Wilson Vineyard, The Crusher, Petite Syrah, 2007 (Clarksburg, California) - A highly recommended Petite Syrah which was described to me as flavorful but not as over the top as others of this grape.  On the mark.  This was fresh with berries and spice and tobacco and leather yet none were overdone or overpowering and probably even people who don't like bold wines would have been satisfied with it.  Very good stuff, 7 out of 10 for above average.

Lyeth Meritage, 2006 (Sonoma County, California) - Highly recommended in a store as an excellent Meritage from California, I'll admit it was pretty good and does meet up to the "luscious and full bodied" reference on the back, although I couldn't quite put my finger on the complexity components.  Regardless, 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Chateau Moulin de Landry, Cotes du Castillon, 2005 (Bordeaux, France) - This is an obscure French Bordeaux which I found in a tiny low end liquor store which I don't have much regard for.  I only bought it for the Landry name in the title (my mother's family last name).  But on the bright side it's from the famous 2005 vintage year in France, and it wasn't too cheap ($16) so I hoped it would be OK.  And it was.  Although still fairly weak it did at least have the classic old world style of Bordeaux with mild but ever present tannins and actually held onto some mild cherry flavor.  It was OK.  6 out of 10 for upper average actually.  Way to go Landry's (or at least "House of the Landry Mill" as the name indicates.