Clayhouse Adobe Red 2006

"This dark ruby red wine opens with a light raspberry like bouquet with notes of spice. On the palate, this medium bodied wine is a fruit bomb, nicely balanced, and quite smooth. It is loaded with lush blackberry flavors with some notes of black cherry and vanilla that linger. The finish is quite dry with noticeable tannins that stick around from quite some time. This wine is a perfect wine for your summer barbecue whether it is burgers, ribs, or steak tips on the grill. "  - kenswineguide.com

Winemaker Notes: The Adobe Red is a proprietary blend with ripe flavors of cherry, plum and vanilla bean, with rich spicy blueberry and cherry notes. The tannins are supple, and the balanced oak character adds additional vanilla notes.

This delicious blend is available at Village Wines for about $14.  The 2007 is out now as well.  3 stars

Spice Route Viognier 2008

"Gentle oaking and extend lees contact add richness and complexity to the full, fragrant tropical fruit notes an subtle spices." http://www.spiceroutewines.co.za/

Very good / 3 stars / $18

Twenty Rows Merlot 2008

My impressions: this turned out to be a big merlot (but not in a "fruit bomb" way) with a hint of spice. Smooth on the tongue. Delicious.

"The Twenty Rows Merlot is a big dense wine with layers of cherry, blackberry plum & mocha with a hint of tobacco. Well balanced with exceptional length on the finish."

4 stars!

Domain du Crampihl Madiran

Spotted this on the list at Dyron's last weekend. Although not familiar with this grape it turned out very good. It was $38 on the menu so figure $18-20 retail.

Madiran is an appellation from southwest France near the Pyrenees. Excerpted from wine-searcher.com: "The grape varieties which are sanctioned for the creation of Madiran's wines are Cabernet Franc (also known as Bouchy here), Fer Servadou, Cabernet Sauvignon and the all-important Tannat. Tannat must make up between 40% and 60% of the final blend, which is what makes the resulting wine so characterful and distinctive. The Tannat grape, as its name suggests, is very high in tannins, and brings a certain astringency to Madiran wines. Historically the wines have been famous for needed many years' bottle ageing before becoming palatable. The thick skin of the variety, and its numerous pips are the source of these tannins. The stems of all grape varieties naturally contain high levels of tannin, so destemming (or egrappage in French) is required under the Madiran appellation law. This measure is intended to balance out the overall tannin levels in the finished wine."

Another source describes it as rough when young. After a few years in a cellar, it turns into a sensual and tannic wine. So definitely give it a try if you see it or at Dyron's.

Kendall-Jackson to drastically cut water usage

This is a really great initiative, especially for a water-starved state. View story at CNET.com.