Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
A special holiday dinner deserves a carefully selected wine. If your menu includes prime rib, a roast or even a buffet with cheeses and snacks, select this wonderful cabernet from California.
There are more than 77,000 acres of the king of red grapes planted in California, where the warm days and cool nights provide the ideal climate for ripening. This wine is fermented in different batches, where the combination of careful oak aging and blending helps balance the powerful tannins.
The result is a wine soft and lush, yet supported with firm structure that opens flavors of red berry fruit and spice.
Sherry: "Peppery cherry, black currant and strawberry." 3-1/2 stars
Chris: "Notes of fig with flavors of plum, raspberry and cherry with a hint of cocoa on the finish." 4 stars
Available locally for about $14.
Coming next week: Ruffino Prosecco

Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah 2008

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Concannon sources the grapes for this wine from lands in California's Livermore Valley that have been placed in conservancy, ensuring that the vineyards will never be developed.
Concannon was the first winemaker to make petite sirah in America, and 2011 marks its 50th vintage. The wine was used in blends for years and is known for its full-fruit flavors and age-worthy tannins.
There's nothing petite about this robust and hearty wine, which is aged in a combination of French and American oak. It displays lots of fresh berry fruit in a full palate and strong tannins.
Sherry: "Black cherry, plum and a bit of leather with a slight floral finish." 3 stars
Chris: "A bouquet of cedar and tobacco with flavors of plum, blackberry and a black cherry finish." 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $10.
Coming next week: Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon

Fat Bastard Pinot Noir 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
The label Fat Bastard comes from a British expression describing a particularly rich and full wine. What's inside the bottle is an expression of true French wine.
This wine is a Vin de Pays d'Oc appellation, which means it is basically a country wine that comes from the Languedoc region of France. The grapes are sourced from vineyards influenced by the Mediterranean climate of south France. The wine is made on the lees (dead yeast cells left in the barrel) for a fuller taste.
The result is medium-bodied, bright ruby red wine that displays juicy red fruit flavors and very delicate tannins that mark a fine pinot.
Sherry: "Raspberry, strawberry and cherry with a little clove on the finish." 3-1/2 stars
Chris: "Strawberry and cherry, with a finish of dry mint." 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $9.
Coming next week: Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah

Elmaro Vineyard West Prairie White

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Elmaro is one of the area's newest wineries. Located near Trempealeau, the winery (http://www.elmarovineyard.com/) had a grand opening of its tasting facility last weekend. It's open Wednesday through Sunday for sampling.
Elmaro specializes in wines made from cold climate hybrid grapes, some of which are grown on site. The first vines were planted in 2006, and more are in the ground. This wine, which won a gold medal in the Long Beach Grand Cru wine competition in California, is made from geisenheim, a hybrid grape between gewürztraminer and riesling.
The wine is almost transparent with just a tinge of gold. It has well-balanced orchard fruit flavors with a hint of citrus. The wine is sweetened with fructose, a natural fruit sugar.
Sherry: "Lightly floral with tastes of honey and pear." 3-1/2 stars
Chris: "Flavors of apple, peach and pear." 3-1/2 stars
The wine is sold out at the winery but is available in local stores for about $13.
Coming next week: Fat Bastard Pinot Noir

Crios Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Argentine winemaker Susana Balbo has named this wine after her two crios, or children, represented by the handprints on the label. It's an expression that the wine isn't as grown up as her Signature label.
But there's nothing immature about this wine, an unfiltered cabernet blended with a 5 percent splash of malbec, grown in high-altitude vineyards in the Mendoza region. The wine spends five months in a combination of American and French oak barrels before bottling.
Whiffs of leather and tobacco give way to plum and fruit flavors with very smooth tannins. We look forward to tasting this wine when it grows up.
Sherry: "Medium dry with black cherry and leather." 3-1/2 stars
Chris: "Flavors of raspberry, plum and a hint of chocolate on the back end." 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $12.
Coming next week: Elmaro West Prairie White

The Naked Grape Moscato

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Naked Grape, a label under industry giant E&J Gallo, promotes itself as a simple wine crafted with a focus on fresh and ripe fruit
flavors.
That's certainly the case with this non-vintage moscato from California. Moscato, otherwise known as muscat, is one of the world's oldest grape varieties, likely cultivated in Greece and brought to Germany as early as the 1110s. It's known for its
distinctive, intense aroma and is usually fermented as a sweet dessert wine.
A bouquet of honeysuckle is on display in this wine, which is followed by sweet orchard fruit flavors and the classic honey flavor. Nothing fancy, as the label suggests.
Sherry: "Medium sweet pear and citrus with honey on the finish." 3 stars
Chris: "Flavors of pear and apricot loaded with honey." 3 stars
Available locally for about $7.
Coming next week: Crios de Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon

Michel Picard Cotes du Rhone 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
The Cotes du Rhone (pronounced coat doo roan) region lies in the southern part of the Rhone Valley in southeastern France. It produces a wide variety of red and white wines from its 170,000 acres of vineyards, making up about 14 percent of the country's production.
This red is a blend of grenache (75 percent) and syrah (25 percent), which more than covers the region mandate of at least 40 percent grenache. It comes from vineyards owned by Michel Picard, who runs the family operation with his wife and children.
The wine shows scents of leather and licorice, features red fruit flavors and finishes dry and earthy.
Sherry: "Bright, fruity cherry with floral notes on the finish." 3 stars Chris: "Flavors of raspberry, plum and cherry with balanced tannins." 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $9.
Coming next week: The Naked Grape Moscato

Aveleda Follies Touriga Nacional 2007

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Port is the famous wine of Portugal, but there's always opportunity for diversification.
That's exactly what the Aveleda family of northern Portugal has done with its Follies line of wines, named after an architectural structure with no purpose other than to bring pleasure and joy.
Touriga nacional is the predominant grape for port. The grapes are fermented in small tanks at controlled temperatures and undergo malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged in French oak for a year before spending another year in the bottle.
A bouquet of cocoa and spice gives way to fruit and fig flavors layered in firm tannins.
Sherry: "Dry with raspberry, mint and a bit of a floral finish" 3-1/2 stars
Chris: "Raisin, cherry, vanilla and plum with a dry, mint finish." 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $10.
Coming next week: Michel Picard Cotes du Rhone

Kitchen Sink White

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Not every California winemaker is a farmer, preferring instead to leave the viticulture to others. That's always been the philosophy of Adler Fels, which purchases bulk wine from Russian River Valley growers, blends it with other wines and finishes it.
That's the case with this non-vintage white, which is a blend of chardonnay (36 percent), chenin blanc (32 percent), gewürztraminer (21 percent) and other mixed varieties (11 percent). It is a veritable kitchen sink of wines and is cold fermented in stainless steel.
But the blend works surprisingly well, offering juicy melon and citrus notes and a tart, crisp finish. It's a good value, too.
Sherry: "Tart lime flavor with almond on the finish." (3 stars)
Chris: "Peach and pineapple layered in citrus." (3 stars)
Available locally for about $7.
Coming next week: Follies Touriga Nacional

Marques de Riscal Tempranillo 2006

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Spain is the sleeping giant of the wine world, with more than 5,500 wineries and the most grape acreage planted. But it falls behind France and Italy in terms of production and still suffers from the perception that its wine is of poor quality.
That's certainly not the case with this red wine from the Rioja region in northern Spain. It's made with 100 percent tempranillo - the national grape of Spain - by one of the oldest wineries in the Rioja region.
Very aromatic with notes of spice and earth, this is a dry wine laced with red fruit flavors and a long, lingering finish.
Sherry: "Dry, peppery cherry with a hint of red licorice." 3-1/2 stars
Chris: "Raspberry, cherry and plum, layered in a dry, cocoa finish." 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $8.
Coming next week: Kitchen Sink White

Bridlewood Blend 175 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
The name of this California red blend comes from the winery's claim that it took 175 tastings of different blends before winemaker David Hopkins gave his approval.
Blend 175 probably sounds better than "try and try again."
The blend is a mixture of syrah, cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel, with syrah as the primary grape. The grapes are sourced from the Central Coast area, and the wine is given six to eight months of oak aging.
This wine is surprisingly sweet - jam-like to be precise - and provides many layers to challenge your taste buds. The tannins are very smooth, and it has a soft feel in the mouth.
Sherry: "Medium-bodied with tones of licorice, plum and raspberry." 3 stars
Chris: "Prune and raisin bouquet with flavors of raspberry and cherry." 3 stars
Available locally for about $13.
Coming next week: Riscal Tempranillo

Trapiche Oak Cask Pinot Noir 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Finesse is certainly an attribute of all good winemakers and best describes how to make pinot noir. This challenging red wine grape requires perfect growing conditions and skillful handling to produce some of the world's most elegant wines, especially in the Burgundy region of France.
This pinot comes from Argentina and the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The grapes are hand-selected, and fermentation begins with 30 percent of the grapes still with stems. The grapes are machine-pressed, and the wine ends with nine months of oak barrel aging.
The result is a dry, tart wine with hints of red fruits, telltale cherry and a medium body.
Sherry: "Tart, with nuances of cranberry, raspberry and cherry." (3 stars)
Chris: "Beefy bouquet with subtle flavors of cherry and strawberry." (3 stars)
Available locally for about $10
Coming next week: Bridlewood Blend 175

Hogue Gewürztraminer 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Here's a white wine with a German name that makes a perfect companion to spicy bratwursts in this season of Oktoberfest.
Gewürz means "spice" in German, and traminer is a grape variety that hails from Italy. Made in the Columbia Valley of Washington, which is at the same latitude as the Bordeaux and Burgundy regions of France, the grape thrives in the warm summer days and cool nights.
The result is a semi-sweet wine with intense floral and orchard fruits that is layered with the same fruit flavors and a soft, mineral character. The wine is cold-fermented in stainless steel.
Sherry: "A spicy blend of pear and honey." 3-1/2 stars
Chris: "Floral and pineapple notes, pineapple and apricot flavors and a bit of citrus on the finish." 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $10.
Coming next week: Trapiche Pinot Noir

Keltehue Winemaker's Select Red 2008

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
The Mendoza wine region is as important to Argentina as California is to the U.S. wine industry.
There are some 1,500 wineries in Mendoza, which produces 70 percent of the country's wine from the shadows of the Andes Mountains to the west. The dry climate and irrigated vineyards allow for more precise control of the grape harvest.
This offering from the Don Manuel Villafane winery - which dates to the 1600s - is a blend of 40 percent tempranillo, 40 percent sangiovese and 20 percent malbec grown at 2,600 feet above sea level. It's an earthy and husky wine with red fruit flavors that finishes dry and spicy.
Sherry: "Dry and peppery with black cherry and raspberry flavors." 3 stars
Chris: "Black licorice notes, raspberry and cherry flavors, a hint of cocoa and a spicy bite." 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $9.
Coming next week: Hogue Gewurztraminer

Starling Castle Red 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Oktoberfest is right around the corner, so it’s time to think of German wine. While white German wines such as rieslings are still the most common, red wines are finally becoming better known.
This wine is made with dornfelder, a hybrid grape that is the most common red varietal in the Rheinhessen region, one of the largest German wine-producing areas. Spätburgunder (pinot noir) is second in acreage.
This wine is made in a sweet style with very smooth tannins, making it very approachable for even new wine drinkers. It’s light-bodied and displays red fruit flavors. Serve chilled. It pairs nicely with grilled chicken and would make a nice Oktoberfest beverage alternative.
Sherry: “Strawberry, cherry and cinnamon.” Three stars
Chris: “Cherry and cinnamon with a bit of cranberry on the finish.” Three stars
Available locally for about $9.50.
Coming next week: Keltehue Winemaker’s Select Red

Lucky 7 Carmenere 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
The signature red wine of Chile is starting to show up on more labels, a positive trend as we’ve always enjoyed this lost grape from the Bordeaux.
The grapes were imported to South America in the 1850s and were mislabeled as merlot for many years until DNA testing in the 1990s rediscovered the variety. Recently some vines have been planted in California, so we may see domestic carmenere (car-min-yehr) in a few years.
This wine comes from the Rapel Valley of Chile. It opens with notes of plum and smoke and reveals red fruit and pepper. It’s a bit harsh on the back end, but goes well with food.
Sherry: “Full-bodied and very dry with black cherry and pepper.” 3 stars
Chris: “Smoky plum, cherry and pepper.” 3 stars
Available locally for about $8.
Coming next week: Starling Castle Red

Frei Brothers Reserve Chardonnay 2007

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Cabernet might be called the king of red grapes, but chardonnay rules the kingdom when it comes to popularity.
 The Wine Institute reports white wine grapes accounted for more than 95,000 acres in California vineyards in 2010 — making it the most widely planted grape. It also represents 28 percent of the state’s table wine shipments. More than 53.2 million cases were shipped in 2009.
 This Russian River Valley wine is completed with malolactic fermentation, giving it multiple layers and a bit of a buttery finish. More butter is better for us, as we prefer our chardonnays rich and oaky. This one comes close.
 Sherry: “Fruity with lime, pear and pineapple, with a touch of almond on the finish.” 2.5 stars
Chris: “Peach, pineapple and citrus, with just a hint of butter.” 3 stars
Available locally for about $15.
 Coming next week: Lucky 7 Carmenere

Trivento Amado Sur Malbec 2008

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Finding a wine with the heft to stand up to grilled red meat or barbecue ribs is an enjoyable summertime challenge. This red blend from Argentina fits the bill.

The name translates to "Three Winds of the Beloved South" and refers to the seasonal winds that blow through the Mendoza region of the Andes Mountains. The high-altitude viticulture region gets limited rain and is irrigated by mountain snowmelt.

Primarily malbec (73 percent), with some bonarda and syrah, this is a fruit-forward wine that displays many aromas and flavors before finishing with a surprisingly dry, lingering finish that leaves dusty tannins clinging to your inner cheeks.

Sherry: "Smooth flavor of strawberry with floral and licorice notes." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "Raspberry, cherry and cinnamon with a licorice bouquet." 3-stars

Available locally for about $15.

Coming next week: Frei Brothers Reserve Chardonnay

Carta Red 2008

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Portugal is more famous for its port wines, but the grape that is the backbone of its fortified drink also makes some wonderful wines.

Touriga nacional is the traditional grape for port, and it represents to Portugal what tempranillo means to Spain. It's also the grape that makes up 75 percent of this red blend, with the other 25 percent coming from aragonez.

Touriga nacional is known for its acidity, strong tannins, floral notes and black fruit flavors. All are on full display in this wine, which comes from the Alentejo region in the southern part of the country.

Sherry: "Bright, fruity and peppery with notes of black cherry and mint on the finish." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "A bouquet of spice and earth, with flavors of red fruit, blackberry, cherry and mint." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $8.

Coming next week: Trivento Amado Sur

D'Arrigo Riesling 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
The steep German vineyards of the Mosel River valley come to mind when we picture riesling grapes, but the white grape variety is grown all over the world.

We decided to sample a version that hails from Italy, certainly better known for its chianti and other red wines. It comes from the Delle Venezie region in northeast Italy, where the winemaker sources grapes from various growers.

Riesling is a versatile grape and ranges from very sweet to dry and tart. This offering is not as acidic and crisp as most German versions, but it's semi-sweet with orchard fruit flavors in a light body.

Sherry: "Almond flavor with pear and a touch of apple." 3 stars

Chris: "Apricot and pear with a citrus finish." 3 stars

Available locally for about $8.

Coming next week: Carta Red

Cupcake Red Velvet 2009

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE

Cupcake wines are part of the Underdog Wine and Spirits company, which runs several wine labels including A Mano, Big House and Fish Eye.
All of them fall under winemaker Adam Richardson, who sources grapes and oversees the production.

This red blend features zinfandel (47 percent), merlot (29 percent), cabernet sauvignon (19 percent) and petite sirah (5 percent).

Each varietal is fermented separately, blended and oak-aged. The result is a wine that keeps your nose and tongue busy trying to work through the layers of aroma and taste. It's semi-sweet with dark fruit and chocolate flavors but is very smooth.

Sherry: "Fruity black cherry and raspberry with licorice notes on the finish." 3 stars
Chris: "Molasses notes with flavors of raspberry and strawberry. Almost a bit too sweet for a red." 2-1/2 stars

Available locally for $10.

Coming next week: D'Arrigo Riesling

Renwood Old Vine Zinfandel 2006

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE

Growing wine grapes is not the same as growing corn, where success is usually marked by the yield per acre.
Some of the most sought-after grapes are from older vines that are specifically pruned to yield a lower crop with the belief that the quality is better.
Renwood sources its grapes for this wine from more than a dozen vineyards where the average vine is 45 years old. Each small lot is fermented separately and blended later.
This is a fruit-forward wine with plenty of berry flavors and spice, a hint of vanilla and a very smooth finish.
Sherry: "Slightly sweet on the front and florally, with raspberry, strawberry and a hint of coconut." 3-1/2 stars
Chris: "Notes of raisins and cinnamon with flavors of raspberry and cherry, and a spicy finish." 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $11.50.
Coming next week: Cupcake Red Velvet

Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

We've never met a Ruffino red wine that we didn't like, so we had high expectations for this white from the Italian producer.

It's the first time Ruffino has reached outside of Tuscany for a commercial wine. The wine is sourced from grapes grown in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of far northeast Italy, an area known for its white wine grapes.

We were not disappointed. Summer is the perfect time for a crisp, refreshing white wine, and this light-golden offering has plenty of citrus, pear and tropical fruit to set your mouth watering.

Sherry: "Lime, pineapple, green apple and lemon with a hint of almond on the finish." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "Pineapple bouquet with flavors of peach, grapefruit and lemon." 3 stars

Available locally for about $10.

Coming next week: Renwood Old Vine Zinfandel

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Amitage 2008

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

We thoroughly enjoy Washington wines, so we eagerly looked forward to sampling this new red blend.

The name blends "ami" (love) with heritage and is primarily merlot (64 percent) with portions of syrah (19 percent), cabernet franc (7 percent), cabernet sauvignon (5.5 percent) and malbec (4.5 percent).

A wine with this many grapes sometimes results in an indistinguishable pour, but these grapes do indeed show each other some love. The result is a fruit-forward wine that shows lots of berry and red fruits and a hint of smoke from the portion of wine that spends 16 months barrel-aging.

Sherry: "Dark and inky, with raspberry and cherry flavors and a little coconut on the finish." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "Red licorice nose, blackberry and plum with some cherry on the front of the spicy finish." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $11.

Coming next week: Ruffino Pinot Grigio

Dry Creek Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Chenin Blanc was one of the first wines in the 1970s that was marketed in the U.S. by its name rather than under a generic title. It quickly became the best-selling white wine of its era.

Chenin blanc became a victim of its own success, and a shortage of quality grapes gave it a reputation of cheap jug wine. American tastes for white wine steered toward chardonnay.

But some of the world's finest white wines in the Loire Valley in France come from chenin blanc, which is a very versatile grape. Dry Creek in California honors those efforts. It's a nice balance of citrus influences and orchard fruits with a very long, pleasing finish.

Sherry: "Dry and mineral-like with lime and pear flavors and almond on the finish." 3 stars

Chris: "Flavors of apricot, pineapple and grapefruit." 3 stars

Available locally for about $11.

Coming next week: Columbia Crest Amitage

Columbia Winery Merlot 2007

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Merlot trails only cabernet sauvignon as the most popular red wine in the United States and is the most planted red wine grape in France.

While primarily still used as a blend in France, the grape became part of the Washington wine world in the 1980s and thrives in that state's growing climate.

This offering from Columbia, one of Washington's oldest wineries, displays the soft, approachable attributes that makes merlot popular. It shows plenty of red fruit but has a strong structure and heft from its year spent in oak barrels. It's 85 percent merlot, 9 percent malbec and a small mixture of four other grapes.

Sherry: "Smooth black cherry and raspberry, with licorice on the finish." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "Raspberry and cherry flavors with clove and raisin." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $10.

Coming next week: Dry Creek Vintage Chenin Blanc

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

One of the pioneers in the New Zealand wine industry is George Fistonich, who founded the Villa Maria winery in 1961. Today, the winery sources grapes from four regions around New Zealand and makes wine from a dozen different varieties.

This offering of the country's signature white grape from the Marlborough region includes grapes that were harvested at various stages of ripeness over five weeks.

The wine displays the telltale characteristics of sauvignon blanc - tropical fruit and herbal bouquet with lots of zesty citrus flavors. It's a bit less heavy on the grapefruit than other sauvignon blancs we've tried and has a nice balance of acidity and mineral in the finish.

Sherry: "Tart with lime and grapefruit flavors." 3 stars

Chris: "Kiwi notes, with lime, grapefruit and a tart finish." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $14.50.

Coming next week: Columbia Merlot

Stella Rosa Moscato D'Asti

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

The best sweet wines are not the result of adding sugar to the bottle. To achieve the right balance of sweetness that is not cloying, a winemaker must balance high acidity with the residual sugar or the result is a wine that tastes like flavored pancake syrup.

Balance is certainly the case with this Italian white from the Asti region. It's a frizzante wine that results from natural carbonation but with less fizz than champagne.

The wine displays a floral bouquet and captures the traditional muscat flavors of peach and apricot, as well as other fruits. It's low in alcohol (5.5 percent), making it a perfect match for fresh fruit, a brunch or just by itself.

Sherry: "Sweet pear, apple and white grape flavor with light carbonation." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "Honey and pear flavors with notes of cotton candy." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $10.

Coming next week: Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc

Bonterra Viognier 2007

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Viognier "vee-on-yay" is the white wine version of pinot noir. The grapes are difficult to grow and a challenge for winemakers, but the end result makes the effort worthwhile.

The grape was close to extinction in the 1960s, with fewer than 35 acres in France, but has enjoyed a comeback, particularly in California, where this wine comes from.

Bonterra makes organic wines and uses natural practices such as free-ranging chickens to eat bugs, grazing sheep to trim the grass as well as using cover crops and raising honey bees.

This vintage also features a splash of marsanne and roussanne grapes. Orchard fruit aromas of peach and honeysuckle give way to apricot and citrus flavors laced with just a hint of vanilla.

Sherry: "Citrus with elements of lime, grapefruit and pineapple." 2-1/2 stars

Chris: "Apricot and pineapple flavors with zesty citrus." 3 stars Available locally for about $13.

Coming next week: Il Conte d'Alba Moscato d'Asti

Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mourvedre 2008

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Wines are sometimes like people. Some are simple and straightforward. Others are deep and complex.

This Australian red falls into the latter category, which means you need to spend some time unlocking the flavors in this puzzler.

It's a blend of Australia's national red grape shiraz (88 percent) and the lesser-known mourvedre, which is also a Rhone variety.

The result is a powerful glass of black licorice and tobacco notes with flavors of black fruit, red fruit, pepper and spice. Ten months of oak seasoning helps soften the edge, but the tannins are big and the finish is long. Serve with food, and swirl vigorously to open this wine up.

Sherry: "A bit hot, with red licorice and raspberry flavors and a floral finish." 3 stars

Chris: "Flavors of plum, raspberry and licorice with a hint of cherry on the back end." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $13.

Coming next week: Bonterra Viognier

Ol' Geezer Rosso 2009

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE
The grape at the the heart of many wonderful Italian wines is sangiovese (san-joe-vay-see), which is also the source for this red.

Instead of the the fabled Chianti region, this wine comes from Puglia, which is the heel on the peninsular boot of Italy. This fertile area was once scoffed for its vast quantities of cheap wines, but winemakers are stomping out that notion.

This is a simple and plain wine (the name and label had a certain appeal to Chris) that displays the cherry and herb flavors sangiovese is known for. The tannins are a bit sharp, but it's a good value for the price.

Sherry: "Black cherry with a bit of a floral finish." 3 stars

Chris: "Herbal bouquet with flavors of cherry and plum." 2-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $6.

Coming next week: Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mourvedre

Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

It's always time to celebrate with a fine sparkling wine or champagne.

We selected this Washington sparkler to mark the birth of our first grandson, Jameson. It also would make a delightful companion to grilled chicken or as a summer party aperitif.

Made in the traditional champagne method (methode champenoise), the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle, resulting in the carbon dioxide bubbles the wine is famous for. This chardonnay wine is medium dry, crisp and light-bodied. It displays orchard fruit flavors with a crisp, lingering finish.

Sherry: "Notes of pear and green apple with a hint of almond on the finish." 3 stars

Chris: "Green apple and floral notes with flavors of peach and ginger." 3 stars

Available locally for about $11.

Coming next week:

Ol' Geezer Rosso

LeGrand Noir GSM 2008

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE

If you enjoy red blends, GSM are three letters you need to remember. GSMs are wines blended with grenache, shiraz and mourvedre grapes.

This wine comes from the Minervois region of France, which is on the southern end of the country and enjoys a mild Mediterranean

climate. The grenache(60 percent) and mourvedre (5 percent) are usually found in blends, and the shiraz (35 percent) adds some spice.

We've enjoyed other Le Grand labels (known for the black sheep) and find this one to be delightful as well, with plenty of red berry fruit flavors and a very smooth finish. We're eager to try more GSM wines.

Sherry: "Big floral notes, flavors of raspberry and red licorice." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "A raisin bouquet with raspberry and blackberry flavors." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $8.

Coming next week: Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs

LeGrand Noir GSM 2008

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE

If you enjoy red blends, GSM are three letters you need to remember. GSMs are wines blended with grenache, shiraz and mourvedre grapes.

This wine comes from the Minervois region of France, which is on the southern end of the country and enjoys a mild Mediterranean

climate. The grenache

(60 percent) and mourvedre (5 percent) are usually found in blends, and the shiraz (35 percent) adds some spice.

We've enjoyed other Le Grand labels (known for the black sheep) and find this one to be delightful as well, with plenty of red berry fruit flavors and a very smooth finish. We're eager to try more GSM wines.

Sherry: "Big floral notes, flavors of raspberry and red licorice." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "A raisin bouquet with raspberry and blackberry flavors." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $8.

Coming next week: Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs

Treasure Hunter Pinot Noir

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE

Romance is intertwined with the wine industry, but it is a business after all.

The 3 Finger Wine Co. - which markets Treasure Hunter - doesn't own a vineyard or a winery. Treasure Hunter labels are négociant wines, purchased from other winemakers. It's a delicate balance to find quality wines, best done when there is an excess of fine wines on the market so you're not scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Treasure Hunter seems to get it right. This Sonoma Valley wine displays the aroma, flavor and mouthfeel of a quality pinot.

Sherry: "Soft, fruity and smooth with flavors of strawberry, cherry and light licorice on the finish." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "Beefy nose, soft cherry with a bit of strawberry and a red licorice finish." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $16.

Coming next week:

Le Grand Noir GSM

Treasure Hunter Pinot Noir

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE
Romance is intertwined with the wine industry, but it is a business after all.

The 3 Finger Wine Co. - which markets Treasure Hunter - doesn't own a vineyard or a winery. Treasure Hunter labels are négociant wines, purchased from other winemakers. It's a delicate balance to find quality wines, best done when there is an excess of fine wines on the market so you're not scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Treasure Hunter seems to get it right. This Sonoma Valley wine displays the aroma, flavor and mouthfeel of a quality pinot.

Sherry: "Soft, fruity and smooth with flavors of strawberry, cherry and light licorice on the finish." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "Beefy nose, soft cherry with a bit of strawberry and a red licorice finish." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $16.

Coming next week:

Le Grand Noir GSM

Ugarte Cosecha 2007

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE

Four generations of the Eguren Ugarte family have produced wines in the Spanish region of Rioja, where this red blend takes its name from the Spanish word for harvest.

Spanish wine sales in the U.S. continue to increase as consumers become more familiar with the varieties and the value delivered by one of the world's largest wine producers. This wine is a blend of 80 percent tempranillo - the noble grape of Spain - and 20 percent garnacha, which comes from family-owned vineyards.

Aged in American oak, the wine is a bit husky at first but opens up in the glass with red fruit flavors and a lingering finish with slightly untamed tannins.

Sherry: "Dry, tart cherry with coconut and a little bitter on the finish." Three stars

Chris: "Dusty and dry with flavors of plum, raspberry and licorice." Three and a half stars

Available locally for about $11.

Bandit Riesling 2009

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE

In honor of Earth Day, here is a wine featuring one of the new, more environmentally friendly

packages.

Bandit uses Tetra Pak cartons, which are made mainly from paper and contain a full liter of wine compared to the traditional 750 milliliter bottle.

Bandit says the packaging has a smaller carbon footprint and costs less to transport because it is space efficient when folded flat. It also would make a good beach or picnic wine where glass bottles are restricted.

Inside are grapes from Washington's Columbia Valley, which are fermented in stainless steel for a crisp, acidic wine made in a slightly off-dry style. Not bad for wine in a big juice box. (Chris kept looking for the straw.)

Sherry: "Green apple, citrus lime, pear and almond." 3 stars

Chris: "Apple, pear and lime with a hint of peach and a dry finish." 2-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $8.

Coming next week: Ugarte Cosecha

Graffigna Centenario Malbec 2008

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

The national grape of Argentina continues to be the source of some interesting red wines like this from one of the country's oldest winemakers.

Italian immigrant Don Santiago Graffigna started the winery in

San Juan in 1870. The steep hillsides and high elevations provide a sunny and dry environment.

Malbec can be rustic and untamed, and this offering is certainly not meek. It has a husky aroma of berries and tobacco and has red fruit flavors of plum and red berries framed in a dry, black pepper body. The wine is aged for a year in oak and can be cellared for several years.

Sherry: "Dry and a bit hot and peppery, with a floral, licorice and coconut finish." 3 stars

Chris: "Apple and tobacco aroma, cherry and plum flavors with a mint and red licorice finish." 3 1/2 stars

Available locally for about $10.

Coming next week: Bandit Riesling

Seven Hawks La Crescent Reserve 2008

By CHRIS and SHERRY HARDIE

It's not easy growing wine grapes in this part of the country. Late frost to spring buds or an early frost to ripening grapes, and the bone-chilling cold of winter that damages vines are real threats.

But thanks to variety of cold-climate grapes developed specifically to withstand our weather, vineyards such as Seven Hawks near Fountain City, Wis., grow their own crops. The vineyard has almost 18,000 hybrid grape vines planted on steep bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.

This grape - named after the Minnesota city - has been on the market since 2002 only but is comparable in many qualities to a sauvignon blanc or a riesling, with orchard fruit and citrus flavors balanced with high acidity.

Sherry: "Pineapple and grapefruit with a touch of almond on the finish." 3 stars

Chris: "Floral bouquet with flavors of apricot and pineapple." 3 stars Available locally for about $12.

Coming next week: Graffigna Malbec Reserve

By Chris and Sherry Hardie Chardonnay continues to be far and away America's most popular wine, representing more than 20 percent of all wine sales. With nearly 95,000 acres planted in California, chardonnay represents 27 percent of all wine shipped from that state. This Central Coast chardonnay thrives in the climate that features sunny days and cool nights. The wine features tropical flavors and a buttery finish, thanks to the malolactic fermentation that converts malic acid to lactic acid. There's also a hint of vanilla, courtesy of being aged for nine months in oak barrels. This is probably the best value chardonnay we've sampled in a while. Sherry: "Lemon flavor and a trace of butterscotch on the finish." 3 stars Chris: "Floral aroma, pear and a creamy finish." 3-1/2 stars Available locally for about $9. Coming next week: Seven Hawks La Crescent Reserve

Sometimes too much emphasis is placed on the precise

pairing of food and wines, but there's no mistaking what this sweet wine is meant for: dessert.

This non-vintage California selection was a favorite of Georges de Latour, Beaulieu Vineyard founder. It's made with the ancient grape muscat, known for its aromatics and complexity.

Grape brandy is added to the wine early in the fermentation to produce the sweetness and an 18 percent alcohol level. Some of the wine is aged in oak, which adds richness and depth. It's a sweet, thick wine influenced by the brandy with flavors of honey and stone fruit.

This is definitely a sipping wine.

Sherry: "Honey, apricot and brandy with an apple and pear finish." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "Honey and pear with notes of brandy." 3 stars

Available locally for about $8.

Coming next week: Cupcake Chardonnay

Nelson is one of New Zealand's smaller wine regions, comprising the top portion of the country's southern island. This vintage comes from vineyards on a wide river flat.

The proximity to the ocean helps moderate the temperatures, which is key to growing this finicky grape, which is picked in late March and April. The wine was stored in French barrels for a year before it was bottled.

Pinots are generally soft and delicate, but this wine has a strong, tannic backbone. The wine opened up and displayed some of its berry fruit flavors and cinnamon spice when accompanied by food.

Sherry: "Very dry, acidic raspberry with a vanilla finish." 2-1/2 stars

Chris: "Cinnamon and beefy bouquet, cherry flavor and a bit of vanilla at the end of a dry finish." 3 stars

Available locally for about $15.

Coming next week: Muscat de Beaulieu

Folie á Deux Zinfandel 2008

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Perhaps it's fate that we tried this California wine with a French label that translates into "delusions in two persons who are closely related" or "double madness." This Amador County zinfandel is just the medicine for our vinifera malady.

The winemaker uses a blend of 80 percent zinfandel, 15 percent petite sirah and 5 percent barbera to create this wine, which undergoes daily racking in early fermentation to soften the tannins. The zinfandel juice is aged in a combination of French, American and Hungarian oak for 14 months.

The wine unfolds with notes of blackberry and spice and has luscious red berry and dark fruit flavors. It's high in alcohol at 14.5 percent, but not hot on the finish.

It's easy to be mad about this wine.

Sherry: "Smooth and fruity raspberry and cherry with floral notes on the finish." 3-1/2 stars

Chris: "Cedar notes, with flavors of cherry and blackberry." 3-1/2 stars

Available locally for about $15.

Coming next week: Nelson Bay Pinot Noir

Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc 2008

Trying to trace the lineage of wine grapes can challenge even the most serious oenologist/genealogist.

Pinot blanc is a white grape that is a genetic mutation of pinot grigio, which itself is a mutation of the red grape pinot noir. It's used more in blends than as a stand-alone varietal.

Grown in the cool climate zones of the Russian River Valley and southern Sonoma County of California, this wine is cool fermented in stainless steel before some portions are aged in French oak and acacia barrels.

There's plenty of floral and orchard aromas that reveals citrus and stone fruit flavors balanced in a crisp, acidic light body.

Sherry: "A refreshing glass full of lime and honeydew melon with mineral on the finish." 3 stars

Chris: "Honeysuckle bouquet, flavors of pineapple and citrus fruit, and a surprise cherry taste on the back end." 3 stars

Available locally for about $13.

Coming next week: Folie a' Deux Zinfandel

Red blends - wines made from a variety of grapes - continue to be popular sellers, with new labels entering the market.

This winemaker takes its name from the small wild horses that used to roam Washington's Columbia River valley and were 14 hands high.

Until recently, this blend was available only in restaurants. It's a mixture of syrah, merlot, petite verdot and mourvedre, and is fermented with a cold soaking and daily pumping process that enhances the fresh fruit flavors.

Soft red fruit is clearly on display, and the flavor leans toward the sweet side.

Sherry: "Light-bodied and florally, with flavors of soft cherry and a vanilla finish." 2-1/2 stars

Chris: "Fig bouquet with flavors of sweet black cherry and a bit of raspberry." 3 stars

Available locally for about $9.

Coming next week: Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc