AMISFIELD PINOT NOIR CENTRAL OTAGO - 2005

From New Zealand which is quickly making a name for itself as not only the home of great Sauvignon Blanc, but a true Pinot player.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark red color with sweet delicate strawberries on the nose. Velvet, soft, light as air on the palate with red berries, black cherry, and spices. A hint of sourness and damp minerality with oak on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

92+PTS

The nose and delicate red fruit in this wine are so graceful. The flavors and aromas seem to roll over the tongue and nose. A near perfect mouthfeel, but the wine is a bit young and has a hint of alcohol still in play. I purchased for around $25 making this an absolute home run of a buy. You simply do not find this kind of quality at this price point from any other terrior in the entire world.

CHATEAU CLERC MILON - 2001

Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux, Pauillac.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark red color with a chocolate nose backed by smoke, char and oak. Cedar underscores black and red fruits of strawberry, blackberry, and cherry flavors. Hints of black currant and mocha. Power, finesse, silky smooth with a nice balance of tannin and sweet fruit.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

91+ PTS

Absolutely delicious Bordeaux that is so approachable now. Purchased this bottle in 2006 when it retailed for $35. It now sells for somewhere around $50 - $60 if you can find it online. Given the price of 2005 Bordeaux and futures, this might still be an attractive acquisition. Best of all you can drink it now while you wait for new vintages to shape up. The nose alone on this wine makes it worthwhile.

BOHO VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY - 2006

Vintage dated super premium Central Coast wine in a 3L Premium Cask. Move over glass bottle, and say hello to the environmentally sensitive Bag-in-Box wine. The beautiful package is 95% recycled kraft paper and uses only soy-based inks.

The packaging helps keep the wine fresh by keeping harmful air out. With a clever pour spout, the wine stays protected and its flavors fresh for up to six weeks after opening.

Made from 100% Chardonnay. Harvested cool and fermented cool. Half the blend was aged in small oak barrels. 13.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Light gold color with vanilla and peach on the nose. Highly acidic with mango-pineapple, apple and vanilla oak underneath. A tad hot on the finish and somewhat disjointed.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

79 PTS - Wine

93 PTS - Packaging

This 3L box (equivalent to about 4 bottles) retails around $24 or less. So do the math and you are buying a handful of $6 or slightly cheaper bottles. Unfortunately, the wine is pretty much on par with what you'd expect from the price. Not very interesting and off-balance. You'd be better off buying 3 different cheaper bottles of Chardonnay expanding your palate and experience. The eco-packaging is stylish and beautiful for box wine and it really does keep the wine fresh. Ultimately, I think the consumer cares the most about the wine itself and that's where this offering comes up short.

SWANSON MERLOT - 1999

Napa Valley Merlot from one of the premiere California winemakers. Clay loam soils and American Oak barrels. 14.3% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Ruby color with smoky-charred nose. Silk smooth with wood and prune flavors. Creme-de-cassis, plum skin, and charred-popcorn-esque oak round out the back-end flavors.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

This wine is past its prime and on the decline but there's still plenty to enjoy. It has a Pomerol like aroma and flavor with wonderful smoke. It is interesting to see this fruit-forward Napa wine become more Bordeaux-like as it ages. The fruit has settled in and a unique experience has emerged. Retails for around $22.

HERMAN STORY ROUSANNE - 2006

From Santa Ynez Valley with 15.9% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Beautiful golden yellow color with a pretty nose of honey and gooseberry. On the palate there's lots of butter, gooseberry, pineapple, pear, apricot and banana/circus peanuts. Viscous, oily and almost thick-syrupy. Charred oak, apple and a spectacular butterscotch hard candy on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

91 PTS

This is awesome stuff with a ton of complexity. It is expensive at $21 a bottle but it completely delivers. I love this wine. What is even more impressive is how wonderfully integrated and in check the fruit keeps the whopping 15.9% alcohol. This one is a winner!