(blind)
Pale yellow. Dry. Aromatic thiol-driven nose. Mango, papaya, grassy pyrazines. Dry, medium body, 13% (correct) alcohol, high acid.

This is textbook Sauvignon Blanc. Laterals:
Australia - would have lower acid
ZA - usually less intense thiols - X5 and VL3 aren't as prevalent?
NZ - fits

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Mid-level quality $17, 2016.
2016 Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauv Blanc - $18.

(blind)
Pale straw color. Dry. Struck match - just-extinguished birthday candle reduction.
On the palate, dry, medium bodied, 13% alcohol (close - 12.5%), medium plus acid, yellow apples and slight tangerine. Slight clove from oak - modest impact, maybe 20% new French oak.

Laterals:
- NZ Chardonnay - would have higher acid, leaner fruit ripeness.
- Margaret River Chardonnay - fits!
- ZA Chardonnay (don't know what this is like)

Final conclusion: 2015 Margaret River Chardonnay $25.
robert Oatley Margaret Chardonnay 2015 $24

(blind)
Pale straw. Slight RS - 2-3g. Pyrazinic nose - grassy, with some papaya and lean passionfruit underneath. Slight effervescence, medium body, 13.5% alcohol (actually 13%), high acid - leaner than the Kim Crawford, though shows a bit more heat.

Based on similar logic, I believe this is a 2016 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - higher quality (longer finish and stronger acid, and less ripeness) than the Kim Crawford. $22

2016 Marlborough - Catalina Sounds

(blind)
Medium minus ruby color. Fruit-driven nose, ripe black cherry, confected black cherry (slight carbonic), slight burnt ham, slight black pepper. Dusty earthiness - possible long maceration.
Dry, full-bodied, 14% alcohol (actually 13.5%), medium plus acid, medium plus tannins - dry and papery. Medium finish - red and black fruits, dusty. No overt new oak.

Based on the structure and mix of red and black fruits:
Australia 2015 GSM Blend, Barossa. It's pretty earthy for Australia though. $18. Low alcohol for Australia.

2014 Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay The Trinity $15
Merlot, Tempranillo, Syrah, Malbec, Cab, Cab franc.

Pretty good!

(non-blind, my wine)

Pale ruby color. Wild overripe faded bing cherry nose, with some overripe peach, overripe cherry, and slight reductive fruit (faint hint of very sweet ham). Also a bit of rubbery top reduction.
Dry, medium body, 13.5% alcohol (actually 12.5%), medium plus acid (has a sour aftertaste - possibly acidified), medium minus tannins - tissue papery, soft. Lighter fruit on the palate than on the nose - white cherry, ripe peach, ripe nectarine, ripe plum. No overt oak

Softer and less acidic than Otago - fleshier. Pretty good!

(blind)
Medium ruby, slightly cloudy.
Blackcurrant fruit, slight vanilla toast oak. Clean. Faint brown olive pyrazines - very ripe.
Ripe, full-bodied, 14.5% alcohol (14%), elevated acid, high tannins - chewy. Slight oak - 20% new.

This is a medium quality ripe New World Cab, with no notable pyrazines. Fruit is a bit disjointed, and tannic structure is a bit rustic.
Margaret River Cab - not pyrazinic enough
Coonawarra - not pyrazinic enough
South Africa and New Zealand - too ripe.
Final Conclusion: Warm climate Australia Cab - Mclaren 2015, $25
Actual: Rustenberg Stellenbosch Cabernet 2013, $20

(blind)
Deep ruby color. Nose of blackcurrant and menthol-eucalyptus. Dry, full-bodied, 14% alcohol (correct), medium plus acid, medium plus tannins. Ripe plush blackcurrant and menthol on the palate. Gingerbread - possible American oak. 20% new oak - modest influence (actually 40% new French).

Based on the strong eucalyptus and moderately-warm climate ripeness, this is a Coonawarra Cab, 2016, $20.
Actually 2013 Xanado Cabernet Margaret River.

(blind)

Medium minus ruby, slightly cloudy.
Very reductive - burnt toast, rubber, hammy nose - meaty pastrami. Slight oak toast - maybe 15%
Ripe attack - 2-3g RS, medium body, 14% alcohol (actually 13.5%), medium plus acid, medium tannins - papery. More lean blackberry and ham on the finish.

New world reductive wine with little new oak and elevated acid:
Hawkes Bay Syrah, 2016, $18 - on the plush/riper side.
Lateral South african Shiraz. A bit reductive and plush for my taste. Missing that tensility and pepper.

Actually 2012 Pinotage Barista Pinotage South Africa $20

(blind)
Medium ruby. Dried blackberry and strong white pepper (rotundone).
Dry, medium body, 13.5% alcohol (correct), high acid, medium tannins (papery). Medium plus finish - lean and tart blackberry, slight ham, pepper, slight herbal rosemary.

New world cool-climate Syrah - 2016 Hawkes Bay. $18. Good quality example.

Correct! Actual: Al Legado 13.5% Anthony Joseph Vidal El Legado Hawkes Bay Syrah 2013 $50
20 months in French oak - unspecified new percentage.

(blind)
Medium ruby.
Strong green tea notes (possibly stem inclusion). Sweet faded fruit. Toasted rice. Peach, underripe nectarine, underripe red cherry. Slight vanilla toast - 15% new French oak.
Ripe attack - slight RS (2-3g), medium body, 14% alcohol (actually 13.5%), elevated acid, slight vanilla on the palate, medium tannins - papery.

Light but high in alcohol, with elevated acid and slight oak.

Australian Grenache
Australian Pinot
CA Pinot

Final call: Sonoma Pinot 2015 $30
Actually Trivento Malbec Reserve 2015 Mendoza
30% French oak for 6 months.

Atypically light Malbec! Interesting.

(blind)
Opaque purple. Aromatic nose of dates, prunes, deep blackberry, chocolate. Porty. VA and alcohol are showing. Distinct toasty wood - oak.
80g RS, Full bodied, 20% alcohol, elevated acid, high tannins.

Port. Fresh fruit and aggressive tannins, but not sufficient for Vintage. Too extracted for Ruby. Final guess: LBV 2009. Good quality.

Actual: 2008 York Creek Port