MAZZEI SERRATA DI BELGUARDO - 2002

A Tuscan red made from 60% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. 13.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Ruby red color with tremendous aromatics of flowers, black olive tapenade, cherry and tobacco leaf. Ripe red and black fruit flavors are heavily accented by leather belt and tar notes. A big wine with soft and delicate aspects and a very lengthy finish. Barnyard aromas also emerge on the second day.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

91+ PTS
This is a pretty profound wine for $19. It completely surprised me. It is loaded with character and the wine changes in the glass which is a huge plus for me. I love wines that quickly evolve once opened. This wine is worth an Internet search to find out where to buy it.

DOMAINE DES ROCHES NEUVES SAUMUR CHAMPIGAY TERRES CHAUDES - 2005

Red wine from the Loire Valley with 13% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Vibrant purple color with a grape candy nose. Ripe black currant, plum, licorice and black pepper flavors. Youthful and straight-forward with simple juicy fruit.

88 PTS
Not a very exciting wine for $20. Feels one-note. The mouthfeel is not overly tannic but not quite lush either. Can't really recommend this one given the price point.

PORCUPINE RIDGE SYRAH - 2006

South African red with 14.5% alcohol and a screwcap closure.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark red-black color with concentrated aromas and flavors of ripe blackberry, plum and black currant. Silky smooth with nice tannic structure.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

Another great effort from Boekenhootskloof. Clean and precise flavors and very polished. Retails for around $15.

MONTES ALPHA SYRAH - 2005

Aged in French Oak barrels for one year, this Syrah, with a bit of Cabernet and Viognier mixed in, has an alcohol content of 14.5%.

TASTING NOTES:

Garnet color with aromas and flavors of asphalt, toasty cedar wood, spicy berry, leather and vanilla. The finish is cherry hard candy. Full-bodied with a good grip. Sweet vanilla oak and tobacco emerge more prominently on the second day after the wine softens and opens up.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

91 PTS

This is a stellar Syrah with a real taste of Chile. The style and taste is indicative of Chile setting it apart from California Syrah or Aussie Shiraz which tend to be more fruity. Sophisticated and affordable for $15 a bottle.

RIDGE THREE VALLEYS - 2004

Made from 68% Zinfandel, 11% Carignane, 10% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, and 4% Grenache.

TASTING NOTES:

Vibrant purple color with creamy vanilla oak on the nose. Black currant, plum, red fruit and spice are underscored by creamy oak. Medium-bodied. Rich in flavor without being an over-the-top jammy wine.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88+PTS
Retails for around $16. Not quite as complex as one might hope for, but Ridge has proven again and again how consistently they've been able to produce quality Zins and red blends. No matter what vintage, you rarely find disappointment in their wines.

PETER LEHMANN THE SEVEN SURVEYS - 2005

The Seven Surveys is Peter Lehmann's tribute to the early settlers who came to Barossa to grow grapes. This Aussie Rhone-styled wine is made from a blend of 43% Grenache, 43% Shiraz, and 14% Mourvedre and has an alcohol content of 14.5%. The wine was aged 12 months in old French and American hogsheads.

TASTING NOTES:

Transparent cherry red color with cranberry, raspberry and cherries on the nose. On the palate there's lots of cranberry, plum, perfume, spice and toasty oak with a tart red currant finish. As the wine opens up candied fruit and black currant flavors emerge. Light to Medium bodied with some heat that blows off after a bit of time.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88+ PTS

A very well put together wine with good structure and balance. When this wine finally opens up it reveals wonderful complexity. A great food wine for hearty winter meals that comes at an affordable price. Retails for around $15 a bottle.

PETER LEHMANN BAROSSA SHIRAZ - 2005

Peter Lehmann built his Australian winery in 1979 and the Barossa Shiraz is considered his "foundation wine"

The Peter Lehmann Shiraz was matured in French and American oak hogsheads for 12 months prior to bottling. Sporting its traditional Queen of Clubs label, this Aussie red has an alcohol content of 14.5%.

TASTING NOTES:

You can't complain about color with this Shiraz. It is deep red-black and like previous offerings you can't even see the bottom of the glass. The aromas and flavors of this wine are rich with raspberry, black currant, plum and toasty oak. The finish is incredibly long beginning with fresh plum before giving way to black cherry candy. The alcohol is way out of balance making the wine very "hot."

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87 PTS

This is a very difficult wine to score. It is not the kind of wine you'll want to open and drink right away unless you like enormous amounts of alcohol upfront. Since this wine retails for around $15, most people will purchase it to consume immediately which makes it tricky to recommend. You really need to decant this wine or let it breathe...for like 2 days. Not kidding. After the alcohol settles down the flavors emerge and it becomes a lot more pleasing on the palate. As I write this I'm drinking it on day 2 and it is opening up nicely but it still needs more time to soften.

CHATEAU FILHOT - 2001

Sauternes (dessert wine) from France with 14% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Straw colored with an enormous and overpowering nose of petroleum. Apricot, pineapple and apple juice flavors emerge once the petroleum aromas dissipate. Appropriate sweetness with skittish acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87 PTS

I love Vaseline and petroleum aromas and flavors that Sauternes often emit, however this bottle is even too much for me. The scents here even border on having an artificial or "fake" chemical aspect to them. Decanting this one will help some of that blow over, but the fruit is still masked. There's a decent structure here but it leaves you wanting a better version of what's in your glass. Retails for around $14 for a 375ML making it a value in the category but still a questionable purchase.

DR. LOOSEN ERDENER TREPPCHEN AUSLESE - 2005

Sweet German Riesling with 8% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Golden color with distinct pineapple and pastry flavors and aromas. Hints of mineral are followed by a gorgeous finish that tastes just like canned whipped cream.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

93+ PTS

Seductive and beautiful. Perfectly balanced acidity. Worth reaching for if you are craving an excellently crafted Auslese Rielsing. Retails for around $35.

STUHLMULLER VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY - 2005

Alexander Valley, California Chardonnay with 14.3% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Straw yellow color with caramel and oak on the nose. Flavors of caramel, butter, oak, smoke and spice accent this well-balanced white with muted fruit.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

Not too interesting for a Chardonnay. Leans toward the over-oaked side of things with the fruit taking a backseat. Enjoyable and full-bodied. Pleasant but not extraordinary for $20 a bottle. Explore other Chardonnay options. There are a lot of other Chard options out there.