Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Bourgueil Alouettes Cabernet Franc 2008 - $13

A Cab Franc from the Loire region. Yes, they make reds in the Loire. Who knew?

David: Medium to light red/magenta in color. Nose of red currant, rose garden. Medium to light bodied. Racy acidity. Tart, cherry, raspberry fruit. Good structure but simple and light. Nice grippy tannins. Pleasant finish. Quite different from the big ripe, reds from regions with more sunshine. Defintely well made. Interesting to try these different styles.
Score: 3.8/5

Aia Vecchia Lagone 2007 - $15

A blend of cabernet, merlot and cab franc.

David: Dark crimson. Nose has flowers, maybe violet, cranberry, leather and sweet oak. Medium bodied with strong acidity layered on top of delicious blueberry/raspberry fruit. Silky tannins and the acidity and the copious fruit give it excellent structure and enough complexity. Nice long, fruity finish.
Score 4.1/5

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Costieres de Nimes les Galets Rouges 2007 - $14

78% Syrah and the rest Grenache, Mourvedre, and Carignan. From Nimes in Languedoc, the south of France.

David: Dark purplish red in color. Amazing nose of ripe red currant and blackberry, garrigue, floral aromas. Also some oaky tones with even a bit of cinnamon and spruce forest. Full bodied, with heavy glycerin mouthfeel. Fruity with good acidity balanced amazingly well layered with darker earthier notes. Soft tannins. Transitions well into darker more bitter flavors on the back end with a long finish. Excellent wine and a good value. I was surprised a bit on finding out that this has so much syrah since it doesn't have much spiciness or typical syrah flavors. I guessed it was mostly grenache.
Score: 4.2/5

Chapoutier Bila Haut Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2008 - $13

David: Color is medium purple. Interesting nose of red currants, a bready pastry aroma and some crush rock minerality. A tiny bit of balsamic vinegar with cracked pepper. Medium bodied with low acidity. Blueberry and cherry fruit is somewhat muted and turns into pepper with firm but soft tannins. Finishes with stale black liquorish, pepper and some bitterness. An interesting wine and quite different from the usual fruit-bomb variety.
Score: 3.9/5

Finca El Portillo Malbec 2008 - $9

A Malbec From Mendoza

David: Dark purple in color. Expressive nose with black and red currant, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and (perhaps a bit too much) sweat oak. Full bodied, medium acidity. Good fruit but not a fruit bomb. A little spice. Overall, nice and balanced. Soft tannins. Finishes more with earth, a little bitterness but less overall taste. Seemed to get a little better with air/time. Doesn't knock your socks off but a pretty solid wine and a good value.

Score: 3.9/5

InZinerator, Scott Harvey 2006 - $15

David: Color is light purple. Typical zin nose: black briary fruit, lots of oaky vanilla, a little muchiness. The sweetness comes through even on the nose. Very syrupy sweet on the palate. Full bodied. Low acidity. Huge fruit. Big tannins. Just too sweet for me.
Score 3.2/5

Illinois River Winery Claret - $19

A non-vintage wine made by a local winery. Made from a grape called
Noiret or NY73 indigenous to New York State.

David: Light magenta in color. A little effervescence is made evident by a few bubbles. Raspberries, boysenberries jump at you on the nose. Smells like berry soda pop. Not very wine-like. Very acidic. Medium bodied. Tastes somewhat like berry soda pop too. Aged in French Oak but I can't pick out many oak characteristics due to the prominent tart fruit. Finishes very tart.

Overall, not impressed. Interesting to try new grape varieties but this is not my cup of tea.
Score: 3.3/5

Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 - $20

Got this on sale for $11.

David: Color is medium dark, purplish red. Just like the last two wines, the nose is red currant with a little toasted oak and slight sour cherry. Some violets. A hint of mulchy stinkiness. Lush red fruit on the palate, cherry lollipop. Silky soft mouthfeel with mild tannins. Medium to low acidity. A little boring. Worth the sale price, not the full price.
Score 3.8/5

Falesco Vitiano 2008 - $9

We tried the 2007 before and found it quite good.

David: Light purplish red. The nose is distinctly red currant mixed with sour cherry and some oak characteristics. Medium bodied, decent acidity. Round tannins. Sour cherry fruit comes on quickly. However after that, it goes a little flat. Not enough structure. The finish is a bit dull. A decent wine but becomes a little simplistic, especially on the back end. Definitely inferior to the 2007 that we had.
Score 3.8/5

Domaine Seguinot Bordet Chablis 2008 - $16

Our first Chablis.

David: Color is pale yellow. Delicate nose of honey, peach and creamy oyster shell minerality. Delicious on the palate. Medium bodied with lively acidity. Honeyed melon, green apple fruit. Good balance. Good finish. I think I will like this style.
Score: 4.1/5

Trinchero Merlot 2007 - $26

Got this Napa merlot half off on the sale rack at Meijer.

David: Purple red in color. This merlot is very similar to the previous $9 merlot from Bordeaux. Nose of red currant, herbs, vanilla, rubbery earthiness. Full bodied, red currant fruit, median acidity. Fruit bomby. Silky texture, soft but powerful tannins. Decent finish. A tasty though fairly ordinary merlot. Not that much better than the previous $9 wine. Easily worth the discount price but not the full one which is typical of Napa wines.
Score: 3.9/5

Chateau Mylord Bordeaux Superieur 2008 - $9

Probably mostly merlot.

David: Vibrant, cherry red color. A nice nose showing pure, fresh red currants. Rose petal, thyme. A faint whiff of rubbery, inner tube earthiness. A touch of vanilla. Medium bodied. Silky smooth texture. Good acidity. Simple structure, not much tannins. Showing cranberry fruit, darkening a little into a more liquorish, blue fruit finish. Pretty likable wine on the cheap.
Score: 3.9/5