2002 Palladio Chianti.

100% Sangiovese, grown near Pisa, Sienna, and Florence.

Slight aroma of cherries. Stronger red cherry flavors, some spice/pepper undertones. Nice fruit acidity, long finish. A soft light to medium tannic structure, enough to carry the fruit in the wine, making for a good balance.

Good on its own, or with pasta dishes with red sauce. Drink now.

$9.99, Raleigh, Carolina Wine Company.

1999 Glass Mountain Quarry Chardonnay.

Yes, another wine from the folks who did the syrah I had a couple of days ago. As with that one, the only appellation is "California" and it's the second label from Markham Vineyards.

Minimal oak, if any. Green apple in the nose, with a hint of lemon. Green apple, pear and melon flavors. Creamy finish, with a touch of toastiness. Sharp, crisp finish. No malolactic fermentation. Just the way I like chardonnay to be: not oaky or buttery.

It'd be good on its own, or with chicken pasta dishes, or fish. Drink now.

$9.99, Richmond, Private Stock.

1994 Elkton Valley Wine Cellars, Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir.

This was from a winery that appears to no longer be in business; at least, they have no web presence that I can find, even on the various Oregon wine sites. Only reference I can find is to Alethea Enterprises of Roseburg, Oregon (mentioned on the label as the producer and bottler), on an undated list of wineries. But they must have been around in 1996, because this was in my box of wines purchased during a trip I took to Oregon that year, and I only purchased wines at wineries.

Okay, you know how they say that you should drink most wines while they young and fresh, and that not all wines benefit from aging, especially for a long time? Well, this would be an example that proves that point. I've held onto it just a bit too long, waiting for the "right moment" to open it. It's definitely slid down the far side of when it would have been at its best. I'm sure that a couple of years of aging would have been fine, but nine years since the vintage was a bit too much.

The aroma is stale and oxidized. There are hints of cherry in the flavor, but only hints. It does taste of fruit, just an undifferentiated reddish-fruit flavor. Good acid balance and roundness to it, though, so I'm betting it was pretty good at its prime. Very smooth tannins - you can tell they're present, but they support what flavor is still there. It'd be fine with grilled salmon; Oregon pinot noir is always good with grilled salmon. But you really couldn't have much more than very basic seasonings on the salmon without overwhelming this wine. (Of course, in its prime the wine would have stood up to food with a lot more flavor.)

Well, I'm sorry I didn't get to it sooner. I'd have enjoyed it a lot more about 2 or 3 years ago. I think I have one more pinot noir around from that trip; I'll get to it within the next month or so, I'm sure.

$12 - $16 (?), purchased at winery.

1999 Glass Mountain Quarry Syrah.

From "California"; no further appellation designation than that. Glass Mountain Quarry is a second label from Markham Vineyards of Napa.

Aromas of ripe red cherries and plums, flavors also include blackberry. Medium body, good juicy flavor. 86 points, Wine Spectator. The tannin and spicy notes in it would make the wine good with grilled food, or a good pizza wine, but it'd be good by itself, too.

Good, basic syrah that delivers ripe fruit and enough tannic backbone to carry it. Drink now; don't bother to age it.

$9.99, Richmond, Private Stock.

2000 San Francisco de Mostazal Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve.

Known as "Cab in a Sack," the bottle is wrapped in burlap and then labelled. The story is that this is historically how they helped protect the bottle from breaking on its way to market. Well, it's a good story, anyway, even if it turns out to be a marketer's ploy. If so, it's a good ploy, as the bottle stands out on the shelf. (Also makes it difficult to see how much is left in the bottle, should you be interested.) Produced by Vino de Eyzaquirre.

Nice everyday Chilean wine. Decent fruit - cherries predominate. Some fruit in the aroma. Body is a bit thin, although not fatally so. Some tannic structure, but not a whole lot. Enough to let you know that it's there. But not enough to withstand much additional aging, or to absolutely require food to go with it. Nice acid balance, smooth finish.

Very drinkable now.

$9.99, Richmond, Private Stock.

2001 Hidden Mesa Cabernet Franc.

From Monterey. Hidden Mesa Vineyard is apparently a second label for Lockwood Vineyard, and this was pretty much a second label wine. Okay, it was only $8, so you can't give it a whole lot of grief. But there also wasn't all that much positive to say about it.

Young, dark red color. Dark-colored fruit in the aroma; plums, I suppose. Strong tannins; some peppery spice, although not as much as I'm used to from cab franc. It's taken a while to open up, and even when it did, the aromas and flavors aren't especially strong. No complexity.

For eight bucks, it was okay, although for that price I think I prefer the Carneros Ridge Pinot Noir below. Okay with grilled meats, probably pizza. A bit young and harsh to drink by itself. Probably couldn't hurt to let it age for another year and let the tannins smooth out some.

$7.99, Richmond, Westpark Wine & Beer.