GUNDERLOCH NACKENHEIM ROTHENBERG RIESLING SPATLESE - 2007

8.5% alcohol. German white wine.

TASTING NOTES:

Golden yellow color with frizzante. Orange creamsicle nose with peach, citrus and near-perfect acidity. Tremendous balance of sweetness and structure. Bright, zippy, vibrant.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

92 PTS

This is a wonderful wine with great balance and flavor. If it had more complexity this would probably be a very high scoring wine. Retails for around $37 a bottle. Some bottle age might help this wine improve. Plenty of potential.

ANDES PEAKS SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON - NV

Andes Peak Select is Chile's first ever premium bag-in-a-box wine offered in 3 Liter format. Farmed grapes from winemaker Antonio Bravo, a protege of Alvaro Espinoza, South America's foremost pioneer of organic and sustainably farmed wines. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

TASTING NOTES:

Medium red color with red fruit on the nose. Iconic earthy loam from Chile, oak, dry tannins, raspberry and cranberry flavors. Some tartness on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

84 PTS

This may be the best box wine I've ever had. Nothing stellar but definitely decent. Enough fruit and character to make it enjoyable. If you are looking for a box wine and prefer over bottles I would say this is one you might want to check out. Retails for around $18.99 per box. I'm still waiting to taste a sensational box wine. I know there is one out there in making. Andes Peak Select is promising and gives me hope.

CENTINE ROSSO - 2007

60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. With 12.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark cherry-red color with vanilla, earth, charred oak and red fruit on the nose. Soft yet finishes with mouth drying tannins. Flavors of tart cherries, plum and black fruit.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

85 PTS

A fair effort. Decent fruit and structure. Enough acidity to pair with food. Retails for $13.

CENTINE ROSE - 2008

Toscana IGT. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. 12.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Excellent vibrant pink color. Muted aromas and flavors of berries. Crisp but lacking any detail or nuances. Flat.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

75 PTS

Yet another pink alcohol with nothing to back it up. I'm still searching for some impressive Rose wine. This is not it. Alcohol and light fruit with a suggested retail of $13. Pass on this one.

CENTINE BIANCO - 2008

Toscana, IGT. 12% alcohol. 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Pinot Grigio, 30% Chardonnay.

TASTING NOTES:

Light gold-yellow color with a nose of lychee and Juicy Fruit gum. Citrus, Anjou pear and floral flavors. Crisp, round and fruity. Dry with a sweet kick.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

A delightful white blend with enough fruit and acidity to pair well with a variety of foods. With a suggested retail of $13, this is a great value wine for the summer.

POST SCRIPTUM DE CHRYSEIA DOURO - 2002

12.5% alcohol. From Portugal.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark rose red color with a jammy raspberry Shiraz-esque nose. Black currants, blackberry and plum on the palate. Thin. Mid-palate and finish sort of disappear.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

84 PTS

I've raved on and on about how great Portuguese Douros are but this one has come up short. Ordinary and not special. This one is a pass.

LA SPINETTA BARBERA D'ASTI CA' DI PIAN - 2006

14% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Purple red color with aromas and flavors of tart berries, black currants, cherry, plum and oak. Very dry and very tightly wound. Red fruit and black cherry on the extremely acidic finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87+PTS

A good food wine that you find for around $16. Not sure if this needs some time or not but it was not showing as well as I hoped. There's good fruit but there's definitely some flaws. Pairs well with pizza where red sauce can balance out that zippy acidity.