Pride Merlot–Much better than the last bottle that I had a few months back. The fruit and oak were much more integrated and not so disjointed. Very nice dark fruits on the nose with a pronounced palate of chocolate covered raspberries. Still a touch of heat, but not overwhelming. I would drink them sooner than later.
Carlisle Zin–The $16 deal of the year back in '08 from Mike Officer. Beautiful expression of the varietal. Spicy black pepper with in your face blackberries. Great extraction that coats your mouth and a huge finish. I haven’t had a bottle in a few months, and it has only gotten better.