X WINERY WHITE X - 2008

57% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Muscat Blanc, 19% Chardonnay, 4% Rousanne. 13.9% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Light gold color with a aromas and flavors of flowers, melon, grapefruit, citrus, and apple. Balanced acidity. Medium weight.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87 POINTS

Not sweet. Not dry. This is a great white blend with enough power and fragrance to pair well even with spicy food. Retails for around $11.

GREG NORMAN RESERVE SHIRAZ - 2001

13.5% alcohol. Limestone Coast.

TASTING NOTES:

Red-black color with aromas of plum, black fruit and oak. On the palate huge cranberry-pomegranate, oak, and spice with cherry-berry on the finish. Sweet and sour. Wonderful tannins.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

92+ PTS

I first tasted this wine at a Wine Spectator show and was really impressed. It was impossible to find but I stumbled across a bottle in Toronto, Canada at an LCBO. Go figure. They usually have nothing of merit on the shelves and what they do have is insanely overpriced. This wine was a bargain. I simply love the cranberry flavors in this one. A fantastic wine.

COLOSI NERO D'AVOLA - 2008

Sicilia Rosso. 14% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Ruby red-purple color with a grape jam nose. Lots of cherry, blackberry, and plum. On the finish black currant and oak. Fresh, fragrant, with a solid structure.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

A great mid-week wine. Enjoyable with food and a decent sipper. Good acidity and mouthfeel. Retails for $15.