5 = Supreme!     4 = Exceptional!     3 = Brilliant!     2 = Pleasing     1 = Agreeable Beverage of the Week Paraiso Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands 2005 Deep, dark purple being nearly black in color. The nose is equally dense offering waves of both ripe and dried berries and cherry aromas with accents of vanilla, cinnamon, and blackberry compote. The palate confirms the nose with a lush and supple texture that is balanced perfectly with semi-tart acidity and a judicious use of wood. $20 Baumbach Wines Barbera Sierra Foothills 2005 Deep, dark crimson red color. The nose is incredibly unique offering scents of dried fruits, roasted fennel, roasted tomatoes, and lavender. The palate veers in another direction being very fruit oriented with dense berry flavors, cassis, plums, and figs and balancing acid. While I love wines with odd aromatic and flavor notes some tasters were mildly put-off by this wine's nose. If you are a fan of funky wines as am I grab a bottle. $22 Baumbach Wines Charbono Sierra Foothills 2005 Ultra deep, dark purple color. The nose reveals a beautiful mélange of dense berry fruit with accents of brown spices, tar, black pepper, and earth. The palate confirms the nose being lush and silky with seductive layers of flavors anchored by a base of thick berries. Perfectly balanced and wonderfully complex offering new flavor nuances with each passing moment. $18 Decoy Napa Valley 2006 Deep burgundy color. The nose is filled with scents of ripe black cherries, raspberry, and cranberry with accents of wild spring flowers, brown spices, and sweet oak notes. The palate echoes the nose being soft and pleasing. It seems to be a perfected package of Napa fruit that is lovely while perhaps lacking an edge or distinguishing features that I had hoped would emerge over time in the glass. $30 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005 Dark brick red color. The aromatic notes immediately reveal this wine to be a serious and complex Cabernet as it ideally marries scents of blackberry, cherry, and cassis with accents of fresh herbs, mineral, allspice, clove, tapenade, and sweet oak. The palate echoes the beautiful nose and delivers flavors that linger on for minutes bringing waves of complex flavors. A classic Napa Cab. $65 Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2007 While Sauvignon Blanc can often be a confused in its approach - should if follow the New Zealand model or should it be another New World Chardonnay clone... The Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc walks it's own path being, in my view, true to the fruit and ultimately tasty. The nose offers a marriage of peach and apricot notes with grapefruit and key lime. The palate echoes the nose while also offering a dose of tropical fruit. While lush this wine benefits from a generous dose of fresh, crisp acidity. $27 Terra Andina Chardonnay Reserva Valle de Limari 2007 Brilliant pale straw color. The nose is filed with fresh scents of crisp apples and pears with a touch of tropical fruit and ripe grapefruit. The palate reveals a Chardonnay with true flavors and balance with just enough oak to add interest while never subtracting from its core. It's clear that Terra Andina is poised to be a significant player in the value wine market. A Best Buy. $12.99