Sonoma, $18 BevMo

71%PN, 27% Chardonnay, 2% Pinot Meunier

Beautiful golden color, fairly strong effervescence. Not a very strong aroma (I think I have a tough time smelling sparkling wines.)

Very luscious, cream soda comes to mind. Finishes with a bit of fig newton/graham cracker.
It's a wine that makes me wonder why I don't drink sparkling wines more often and luckily I'm by myself so I don't need to share it.

Pascual Toso Malbec

06, Maipú, Mendoza, Argentina

Color: dark red, maroon
Aroma: fruity, plum, bleu cheese?
Body: medium, quaffable
Finish: very smooth
Overall: delicious, definite repurchase, complex

Domaine Roger Perrin, Cuvée Prestige

05, Vielles Vignes, Côtes du Rhône

color: Very dark red, almost black
aroma: cracked pepper, fig, smoky
body: full body, harsh, heavy
finish: could use some time, very tannic
overall: needs refinement. possibly would've been better if I decanted it and let it breathe for a bit.

Shingleback Shiraz

2004, McLaren Vale, Australia

One of the best Shiraz I've ever had. Comes from the McLaren Vale region of Australia. Had a deep red color with blackberry and a hint of strawberries. Held its own with a spicy Kale Soup. Can't speak highly enough of this wine.

http://www.shingleback.com.au/wines/PDF/SB_WMN_2004_SHZ_AU.pdf

Stephen Vincent - Crimson 2005

This California red pours a inky purple glass. Initially there is a rather harsh oak nose with hints on alcohol, though as it is left to breath the wine takes on a much sweeter almost port aroma. On first taste there is a surprising amount of dried fruit flavor, think figs, dates and raisins. Its a nice departure from the standard dark berry and plum I've come to expect in most bigger reds. The taste quickly filled my mouth and the tip of my tongue with a slightly sweet, tanic undertone. The wine's flavors mellow, leaving my palate almost a quickly as they come. My mouth was left feeling wet and sated, though still searching for a little more body. Overall this was a very pleasant evening wine to sip by itself or with some lighter fair.

Yalumba Viognier

06, South Australia

Paired w/goat cheese

Yellow/Pale green color. Off-dry w/aromas of raisins and mango. Quite zippy, high residual sugar/alcohol and a longer finish. Flavors of guava, mango, lychee. This wine was quite alive and extremely aromatic, but the sweetness wasn't countered with enough acidity and overwhelmed the wine. I haven't had a lot of viogniers, so this will tempt me to purchase a different one because I think it could be an attractive wine.

EOS Sauvignon Blanc

05 Paso Robles

Golden-yellow color. dry w/a faint aroma of melon. Medium body, didn't have the acidity expected in a SB. Extremely quaffable although I would've liked more of a zippy finish. Flavors were pear, green apple, and canned peaches. Overall it was very subtle, not overly vivacious but quite enjoyable. I would repurchase, but I've had better.