RUFFINO MODUS - 2007

Made from 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. 13.5% alcohol


TASTING NOTES:


Vibrant red color with dynamic cherry oak and black fruit on the nose.  Great structure with flavors of blueberry, mocha, tobacco, mint, plum, licorice, and loads of toasty oak.  Subtle yet powerful with a soft and silky mouthfeel and a substantial finish.


SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:


93 PTS
This Wine Spectator Top 100 wine received a dazzling 96 point score last year.  While it is certainly a tremendous effort, that score seems to be stretched too high.  The most amazing this about this wine is that the quality comes at a bargain retailing for only $25 a bottle.  A complex effort and one of the best QPRs out there.

HERDING CATS CHENIN BLANC / CHARDONNAY -

South African blend available in both bottle (750 ML) and Octavin Home Wine Bar (3L).  13.5% alcohol and made from 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Chardonnay.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale yellow color with aromas and flavors of citrus, green apple and quince.  Crisp and clean with underlying minerality and acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

83 PTS
Simple white blend that lacks any really depth of fruit.  Serviceable but falls short of pleasant and enjoyable. Retails for $24 for a 3L Premium Wine Cask and $8 a bottle making it tough to recommend given that there are superior alternatives in the marketplace.  For instance you can buy Pine Ridge's Chenin Blanc Viognier for around $9 - $12 and it is a terrific QPR wine.

CONCANNON CONSERVANCY CRIMSON & CLOVER - 2009

This is the first release of the Crimson & Clover wine, a blend of 50% Petite Sirah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, and 10% Zinfandel.  The wine is from the Livermore Valley and aged in French and American oak barrels for 18 months. 


The wine was made by John Concannon as a tribute to his father, Jim Concannon, the father of America's First Petite Sirah who celebrated his 80th birthday back in July.  13.7% alcohol.


TASTING NOTES:


Rich red color with aromas of black currant, baking spices, and berries.  On the palate, there's blackberry, leather, tobacco, plum, cocoa, and black cherry candy on the finish.  Chewy, almost dusty tannin gives way to some nice acidity backed by vanilla oak.


SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:


91+ PTS
This is a special wine that is well-crafted and delicious.  From the first taste, you might think this is a California Meritage with bottle age.  It has class both in and outside of the bottle (just look at the gorgeous glass and label). The wine retails for an affordable $15 which is surprising for this kind of quality. Put this wine somewhere on the 2011 Wine Spectator Top 100 list. This wine rocks! 

MICHEL TORINO MALBEC ROSE - 2011

Minimal oak influence, short contact of the juice with the skins, 100% Malbec from the Cafayete Valley, Argentina. 


TASTING NOTES:


Fruit punch pink color with aromas and flavors of roses, cherries, herbs, strawberries and raspberries.  Light, clean and smooth with cherry cough syrup notes at its core followed up by minerality.  


SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

86 PTS
A simple, easy drinking Rose that pleases enough but still leaves one yearning for more definitive fruit.  Retails for $13 a bottle making it a questionable buy.

SANTI MOSCATO MONTEDORO - 2010

This wine is produced from parcels cultivated in the Trentino region in Italy from 100% Moscato grapes. A portion of the grapes are left to overripen naturally on the vine to increase sugar content.

TASTING NOTES:

Rapunzel golden straw colored with aromas of tropical fruits and lychee notes.  On the palate there's gobs of sugary Juicy Fruit & Bazooka Joe bubble gum upfront with melon and peach on the follow through.  Sweet and balanced.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

A really solid, easy drinking dessert wine. Not overly sweet and with enough viscosity to make it a good sipping wine as well.  A steal for $12 a bottle. Great bang for the buck.

TRAPICHE BROQUEL BONARDA - 2009

Broquel means "sheild" and is part of Trapiche's premium Mendoza, Argentina wine brand.  The wine is made from 100% Bonarda grapes from the Santa Rosa Vineyard which lies at about 3000 feet in elevation in the foothills of the Andes. Thought to originate in Piedmont, Italy, the Bonarda grape thrives in Argentina.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark purple-red color with aromas and flavors of grape jam, blackberry, blueberry and cherry.  Rich and full-bodied this wine has some serious tannin structure. Sharp acidity and good length with oak, plum and earthy terrior underneath.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

86 PTS

A robust red but one that doesn't completely come together. Retails for $15 a bottle.  Tough varietal sell in marketplace where I think there's better QPR in low to mid-level Malbecs.