Old style Napa Merlot

Remember when red wines from Napa were dry ? -I do...it was a long time ago. Some time in the early '90's the focus became extracted fruit blockbusters that were nothing like the French wines made from the same varietals. If you don't like the current style of Napa reds and are looking to have a real blast from the past try this Sean Minor 2008 Napa Valley Merlot. It is well made and terrific with food. It actually needs food like a Tuscan wine, otherwise it has the characteristic of etching at the roof of your mouth. Don't get me wrong, I really loved this wine and would buy it again. It was at Shopper's Corner for $ 14.99-it was almost hidden on a lower shelf so look carefully. 8 swiggs.

Nor Cal vintner with So Cal grapes

Carol Shelton is a Zin specialist in Sonoma but she sources grapes from other, sometimes unusual locales. The 2008 Monga Zin Lopez vineyard has fruit sourced from south of Los Angeles-the grapes were planted in 1918 and is one of the last surviving old So-Cal vineyards that were so plentiful before the area got urbanized. Grapes from this far south have a different taste that reflects the dry heat of the region.....I can't really explain it fully but the light body and ripe taste of this wine is a bit different from anything from further north. It is a real treat and a good wine to pour for folks who like Zin but are looking for something a little out of the ordinary. $ 19.95 at Shopper's Corner. 8 swiggs.

Bordeaux that is ready to drink

2008 was not too long ago and a lot of wines from Bordeaux will be sitting in cellars for years to come. Not the Sanctus Saint Emilion grand cru, though. This wine is sensational now and has no heavy tannins in the way of the pure fruit flavor. It is a dry red but not overly so,yet it isn't one of those French wines trying to appeal to Napa tastes. I highly recommend it-that is if you can find it. It is $ 44.95 but a really great drinking experience. 9 swiggs.

A taste of the Rhone

This Les Hauts Du Castellas 2007 Gigondas is just what one would hope to get from a southern Rhone wine-complexity and a sense of the area where the wine comes from. The blend is 75% Grenache 15% Strah and 10% Mourvedre , typical blend for the region. One tastes the lavender and spice that is planted all over the hills around the vineyards. There really isn't a new world version of this wine-no matter how hard the US wine makers try, there is no way to replicate the flavors that are present in this and other really great wines of the southern Rhone valley. I'll give it 8 1/2 swiggs. Imported by Fruit of the vines, inc. Long island city, N.Y.

Ho-hummer from Italy

Whenever I hear  "Primitivo" come up in wine talk I think of bold flavors and easy to drink reds. This 2008 Primitivo del Salento was easy to drink but honestly, it didn't have the kind of distinction I would have expected . After a glass with dinner, if I were blindfolded I would not have been able to tell you what country or even the grape in this wine-it could have been anything. I would dub this an 'Airplane' wine.....coach, not business or first. This isn't what I would call a real value at $ 12.99 and I doubt I will buy more. It wasn't horrible ,but I would expect a lot more from this wine at this price. 4 1/2 swiggs.

Amador Syrah

Scott Harvey has been making wine in Amador county for a long time. At one time he was a winemaker at Renwood and had access to some of the oldest vines in the country. Scott knows how to coax bold flavors out of Zin vines so I figured that this 2008 Amador county mountain selection Syrah would be in the style of his Zins. This was the case as the extracted concentrated flavors were impressive. If you like the style  , this is a wine for you. $ 15.99 at Shopper's corner-8 1/2 swiggs.

Nice weekend Zin

I read a review of some Sonoma Zins in the S.F. Chronicle the other day and saw one of the wines at the local market. At $ 23.99, this 2009 Hobo Rockpile Brennan vineyard  Zin is at the upper end of what I pay for a wine but it comes through with some big flavors. The tannins are up there as well, suggesting that hanging onto this one for a few years won't hurt it. -Of course, we drank it immediately with dinner. It's one of the better wines of its type and well worth the price. 9 swiggs.