1999 Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Very flavorful with lots of varietal character in aroma and taste and some cedar. Deep dark red, with good acidity and gentle tannins. Too rich for a bordeaux and with more structure than a Californian. Good long taste. Tends toward robustness over elegance. Price unknown.
Rating: Very Good -

2005 Barbera d'Alba, Vigna S. Caterina, Guido Porro, Italy

Cherry fruit and surprising softness for a barbera, which I expect to have more of sour-cherry tartness - I would have identified it as Californian. Dark color with a bit of purple, lots of flavor, some tannin, and a moderately long taste. Good wine for well-flavored food as well as sipping. Close-out price $14, regular price $20.
Rating: Good +

2002 Frei Brothers Reserve Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Northern Sonoma

Everything one might ask for in a California pinot noir: some floral character, raspberry fruit, no noticeable tannin or wood, medium body, good intensity and length. Accompanied pork with fruit. Regular price $22, less 20% discount.
Rating: Very Good

2005 Hess Chardonnay, Su'skol Vineyard, Napa Valley

Definitely Californian, with low acidity and some fatness, varietal chardonnay character, good intensity and length. Very smooth - no harshness or austerity here. Close-out price $17, regular price $25.
Rating: Good ++

2003 Santa Ema Syrah Barrel Select, Cachapoal Valley , Chile

A very good deal for the price. Lots of blackberry flavor, some tannin, and sufficient acidity. Very dark color, and fairly long taste. Close-out price $9, regular price $11.
Rating: Good ++

2001 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Reserva, Spain

Instead of the austerity and backbone I expected to find, this wine tastes more like a California Sangiovese. Lots of black cherry fruit, with a bit of tannin, any wood is well integrated. Very dark color, more than medium-bodied. Good intensity, very flavorful, butteriness, with a fairly long taste. Very comfortable sipping wine. Close-out price $17. regular price $25.
Rating: Very Good -

2002 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese, Studert-Prüm, M-S-R

Pleasant to sip, with true Spätlese sweetness. Some floral aroma, medium-bodied, altogether lacking a bit in intensity, with only moderate length. A hint of the spiciness of age. Close-out price $11, regular price $16.
Rating: Good +

2004 Bodegas Valdesil Godello, Pezas da Portela, Valdeorras, Spain

Elegant and well-balanced, dry but not austere, in the way of a good Italian white. Medium-bodied, but with only a moderately long taste. It received a Robert Parker 91; it's good wine, but for the price I would expect more. Close-out price $29. regular price $40.
Rating: Good ++

2000 Deerfield Ranch Winery Sangiovese, Roumiguiere Vineyard, Clear Lake

California style - softer and less acidic than a Chianti. Lots of cherry fruit, with some tannin, good intensity, moderate length. Close-out price $10.
Rating: Good ++

2002 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, California

More Oregonian in style than Californian: good deep cherry fruit with firmness from some tannin and wood, without the floral perfume or touch of sweetness of many Californians. Good intensity, reasonable acidity and fairly long taste. Developed in the glass over dinner time. Regular price $17. less 30% discount.
Rating: Good ++

2006 Drylands Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

Good NZ SB with some grassiness, good acidity, and fairly long taste. Dry with a touch of astringency. Regular price $16.
Rating: Very Good -

2000 Cline Zinfandel, Big Break Vineyard, Contra Costa County

Lots of blackberry fruit, though not the usual warm, slightly sweetish zinfandel. This one has some backbone and structure with some remanent tannin. Deep color, intensity and long taste. Needs fully-flavored food, or good for sipping on its own. Close-out price $18, regular price $26.
Rating: Very Good -

2005 Condes de Albarei Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain

Fresher and livelier than the Terra Firme (just below), and with a longer, brighter taste. Good acidity and a bit of floral character. It could be just a trace off-dry. Light golden color. A good deal at a close-out price $10, regular price $15.
Rating: Good ++

2004 Terra Firme Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain

Started out a little mild, but then developed into a wine with some body. Dry, with just a bit of austerity, medium intensity and a moderately long taste that drops off at the end. Deep golden color. Close-out price $13, regular price $19.
Rating: Good +

Red-tag close-out sales this month:

Whites:

2005	Condes de Albarei Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain	($10, orig. $15)
2004	Bodegas Valdesil, Pezas da Portola Godello, Valdeorras, Spain	($29, orig. $40)
2006	Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore, Cantina dell' Azienda Bucci, Ostra Vetere	($14, orig. $20)
2005	Hess Chardonnay, Su'skol Vineyard, Napa Valley	($17, orig. $25)
2005	Saarburger Rausch Rieling Kabinett, Forstmeister Zilliken, M-S-R	($16, orig. $20)

Reds:

2001	Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Reserva, Spain	($17, orig. $25)
2005	Barbera d'Alba, Vigna S. Caterina, Guida Porro, Italy	($14, orig. $20)