1. 2000 Chateau Roc de Candale St.Emilion Grand Cru France
This Merlot-based blend, which includes a dollop of Cabernet Franc, hails from the St.-Emilion region of Bordeaux. It offers notes of dusty berry fruit, herbs and sweet vanilla.
2. 2002 Pumari Monterey County Syrah
This wine is not a typical Syrah. It offers a wide array of fruit flavors, including strawberry, cherry, accented by notes of sweet cinnamon spiced and smoked bacon.
3. 2002 Vina Progreso Uruuguay Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
From South America's second smallest country comes this delicious and expressive wine, showing aromas and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, green pepper, nuts and sweet chocolate oak.
4. 2001 Elkhorn Peak Fagan Creek Vineyard, Napa Valley Pinot Noir
Crafted from estate grapes grown in southern Napa Valley, this Carneros-like beauty oozes cinnamon and oak-tinged flavors of black cherry, rasberry, strawberry and cranberry.
5. 2004 Samantha Starr Monterey County Pinot Noir
Sam Balderas of Talbott Vineyards crafted this wine from Santa Lucia Highlands fruit. Its strawberry and rasberry aromas lead to palate impressions of black cherry and plum, with a hint of smoke.
6. 2001 Chateau Roc de Candale St. Emilion Grand Cru France
French oak notes frame this St.-Emilion beauty's impressions of berries, spice and vanilla. A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this wine is soft, silky and seductive.
7. 2003 Nathan's Run California Zinfandel
This yummy (that's the scientific term) Zinfandel offers flavors and aromas reminiscent of grape jelly, currant and black licorice. What's not to like?
8. 2004 Sparrow Creek California Syrah
This easy-drinking Syrah is all about the fruit, offering impressions of rasberry, blackberry cobbler, cherry and spicy plum.
9. 2001 Chateau Franc-Perat France Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
A focus on quality in the vineyard, and the winemaking talents of Michel Rolland, are captured in this traditional Bordeaux blend that showcases dark fruit flavors, joined by a note of pencil lead.
10. 2004 Marquis-Phillips South East Australia Shiraz
This big� wine from South East Australia is drinking beautifully in its youth, offering notes of blackberry, cherry, eucalyptus, spice and dark chocolate. A wonderful food wine.
11. 2001 Sinatra Santa Barbara County Merlot
This is a red that "Ol' Blue Eyes" would have loved- full of personality and attitude. It offers notes of bing cherry, pomegranate, nutmeg, earthy winter spices and vanillin oak.
12. 2003 Knoll Haven California Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes of cherry, various dark berries, tobacco and oak define this Cabernet, crafted from fruit grown in select California vineyards.
13. 2004 Santa Digna Valle Central, Chile Reserve Shiraz
This wine is from the Linares region of Chile's great Central Valley, and was aged in French oak barrels for added complexity. It showcases fruit flavors of blueberry and blackberry, finishing with chocolate oak.
14. 2003 Niner Ranch Estates Paso Robles 'Bootjack Ranch' Syrah
Crafted from grapes grown in Paso Robles' Bootjack Ranch Vineyard, this ageworthy Syrah showcases impressions of blackberry, chocolate, coffee, cranberry, vanilla and leather.
15. 2004 Man Vintners South Africa Shiraz
An engaging violet aroma leads to flavors of blackberry, cherry, plum, spices and chocolate in this exceptional wine, crafted by three experienced vintners in South Africa.
16. 2003 Terra Mater Maipo Valley, Chile Zinfandel-Shiraz
This Zinfandel-based blend was made from grapes grown in the united vineyards of three Chilean sisters. It offers aromas and flavors of rasberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, raisins and dried fig.
17. 2002 York Mountain San Luis Obispo Pinot Noir
Made from grapes grown in the tiny York Mountain sub-appelation of San Luis Obispo County, this concentrated wine showcases ripe black cherry and berry fruit, join by an allspice note.
18. NV Stella Rosa Piedmont, Italy Sparkling Rosso
This engagingly effervescent wine comes from the Piedmont region of Italy. Bright and refreshing, it showcases pomegranate, crisp red pear and apple-rhubarb pie flavors.
19. NV Bouchet Napa Valley Rosato di Nebbiolo
This multi-vintage Rose was crafted from Nebbiolo grapes grown in the Napa Valley. It exhibits notes of sweet pomegranate and rasberry, joined by earthy edges of leather and cigar.
20. 2002 Maddalena Paso Robles Merlot
Named for the Riboli family's esteemed matriarch, this wine has a soft mouthfeel, ripe fruit flavors, and a long, lingering finish. Pour a glass, and savor its impressions of cherry, chocolate oak, blackberry, plum and spice.
