From a central California vineyard, Sine Qua Non's 2006 Grenache Raven Series (8% syrah, 26% whole cluster fermented and aged in about 40% new French oak) is a purple color turning ruby on the rim - not opaque - but there is a certain density to the color here. Tags: Cellar Selection USA Central California 2006 3 stars MORE >>

beautiful wine from the Côte de Provence, a blend of 85% Rolle (that's Vermentino to you Italo-philes) and 15% Ugni-Blanc (that's Trebbiano to you Italo-philes). 2006 Weinhof Scheu Spätburgunder , $18, Savio Soares Selections. Syrah, and Grenache. 2006 Mas des Chimeres Coteaux du Languedoc , $20, Louis/Dressner Selections. MORE >>

Every time I'm knocked about by the Mistral, the powerful wind of Provence and the Rhone, I remember that I forgot its intensity. While that wind blowhards the bean pole-like vines of syrah, it doesn't hold a candle to what whips around Languedoc's St. the 2006 Le MAs is cedar That and the cold? The wine is a Jenny & Francois. MORE >>

Here are the wines we sampled at home: 2006 Domaine Rimbert St Chinian Les Travers de Marceau , $14. This is a blend of Carignan, Syrah, and Grenache. 2005 Comptoirs de Magdala Côtes de Provence Escapade , $16. loved the 2006 vintage at the tasting. You know what this means? great value for everyday drinking. MORE >>

looked at a a report of my wine consumption in Cellar Tracker , the useful wine inventory and community tasting software created by Eric LeVine, and I see that my 2006 average value per bottle is $24.31. For example, why am I devoting 2% of my cellar space to Australian Syrah, even if it is produced by Two Hands and supposedly delicious? MORE >>