The word “Meritage” is another term used to describe a blend of grape varietals. In this case Guenoc’s intriguing red is a blend of typical Bordeaux grape varietals. The nose delivers a bouquet of black currant and toasted oak. The palate is dry, structured, and young, with moderate tannins. Flavors of cassis, black cherry and licorice are to be anticipated and followed by a long finish. Drink now or hold for more bottle aging.

A perennial best buy from Washington State! This is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Great notes of spicy blackberry, plum and smoke will enhance a grilled steak any day of the week, and twice on Sundays!

Blend: 77% Zinfandel. 18% Petite Sirah, 5% Carignane; Style: dry red; dark red color; aromas: red raspberry and toasty oak; palate/flavors: cherry and boysenberry with hints of warm spice; medium body; balanced acidity and soft tannins on the finish. Food Pairing: spiced ribs, BBQ chicken, grilled burgers. (Alc. by Volume: 13.5%)

A red blend with 32% Zinfandel, 28% Syrah, 25 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 4% Petite Sirah. It has a dark ruby color. Excellent aromas of blackberry and spice with hints of raspberry and black cherry and flavors of black fruit, cocoa and espresso. This is a medium body wine with ripe fruit that continues to a long finish.

I know, you’re thinking “Riunite”. Forget about it, this is a classy, dry version, with a moderate amount of bubbles, what the Italians call "frizzante." At 11.5 % alchohol there is just hint of fruit, best served alone or with a beet and arugula salad. Perfect as the first, or last wine, of the night! This is an artisanal version of lambrusco, easy to love and to surprise your friends and guests with.

I tasted this wine 9 months ago blind as a judge at the Seattle Wine Awards, and was blown away by this wine. It is still available for a bit longer – and I had the pleasure of trying it again recently and will personally look for some on the shelves immediately before you beat me to it. Why? It is balanced, intense in all ways, even in it’s elegance. Isn’t that what we always want – something not over the top that has just enough fruit, tannin, acidity, and a touch of earth. This wine is the kind of wine that is a tribute to passed wine maker Lance Baer.

This is a light-bodied, frizzante rose made from the Brachetto grape from the Piedmont area. Sweet, but not sticky, the fruit of strawberry and cherry are sewn up by the crisp, bubbly finish.

St. Emilion was not classified in 1855 like the wines of the Medoc on the Left Bank of the Gironde. Reclassification is done every 10 years with some chateaus moving up and others moving down! Trimoulet is 70% Merlot with Cabernet Franc 25% and Cabernet Sauvignon 5%. 2005 was a year that saw wines produced with massive fruit and plenty of tannin to match. At once opulent with plenty of cellaring potential, this was one of many recent vintages to be the best of the decade, century, or ever!