Monte Antico Toscana 2006 - $12

75 % Sangiovese, 15 % Merlot and 10 % Cabernet Sauvignon. A Super tuscan.

David: Light crimson in color. Typical Sangiovese nose with cherry and strawberry and a little earthiness. Medium bodied with lot of acidity and lots of red fruit. Good grippy tannins give it nice structure. Finishes with a little too much acidity.
Score 3.8/5

Castano Hecula Monastrell 2005 - $11

David: Crimson in color. Nose of ripe red cherry, oak, cedar. Medium to full bodied, good acidity. Huge fresh cherry fruit with smooth tannins. Darkens on the long finish with some bitter liquorish notes. Quite delicious and quite the bargain.
Score 4.2/5

Second tasting

David: Dark purling crimson in color. Nose of ripe cherry and red currant. Full bodied, medium acidity. Big cherry and blueberry fruit is very lush and tasty, a little bit sweet. Firm tannins. Fairly long and pleasant finish. Not overly complex but very likable, versatile red.
Score: 4.0/5

Domaine Baumard Savennieres 2005 - $22

Got this for $17 at Whole Foods. Savennieres is an appellation (village really) in the Loire. Wine is made from Chenin Blanc.

David: Straw colored. Nose is nice but subtle. Doesn't exactly jump out of the glass. Pear and chalk dust are apparent. It is more interesting on the palate. Banana is the first thing I tasted, with some other vague grapey flavors. Strikes me as a little strange. Good acidity which seems to pick more near and the wine finishes with a little dry bitterness where the alcohol is a little more apparent. Overall, the wine seems a little disjointed and strange.
Score: 3.5/5

Perrin Reserve Cote du Rhone Blanc 2009 - $10

A Rhone blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier.

David: Light goldenrod in color. Nose of honeyed melon with a hint of lime and minerals. A faint bit of floral aromas from the Viognier. Full bodied and buttery with low acidity. Transitions nicely into a long finish which is dry with some bitterness, somewhat resembling a California chardonnay.
Score 3.8/5

Cortijo Rosado 2008 - $9

Rosado is Rose from Rioja, Spain.

Equal parts Tempranillo and Garnacha.

David: Nose is similar to a high acidity white wine such as a Loire white. Dry on the palate with decent acidity and strawberry notes. Fairly good structure with a pretty long finish.
Score: 3.7/5

Jessica: I really like it but I am busy.
Score: 4.4/5

Chateau de Lugagnac Bordeaux Superieur 2006 - $12

50% Merlot – 40% Cabernet-Sauvignon – 10% Cabernet-Franc.

David: Crimson in color. Seductive nose of black currant, beets and smokey, toasted oak. Some faint asphalt. A little vanilla and maybe cinnamon. Nose takes a while to open up and evolve. Medium to full bodied, medium acidity. On the palate it has some tangy fruit but much more earthy in character. Tannins are very mild and the finish has some bitterness.
Score 3.9/5

Two Oceans Shiraz 2008 - $7

A shiraz from South Africa named after the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

David: Color is light reddish purple. Nose of black cherry, strawberry and vanilla with dusty earth. Medium to light bodied with good acidity and copious amounts of red and black fruit. Tannins are barely noticeable but the tart fruit manages to supply sufficient structure. Finish is a bit quick but pleasant enough. Not terribly complex but for $7 this is quite a bargain.
Score: 3.9/5

Domaine de la Solitude Cotes du Rhone Blanc -2008 - $14

David: Gold in color. Nose of pear, pineapple, coconut. Full bodied, almost oily texture. Buttery with decent acidity and probably not oaked. Possibly some residual sweetness. Pleasant enough if not particularly special.
Score 3.7/5

Croix du Mayne Cahors - 2007 - $11

David: 85% malbec, 15% merlot. Purple in color, typical of malbec. Lovely nose of dark fruit, loamy soil, smoke, violets and spice box. Even a little barnyard mulchiness. Chewy, full bodied sour cherry (sourness lessens with air) on the palate with good acidity. Moderate tannins. Good structure. A fine malbec from Cohors.
Score 4.3/5

Trimbach Pinot Blanc 2006 - $15

David: Gold in color. Nose of honied apple, peach, a little lemon, almond. Smells a bit woody or smoky (though it is unoaked). Full bodied with soft mouthfeel. Bone dry with medium to high acidity. Sharp and bitter almost to the point of harshness though still enjoyable with a long finish.
Score 4.0/5

Quick notes on Wines from Boston trip

Guigal Cotes du Rhone - $11 - Nice nose of red fruit, flowers. Lacks fruit on the palate. Earthy but somewhat watery. Not very impressed. Score 2.8/5

Ridge Zinfandel Three Valleys 2008 Sonoma - $22 - Beautiful Zinfandel blend. Don't remember the details but I liked it a lot. Score 4.3/5