2005 Chateau Desclau Supérieur ... $9 / $35 Bordeaux France sha-toh day-kloh Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot Focused notes of crushed cherries, bittersweet chocolate and worn, dusty leather. Full bodied with medium-firm tannin.

2007 J.J. Vincent - "Charmes" ... $12 / $42 Morgon Beaujolais Burgundy France vah(n)-sa(n) - shahrm 100% Gamay Aromas of molten chocolate, black cherry and spice. Fruit is more subtle on the firmly structured, mineral focused palate.

2007 Domaine A. et P. de Villaine - "La Fortune" ... $17 / $65 Côte Chalonnaise Burgundy France do-mehn ah ay pay duh vee-lehn 100% Pinot Noir Elegant, with red fruit, spice and, cedar and chalk. The soft palate evolves effortlessly into flavors of tobacco and forest.

2007 Chateau Massiac ... $11 / $38 Minervois Languedoc-Roussillon France Sha-toh Mah-syahk 75% Syrah, 25% Carignan Dense and aromatic, with aromas and flavors of raspberry, gunpowder, rhubarb, underbrush and herbs. Very interesting.

2005 Domaine de l'Echevin ... $14 / $51 Saint Maurice Côtes du Rhône Villages Rhone France doh-mehn de leh-sheh-vahn 100% Grenache Spicy red fruit and loamy earth on the nose. Grilled game and worn leather adds to the palate. Muscular, with firm tannin.

2005 August Ziegler - "Cuvée August" ... $16 / $58 Pfalz Germany OW-goost TSEE-gleh 100% Pinot Noir Satin-textured, showing floral accents over ripe cherry, raspberry and cola. Complex herbal notes emerge on the long finish.

2007 Tenuta Mazzolino ... $11 / $39 Oltrepò Pavese Lombardy Italy mahts-oh-LEE-noh 100% Bonarda Rustic and chewy, showing cherry liqueur, bittersweet chocolate, toasted almond, and notes of mint and herbs.

2007 Sandro Fay - "Rosso di Valtellina" ... $11 / $38 Lombardy Italy sahn-droh fay - roh-soh dee vahl-teh-LEE-nah 90% Nebbiolo, Brugnola, Rossola, Pignola, Merlot Delicate cherry, rose, dried herbs, anise and hints of cedar, tobacco and minerals. Medium bodied and soft on the palate.

2004 Taurino - "Notarpanaro" ... $14 / $49 Salento Puglia Italy tah-REE-noh - noh-tahr-pah-NAH-roh 100% Negroamaro Full bodied, with ripe berry fruit, tobacco, black pepper, anise and spice. Concentrated and generous with fine tannins.

2003 Cantore di Castelforte - "Donna Maria" ... $14 / $50 Primitivo di Manduria Puglia Italy kahn-TOR-eh dee kahs-tehl-FOR-teh 100% Primitivo Very expressive and complex, with earthy aromas of sweet dried cherry, fig, raisin and cola. Soft and medium bodied.

2006 Le Lupinaie ... $15 / $55 Morellino di Scansano Tuscany Italy leh loo-pee-NAH-yeh 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, 5% Ciliegiolo Mid-full bodied, complex and very well balanced. Dusty cherry, violets, espresso, dark chocolate and a beautiful finish.

2007 Cantina Valpantena - "Torre del Falasco" Ripasso ... $11 / $38 Valpolicella Valpantena Veneto Italy Corvina, Rondinella, Molinare Dried cherry and raspberry, tea leaf, baking spices and hints of raisin and rose. Medium bodied with medium tannin.

2007 Chateau Musar - "Cuvée Rouge" ... $12 / $40 Bekaa Valley Lebanon sha-toh moo-SAR - kew-vay roozh Cinsault, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah Intriguing nose of rose petals, tobacco, pomegranate and light cranberry. Soft, silky and deliciously unique.

2005 Pago Casa del Blanco - "Quixote" ... $16 / $56 Castilla - La Mancha Spain - kee-HO-tay 53% Merlot, 27% Tempranillo, 20% Petit Verdot Complex and concentrated, with layers of black currant, eucalyptus, and accents of graphite, pepper and espresso.

2004 Bodegas Pagos de Mogar - "Roble" ... $13 / $45 Ribera del Duero Castilla y León Spain bo-DEH-gahs PAH-gos day mo-GAHR - roh-blay 100% Tempranillo Dark, plush aromas of blackberry, black cherry, pomegranate, mocha, plum and minerals. Full bodied, medium tannin.

2005 los 800 ... $13 / $48 Priorat Catalonia Spain lohs OH-choh SYEN-tohs 50% Garnacha, 30% Carignan, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah Concentrated black currant and cherry, framed by black minerals and a touch of camphor. Full bodied with ripe tannin.

2006 Casa de la Ermita Crianza ... $9 / $32 Jumilla Murcia Spain 60% Monastrell, 40% Petit Verdot Aromas of cherry and raspberry laced with anise and balsa. Ripe fruit and earthen notes on the dense palate.

New World Red Wines

2008 Huarpe Wines - "Lancatay" ... $8 / $27 Mendoza Argentina HWAR-pay - lahn-cah-TI 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Rich black and red fruits with accents of new oak and bittersweet chocolate. Full bodied with firm tannin.

2007 Michel Rolland - "Clos de los Siete" ... $14 / $52 Mendoza Argentina mih-SHELL roh-LAHN - cloh day loh SYEH-teh 50% Malbec, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah Bold and intense, with ripe black cherry, blueberry, black plum and chocolate layers. Full bodied with a long finish.

2007 Antigal - "Uno" ... $10 / $39 Mendoza Argentina 100% Malbec Ripe, round and spicy with red and black fruit framed by notes of cedar and smoke. Modern in style, with mild tannin.

2007 Pirie - "South" ... $12 / $44 Tasmania Australia PEE-ree 100% Pinot Noir Fresh and lively, with spicy cherry and raspberry framed tobacco and cedar. Medium bodied and smooth in texture.

2006 Shinas Estate - "The Guilty" ... $11 / $42 Victoria Australia SHY-nuhs 100% Shiraz Opulent aromas and flavors of black cherry, chocolate, coffee bean, vanilla and black pepper. Lush and smooth.

2007 Viña Ventisquero - "Root 1" ... $9 / $32 Colchagua Valley Chile VEE-nya ven-tee-SKEH-roh 100% Carmenére Loaded with ripe and juicy blackberry, cherry and plum fruit flavors framed by spice, vanilla and herbs.

2005 Galil Mountain - "Yiron" ... $17 / $65 Galilee Israel gah-LEEL - yi-ROHN 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 4% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot Vibrant, polished and concentrated with waves of black fruit, baking spice, bittersweet chocolate, anise and vanilla.

2007 Ra Nui ... $15 / $56 Wairau Valley Marlborough South Island New Zealand rah NOO-eeh 100% Pinot Noir Complex and aromatic, with spice, strawberry jam and raspberry flavors. Soft dusty notes carry through the finish.

2005 Trefethen ... $17 / $65 Oak Knoll District Napa Valley California USA 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot Classic Napa style, with leathery currant, black cherry and mocha. Rich and full bodied with plenty of dusty tannins.

2005 Three Saints ... $15 / $54 Santa Ynez Valley South Central Coast California USA 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Full bodied, rich and concentrated with aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, black currant, dark chocolate and sage.

2007 Row Eleven - "Viñas 3" ... $11 / $38 Santa Barbara / Monterey / Sonoma California USA - vee-nyahs three 100% Pinot Noir Soft and smooth, with vibrant aromas and flavors of cherry pie and notes of vanilla, tobacco and spices.

2007 Pessagno Winery - "Lucia Highlands Vineyard" ... $16 / $60 Santa Lucia Highlands California USA peh-SAHN-yoh 100% Pinot Noir Complex and stylish, showing rich bing cherry, ripe pomegranate, cola, a touch of tobacco, and a long, layered finish.

2005 Cedarville ... $10 / $35 El Dorado Sierra Foothills California USA 100% Syrah Highly concentrated and muscular. Packed with black fruit framed by black pepper, vanilla and a hint of chargrill.

2007 Girard Old Vines ... $13 / $48 Napa Valley California USA 100% Zinfandel Robust, sleek and fruit-forward, showing briary blackberry, peppercorn, licorice and spice with hints of grilled herbs.

2006 Brandborg - "Love Puppets" ... $14 / $52 Umpqua Oregon USA 100% Pinot Noir Crisp, silken textured and superbly balanced, with a beautiful blend of tart cherry, spices and fresh herbs.

2006 Dunham Cellars - "Trutina" ... $14 / $50 Columbia Valley Washington USA 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, 3% Syrah Rich bing cherry with cedar, vanilla and spice. Racy style, with rich black and red berry flavors on the generous palate.

2006 L'Ecole No 41 ... $17 / $63 Columbia Valley Washington USA 100% Merlot Plush nose of crushed bing cherry and currant. Full bodied and silky, with persistent flavors of ripe black and red fruit.