2006 Casa Silva Gran Reserva Petit Verdot

Inky black with purple tinge. Intriguing mix of veggies, soil, and blackberry, cassis and floral notes. Initially, loads of celery and radish. More floral and dark fruit notes come out on day 2. Graphite and eucalyptus. Nice nose: elegant and restrained. Also, refined and focused in the mouth. Velvet tannin structure with great concentration, round and balanced supporting acidity. Finishes a bit short but has lingering notes of smoked juniper berry and creosote. Decant this for it unfold. Delicious.

$23

A-

2006 M. Cosentino Tannat Lodi

Inky black. This wine is tight and slow to open. Very tarry initially. Later rosemary and peppermint. Cherry liqueur and strawberry licorice fruit. Weirdly enough, eggnog? Think cream and nutmeg. Again, tight on palate, but seamless. Broad, muscular, mouth coating, teeth staining, chewy tannin upfront and in the middle, but tapers off to a soft finish. A brute with a sensitive edge.

$18

C+

2005 Luna Sangiovese Napa Valley

Day 2. Deep ruby. Complex and elegant. I love the secondary stuff going on. Straw bale, charcoal ash and cedar mulch. Savory low toned porcini mushroom and oyster. Cardamom spice accented by a subtle floral and perfumed note. Mountain blueberry fruit comes late as well as boysenberry. Velvety and plush tannin with quite glycerous and round, but structured and concentrated. Juicy acidity. Finishes with dark chocolate mocha. This really blossomed after a day of decanting in bottle. 75% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 5% Petite Sirah

$25

A-

2005 Quinta de Ventozelo Douro Reserva

Deep red. Perfumed and floral nose with hints of violets. Blueberry cobbler fruit is delicious, and not over the top. Tilled earth and a thread of herbaceaousness round it out. Nice balance on the palate. Firm tannin becomes more pronounced with air, and are quite elegant. It's not heavy in any sense. Nice stuff and it's drinking well now. 60% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz.

$20

A-

2006 Clos La Coutale Cahors

Deep garnet red. Lively and exuberant nose. Black cherries and smoked plums. Cinnamon spice, clove and orange zest. Cranberry jam. Wood smoke and dried autumn leaves. Round, lively acidity and a heavy dose of anise infused dark chocolate on palate. Medium in body with soft, silky tannin. More smoke and sweet fruit on the medium finish. A really fun wine calling out for stew. 80% Malbec & 20% Merlot.

$16

B+

2005 Domaine du Moulie Madiran

Light ruby red. Decanted this for three hours and wow did it open up! I love to find charming table wines like this now and then to be reminded what wine used to taste like. It's quite herbaceous on the nose - grass, nettles, bell pepper, basil. Restrained strawberry and crushed dried rose scents - reminds me of Barolo. Acid driven, tart and medium minus palate. Tannins are firm but fine, forming sheets of satin and an appetizing astringency calling out for an earthy, warm autumn dish.

B+

$12

2003 Pirramimma McLaren Vale Petit Verdot

Deep garnet red. Super spicy. Cedar spice box and menthol/eucalyptus. Blood orange fruit and homemade cranberry sauce. Caramely oak. Rustic tannin combined with high acid rips up my mouth upfront. The weight stays up front and then quickly drops off. Interesting to see what PV can do Down Under going solo.

$22

B

2006 Rutherglen Estates "The Reunion" Mourvedre Shiraz Grenache Rutherglen

Ruby red. Fresh nose. First peppered, raw meat. Dried herbs, slight menthol and vanilla. Medium on palate with silky, round tannin. Cherry fruit and fresh acidity. This wine has some nice finesse, and isn't your typical Aussie MSG, more in tune with Cotes du Rhone. I'm betting it will open up even more with air (Stelvin). A good bottle for the money.

$18

B-

2005 Jose Maria da Fonseca Domingos Touriga Nacional & Syrah

Deep red. Thick fruit nose. Grape Big League Chew and small wild mountain blueberries, boysenberries - almost syrup like. Dried balsa wood and damp earth. Low in acidity and brambly on the palate with muscular furry tannin, but lacks concentration. Finishes with a sweet cassis liqueur note. 50% Touriga Nacional, 50% Syrah

$23

B-

2007 Olivares Altos de la Hoya Finca de Santa Ana Monastrell Jumilla

Bright deep ruby red. Red and black cherries, strawberry shortcake, and ladyfinger cookie. Dark chocolate shavings and some tree moss. Bright. There is a nice balance to this wine. Snappy acidity, round soft tannin, but still has substance. Juicy red fruit with smoky and earthy tobacco on finish. Lovin' the green moss character here. It's not built for aging and should be best drunk within the next couple of years. Great value.

B

$13

2007 Rosenblum Petite Sirah Heritage Clones

Opaque inky black. Opens with leather, sweaty saddle, and peppery spice. Reminiscent of Southern France in it's animal-y and tarry character. Fresh rosemary sprig and juniper berry. Vanilla cream and supple tannins are a mouthful. Delicious and hedonistic, with a smoky finish. Definitely over the top.

$18

B+

2004 Herdade Do Peso Aragones Alentejo

Deep ruby red. Beautiful nose centered around smoked plum fruit and earthy forest brush. Dill among other herbs and beef jerky. Perfumed with floral note and hints of vanilla spice. Juicy and full with firm, muscular tannins. Opened this at the right time, The '04 is ready to be had. A delicious bottle of Aragones, aka Tempranillo.

$30

A-

2007 Antonio Sanguineti Vincero Toscana Bianco

Medium yellow. Fragrant nose with floral notes and star fruit and orange cream-sicle. Subtle sweet complexities of almond paste, vanilla bean and pumpkin pie spice, and banana split, but it's not coming from oak. Medium and soft on the palate with juicy and tangy acidity and mandarin orange. Minerally finish with a waxy-like marzipan aftertaste. A nice quaffer. 50% Vermentino, 30% Malvasia, 20% Chardonnay.

$12

B

2007 Ridge Three Valleys Sonoma County

Ruby red. Subtle, but complex. Strawberry liquorice and sour cherry fruit. Pine, woodsmoke, nutmeg spice and vanilla complexities. Also and appealing herby quality adds freshness. Fennel seed candy and sweet leather creeps in. Medium with taut structure - great balance. This will seem light compared to other CA Zin, but it stays real and it wouldn't be right to drink this without food. Really worked with Broccoli & Tofu Sesame Noodles. 76% Zinfandel, 8% Petite Sirah, 7% Syrah, 6% Grenache, 3% Carignane.

$22

B+

2007 Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha Calatayud

Ruby red. Straight away - roast beef, pumpkin, rubbed sage and fresh cracked black pepper. Savory. Also some Blue Spruce pine needle. Slow to offer any fruit character. Cranberry eventually breaks through. Medium minus on the palate, gritty tannin rolls around aimlessly. There's really no focus here and overall lacks body. It's a decent table wine, good value, and the cool label has to count for something, right? Seriously, I'd buy this again and again (and have) against anything else in its price range. It's got character.

C+/B-

$10

2006 Numanthia Termes Toro

Vibrant deep red. Opens with salty prosciutto and balsa wood. Simmered-down blackberries and black cherries. Fresh spearmint and tree stump and later - rose and cinnamon stick. Voluptuous mouth feel that you could chew on forever. Packed, fine, chewy tannin. Delicious stuff, firm with no hard edges and quite glycerous. Powerful. This should become even more complex with bottle time. Shows no sign of 15% alcohol - it's buried in the rich fruit extract. An interesting spicy chili pepper note comes late. Smoky/charcoal finish lasts for minutes.

$30

A

2008 Terredora Dipaolo Falanghina Irpinia

Stone fruit and citrus nose. Peaches, mandarin orange, and lemon. Loaded with lemons on the palate. The palate is bone dry, medium+ and bright with some tannic grip, creating a chewy texture. Lively, clean finish with some effervescence. In some ways, this wine is reminiscent of a dry Washington Riesling. This was a great match for Curried Eggplant, Chickpeas, and Spinach with Garlic Naan.

$15

B+

2006 Argiolas Costera Isola Dei Nuraghi IGT Cannonau

Medium bright ruby red. This wine opens with savory notes of bbq ribs, Canadian bacon, and jerky. Complexities keep arising as its breathes. Forest scents of rotted-out cedar combine with whifs of perfume. Schnickerdoodle cookies and vanilla with deep cassis fruit and fresh plums. Smokey notes continue with myrhh incense. Streamlined and medium. Firm sheets of satin almost sneak by at first. With time (in the glass and in the mouth), structure becomes more pronounced with an appealing dry tannic astringincy. Fine tannin. Spice on the finish with cinnamon stick and dark chocolate. Buy this beauty by the case and age it for up to 5 years. Cannonau, aka Grenache, is grown on the island of Sardinia, Italy.

A-

$15

2006 Mastroberardino Aglianico Campania IGT

Light ruby with hints of orange. Red currants on nose with secondary notes of cooked down red fruit. Menthol cigarette, tobacco and vanilla. Velvet on the palate, taut acidity. A real country table wine with a lot of charm. Light to medium weight, but the tannin comes with intensity and coats entire palate. Hardly a blockbuster - it's refreshing to know wines like this are still being made. 12.5% alc.

$20

B+

2006 Meandro Do Vale Meao Douro

Deep ruby red. Pretty closed down at first and takes a while to open up. Even on day 2, very shy nose, some lavender and cinnamon stick, perfumed. There is a reduced rubbery character holding back the dark fruit. Black rocks. Firm, dense, and chunky tannin. Young - but shows good aging potential. Bittersweet chocolate and black tea finish. This needs a few more years in bottle. 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo), 20% Touriga Franca, 5% Tinta Barroca, and 5% Tinta Amarela.

$30

B+

2003 Falset old vines Montsant Grenache

Deep red. This has all the goods - a little dirt, cinnamon spice, red cherry cough drop fruit, some pretty perfume. Lively notes of pine resin, menthol, spearmint, and a fresh herbaceousness come through. Lots of cigar ash up front mellowing to straw and fennel bulb. Spicy palate with firm, dusty mouth coating tannin, dense and rustic. Nutty finish. Old school and complex. 85% Grenache 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

$18

A-

2007 Feudi di San Gregorgio Fiano di Avellino

Light golden. Crisp citrusy-lemon nose. Also some star fruit and other tropical nuances. Honeydew. A thread of white gravel minerality. Zingy acidity, well structured with some roundness in the middle. Mouth-watering acid. Clean and crisp. Finishes with kiwi and a minerally twang. A delicious aperitif. 12.5% alc.

$20

A-

2005 Peay La Bruma Syrah Sonoma Coast

This wine took three nights to unwind. The first two nights, it was dominated by sweet, caramel oak characters, definitely oaked, but a high quality oak. It's drinking well tonight. Enchanting nose with a Southwest dried mesquite campfire. There's peppermint and cassis as well as a spicy Christmas potpourri. Also homemade cranberry sauce with cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel. We should have popped this open around the holidays! An acid driven wine, medium and puckery, with fine, fuzzy tannin, but somewhat disjointed and overdone.

$45

B-

2005 Rocca delle Macie Sasyr Toscana IGT

Brilliant deep ruby red. Right from the get-go, this has a delicious nose. Berry-City, USA, I mean Italia. Blackberries and boysenberries, gorgeous melted down strawberry licorice, vanilla. Also some dried blueberries and sweet hay. Smooth, velvety tannin, but firm. There is more sweet fruit and red and black licorice on the finish. A medium bodied, vivid, hedonistic wine drinking well now, but by the end of the bottle I found myself wanting even more grip and more earth. 60% Sangiovese & 40% Syrah.

B+

$12

2008 MollyDooker The Violinist Verdelho

Nice nose with tropical fruit, pear, melon and subtle spice...everything is good so far. Then the first sip - this stuff burns like hell going down, almost vodka-like. Hoping it would mellow out in time for our Mediterranean pasta with roasted red pepper basil, anchovies and capers topped with shaved Parmesan...Mmmm. Nope, but wishful thinking. It did pack a good buzz though. This just didn't have the fruit weight and viscosity to stand up to the heat - decent acidity though. Had a much more enjoyable and balanced Verdelho from Argentina a few nights ago: 2008 Cristobal 1492 at $9 was a steal!

$29

C

2006 Terre del Vulcano Lava Beneventano Aglianico IGT

Vibrant deep purple red. This is a very intriguing new world style Aglianico. Perfumed and fragrant. Berries galore: boysenberry, loganberry, and blackberry infused black tea. There is an interesting wet clay note as well as a lactic yogurt and rice pudding. Also mint...ripe, complex nose. The palate is medium and vibrant with velvety tannin. It has some spritz and a sweet tart like tangy finish. It could use a little more oomph on the palate. What a difference in style between this and the Tenuta del Portal Vulture bottling.

$18

B+

2006 Qupe Syrah Santa Maria Valley Bien Nacido Vineyard

Red. Big fruit on nose. Raspberry coulis, pomegranate, loganberry, and cassis, with subtle balsa wood, leather and fennel. Palate is round and juicy, with cherry pie fruit. Firm disjointed tannin, medium, anise on finish. Solid. Maybe it needs some time.

$25

B

2006 Domaine des Michelons Moulin-A-Vent Beaujolais

Bright light ruby red. Very subdued nose with plums, beetroot, slight game, and underbrush. It's fresh. Acid driven palate and light/medium bodied. Overall, a restrained palate with silky, focused, and tight tannin. Super short finish with slight hickory smoke. Light and simple, balanced, but hardly exciting for a Cru Beaujolais. Is 'Exciting Beaujolais' an oxymoron?

$18

C+

2006 Tenuta del Portal Aglianico Starsa Basilicata IGT

Ruby red. A solid introduction to Aglianico. Surprisingly fruity nose with red fruit, cherry, plums, and strawberry. Hints of coffee, sweet tobacco, baked earth, anise, and wild herbs. Pleasant and easy in the mouth, with dry, dusty tannin although lacks depth and concentration. A great buy for the price.

This is a bottle picked up to keep the total cost per bottle average down during a recent wine buying spree. Really, it's a great way to trick the mind into buying more wine, and at the same time feel great about 'saving money.' Definitely give this a try. Everyone needs to drink more wine, right?

$12

B-

2007 Jean-Max Roger Sancerre Cuvee G.C.

Light yellow. This is pure Sancerre - polished, structured with razor sharp precision. A great mix of tropical fruit, citrus, and minerality. Aromas of guava and kiwi and lime zest makes my mouth water. Mineral spring and spring flower fragrance. Baby snap peas add more freshness. Mandarin orange too. Beautiful nose. Pure and precise on palate. Focused, limey acidity. Full of dry extract on mid palate. Bone dry finish. I'd like to see this with a few years of bottle age.

$31

A

2004 Herederos del Marques de Riscal Rioja Reserva

Ruby Red. Opens with wild sweet and spice tones - cinnamon, white pepper, Werther's Original Toffee candy, fig newton, and wild strawberries. There is some graphite #2 pencil action - like an old school supply box. Cigar, braised fig and golden raisin and stewed plum fruit. In the mouth: suave, medium, and tight, packed tannin. Finishes with sweet, smokey fruit. An elegant wine that's drinking well now. Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo.

Gift from Keith Scheib

A-

2005 Domaine des Baguiers Bandol

Red. Drank this over two nights. First night: old school nose, some sour funk blows off. Everything smoky: dried tobacco, cigar ash forever. Also Saddle leather and spice. Fruit is hidden at this point. Beautiful palate with fine grained and broad dry, chewy tannins. Second night: now some cherry fruit comes out with some good spice. A rustic, manly wine.

$20

B+

2007 Marnier-Lapostelle Chateau de Sancerre Sancerre

Light yellow. This has an appetizing and savory nose. Gun flint is here with crushed sea shells and seaweed. Smells like the ocean. Grilled lime and lemon and apricot fruit. There's a dash of tamarind. The palate is structured with great texture and even has some grip and minerally chewiness. Loving the mouthwatering acidity. Finishes with lemon and lime and a faint smokiness. Had this with mom on Sancerre-Sushi-Saturday. Looking forward to Champagne Sunday.

$27

A-

2004 Callabriga Douro Red Wine

Ruby red. This has quite the elegant nose with good complexity. Cherry liqueur and strawberry shortcake provide the base for layers of complexity: dried straw, anise, vanilla, and cedar bark. There is a thread of herbaceousness and a peaty character that gives lift. Warm nose. Medium bodied with firm tannin, although a bit restrained and thin on the mid palate. Snappy acidity. Warm baking spice and 'Strawberry Jam Thumbprint Cookie' on the medium finish. A blend of Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional.

$18

B

2007 Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli Finger Lakes

Light yellow. Complex nose. Opens with lentils, fruity olive oil, and sweet oyster. Peach, nectarine and limes give it pizazz. A dollop of creme fraiche adds dimension. Super viscous and oily on the palate. Fresh and crisp, and balanced. Juicy peach on the medium bodied midpalate. This is our first Rkatsiteli experience and if tasted blind, we'd say it was 100% Federspiel Austrian Gruner Veltliner. Must make it out to the Finger Lakes soon.

Gift from Chris Caraway

A-

2006 Mas de la Dame La Stele Blanc Coteaux d'Aix en Provence

80% Vermentino 20% Clairette

Deep yellow with amber tinge. Advanced color for vintage - sealed with a synthetic cork. Interesting nose: immediate beeswax impression. Almost-ripe strawberry and pineapple juice fruit with baked pear tart coming through late along with almond paste and nougat. Overall, a low toned, thick nose with some oxidised bruised apple character. An anise note emerges. Full on palate with juicy and zingy acidity. Viscous mouth feel is appealing, but bitter collard greens show on mid-palate. Finishes with papaya and black liquorice. This is a 'difficult' wine - somewhat off-beat, but complex. It has its own unique appeal and is calling out for Lobster or Herb Butter Pasta.

$23

B

2007 Castano Monastrell Yecla

Medium ruby red. Strawberry licorice, saucisson (not the fresh stuff - more like the plastic encased version at the supermarket) and peppery spice. Simple nose. Nice grip and zip on medium minus bodied frame. Cherry fruit. Finishes short. Can't complain for the price. Bring to a poolside BBQ.

$7

C+

2007 Caldora Montepulciano D'Abruzzo

Vibrant ruby red. Attractive plummy red fruit with subtle notes of vanilla, flowers, and hay. Fruity and simple. Medium bodied, round and soft with bright sweet tart acidity, short finish. Easy and fun. Nice plump quaffer.

Enjoyed with a 'magic fridge' pasta creation...Penne with Sauteed Portobello Mushroom, Asparagus, Kalamata Olive & Grape Tomato with White Balsamic and Olive Oil White Wine Sauce topped with Parmesan.

$12

B-

2005 Franz Hirtzberger Spitzer Gruner Veltliner Rotes Tor Federspiel Wachau

Golden and honeyed in color. Creamy nose with key lime and nougat. Other 'low toned' aromas of honey, sweet oyster, lentils and legumes, and river rocks. Viscous and olive-oily on the medium bodied palate with nice zip. Finishes long with citrusy grapefruit rind and orange marmalade. Really nice action!

This paired beautifully with Seared Ginger-Soy Tuna Steak, Orange Vidalia Onion and Kalamata Olive Salad, and Israeli Couscous.

A-

$27

2003 Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Sagrantino

Deep red and bright. The nose is fresh and ripe, but hard to pin down complexities at first - decanted for an hour. Orange peel and clove reduction as well as cooked down pie cherries on nose. There is a lifted fresh sage, sweet pipe tobacco and just picked bundles of roses nuances. Later, cinnamon graham cracker emerges. Rustic and burly tannin coat the youthful, full bodied, yet restrained palate. This '03 is just a baby and could use another 5-7 years in bottle.

Wines this big are difficult to pair with vegetarian cuisine, but tonight Sarah nailed it! She prepared a feast of Arugula and Peppered Balsamic Feta baked Portobello Mushrooms, Olive oil and Shallot Farro, and Sauteed Sun Dried Tomato Lemon Kale topped with Toasted Walnuts and Pecans. Mmmmm!

A-

$48

2005 Tenuta Del Portale Aglianico del Vulture

Medium ruby red. Initially aromas of leather and farmyard. Very slow to open and seriously needs 2+ hours of decanting to show its stuff. Complex nose with subtle nuances coming and going. Pretty and perfumed with plenty of tobacco. Fennel seed and dried sage in the background. Plummy fruit with red cherry emerging later. The palate really makes this wine serious. Medium in body, but packed with dry extraction that coats your entire mouth. This wine is dry and astringent with puckery acidity, but at the same time - round, and full. Finishes long with dried straw, tobacco and cardamom black tea. There's no doubt that this is old world in style - a thinker's wine made for the table.

$15

A-

2006 Nugan Estate Durif Manuka Grove Vineyard

Deep red and bright. Initially medicinal and resiny on nose. A sour hint turns to dill with air. It's meaty with roast beef and char. Dusty cherry fruit. Rustic tannins combined with high acidity don't totally jive. More smoky char on the finish. This would be a great wine to have around the campfire.

$22

B

2006 Four Vines Biker Zinfandel Paso Robles

Dark red, slight haze. Heady nose with menthol, cherry, and mulling spices. Similar flavors on the palate. Hot, hot, hot in the mouth. Dried out oak dominates finish. Overall, a pretty unpleasant experience. 92 pts. WS

$25

C

2007 Edgebaston The Pepper Pot Stellenbosch

Dark ruby red. Initially, opens with cracked pepper (living up to its name) and beef jerky. Slow to open, but with air, raspberry chocolate reduction sauce emerges. It has a unique baked earth minerally quality and iron. There is a steel beam note too. A pretty floral note blossoms late. In the mouth, its super focused and lively. Packed with fine grain/chalky tannin, like biting into high grade milk chocolate. Tannins finish medium, but a smoky chipotle pepper note hangs on for a minute plus.

64% Mourvedre, 30% Tannat, 6% Syrah

$15

B+

2005 Engelbrecht Els Proprietor’s Blend Western Cape

Deep red. Nose opens with overtly sweet oak character, but somehow infuses itself with deep cassis fruit. Dried oak stave, tobacco, and wet cement. Classic New World Cab nose - no hints of green here. Palate is dense, but polished and has a sense of elegance with taut acidity. Some heat definitely shows. Fine tannin, but brawny. Oak completely dominates long finish. Oak intensity is subdued with decanting time. Enjoyed this with Austalian rack of lamb, but without a serious a hunk of meat, not sure what to do with this wine - maybe an intense stinky blue cheese? Don't usually go for oak bombs like this, but preferred it to the '05 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, which seemed light in comparison.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec.

$37

B

2004 Feudi di San Marzano Sessantanni Primitivo di Manduria Old Vines

Deep red. Delicious nose from the start. Ripe strawberry jam and spice with dried cranberry. There is a darker quality like hot black volcanic rock, charcoal and a lifted fragrant blackberry-infused black tea. Big and voluptuous with grainy and gritty leathery tannin broadly coating the palate. Sweet jam on medium plus bodied frame with a bright maraschino cherry sweet-tart character that keeps the wine from being heavy. More black tea on finish with almond dark chocolate bar and cherry pie.

$40

A-

2007 Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz Barossa Valley

Nearly opaque red, deep, saturated. Dense nose with blackberry liquor. Sweet juniper berry and peppermint. It's also woodsy, with balsa wood and cocoa powder. Violets. After opening, peach and orange peel emerge. Wild nose. It's defininitely young with firm fine-grained tannin coating the midpalate softened by layers of fat and juicy acidity. Broad and hedonistic. Finishes with mocha and barbeque smoke.

$35

B+

2008 Agustinos Pinot Noir Reserva Bio-Bio Valley

Light ruby and bright. Smells like a great meal. Delicious and savory. Parsley, roasted veggies and herbs. Intense sliced ginger root and mandarin orange. Hints of hickory smoked bacon. The palate is light with fine grained tannin and a slight savory woodiness. Everything fits into place and considering the wine was bottled within the past few months, it is extremely drinkable now and is probably enjoyed best at a young age. What a find at this price. A unique Pinot.

$14

B+

2007 Archaval Ferrer Malbec Mendoza

Bright purple with fushia tinge, saturated and deep. There is a nice mix of earth and berry fruit on nose. A thread of minerally, limestone character adds to the fresh and bright character. IHOP Boysenberry syrup and dried cedar block also. The palate is acid driven with tight and round silky tannin. There is a sweet-tart quality with a little new world fruit kicking through. Medium in body and lively.

$26

B+

2006 Beckmen Vineyards Cuvee Le Bec Santa Ynez Valley

Medium red. Deep, cooked down red fruits - raspberry and ripe strawberry. Fresh bay leaves and peppery spice. Full and thick on palate with a sweet impression like cherry cough drops. A little heavy and almost cloying. The juicy, medium acidity justs holds it together. Round, but firm tannin. Dark chocolate on finish. 50% Grenache, 28% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 7% Counoise.

$22

B

2006 Amisfield Pinot Noir Central Otago

Although this bottling has received great press, unfortunately it has strengthened our love-hate relationship with Pinot Noir. Darkish ruby red in color. Very retrained nose that seems most intense immediately after pouring. Air time seems to subdue the wine even more. Every now and then, subtle and delicate hints of fragrance lift from the glass. Pretty rose petal, cardamon spice, red cherry, plum, cocoa powder, and radish on nose. Healthy acidity on medium minus, almost thin palate. There are rustic, dusty tannins that roll around aimlessly. Lukewarm coffee on short finish.

$29

C

2006 Ataraxia Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape

Ataraxia n. emotional tranquility, the freedom from disturbance that characterises a balanced mind and represents its first step towards the achievement of pleasure.

Sourced mainly from South Africa's southern most wine region, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, and made by Kevin Grant - former winemaker at Hamilton Russell. Light yellow. Beautiful nose with great minerality suggesting limestone, chalk, and wet stones. Lime zest and lemongrass initially and sweet peas emerge with air. More Sancerre-like than Marlborough. Extremely well balanced with creamy mid palate texture. The taut acidity is mouthcoating and melts in your mouth. There is more calcareous minerality on the finish reminiscent of licking a stalagtite in a cave like a lollypop. There is a touch of heat on the finish, but it's not overwhelming. This wine is aging nicely and with be a go-to wine for the summer. It kicks many-a-Sancerre ass at twice the price.

$16

A-

2005 Domaine Zind Humbrecht Riesling Gueberschwihr

This one has been in the cellar for about a year. We thought it would be a good match for our lemongrass coconut curry. Plus it's time to take care of some inventory management. Warm yellow with a golden tinge. The nose is thick with pineapple, mango and hints of petrol. It also has a balancing bright, steely lime note. The palate is medium plus in body and powerful. There is tangy acidity with mango powder and dried pineapple and toasted pine nuts on the finish. It also has an interesting 'gritty' give to the texture. This is a delicious wine that will gain more complexity with age. This would be fun to try in another 5-7 years.

$40

A-

2005 Alois Lageder Sudtirol Alto Adige Pinot Noir

Light ruby red and bright. Faint celery stick, beet root, and rhubarb stalk on fresh, but subtle herbal nose. There is a hint of cherry fruit. Round mouthfeel with juicy acidity. The body is light with not a heck-of-a-lot of structure. The soft, thin tannins lead to a pleasant, tangy finish. This wine is light, but really well balanced. It's pretty nondescript and could just as easily be a low-end Merlot. It's well made and the winery's philosophy of 'drawing attention to the fundamentals of the cultivation of grapes and their transformation into wine, as expressed through five themes: light, earth, grape-vine, human being and wine' is very cool, but it's simply an overpriced Monday night table wine displaying no distinct Pinot character.

$25

C

2006 Domaine Marcel Deiss Riesling

Golden yellow. Exotic, thick tropical nose. Pineapple, papaya, and butter baked Granny Smith apples. Full bodied with grapefruit, passion fruit and guava flavors contributing to tangy acidity. The palate is glycerous and there is a 'candy coated' quality to the zingy acidity, creating a dried tropical fruit-like sweetness, although it's probably dry. Overall, the palate is rich but lacks finesse and comes across a little heavy and chunky. This wine is the entry level Riesling for biodynamic producer Marcel Deiss. It paired beautifully with grilled Rainbow Trout with garlic lemon and chive, red bell pepper, and corn.

B

$22

2005 Le Rocher des Violettes Montlouis-sur-Loire Demi-sec

Light yellow in color. Initial sulfur blows off quickly. Opens with distinctive walnut shell and woodsy characters. Fresh artisanal honey made from the backyard, flowers, on-the-tree figs and star anise. As the wine sits, sweet complexities begin the emerge beginning with croissants aux amandes dusted with powdered sugar through to pear almond tart. Medium/medium plus body with 'Ka-Pow' lusciousness. Incredibly balanced with harmonious sweetness and acidity. Ripe kumquat peel-like soft sweetness leads to tart and juicy orange-y acidity on the finish. A wine so full of life that we think will get more complex, woody and toasty with another 5 years. Time to get a few more bottles for the cellar!

A

$20

2007 Espelt Saulo Red Wine

Dark red-purple. Bundles of fresh herbs on nose - sage and dill. Major caramel-dipped Granny Smith apple with nuts on a stick is VERY interesting for a red wine. Dried figs and plum skin. Dried driftwood. Medium bodied with more tangy plum skin. Slight spritz on the palate gives it pop. Rustic tannins are short, but a smoky earthiness hangs around for a while. This wine is a steal for the price. 60% Grenache 40% Carinena.

$12

B+

2005 Dierberg Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

Dark red with purple-ish tinge, still transparent. Explosive aromatics with unmistakable, classic ripe, but not overripe Pinot character. Sweet and gamy with pretty perfume, mocha and cold fizzy cola. Aromas jump out of the glass effortlessly. Full bodied, big and nice tannins with a refreshing streak of acidity. Oak is almost completely infused in the wine, only revealing itself at the end of the finish. Ridiculously long finish with mocha and smoke.

$42

A-

2005 Slate Point West Elks Pinot Gris

This wine is one that Rob made sourced from a Western Colorado vineyard situated at 5615 feet in elevation. A personal favorite from the start, but the aging potential was unknown due to the young age of the vineyard and lack of Pinot Gris wines made from the West Elks AVA in general. I'm thrilled to report that it's aging quite gracefully. Light yellow with golden tinge with swirling. Clean and fresh on the nose with obvious chalky minerality. A zesty lime zest with crunchy Bosc pear and a subtle sweet nougat component. There is a beautiful finesse on the focused and perky, lively, but restrained palate. Finishes with minerals and polished stones.

$18

2007 Jean Albrecht Alsace Riesling Reserve

Botrytis-infused orange marmalade and marzipan nose gives way to other interesting, but artificial sweet complexities. There is a sweet candied aroma of strawberry PEZ, vitamin C chewable tablets, and spring fresh dryer sheets. The palate has a kumquat-like acidity on the backend and is bone dry and puckery. The medium minus body is rather unfocused. The piercing acidity is the main component and is more sour than refreshing, creating a disjointed impression. This wine is desparately screaming for mussels to pull it together.

$19

C-

2007 Seifried Nelson Gewurztraminer

Light yellow. Exuberant aromas jump out of glass with true Gewurz-like fashion. Lychee and dried apricot fruit with an appealing savory sulfur-like minerality. Also clove spice and pink peppercorns. Beautiful balance between residual sugar-acid-alcohol, a difficult feat with new world Gewurz. Tastes dry to off-dry. The medium plus body is soft and plump. Finishes short with savory spice.

$22

B+

2007 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc

Light yellow. Subdued nose with melon, fresh cream and white blossom. Aromatically challenged. Soft and easy on the palate. Medium bodied with creamy textures. The low acidity verges on flabbiness. Bring this crowd pleaser to a party and grill up some Halibut. Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Boubourlenc.

$14

C

2006 Domane Wachau Terrassen Federspiel Riesling

Brilliant light yellow. Invigorating nose is limey and steely. Lots of white stone dust, zippy tangerine and delicate orange blossom floral notes. Delicious on the palate with more juicy lime flavors. It's bone dry with razor sharp acidity, but not hard. The medium body has a soft textural give like citrus oil. Medium minerally finish. Buy this beauty by the case. Screw cap.

$18

A-

2007 Paco & Lola Rias Baixas Albarino

Pale yellow. Restrained nose with honeysuckle undertones. Fuzzy apricot, honeydew melon and lime zest come through. There is also a salty sea breeze character. The combination is like a margherita on the rocks with salt. Clean and medium bodied on palate. An underlying hint of residual sugar? adds fullness. The acid is zippy and lemony on the finish. Overall, varietally correct with great balance, although lacking aromatic intensity and some finesse on the palate. A good value.

$17

B

A delicious match with Clams and Linguine.

2006 Toulouse Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

Light, dull, red, slightly cloudy. Rose, spice, cinnamon with subtle cedar block and tree stump bark. Ripe strawberry fruit on heady nose. Palate is soft and round, but firm. There is a slight medicinal quality on finish that is not unpleasant with menthol cigarette smoke and truffle. This wine is missing major acid and lacks finesse. An enjoyable table wine.

$40

B-

2006 Acacia Carneros Pinot Noir

Light ruby red. Everything about this wine is "nice." Red cherry fruit, hint of toastiness, some earthy undertones. Soft palate with spice. Nice, well made, but uninspiring Pinot at this pricepoint.

$33

C+

2006 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Fume Blanc

Light Yellow. Crunchy nose of gooseberries, bright lemon, lime, cut grass - very Marlborough like, (although more restrained). Mineral water notes. Palate is crisp and refreshing. Almost-ripe, fuzzy peach sweet and sour character on entry. It's very suprising that this Sauvignon is from Napa. No sign of new oak nonsense. Acidity has sweettart quality (added tartaric?), but overall nice balance, although it lacks a sense of place. This is a very well made wine, but very obviously "made."

$39

B-

2007 Pierre Gaillard Condrieu

Golden yellow. Sweet, custardy impression on nose with candy corn and apricot jam. Custard aromas persist as well like thick Greek style honey yogurt. There is a floral sweetness - honeysuckle, light ginger bread, and autumn apple spice. Only a faint hint of minerality like blackboard eraser-smack chalk dust. Medium weight on mouthfeel, custardy and smooth up to the midpalate. The finish lacks focus and is short as the the acidity battles the alcohol. This wine is one of the 17 bottles smuggled back from France.

30 Euros?

B

2003 Pico Madama Jumilla Monastrell / Petit Verdot

Dark garnet shiny red. Tight all around on nose and palate initially. Nose opens with freshness and spice. Freshly ground nutmeg, fresh tarragon, balsawood and saucisson. Violets, anis and cassis (fruit is secondary). The texture is seductive with fine, fine, fine tight tannin - like biting into high grade milk chocolate ( Chuao Earl Gray 41% cacao to be exact). Super focused with no hard edges on palate. Finishes long with smoky chipotle pepper and chocolate. Delicious now, but it is so bright that another 5+ years of cellaring might unleash the latent animal soul of this wine. 50% Monastrell / 50% Petit Verdot.

$40

A

2006 JC Vizcarra Ribera del Duero

Bright dark, ruby red. Nose opens with high toned plum skin aromatics. There is a pretty fragrance with perfumed floral notes. It's fresh with herbaceous/straw, dried balsa wood and tobacco complexities. A nice, subtle spicy sausage patty (not link) character sneaks through. The palate is lively with firm mid-palate tannins. The finish is short (some bottle age will do this wine good). Strawberry liquorice on the dusty finish. Overall - beautiful nose, medium bodied on the lean side, and a bit disjointed. This wine may develop more balance in 2-3 years, but then again, it could be overextracted considering the lack of meat on its bones. 100% Tempranillo.

$24

B

2005 Domaine de la Pertuisane Le Nain Violet Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes

Red. Beautiful nose - Lavender and perfume jump out of the glass immediately. Loaded with spice, Dr. Pepper, black liquorice, peppermint candy cane. A subtle vanilla sweetness emerges with notes of dried tree bark/bundles of twigs. The palate is rich and full, but with some restraint. Firm, fine grained tannins are broad and coat the entire mouth. Finishes with notes of rocky earth. This could age for another 2-3 years but is too delicious now to wait. 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Carignan.

$19

A

Crottin de Chavignol

This is one delicious goat's cheese! We had the pleasure of having many wonderful cheeses while in France, but this was one of our very favorites.

Crottin de Chavignol is a goat's milk cheese, made in the tiny town of Chavignol tucked in the hills of the Loire valley, with its very own AOC designation. It has a very distinct goaty aroma and taste, which is intensified with aging. When it's fresh, it has an ivory-white rind and a creamy cheese. As it gets older, the rind turns bluish and the cheese more crumbly and intense, and with even more time turns brown and quite hard and super intense. The fresh young cheese we liked most, but believe we could easily develop a palate for the older and stinkier stuff.

The town of Chavignol is a hillside away from the town of Sancerre, home of steely Sauvignon Blanc, and these two together are a match made in heaven.

If you come across any Crottin de Chavignol, be sure to try it (and let us know where you found it!)!

Cheers, and bon appetit!

2004 Havens Black & Blue Red Wine Napa Valley Estate Vineyard

Dark, deep ruby and vibrant. Opens with sweaty wool and metal toolbox and a little sour funk (pickles). Dark fruit, blueberry, cassis and tar bubbles. Nose becomes sweeter with air with Kit Kat and Starbucks cafe mocha emerging. Drastic changes to the nose with air time. The palate is thick and fat, like thick chocolate - melty and gooey on your tongue. Good acidity and finishes with bittersweet chocolate. Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

$40

A-

Delicious as a stand-alone wine or with a New York Strip Steak.

2005 Stellenzicht Pinotage Golden Triangle Stellenbosch

Nose is very tight, but dense - graphite, cassis, violets. A thread of mineral/volcanic black rock runs through. Cedar emerges late. The palate is focused and packed with dense, supple tannin. Finishes with slightly bitter baking chocolate. Probably opened this a couple of years before its prime.

Gift from Miss Nadia

A-

2005 Dirler Muscat Grand Cru Searing

Light, pale yellow. Extremely aromatic nose of lychee, citrus oils, coriander spice. A floral honeysuckle and creme soda note also there. Quite exotic. The palate is bone dry with a pleasant medium body - not crisp like a Riesling and not oily like a Gewurz. Finishes with zesty grapefruit rind.

$35

A- : a great example of dry Muscat, although a touch more acid would make it complete.

Paired with an Italian crottin-style cheese.

2006 Knoll Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Trocken Wachau Ried Kreutles Loibner

You'd expect greatness just from the name of this wine! Light gold. Fresh nose of lemon zest, and lime peel and crazy jalapeno pepper stuffed with nougat. Lots of weight on the palate with a viscous and oily texture. Medium plus acidity is suprising given the weight of the wine. Finishes with slight bitter clay-like minerality.

$40

B- : Solid wine, but wouldn't buy again at pricepoint, wanted to score it higher because of the kick ass Medieval, triumphant looking label.

Paired with Linguine and Bodega Bay Clams. Not an ideal pairing, the pasta needed a crisper white.

NV Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rose

Salmon pink in color with a peachy yellow/orange quality. The nose opens with an amazing freshness - white stone, watermelon and strawberry; fragrant and fresh, a delicate candied note emerges late. Medium-fine bead. Medium/medium+ acidity, the palate is full with a 2% milk creaminess. Palate reflects nose - watermelon, honeydew melon, strawberry. Very pretty.

$22

A- : fresh, so well balanced, nice price point, even if a bit simple. Will buy again!

Paired with Cardamom and Black Pepper Potato Curry. This curry was especially delicious and fragrant, grinding the spices ourself really made the difference, and it went amazing with the bubbly.