Les Restanques de Pibarnon Bandol 2003
This is a good value offering from Pibarnon, showing ripe fruit overlaid with ripe tannins. This wine gets better each time I taste it. The complexity is there and the edges are softening - last tasted August 27, 2008. Mis au chateau par Comte de Saint Victor, prop.-recolt. a La Cadiere-d’Azur14% $14.99 at Bottle Barn Pibarnon

Pibarnon map

Bridlewood Central Coast Arabesque Reserve 2005

Evolved, stewed fruit, a raisiny character and quite supple. 36% Grenache, 27% Mourvedre, 13% Cinsault, 11% Counoise, 7% Viognier, 6% Syrah from the winery’s Sunnybrook Ranch in the Templeton Gap, Paso Robles. Aging for six months in new and used French Oak. Winemaker David Hopkins. P&B in Santa Ynez 14.8% $22 at the winery, winery sample Bridlewood


Le Clos du Caillou Cotes du Rhone Vielles Vignes Cuvee Unique 2006
This wine is fantastic - full of fruit, black pepper and quite chewy. The previous vintage was also a solid wine, balanced in medium weight with ripe fruits and structure. Sourced from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, this wine is a blend of 88% old vine Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, aged in mature oak, large and small. This Cuvee for North Berkeley Imports is a bit different in composition from that which you’ll find on the winery’s site. Mis en bouteille at the Domaine Pouizin-Vacheron in Courthezon. 14.5% $15.69 at Bottle Barn.

Clos du Caillou map