May came and went in the blink of an eye--and it was only at the very tail end of the month that we began to experience real summer weather. Team Daily Sip compensated for the warm-weather lag by sitting inside with some reds and whites that expressed enough character to counteract the longing for outdoor excursions. All the best wines we drank this past month showed so much unique style or flavor, each bottle could serve as a graduation gift as easily as something to sip during a summer vacation. Here are the wines that captured our attention most throughout the month of May:

Alyssa
Pride Mountain Cabernet Franc, 2008 ($75). This red is velvety and lush, with subtle grilled green vegetable notes on the nose. In the mouth the wine is rounded out by coffee and dark chocolate that peek through from the use Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as the blending agents. This wine is absolutely delicious. Find the wine here.

Andy
Delille Cellars Doyenne Syrah, 2007 ($39). This is a truly powerful wine from one of Washington’s top producers. This Syrah is almost black in color and is loaded with dark berry fruit with notes of tar and tobacco. You'll probably need some red meat to help wash down this wine. Find the wine here.

Eric
Thomas George Estates Russian River Chardonnay, 2009 ($34) I'm breaking two of my regular rules: (1) Picking a wine I've tasted in the presence of the owner, and (2) Lauding a California Chardonnay. But this one's a beauty--floral and aromatic, with a rich, peachy palate. But there's elegance and restraint from a slight touch of new oak and only partial malolactic fermentation. The wine has incredible purity and balance--and it's better than any Chard twice the price that I've tried from California or even Burgundy. Get this wine here.

Jonny
Dr. Loosen Riesling, 2010 ($8.99) This racy Riesling is a great value. It is a perfect summertime wine and would be great to sip on a hot day. Drink up! You can buy the wine here.

Kim
Anthill Farms "Tina Marie Vineyard" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, 2009 ($49.99). This is a big, powerful Pinot, with tons of cherry and raspberry, plus hints of spice and mineral notes. Rose petals, black tea and dark cherry on the nose lead into a vibrant wine with a great balance of acid and tannin, with a long finish. Find it here.

Leta
Anne Gros Chambolle Musigny Combe D'orveau, 2008 ($60). I usually don’t choose wines that rock above a $30 price point, but this Pinot Noir was too good not to write about. I had this bottle at Frances in San Francisco and it was a spectacular bottle to go with a spectacular meal. A complex and supple red, this Burgundy is flat out pretty. Strawberry fruit and a slight dusty finish make this a bottle to savor and enjoy, preferably in charmed company. Find the wine here.

Tried any of these wines? Tell us what you think about them below.