Completely saturated black ruby, shot-through with violet. Richly-sweet scents of blackberry syrup, moist tobacco leaves, and gravel. Round and thickly-textured, but with very good balance. Loads of sweet cassis and blackberry fruit, augmented with a sweet-smokey, oaky note, and some minerals in the finish. Kind of like an over-the-top Graves. 88. Was $14 and change at Spec's on Smith. Imported by Fleischer International.

(Sorry, no photo) (it's a gold label).

Brilliant dark ruby. Tight nose was pungently earthy at first, but opened into a gorgeously fresh-fruit nose of just-picked raspberries and blueberries, with notes of sea shell-scented gravel. Dry and lean in the mouth, but with resiny, fruity, earthy flavors that cling to the palate. A bit more concentration and weight in the mid-palate would have made this exceptional, but as it is, it's very good. 88. Was $17 at Houston Wine Merchant on South Shepherd. (sorry, 2006 pictured)

Bright, deep ruby color. Yeasty, fruity nose -- black raspberries and sweet blackberry. Medium full body, with direct blackberry and ripe cassis flavors. Also a hint of scorched earth. Clean, fruity, steely-minerally finish. Virtually no tannin to speak of. 86. Was $12 at Whole Foods on Bellaire (also available at the same price at HEB on Buffalo Speedway).

Very dark, nearly saturated black ruby. Intense and direct nose of equal portions of raspberries and tomato skins, with some lemony, smoky scents as well. Low-toned, dry flavors of dark berries and iodiney minerals. Long, peppery finish with a pleasant hint of bitterness, and a bit of tannin for a Grenache. Very flavorful and athletic. 87. Drink over the next year. Was $10.99 at Houston Wine Merchant. Imported by Winebow. (Sorry, 2007 shown).

Dark, blackish ruby. Intense, low-toned nose: Smoky balsa wood, rick blackberries, and loamy, minerally gravel. Deep, rich, ripe, and peppery, with low-toned flavors of dark black fruits, and a long, smoky, ripe finish. Can still sense a bit of tannin. 88. Was about $14 at Spec's on Smith.

Dark ruby. Interesting, medium-intensity nose of spiced gravel, dark cherries, and lemony chalk. Focused and balanced, with minerally dark cherry and blackberry fruit. Medium-bodied, with a nicely-balanced finish, and decent length. 87. $10.99 at Houston Wine Merchant. Imported by Aidil Wines, Newark, NJ.

Bright, light gold color. Earthy, honeyed nose, with toasty straw notes and pear/apple fruit. Round and loaded with fresh, earthy minerals in the mouth, with some interesting sour pear skin fruitiness and pretty good acidity. Almost Maconnais in style. 86. About $16 at Spec's on Smith. Imported by Glazer's Wholesale in Dallas.

PS -- the Riesling from this estate is usually a good value in an dry, Alsace style wine as well.

Crystalline black ruby/garnet. Gorgeous, open nose of bright, ripe blackberry and boysenberry fruit, along with high-toned smoky balsawood and spice notes. Rich, round, and densely-fruited, with deep, sweet, black raspberry fruit and loads of peppery minerals. Very full-bodied. Lengthy, rich finish, with some alcoholic heat peeking through. Drink over the next year before the alcohol burns through the gorgeous fruit. 92. Was $21 at Wines Til Sold Out.

Fully saturated violet-tinged dark ruby. Lively and ripe nose -- sweet, smoky gravel, and lots of ripe blackberry fruit. Medium-full to full bodied, it has an intense initial attack of minerally blackberry fruit, which morphs quickly into a sequential parade of mixed berry extracts that clings to the palate. Lots and lots of youthful tannin to resolve, but it's not too rough to enjoy now. 88. Very nice value at $14 at the new Spec's at Weslayan and Bissonnet.

Sultry black ruby with mulberry and brick highlights (indicating near full maturity). Extraordinarily rich and expressive nose of sappy, oozing mixed berries, smoky embers, cinnamon, and soft sweet spices. Mouthfilling and large in volume, this wine coated the palate with ripe, smoky flavors that lingered and lingered -- red berry compote, earth, and smoke. Loads of soft tannin. Really unique. 90. Was $24.99 from Wines Til Sold Out (in NJ).

(sorry -- 2001 depicted)

Very blackish ruby. Nose of tangy but ripe berries, with some dry, smoky gravel scents. Very low-toned, richly-fruited flavors of scorched earth, charcoal embers, and boysenberry jam. Medium length, decent depth, and full-bodied, but not particularly complex. 87. Was $19.99 at Central Market. Imported by Monarchia Matt International.

Very dark, nearly saturated black ruby with magenta highlights. Medium intensity nose of smoke dried leaves and scorched earth, along with very tart berry aromas. Very high acidity in the mouth, with some decent if undernourished fruit underneath. Medium length finish. Not particularly distinguished on its own but, strangely, it paired nicely with a very spicy and salty Chinese dish. 78 on its own. 83 with the meal. Was $12.35 at the new Spec's in my neighborhood (at Weslayan & Bissonnet). Imported by Cannon Wines Limited.

Starts off unassumingly with a medium dark ruby color of no real distinction, but after that . . . a ridiculously expressive nose leaps out of the glass with powdered rocks, spicy raspberries, with hints of pink grapefruit, herbs, and pine forest. Intense flavors grip the palate with aggressive minerals, blackberry and cassis fruit, along with excellent acidity and a boatload of youthful but soft tannin. Long, perfumed, resiny finish. Wow! 91. Was $16.99 at Houston Wine Merchant. I hope they still have some, because I want a couple more bottles. Imported by Eric Solomon European Selections.