It’s time to do some catching up around here, and that means writing up a few wines that don’t necessarily belong together in any kind of cohesive, themed way. They’re just round-up of wines I’ve tasted and enjoyed lately:

SPARKLING
Shady Lane Cellars 2006 Sparkling Riesling Leelanau Peninsula ($22). Not sure I’ve ever had a sparkling Riesling before this one, much less one from Michigan. And although it was not as aromatic as you might expect, it still offered some enjoyable citrus and citrus zest flavors that lingered on a moderate finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Yellowglen NV Pink Sparkling Wine Australia ($13). Quaffable, with frothy, full-flavored cherry and vanilla flavors that are off-dry and a good match for spicy food. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

WHITE
Dancing Bull 2007 Sauvignon Blanc California ($12). Crisp and juicy, with fresh citrus and kiwi aromas and flavors accented with clover and a touch of vanilla on the clean finish. Nice value. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Kilikanoon 2007 Riesling Watervale Clare Valley Mort’s Reserve ($35). A complex mix of intense citrus, mineral and delicate herbal notes that build through the mouthwatering finish. Delicious now and over the next four or five years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Robert Mondavi 2006 Chardonnay Napa Valley ($20). Really nice — a lot of elegance and balance for twenty bucks. Offering sleek pear and melon flavors that stay focused through a full finish, picking up balanced accents of cream, vanilla and citrus along the way. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

White Truck 2007 Sauvignon Blanc California ($11). A nice buy, with easy-to-like zesty citrus and grassy notes that stay dry and crisp through the refreshing finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

RED
Clos du Bois 2006 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Reserve ($25). I liked this wine overall. Nicely delicate, with red berry and currant fruit accented with toast and subtle vanilla. A little minty/leafy, but that can be okay, especially when the fruit stays focused through the finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Mazzocco 2006 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Warm Springs Ranch Reserve ($50). Really delicious, with ripe, forward black cherry, cassis, smoky, toasted spices, bittersweet chocolate and a touch of bacon that emerges on the super-long, rich finish. Nothing shy here! Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.

Wine Guerrilla 2007 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Goat Trek Vineyard Block 6 ($25). A big, ripe wine, offering loads of aromatic red berry flavors laced with espresso, smoke, spice and fresh herbal notes. Shows some real grip on the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area.