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.

CUPCAKE CENTRAL COAST CHARDONNAY - 2007

13.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale yellow water color with aromas and flavors of apple, light oak, butter and citrus. Very clean, dry and crisp with good minerality. Finishes with honey and just the right amount of acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

Under $10? Almost too good to be true. A really solid and impressive effort for the money. I've had Chardonnay that is triple the price that doesn't deliver the basics that this wine does. For all of those out there buying cheap Chardonnay that doesn't really taste good and has out of balance alcohol and nothing but oak, you really need to try this. An enthusiastic recommendation!

BODEGAS Y VINDEDOS DE MURCIA JUMILLA SIERRA CARCHE - 2005

Made in French and American oak. 50% Monastrell, 25% Malbec, and 25% Petit Verdot.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark purple-red color. Goji berries and sour cherries on the nose. Lots of cherry, oak, black pepper, intense blueberry-grape jam, pencil shavings, chocolate covered raisins, blackberry, black currant. Sweet tannins at the core. Black cherry candy on the finish. A wine with great finesse and power.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

93 PTS

Complexity abounds. There is a lot going on here and all quite harmoniously. Really a pleasant surprise. This wine rocks and delivers on balance, structure, flavors and aromas. The alcohol is also in check. For $30 this wine delivers the goods. Highly recommended.

ANTINORI TENUTA GUADO AL TASSO IL BRUCIATO - 2006

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Syrah. 14% alcohol. 2nd label of Guado Al Tasso. Bolgheri Super Tuscan.

TASTING NOTES:

Barnyard, red berries and leather on the nose. Flavors of black currants, meaty-oak-char, black cherries, plums, and blackberries. Soft and smooth. Finishes with dry tannins and a hint of sweetness.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

Purchased for around $24. Really liked this bottle. I'm a sucker for Italian blends and this one delivered enough enjoyment to recommend.

VDP DU GARD DOMAINE MONPERTUIS VIGNOBLE DE LA RAMIERE-CUVEE COUNOISE - 2006

13% alcohol. From the Counoise Rhone grape in the South of France.

TASTING NOTES:

Medium red color. Dark chocolate, black currant, grape jam, and black pepper on the nose. Blackberry, black currants, pepper on the palate. Huge plum finish. Tannic and dry. Also hints of metals on the finish and some charred oak.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88+PTS

This is pretty complex for a $13 wine. Definitely a hidden treasure in its price category. This often overlooked varietal that makes an appearance in Chateaneuf-du-Pape shines in this bottle. One of the better value wines out there in marketplace.

CARMEN GEWURZTRAMINER - 2007

Curico Valley, Chile. 87% Gewurztraminer, 13% Semillon. 13.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Greenish yellow color with lychee and floral notes on the nose. Good minerality, honeysuckle and honey on the finish. Crisp, refreshing and good acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

85 PTS

A nice wine to compliment light summer meals. There's enough acidity to balance the fruit. Enjoyable with some sweetness upfront but the wine finishes dry and crisp. If it wasn't for some heat on the back-end I think I would have scored this a tad higher. Suggested retail is around $10.