Domaine de Sahari Reserve, Rouge

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: approx. 60 dh's (anyone have an exact price?)
Rating: 5/5

Description: You'd skip drinks and ask this one out to dinner, straight up. It is that deep. Really. Not only do you want to buy this wine dinner, you maybe even want to make it dinner! The J.Crew of wine, but in a good way.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, Big from Sex and the City
If it were a color, it would be: Garnet
Describe this wine in one word: Classic
Other notes: A great wine (for a Moroccan wine), but the regular (non-reserve) version is about 80% as good for about 60% of the price.

Bonassia, Cabernet

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 38 dh (750 mL)
Rating: 3/5

Description: A bit bland and generic but likable. Pleasant enough, but not a lot of complexity or depth.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Edward Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility

Chateau Bou Argoub

Country of origin: Tunisia
Year: 2006
Rating: 2.5/5

Not bad enough to stop talking to, and good enough to keep trying (just to see where it goes). Not the smoothest.

Describe this wine in one word: Placeholder

El Kheima, Red

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 30 dh (1 L)
Rating: 3/5

You'd want to sit on a couch with it, or sit near it on an airplane. You'd exchange info with it but not ever really follow up. Just a touch of pep/a kick at the end.

Describe this wine in one word: Punchy

Halanah Merlot, Beni M'Tir

Country of origin: Morocco
Rating: 4/5

Leaves a good impression, gentlemanly, makes you happy and lifts your mood.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Jin from Lost; Captain Wentworth from Persuasion

Beauvallon, Beni M'Tir

Country of origin: Morocco
Year: 2006
Price: 40-45 dh
Rating: 3.5/5

Not a lot going on, but that's not always a bad thing - what it does have going on is good.

If it were a color, it would be: Navy blue

Domaine Rimal, Grande Reserve Guerrouane

Country of origin: Morocco
Year: 2007
Price: 68 dh
Rating: 2.5/5

A little harsh. Tries to do too much and comes across a bit strong. Overblown, though improves a bit with air and time.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Celia from Weeds; Caroline Bingley from Pride and Prejudice
If it were a color, it would be: A bad shade of magenta
Describe this wine in one word: Letdown

Guerrouane Rouge

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: Cheap
Rating: 1.5/5

Shallow and somewhat superficial. A pretty face, maybe, but with nothing behind it.

If it were a color, it would be: Pink

Fantasia, Red

Country of origin: Tunisia
Price: 50ish dh
Rating: 3.5/5

Deeper than you might think; dry

Dalya, Red

Country of origin: Tunisia
Year: 2005
Price: 60ish dh
Rating: 2/5

Thick without the advantage of being deep, but not wholly unpleasant. Good for a date out of town where you don't have to worry about the possibility of anything long-term. You wouldn't buy a case of this wine.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: AC Slater from Saved by the Bell
If it were a color, it would be: Puce

Saraya Grande Reserve, Vin Rouge

Country of origin: Tunisia
Year: 2005
Price: 40ish dh
Rating: 2.5/5

Sweet, good with dessert or chocolate; a bit of an afterthought (a coffee date). Like fresh wood, but not really super interesting fresh wood (more like Lowe's or Home Depot fresh wood).

If it were a color, it would be: Bright purple
Describe this wine in one word: Postscript

Toulal Guerrouane, Red

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 22 dh
Rating: 4/5

Quiet, understated and smooth. "Still waters run deep."

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Anne Elliot from Persuasion

Les Vins de Cepage, Merlot

Country of origin: Morocco
Rating: 2/5

Feeble, improves upon acquaintance only if it's your only company

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Wickham from Pride and Prejudice

Cuvee Special, Rouge

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 30 dh (750 mL)
Rating: 4/5

Well-kept; doesn't make a deep impression but doesn't linger or offend. Not dapper, but well-groomed.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Jan Brady from The Brady Bunch; Harriet Smith from Emma
Describe this wine in one word: Middle Child

Cap Blanc - Fruits de Mer, Vin Blanc

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 35 dh
Rating: 2.5/5

Unobjectionable, "nice," polite, not quite vapid but a bit boring. Well-mannered; you'd want to sit next to it on a plane.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Jane Fairfax from Emma
If it were a color, it would be: Beige
Describe this wine in one word: Ancillary

Les Vins de Cepage, Syrah

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 40ish dh
Rating: 4/5

Comfortable with itself, though finishes off less impressively. Gives a great first impression but doesn't necessarily fulfill all your expectations.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Jane Bennet from Pride and Prejudice; Burke from Grey's Anatomy
If it were a color, it would be: A nice light blue

Maghrebi, Red

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 20 something dh
Rating: 2.5/5

Tastes better than it smells (ie, may be more entertaining than you may think based upon first impressions).

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Callie from Grey's Anatomy; Lucy Steele from Sense and Sensibility
If it were a color, it would be: Light purple

Volubilia, Gris

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 98 dh (750 mL)
Rating: 4/5

Description: Dry, light, smooth, leaves you feeling happy

Domaine de Sahari Reserve, Rose

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 38 dh (375 mL)
Rating: 2.5/5

Description: Too sweet. Kind of weird. Too much going on, as if it's trying to cover something up...

Ksar Bahia, Beni M'Tir

Country of origin: Morocco
Year: 2007
Price: 58 dh (750 mL)
Rating: 4.5/5

Description: Dry and complicated. Not so sweet at first, but the finish sweetens and lingers a bit. You'd like to meet it in a seaside tavern with seaspray and stuff.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Said from Lost
If it were a color, it would be: Burnished orange

Domaine de Sahari, Rouge

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 25 dirhams (500 mL - anyone have the price of a regular bottle?)
Rating: 3.5/5

Description: You'd definitely ask this wine out for a drink, or to one of those weird informal group situations for which you need a dependable date. Says everything it needs to say up front; friendly and well-liked, but nothing stands out in particular.

If it were a color, it would be: Taupe

Halana Syrah, Beni M'Tir

Country of origin: Morocco
Year: 2007
Price: 68 dh (750 mL)
Rating: 5/5

Description: A trickster. Tarry, slurred and complicated but deceptively sweet with hints of vanilla and cinnamon too. Breezy like autumn.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Toby Ziegler from The West Wing
If it were a color, it would be: Russet

Amazir, Beni M'Tir

Country of origin: Morocco
Year: 2006/07
Price: 38 dh (750 mL)
Rating: 4/5

Description: Not too complex but in a good way - smooth and simple as in low maintenance, but not as in boring. Warms upon acquaintance; no pretense.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Vinny Chase from Entourage
If it were a color, it would be: A rosy pink
Other notes: The 2007 is definitely not as good as the 2006, which is why it's sometimes sold for cheaper (around 30 dh), but it's still a pretty good bet (3.5/5)

Medina, Les Vignerons de Carthage, Vin Rouge

Country of origin: Tunisia
Year: 2005
Price: 35 dh (1 L)
Rating: 2.5/5

Description: Better and thriftier than you'd expect, but could give you a headache after a while. Most fun at a large dinner party - would go well with sangria in the summer and mulled wine in the winter. "The drinking man's drinking wine."

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Johnny Drama from Entourage

Cuvee du President ("CP"), Cabernet Rouge

Country of origin: Morocco
Price: 35-38 dirhams (750 mL)
Rating: 3.5/5

Description: Pretty and smells great - but in the end, it smells better than it tastes. Relatively sweet - not the most eclectic or complicated personality, but the type who'd be a reliably delightful dinner guest.

If it were a fictional character, it would be: Will from Will and Grace; Mr. Bingley from Pride and Prejudice
If it were a color, it would be: Lavender
Describe this wine in one word: Affable