GROS NORE BANDOL ROUGE - 2004

A French red blend of 80% Mourvedre, 12% Grenache, 5% Cinsault, and 2% Carignan. This Provence wine has an alcohol content of 15%.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark ink color with black licorice and black currant on the nose. Impeccably smooth, this wine is the definition of sleek and balanced with blackberry, black currant, black licorice and a hint of prune dominating the palate.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

92 PTS

This is a big, sleek, polished, black, stretch-limousine of a wine. Long, sweet, slick, beautiful and as dark as the night. If you could drink the color black, this is what it would taste like. Retails for around $25.

SOLARIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO - 2001

This Tuscan red has an alcohol content of 13.5%.

TASTING NOTES:

Rich red color with strawberry, Sweet Tarts candy and herbs on the nose. Black licorice, black currant, blackberry and spices attack the palate before giving way to a sleek finish. Smooth with fine tannins.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

91 PTS

Very good Brunello but this is not jaw dropping stuff that leaves you in awe sip after sip. Retails for around $40 making it on the mid to low cost side for Brunello, yet it is still hard recommend given what else you could purchase for this price.

GRAN FAMILIA RIOJA - 2004

From winemaker Alfredo Gonzalez, Gran Familia is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano with 12.5% alcohol. Sand, limestone and clay soils along with a wonderful hot summer and a wet September in 2004 provided a solid vintage.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark rich red color with ripe red fruit on the nose. Creamy oak, vanilla, leather and cedar notes are underscored by red berries. Light, elegant, soft, fruity and polished. Well-rounded with great depth and clarity of fruit flavor.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

This bottle retails for around $8 making it a huge bargain. This is top quality wine at an extraordinary price. Seek it out.

BLACK PIG ALBARINO - 2006

From Rias Baixas with 12.5% alcohol. A Gary Vaynerchuk-Wine Library concoction.

TASTING NOTES:

Light straw color with bready, yeasty aromas and flavors reminiscent of Champagne. Extremely crisp with frizzante galore. Pear, apple, white grape juice and a touch of pineapple with sharp acidity and a hint of wood.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

Stellar Spanish white for the bargain price of $11. With Albarinos often getting into the $20 range, it has become a wine I've strayed from over the last few years. It is nice to find an affordable and well made addition to a really delicious category. Paired perfectly with a seafood paella. So refreshing and easy to drink you could finish the bottle without even knowing it.

THORTON OLD VINE ZINFANDEL - 2005

This red from Cucamonga Valley has an alcohol content of 15.1%.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark red-black color with black currant, tea and balsamic vinegar on the nose. Immense black tea flavors upfront with a harmonious mid-palate blend of black currant, licorice, pine needle, nutmeg and spice.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

Another phenomenal effort from Thornton. This is just an outstanding Zinfandel. A bit hot, but still very enjoyable now. Settles down by the second day. A year or two in the cellar should smooth out the rough edges and turn this into a beauty. Highly recommend.

DIAMOND OAKS CHARDONNAY - 2002

Carneros Chardonnay made by the Maniar family.

TASTING NOTES:

Light golden color with butter and alcohol on the nose. Cider-esque apple gas, butter and oak flavors. Thin, acidic and one dimensional.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

81 PTS

I bought this bottle on clearance for a fish marinade and that is about all its good for. It is not a very enjoyable wine to drink. Worth the $4 sale price for cooking but that's about it.

CHATEAU GRUAUD LAROSE - 1989

I couldn't think of a better vintage to open than the 1989. Not because it is the best vintage from this Chateau, but simply because it was the "right" year. I drank this bottle over the weekend with a special group of people who had essentially come together in 1989. As those grapes were ripening and the wine was just beginning so were our friendships...

TASTING NOTES:

Ruby red color with brown at the edges. Oak and cedar on the nose with strong toasted oak notes and subdued flavors of cherry kirsch, herb and menthol. Slightly closed down.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

89+ PTS

A top-notch Bordeaux with significant bottle age, but coloring and flavor profile perhaps suggest that the best years are behind this one. Turning the corner of the drinkable arch and now on its downward descent. If you own it, it is time to pop the cork. If you don't, this would be expensive reach.

THORTON SOUTH COAST COTE RED - 2001

This Limited Bottling Red Blend from Temecula Valley is made from 34% Syrah, 34% Grenache, 25% Cinsault and 7% Mourvedre. 14.1% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark, dark color with black fruits and floral notes on the nose. HUGE black currant and blackberry flavors. Plum, herbs, red berries, Christmas baking spices with a touch of vanilla. Wonderfully smooth and polished.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

This is easily a 90 point wine if not better. Really impressive Rhone-style wine that is all American in its execution. Tremendous black fruit and delicious spices. Dynamic and awesome. Retails for around $17 - $20. Seek this out and explore Temecula wines!

COPAIN LE PRINTEMPS ROSE - 2006

As the final days of summer wind down, it is about time I review a Rose. Made from Pinot Noir and Syrah with 13.4% alcohol. From Mendocino County, CA.

TASTING NOTES:

Light pink color with rose petal and strawberry aromas. Fruity raspberry-strawberry notes with apple core on the mid-palate and tart cranberries on the finish. Smooth and refreshing flavors with light bubbles (frizzante) that will remind you of a good summer sparkler.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

89 PTS

At $12 a bottle this is excellent summer wine. The perfect accent to a sunset or light backyard grilled meals. Delicious.