Paraduxx, Napa 2001
Price $45
Rating 95
This unusual blend of 70% Zinfandel and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon sings with spice and complex fruit. Not overtly tannic, there is a range of pepper and oak complexity setting this red apart from more traditional stylings.

With each vintage, the Paraduxx bottle boasts an artist-label series, different artists, and always two ducks. The 2001 label, eighth in the series, showcases a pair of Green-Winged Teal within a foggy marsh painted by artist D.J. Cleland-Hura.

Paraduxx is produced by the renowned Napa winery, Duckhorn. Learn more at www.paraduxx.com.

Treana Red, Paso Robles 2000
Price $32
Rating 93
This soft but complex red shares briar-fruit, spice and earthy leather notes in its long, luxurious length. The blend is of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. The growing area is the fabulous, sun-drenched Paso Robles region of California, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Learn all about it at www.triana.com.

Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel, California 2002 Price $10 Rating 91 "The 2002 Old Vine Zinfandel comes from carefully selected vineyards that are dry-farmed and head-trained. These gnarly old vines produce concentrated fruit of unsurpassed quality," claims Christopher Smith, Bogle's director of winemaking. "This full-bodied wine begins with startlingly rich raspberry fruit on the nose and palate. Seasoned with nuanes of peppercorns, the finish lingers with soft oak supported by firm and focused tannins. This is the perfect wine to pair with everything from rich sauces and unique dishes, to your favorite weeknight take-out."

The fabulous fruit for this wine is sourced from Lodi, Amador County & Fiddletown. This powerful red is a remarkable value. Discover more about this great source of high quality, value priced wine at www.boglewinery.com.

Annie's Lane Shiraz, Clare Valley 2002
Price $13
Rating 89
Likeable, approachable, obtainable, but to a limited degree; I wish my first love had been this wine. Ripe fruit, spice, pepper and honest complexity.
Delicate floral in the nose laces-up things quite nicely. This red wine's grapes benefit from long slow ripening in the cool climate of the Clare Valley.

The maker suggests pairing this wine with roast beef, parsnip puree and steamed spinach. This writer's opinion is to not be so picky. Eat, and drink this stuff!

Green Point Shiraz, Victoria 2002
Price $16
Rating 92
Powerful but restrained. Perfectly ripe fruit. Boldness wrapped within velvet. Nice spice and pepper notes light-up the long, complex length. This red is destined for all manner of meat, the bigger, the better. This reserved red wine has no fears. This is a label to watch in the future. More information can be found at www.greeenpoint.com.

Folie a Deux Zinfandel, Amador County 2001
Price $14.99
Rating 88
There may be issues of fruit ripeness with this red, but give this one a chance. Zinfandel grapes, by nature, do not always ripen evenly as a cluster. Stand back and sniff. There is an element of evergreen. There is a nice nuance of spice. This very value priced red wine demands a little time with air; Decant the wine maybe an hour before you intend thr start of dinner. The wine will thank you and so will you guests. Dinner is served.
Serve with lighter fare as this is a lighter red wine.

DeLille Cellars' "Doyenne" Syrah. Washington State 2002 Price $50++ Rating 97 This may be one of the finest Syrahs produced in America. Production is small and distribution is limited. Don't give up hopes. Both Robert Parker, the, yes the wine critic, and Karen MacNeil of the Culinary Institute of America (alarmingly known as the C.I.A.) have identified this as being one of the great Syrahs from around the world. As if you needed an excuse to book travel to Seattle. Find a bottle, nonetheless. Imagine earthy nuances, restrained but forceful fruit. Then there is pepper, leather and a little S&M (meaning spice and mint).