Purchased at Total Wine in Tempe AZ, $14.99, 14.2% alcohol. Another splurge above my normal price point. Ruby garnet in the glass, narrow clear ring. Cassis, blackberry & black raspberry candy on the nose; oak dust & caramel vanilla. Blackberry & cherry candy on the palate with noticeable alcohol heat, even after 4 hours. Smooth but focused tannins, good acidic backbone. Lengthy mineral vanilla finish. Some good descriptors for sure, but there's an underlying medicinal/candy character that I don't like, perhaps having to do with the heat. I'd take Columbia Crest H3 Cab over this in a heartbeat, and it's $3 less!

Purchased at Total Wine in Tempe AZ, $16.99, 13.9% alcohol. Those of you who know me also know that is a couple price-points higher than I generally buy, but I've heard good things about the wine and felt I could spare the funds for once. Trying not to feel guilty... Very pale straw color, faint golden hue. Before the wine warmed in the glass, I experienced the nose note-by-note - steely mineral start with a hint of peach, followed by melon, lime & grapefruit. Later, Granny Smith & toasty almond notes emerge. Once the glass had warmed, the characters blended into one VERY enticing yet delicate experience. Who needs oak? Graceful peach & apple juice blend on the palate, quickly surrounded by a creamy honey acidity that dominates the mid-palate and carries the palate into a medium finish of sweet apple & mineral. I'll ask again - who needs oak? I've heard Chardonnay described as a mediocre varietal (thus needing all the oak) - but this ain't mediocre by any stretch of the imagination. And it even complements steamed broccoli...

Purchased at Fry's grocery store in Tempe AZ, $5.99, 13.5% alcohol. Nice $4 discount. Medium-dark cherry red in the glass, minimal clear ring. Toasty oak and red raspberry on the nose, hint of dusty pepper. Prominent notes of blackberry and tart cherry juice on the palate, clean texture & understated tannins. The juice is a bit sweet for me initially, however - the taste borders on syrupy while the texture, thankfully, does NOT. Silky mid-palate and a medium length finish featuring fruit and a lot of mineral. Some good beef BBQ may have mitigated the syrupy character, so it's not too much of a downer. Nice daily quaff with dinner, very approachable and good quality. Love the pronounced mineral at the end.

Purchased at Total Wine in Tempe AZ, $8.99, 10.5% alcohol. Another in the Ars Vitis series; I collect the bottles so I buy whenever I can – drinkable art!  The palest straw color, bordering on clear. Crisp, clean, playful nose with slate, peach, lemon and a touch of honeysuckle. Tangy, effervescent honeydew on the palate which is quickly encapsuled with creamy honey. Well, I didn’t eat dessert, so here it is… Luscious if brief apple & pear pie mid-palate and a medium finish with lots of sweet minerality. If I tried another Riesling earlier this evening, I’ve forgotten it!  In some ways the Ars Vitis series is a bit of a gimmick, but it’s a damn tasty one! After I fill the bottle with boring tap water, cork it and place it atop my “Moselland Ars Vitis Riesling” shelf, I shall remember it fondly.

Purchased at Fry’s grocery store in Tempe AZ, $6.70, 10.5% alcohol. Trying two different Rieslings tonight. Pale gold color. Wet granite on the nose first, followed by floral peach with a lightly tart citric accent. Peach & pear on the palate, but there’s no snap-crackle-pop of acidity – major flaw in my book. Sweet-tart fruit juice follows with a sugary finish. VERY disappointing.

Purchased at Fry's Grocery Store in Tempe AZ, $9.90, 13.5% alcohol. My first Rosenblum wine; I've wanted to try it for quite awhile. This bottle was discounted $4, so I decided this was the time! Beautiful medium garnet in the glass, barely discernible ring. Oaky & herbal on the nose, but in a refined manner. Underlying cassis, dark berry & spicy vanilla, dark floral note. Black raspberry juice on the palate with some cherry & blackberry. Supple tannins join before mid-palate, kind of swooping in on both sides; they join minerality and acidity for a delightful mid-palate and finish. Sweet fruit complements as the lengthy finish progresses. This was enjoyed with spicy rare London Broil and steamed asparagus - WHY is asparagus such a good wine food? The minerality sparkles with it! This is really good, and a QPR wine in my book.

Purchased at Price Cutter's grocery store in Springfield MO, $5.39, 15% alcohol. My first Chardonel, don't know what to expect - it's labeled as a dry white wine. Pale straw color, hint of gold. Resiny oak nose with some white orchard fruit & lemon. Baked spice, something nutty, mountain stream splashing down a rocky bed. The palate is round and deep immediately - creamy amber honey coupled with potato vodka sweetness (probably the alcohol); apple & pear. Delicate, warm, sweet fruity finish. Somewhat reminiscent of a potent Viognier. To my palate this is not dry, and could accompany VERY spicy cuisine or dessert, if that makes any sense. Late night sipper for me this time around. I really like it, and can also vouch for the 15% alcohol after three glasses... :)