St. Christopher Gewurztraminer Rheinhessen 2008 - $9

David: Our first Gewerztraminer. This one is from Germany. Pale straw in color. Nose fairly weak. Very sweet. Apples are the obvious impression with perhaps a bit of lemon oil. Decent acidity but not enough to neutralize the sweetness. Low alcohol (10%). Tastes somewhat bland. Surely we can find better examples of Gewerztraminer.. Should try some from Alsace especially dry ones.
Score 3.0/5

Jessica: This wine was crisp with mild acidity and a dominating sweet taste. The fruits were apples and some citrus. Not much nose or depth. This wine was best served cold, otherwise the taste soured slightly.
Score: 3.8/5

Calina Carmenere Reserva 2008 - $9

David: From Chile. A blend of 80% Carménère, 12% Merlot, 5% Syrah and 3% Cabernet. Carménère is a grape indigenous to Bordeaux but was practically wiped out in the Phylloxera plague in 1867. Fortunately, cuttings were transferred to Chile where it is prevalent today.

Dark, magenta in color. Huge nose of red currants, herbs, leather and vanilla. Medium to low acidity and vibrant fruits: cherry and raspberry. Medium bodied. Some tart flavors reminiscent of gamay. Silky tannins and a solid finish.
Score: 3.9/5

Vin de Pays d'Oc Les Dames De Ricardelle Viognier - 2008 - $12

David: Green, gold in color. Nose indicates oak and honeyed peach. Full bodied. Highly acidic and bone dry. Crisp, grassy notes are present. Acidity doesn't let up into the finish which ends in grapefruit.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: Pale color, smells like a chardonney due to oakiness. Crisp fruits like green apples present. Thin taste and texture. Refreshing and tart.
Score: 3.9/5

Layer Cake Shiraz 2008 - $14

David: Purple in color. Nose of spice box, coffee and ripe dark fruits. Full body and rich mouthfeel. Low acidity. Ripe plums and black cherry. Firm tannins. Long chewy finish. Blackberry liquor lingers in the mouth.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: Delicious shiraz. Jammy full-bodied taste, long finish that saturates your mouth with dark fruits. Very ripe fruits, well balanced tannins. Hint of earthiness and graphite.
Score: 4.2/5

Prima Mano Primitivo - 2006 - $14

From the Salento Peninsula in Puglia, the heel of the boot of Italy. The wine is grown in red sand vineyards on the coast of the Ionian sea. The Italian "Primitivo" gets its name because it ripens early but the grape is genetically identical to Zinfandel.

Jessica: Strong tannins, jammy aftertaste with dark fruits. Well balanced acidity, this is a beautiful, full-bodied wine, dark magenta in color. Some stoney mineral elements present.
Score: 4.4/5

David: Rich, purple-red in color. Nose of herbs, lavender and graphite on top of rich dark fruits. Maybe a faint whiff of cocoa. Ripe, blackberry and blueberry fruit dominate. A full bodied chewy texture. Medium acidity and massive tannins. A very enjoyable wine is great alone or with food.
Score 4.3/5

La Granacha Cotes du Rhone Villages Vieilles Vignes - 2008 - $14

David: Granache. Garnet in color. Nose indicates dried herbs and red and black fruits. Vibrant ripe fruits, black cherry and raspberry with nice acidity, balanced perfectly with smooth tannins. Other earthy flavors are evident. Overall, very yummy. Still have my cold. Revisit this one later.
Score: 4.2/5

Jessica:
Mild nose. Tannins appropriate. Somewhat a syrupy cherry flavor. Overall this wine felt like it lacked sparkle. Fell flat for me.
3.5/5

Confluence , by McKinley Springs 2007 - $14

David: From Horse Heaven Hills, Washington State. 77% Chenin Blanc and 23% Viognier. This wine is semisweet and reminiscent of Sauterne but lighter. Pale straw in color with greenish tints. Nose has apples, minerals and some citrus with oak and honey. Thick mouthfeel. Acidity balances the sweetness perfectly. High alcohol so gets a little hot when warmed. Better served chilled. Went well with chicken in creme sauce. (Disclosure: I still have a cold)
Score: 4.2/5

Jessica: Crisp with green apples. Pale straw hue. Sweet tones as it warmed. Full-bodied. I agree it was better at a cooler temp. Strong alcohol.
Score: 4.3/5

Our top wine list so far

Here is a list of the top 11 wines that we have rated. All these are rated 4.0 or greater by both of us and then we rank them by a formula that takes the average rating and price into account.

Terranoble Pinot Noir - Chile - $12
Hughes Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet 2008 - $10
Domaine de la Janasse Bussiere - 2007 - $15
Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2007 - $15
Georges Duboeuf Morgon Domaine Jean Descombes 2008 - Beaujolais - $13
Michele Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti Superiore "Le Orme" 2007 - $13
Les Jamelles Pinot Noir Vin de Pays d'Oc 2008 - $10
Crios de Susana Balbo 2007 - Cabernet Sauvignon - $13
Maipe Malbec 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina - $9
Punto Final Malbec Classico 2008 -$12
Senorio de Barahonda Nabuko 2007 - Spanish Red Blend - $15

Marquis Philips Merlot 2008 - $13

David: An Australian Merlot from the Marquis Philips which is the same winery that produced the shiraz that we tried the other day. The color is purple. The nose indicates raspberries and plums which is consistent with the taste. Well balanced. Firm tannins with just a bit of spice and blackberry liquor. The flavor reminds me very much of the Yalumba Shiraz Viognier that we had two weeks ago which is also from Australia. I wonder which flavor that is exactly, viognier perhaps?
Score: 3.8/5

Jessica: Dark fruits, almost syrupy blueberry and blackberries come across. The color is a deep purple and the nose is reflective of the dark fruits. I enjoyed the full bouquet and body of this wine. Long finish; tannins not overpowering.
Score: 4.1/5

Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Pinot Noir - 2008 - $17

Jessica: This pinot was a medium pink in color, similar to a rose. Seemed almost like a watered down version of the more full-bodied variety I prefer. It seems like it would do well while sitting outside in the sun on a summer day, but less so hitting the mark on a mid-march evening. Light in composition with raspberry and strawberry fruits, tart, no tannins evident. A hint of an herb, maybe thyme or lavender is present.
Score: 3.8/5

David: A pinot from Marlborough, New Zealand. Light brick red with tints of orange. A typical pinot, cherry nose. Decent acidity. Bright strawberry and cherry flavors. Fun to swish around in the mouth. Silky tannins and a pleasant finish. Better served a bit chilled.
Score: 3.9

Il Faggeto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Pietra del Diavolo- 2006- $23

David: Sangiovese 90%,Colorino 5%, Mammolo 5%. From Tuscany.

Garnet in color. Nose has old leather, violets and cedar. Tangy red fruits, full body. Some earthiness. Silky tannins are very powerful, come on quickly and dominate until the end.
Score: 3.8/5

Jessica: Smokey herbs and leather nose. Mild flowery scent, Medium tannis--mild, chewy. Overall a subtle wine, palatable, tasty.
Not overly remarkable.
Score: 3.9/5

Marquis Philips Shiraz 2006 - $9 (half-bottle)

David: Dark garnet in color. A big nose brings a great variety of aromas including dried herbs, baking spices, earth, cedar, tar and rich dark fruits. Concentrated black cherry and black raspberry and molasses on the palate. Mild acidity and firm tannins. Ends with blueberry syrup, liquorish and spice.
Score: 3.9/5

Hughes Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet 2008 - $10

David:
Picpoul is a variety of white grape. Picpoul de Pinet is an AOC designation from the appellation Languedoc-Roussillon (France). Goldenrod in color with greenish highlights. Light body and low alcohol evident from the beads and lack of legs on the glass. Nose of green apple and grapefruit. Medium acidity and light mouthfeel. Dry and not too fruity with minerals. Delicious in it simplicity. Went great with shrimp and bow-tie pasta with broccoli. Got nicer as it warmed from fridge temperature. I could drink this very often and can afford to as well.
Score: 4.3/5

Jessica:

Hard to comment accurately on b/c the first glass I had was right out if the fridge. In my last glass the wine had a chance to warm and mellow and it was much better. A deeper sweetness apparent, some caramel flavors, the fruits were of apple and citrus. Delicious and refreshing.
Score 4.5/5

Chapoutier Cotes du Rhone Belleruche 2006 - $10

David: Garnet in color. Vibrant nose of red fruits with coffee or cola. Medium acidity, medium bodied with delicious cherry and strawberry on the palate. Silky tannins come on quickly and carry the wine into a solid finish. Very pleasant and versatile wine.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: This wine was nice but not particularly memorable.
Score: 3.5/5

Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Indian Wells 2007 - $14

David:
A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah and 1% Malbec. Purply red in color. Nose has dark fruit, vanilla and spice box, maybe leather. Light acidity, full bodied with black cherry and berries. Fine tannins are followed by blackberry jam which lingers into a long pleasant finish. Similar in a way to the Hess we drank recently but (unsurprisingly given the price difference) not quite as good, but very pleasant nonetheless. Low acidity makes it fun to squish around in mouth.
Score: 4.1/5

Jessica:
Delightfully robust wine, dark fruits evident in nose, slight bark, earthy scent. Long finish, jammy. Drank this happily.
4.2/5

Yalumba Shiraz Viognier 2007 - $11

David: Yalumba uses Viognier, a white grape, added to Shiraz to create this wine. Nose of ripe plum, cedar, and coffee. Plums, plums, plums on palate, ripe and rich with a hint of spice. Fine, subtle tannins layer well against the ripeness and high acidity.
Score: 3.9/5

Jessica: Blackberries flavor the wine along with graphite and spice. A mild vanilla layer included. Dark purple. Mild tannins. Instantly enjoyable sloshiness with long finish.
4.2/5

Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - 2009 - New Zealand - $13

David: Light straw in color with green highlights. Bell pepper is unmistakable on the nose. Peach, tropical fruit and lime are also evident. Medium bodied with a little sweetness. Alive with acidity which perks up considerable in the long finish.
Score: 4.1/5

Jessica: Initially sharp with strong citrus tones. Pale gold in color. Nice bouquet but the flavor does not match. Sweetness present but not overpowering.
3.9/5

Domaine les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône Cuvée les Trois Soeurs 2007 - $14

David: 65% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Carignan. Nose reveals black cherry and black currants with spice box. Full bodied. Black cherry and dark fruits dominate on the palate with strong acidity and the familiar taste of the grenache grape. Bold tannins come on strong and go on a long way accompanied with spice. Tends towards tartness at the long ending and leaves a bit of liquorish. This took a while to open up and become more enjoyable.
Score: 3.7/5

Jessica: Found this wine too harsh and sour. Not a fan at all. Normally I do like the grenache but in this wine I did not get the sweet fruits that I normally have found. The darker fruits are present but do not shine above the bitter tannins. Spice in the nose. Did not like.
Score 2/5

Hess Collection Mount Veeder Cabernet 2006 - Napa Valley - $36

David:
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 1% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. A mountain wine with flavors of mountain berries. Fragrant nose of dark fruit, coffee, vanilla and hint of graphite. Tender on front of the mouth with low acidity. Rich currant and berry flavor on the palate followed by super-smooth and well integrated tannins. Continues to a very long, nicely layered finish with boysenberry and liquorish essence. A beautiful wine.
Score: 4.7/5

Jessica: This wine had a delicious bouquet, inviting nose containing fruits and vanilla. A subtle metallic essence present. Deep, complicated and a very satisfying length. Tannins not too bitter. Good with meats and cooked vegetables; contrasted unfavorably with a salad with a vinegar dressing and tomatoes.
Score: 4.7/5

d'Arenberg - The Stump Jump Shiraz 2008 - $10

David: Garnet red. Nose of raspberries. Powerful Dark fruit, raspberries and
black currants on the palate with rich tannins and moderate spice and
moderate acidity.
Score: 3.8/5

Jessica: This wine took a little bit to open up. At first it tasted harsh and astringent. Then it opened up revealing fruits and a mild sweetness. Some spice.
4.1/5