Hello, and welcome to my periodic dig through the samples pile. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of Vinography Unboxed, where I highlight some of the better bottles that have crossed my doorstep recently.

This week’s wines included a few bottles that had escaped my attention for a while. The samples pile is big, and sometimes things get lost on the bottom of it for a while, and only much later see the light of day. These can be fun opportunities to see how wines are aging, despite the slight public embarrassment of not having tasted them until now.

For instance, the 2012 Smith Madrone Riesling, which has entered its second phase of maturation, leaving its fruity youth behind and heading towards something more sophisticated.

Likewise the Macrostie Syrah, aging beautifully in its peppery cool climate goodness.

In terms of more contemporary and current bottlings, this week included a couple of wines from Domaine Pouillon, a smaller family-run outfit in eastern Washington that makes honest, likable wines.

I’ve also got a couple of wines in there from Dry Creek Vineyard, including their Sauvignon Blanc, which is as good as it’s ever been — crisp, juicy, and delicious.

All these and more below.

Enjoy!

2014 Dry Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, California
Light blonde in the glass, this wine smells of passionfruit and green apples. In the mouth, passionfruit and green apples mix with a nice underlying wet-pavement minerality. Good acidity and brightness. Crisp, fresh, and delicious. 13.5% alcohol. Score: around 9. Cost: $15. click to buy.

2012 Smith-Madrone Riesling, Spring Mountain District, Napa, California
Light blonde in the glass, this wine smells of petrol and citrus peel. In the mouth, tangerine peel and citrus pith mix with crackling crushed stone minerality. Excellent acidity. While this wine may have had a hint of sweetness when first released, it is headed towards savoriness. 12.5% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $29. click to buy.

2010 Dry Creek Vineyard “Foggy Oaks” Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Light to medium gold in the glass, this wine smells of butterscotch and lemon curd. In the mouth, saline flavors of lemon curd and butterscotch have a nice silky complexion. The wine’s acidity is lower than I’d like, but it is nonetheless holding up beautifully after six years. Wouldn’t hold it much longer, however. 13.5% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $20. click to buy.

2015 Jordan Winery Chardonnay, Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd and a touch of toasted oak. In the mouth, juicy flavors of lemon curd, toasted oak, and a hint of butterscotch have a nice saline quality and excellent acidity. Notes of pink grapefruit linger in the salty finish. 13.7% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $32 click to buy.

2012 Domaine Pouillon Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of white pepper, blackberry and a touch of grape bubble gum. In the mouth, cassis and white pepper mix with hints of earth and blackberry. Faint, supple tannins, and decent acidity round out the package. Pretty with a nicely savory black olive finish. 14.5% alcohol. 72 cases made. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $22 click to buy.

2012 Domaine Pouillon “Pierre – McKinley Springs Vineyard” Red blend, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of rick black cherry and cola. In the mouth, black cherry and nutty cola flavors have a nice juicy bite to them thanks to excellent acidity. The roasted nut quality continues through the finish. Supple fine-grained tannins hang almost imperceptibly in the background. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah. 14.2% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $22 click to buy.

2015 Lopez de Haro Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain
Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of black cherry and cedar. In the mouth, juicy flavors of black cherry and earth mix with a touch of leather. A supple muscular fist of tannins closes around the fruit as the wine finishes. Good acidity and length. 13.5% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $9. click to buy.

2013 Verdad “Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard” Tempranillo, Edna Valley, Central Coast, California
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry and cedar. In the mouth, bright cherry flavors mix with the brown sugar caramelized notes of oak, but the two integrate well and leave a nicely fresh bright impression on the palate, in part thanks to excellent acidity. Pretty. 13.5% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $30. click to buy.

2014 Dry Creek Vineyard Merlot, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, California
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of rich plum and black cherry. In the mouth, delicious black plum and black cherry flavors mix with cola nut and leathery tannins that flex their muscles on the edge of the mouth. Delicious and bright thanks to excellent acidity. 14.5% alcohol Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $22. click to buy.

2011 Peter Paul Wines “Giuliani Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of green bell pepper, graphite, and red fruit. In the mouth, rich flavors of cherry and tobacco leaf mix with herbal notes and a bit of green bell pepper. Excellent acidity and fine grained tannins. A little on the green side, but if you don’t mind that, it’s a pretty wine. 14.4% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $45. click to buy.

2012 Amici Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District, Napa, California
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry cola with a touch of tobacco leaf. In the mouth, cherry and leather and tobacco leaf flavors have a nice snap, thanks to excellent acidity. A muscular fist of tannins clasps the fruit tightly. The wood is well integrated and lets the fruit take the main stage. Give this one some more time, though. 14.6% alcohol. 260 cases made. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $125 click to buy.

2011 Aia Vecchia “Sor Ugo” Red Blend, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of grilled figs, raisins, and chocolate. In the mouth, rich dark cherry and raisin flavors are gripped by muscular tannins. Notes of wet dirt mix with the dark, ripe fruit. The wine shows little of its 15% alcohol, however. A massive mouthful, to be sure. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $40. click to buy.

2006 Macrostie “Wildcat Mountain Vineyard” Syrah, Sonoma Coast, California
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of meaty cassis and blackberry. In the mouth blackberry, black olive and wet earth mix with dried flowers and a bit of smoked meat. Good acidity and length and fine grained tannins. Aging nicely. 14.3% alcohol. Score: around 9. Cost: $34 click to buy.