Catena Malbec 2008 - $20

David: Dark purple in color. Nose of blueberry and plum, cedar and pencil lead. Full bodied, medium acidity with concentrated, dark fruits. Pure and delicious with decent tannins a long finish.
Score: 4.1/5

Taltarni Pyrenees Shiraz 2005 - $22

David: Dark purple in color. Nose of ripe plum, rose petal and iron-rich soil. Full bodied. Rich blueberry and raisin fruit with high acidity. Very ripe with big tannins. This might be a good wine to age. Long blueberry finish.
Score: 4.0/5

Balthasar Ress Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Kabinett 2008 - $18

The Christmas Eve Riesling.

David: Light straw in color with hints of green. Nose of grapefruit, peach and minerals with toasted honeycomb. Medium bodied, fairly sweet with enough balancing acidity. Layered fruits: apple, peach and citrus. Long finish. Overall, very nice.
Score: 4.0/5

A Mano Primitivo 2006 - $8

David: Medium purple red in color. Nose of black cherry, root vegetables, violets and pepper and herbs. Full bodied, medium acidity and smooth texture with good black berry fruit. Moderate tannins. Tasty finish. Overall, quite nice and a good value.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: Distinctive tannins; well balanced sweetness with tart and herbal tones. Mild fruit, licorice and lavendar. Very enjoyable.
Score: 4:3/5

Michel Torino Don David Malbec Reserve 2008 -$14

David: Pretty dark red, purple in color. Nose of red currant,blackberry and sour cranberry. A little damp earth and maybe tobacco leaf. Medium bodied. Very sour cranberry fruit dominates and overpowers every other characteristic. Some tannins. Was a little better on the second night but I think the tartness is too overwhelming. Still it is quite well made and interesting.
Score: 3.7/5

Big Terra Red Petite Syrah 2004 - $15

From the Illinois River Winery. Grapes from the Snow Lakes Vineyard, Northern California.

David: Inky, dark purple in color. Nose of dark fruits, blackberry and blueberry and earth. A little leather and baked bread. Medium to full bodied. Low acidity. Subdued blueberry fruit with sufficient tannins. Dry and a little earthy. Moderate length finish. A decent wine overall but lacking a little in structure.
Score: 3.8/5

Stefano Farina Dolcetto d'Alba 2009 - $10

David: A light ruby red. Nose of spruce forest, roses, chocolate and a little fox fur and fresh bread. Medium to light bodied, medium acidity with tart raspberry fruit and under-ripe berries. Heightened acidity in the finish. Overall, a little thin and tart. Not my favorite style but OK.
Score 3.8/5

Tres Pinos Three Pines Cuvee 2009 - $5

A little redundantly named.

David: Medium depth color. Jammy nose with a little foxiness. Fruity but flat on the palate. Lacks structure. Not terrible but completely uninteresting. Designated to be cooking wine.
Score: 2.5/5

Ajello Nero d'Avola 2008 - $11

David: Medium to light brick red in color. Nose of red currant and roses. Medium bodied. Medium to high acidity. Vibrant red fruit is followed by bitter herbs, a bitterness that accelerates into the finish making it less than pleasing.
Score: 3.2/5

Elena Walch Pinot Bianco 2008 - $14

David: Medium gold in color. Intense aroma is rather hard to describe. Maybe lychee or baked apricot tart. Stinky wild flowers with honey? Orchard fruits left out in the sun too long. Medium to full bodied. Moderate acidity. Decent fruit with some grassiness. Good structure. Gets dry and austere toward the end. A little hot. A complex and interesting wine but a little strange.
Score: 3.8/5

Barton & Guestier Vouvray 2008 - $10

A sweet Vouvray, Chenin Blanc.

David: Pale straw in color. Nose of honied pear and maybe peach and some flowers. Full bodied, mouth coating. Quite sweet but with good acidity keeping it interesting and complex. Overall, very tasty.
Score: 4.0/5

Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos 2008 - $12

David: Lovely, bright beet red. Nose offers up ripe red fruit, assorted berries. Exotic blend of spices, rose petal, cocoa and woody aromas. Full bodied with medium acidity. Nice berry fruit and soft but grippy tannins. More interesting aromatically but a pretty tasty wine.
Score: 4.0/5

Domaine Castillon Costieres de Nimes 2007 - $11

David: Medium, red, purple in color. Nose of red currant, a little oak, and violets. Medium bodied, silky texture. High acidity. Red fruits, raspberry. Turns into pomegranate with time. Mild tannins. Medium length finish picks up acidity and a little liquorish. Decent wine. A little boring.
Score: 3.8/5

Domaine les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne Cuvée Maximilien 2009 - $14

50% Grenache, 35% Mourdevre, 10% Syrah, 5% Carignan. From the Cote du Rhone village of Cairanne.

David: A dark beet juice purple in color. The complex nose shows blueberry fruit, loamy soil, graphite, some floral notes, some pepper and spices and baked bread. Full bodied, moderate to low acidity. Totally dry with subdued blueberry, liquorish fruit. Gets a little peppery at the end. The tannins are grippy and powerful and give the ending a fine austerity.
Score: 4.0/5