San Giuseppe Veneto Pinot Grigio 2009

this italian pinot grigio sells for about $12 and is worth a try. we enjoyed this over a couple of days with a couple of different foods; first with cheese, hummus and crackers, and then with salad and tuna. worked very well with both. the nose had some nice floral notes as well as some citrus aromas. the palate was light and refreshing, nothing too big or over the top as you would expect from an italian pinot grigio, with flavors of citrus, mineral and some light floral notes. crisp finish is very food friendly.

Prospero Winery Tapestry Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

prospero winery in pleasantville, new york imports their grapes for their cabernet from california. the wine sells for about $8 a bottle and is a very nice every day red. the nose has black cherry and raspberry notes, along with some smoke, toasted oak and earth. the palate has subtle tannins and lots of raspberry and dark chocolate flavors. i also got some slightly musty, earth and spice along with a little oak. the wine only spends about 10 months in french oak so the flavor of the grape really shines through. it is winter so this will work well with those stews or roasts that are on the menu.

Chateau Haut Maginet Bordeaux 2009

this is a white bordeaux and was purchased at my local wine storre for about $12. the blend is 60% sauvignon blanc, 20% muscadelle, 20% semillon. this is an excellent food wine. the nose was citrus, floral, and some earthy aromas. the palate had lots of the sauvignon blanc characteristics of citrus flavors. lemon peel, some melon and a little bit of that french earth. mineral notes and a nice clean finish make this a perfect food wine. try it with any seafoods, sushi or lighter meals.

Kiona Vineyards 2004 Cabernet/Merlot

washington state winery kiona is a new find for me thanks to a recommendation from a local wine store. this bordeaux blend has a 'new world twist' with the following grapes: 72% cabernet sauvignon, 20% cabernet franc, 5% merlot, 2% syrah, 1% sangiovese. this wines sells for about $10 a bottle and tastes like a much more expensive wine. the nose has lots of blueberry, blackberry and black cherry notes. there is also some nice earthy aromas and a cedar finish on the nose. the palate is full of dark fruit. blackberry, black currant, and blueberry. nice inky notes as well as some nice oak and earth flavors. this is well worth your dollar and goes well with pasta and red sauce or a good steak. try it with some blue cheese and crackers.

Lenore 2007 Columbia Valley Syrah

washington state cult winery corvidae makes some really nice wines. their syrah is priced right at about $15 and is a real find. the nose has red fruit, smoke, and earth notes. the palate has lots of dark fruit. black currant, blueberry, and black raspberry. then the terroir makes its presence known. lots of ash, earth and smokey notes come through. this wine definitely needs some air before you drink it. the tannins are fairly bold when the wine is first opened. decant or pour a glass and walk away for an hour. then enjoy it by itself or with a hearty stew, ribs, or a burger.

Castillo de Molina Chardonnay 2009

chilean wines are on the rise and this chardonnay, although it is not on the same level as those from california, is worth a try. especially at the price of under $10 a bottle. nothing over the top about this one. nice nose of tropical fruit, some green apple, a little vanilla and some oak. the palate has lots of nice topical fruit notes, with more of the vanilla and apple from the nose, and a little mineral bite. there was a little oak on the palate, and it had a full, slightly creamy mouth feel. perfect for scallops, other seafood, or with a veggie pizza.

Piccolo Cru 2007 Napa Valley

this red blend comes from paoletti vineyards in napa. the blend is 42% cabernet sauvignon, 38% malbec, 14% merlot, and 6% cabernet franc. the price is about $20. i don't know if this particular vintage is still available but bases on some research i did, other vintages will be a similar bordeaux blend. the nose is very big with the first aroma that i picked up being an inky, almost like a sharpie marker note. this is followed by black currant and black cherry, spice and some cedar. as the wine opened up i got some musty notes too. the palate had lots of fruit, with black raspberry and black cherry, some spice and some cedar. finished with black licorice flavors. tannins were pretty big at the start but began to soften some. this worked well with the leftover red meat and smashed potato dish we had from a couple nights ago. bold enough to stand up to other medium spiced dishes too. excellent red blend.

Chateau Montlun Bordeaux 2009

i normally would wait to open up a bordeaux that is this new, but the meal the comely brunette and i were having begged for something french and earthy. and with this one selling for about $9, it was a no-brainer. a blend of merlot, cab and cab franc, it has a nose of earth, smoke and black fruit. the palate is beautifully subtle with flavors of blackberry and black cherry, mixed with earthy tones and cedar notes. nice smokey undertones and a long finish. excellent with the steak, mushroom and smashed potato dish we enjoyed. this is a really nice wine at this price and worth getting a few extra bottles to lay down for a few years.

Tall Horse Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

wow! a new year is here and it seems like forever since i have written anything. i didn't drink very much wine over the holiday, choosing to have other adult beverages for the most part. but this cab was one that i had while dining with family. it comes from south africa and as you know i have written about some very nice wines from this part of the wine world recently. and this one is also a keeper, especially when you consider the price is under $10. the nose is full of black fruits and a little spice. i got a little bit of earth on the nose too. the palate is very fruit forward, with blackberry and black cherry, with spice and a little bit of red licorice. very easy drinking red that goes well with barbeque, pizza, burgers and cheese.

Happy New Year

Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.  

~ Benjamin Franklin