Lan Rioja Crianza 2005 - $10

100% Tempranillo. 12 month in French and American oak.

David: Light crimson in color. Nose is red currants, cherry, berries with wood characteristics such as sweet vanilla, cedar and a hint of cinnamon as well as violets. Also some earthy undertones, perhaps black tea or asphalt. Medium bodied, with good acidity throughout and some sourness giving it plenty of structure even with little or no tannins. Copious fruit on the palate. Mild spiciness. Long pleasant finish. A very tasty wine and a great value.
Score 4.2/5

Casal Garcia Vihno Verde Branco- $7

Vihno Verde is a Portuguese wine. Casal Garcia is made from four grapes: Trajadura, Loureiro, Arinto and Azal.

David: Color is dirty diamond, slight tint of green. Tiny bubbles that could almost pass for sediment swirl around. The nose reminds me right away of Muscadet. The same minerally smell with notes of green apple and lime acidity. The same flavors on the palate too. The wine has some slight effervescence of which I am neutral. I find it a little distracting. But it lessens as the bottle is opened a while or perhaps when it warms in the glass. Nice acidity and tart fruit. Note quite as expressive as the nice Muscadets we had a few months ago but still very nice and this is half the price. Would be great with seafood.
Score 3.9/5

Jade Mountain La Provencale Red Wine 2008 - $16

A Rhone style red wine from California. Blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignane.

David: Purple in color. Nose of raspberry and black cherry with smoke, herbs, definitely the smell of Grenache. Luscious black cherry fruit on the palate with sufficient acidity and lovely firm tannins to give it good structure. A little spice from the Syrah is evident and a bit of sour cherry. A tasty finish.
Score 4.2/5

Clos la Coutale Cohors 2007 - $15

80% Malbec and 20% Merlot from the Cohors region of France.

David: Lovely dark purple color. Gorgeous big nose (its best feature) of dark fruit, plums, berries, spice box, sage, soil, leather and some floral notes. Medium bodied, moderate acidity. Velvety texture with a little spice kick. Not quite as fruity or expressive on the mid-palate as the nose would suggest but tasty enough. Moderate tannins. A little heat but OK. Ends on blueberries but finish is a little quick. Overall, quite nice.
Score 4.1/5

Domaine de la Colline St. Jean Vacqueryas 2007 - $20 (Our one hundredth wine!)

David: Dark purple in color. Nose of black current, spice box. Very gamy. Full bodied. Rich concentrated dark fruit on the palate with lots of black pepper. Blackberry liquor. Chocolate, plums. Big chewy tannins. Lots of spicy notes. Syrupy. Subdued acidity.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: Our 100th wine. It was dark and dramatic with bold flavors of spice and strong tannins. Hit the palate with a prominant smokey and spicy mixture. Dark fruits evident. Not overly fruity however. Went well with sausage. A fabulous wine with meat.
Score: 4.4/5

Chateau Haut Sarthes Blanc 2008 - $9

David: From Montravell near Bordeaux. 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon and 10% Muscadell. Bright yellow in color. Highly viscous, leaves tears on the glass. Nose of minerals, honeyed melon, white peach, flowers, coconut and chalk dust. Very nice aromas. Great acidity gives this lots of structure. Fruity but tart. Long layered finish. Very nice and a very good value.
Score 4.1/5

Jessica: An easy drinking white that has soft fruity tones and a nice balance of acid. Strong nose and good distribution of flavors and astringency.
Score: 4.2/5

Campo Viejo Reserva 2004 - $12

David: A Spanish Rioja. Color is light crimson.Nose is somewhat subdued. Some red currant and red cherry fruit. Forest floor. Cinnamon. Vanilla. Maybe hazelnut. Something resembling rubber. Full bodied and velvety smooth. Nice red fruit on the palate with good acidity balance. A little bit of sourness. Well layered as red fruits become darker with some bitterness as the wine reveals more nuances. A little bit of heat but not bad. Smooth tannins. Fairly long finish.
Score 4.1/5

Altos Las Hormigas 2009 - $9

David: A malbec from Mendoza. Deep purple in color. Big fruity nose of red raspberry and blackberry, violets, herbs, sweet vanilla and a little menthol. Full bodied. Low acidity, layered fruits with some spice. No real tannins. High alcohol is evident throughout and is a little distracting. Finish is quite hot, not exactly pleasant.
Score: 3.5/5

Jessica: Mild overall. Fruits were blueberry and blackberry with a subtle caramel finish. Overall impression was underwhelming, uninspired.
Score: 3.6/5

Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2006 - $21

David: Monsanto makes some extremely expensive Italian wines. This Chianti Classico is one of their cheapest offerings. 90% Sangioveto (a particular clone of Sangiovese) and 10% Canaiolo and Colorino Decanted for about an hour. Color is a very dark crimson. Nose of ripe black cherry, herbs, tobacco and mint. A little smoke. The nose continues to open up and reveal more nuances. Now some vanilla. Now some wet fur. After a while it reminded me a bit of Amarone. Big black cherry fruit on the palate, with good acidity and good structure. Silky tannins with just a tad of spice. The fruit also changed a bit with aeration and revealed some berry fruit. Nice finish. Overall, quite delicious. Didn't want it to end.
Score 4.4/5

Jessica: Wine with ummph. Dark fruits, strong tannins, smoke and tobacco nose. Dark color. A full-bodied and heavy wine. Would have gone well with the pulled pork if it had been cooked correctly, though pulled pork is probably better with a nice lager. This wine, on the other hand, would pair nicely with a hearty snacking cheese such as a Gouda or Parrano. Liked it. Drank more than I should.
score: 4.4/5

Onix Priorat 2008 - $16

David: A blend of 50% Grenacha and 50% Cariñena (Carignan in France) from the harsh rocky Priorat region of Spain. Crimson/purple in color. Big nose of fresh cherry, raspberry and some herbs. Big red fruit follows on the palate with moderate acidity but a decent amount of spice. Fine tannins. Pretty good complexity. Some bitter notes on the finish as well as blueberry and lavender. Overall, a fresh, fruity and delicious wine.
Score: 4.2/5

Jessica: Deep, purple, succulent. Juicy, strong full nose. Lingering complexity and depth. Long finish. Mild astringency, could use a bit more on the tannins and acid balance. Dark fruits. Yum.
Score: 4.5/5

Domaine Pierre de la Grange (Luneau-Papin) Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Vieilles Vignes 2008 - $14

David: This is the third Muscadet that we have tried. The others were the Domaine de la Pepiere and the Domaine Herbauges Clos de la Fine .

These wines were all similar. The same big nose of citrus and minerals. The same chalky, salty tastes. This one however seemed a little bit more expressive than the others. Full bodied, prickly mouthfeel (especially with food). The other two seemed a bit more subtle. The nose on this one is really huge. The distinct aromas, lemon and brine leap from the glass. These wines are all about acidity but balanced with some fruit and plenty of minerals. There are multiple layers to it with the long finish getting somewhat bitter and austere but beautiful. Went wonderful with chicken cooked in butter with terragon sauce, mushroom risotto and broccoli.
Score 4.2/5

Jessica:
This wine was delicious. A distinct mineral taste, a tiny hint of lime but no other fruit. A slight saltiness but the dry, full-bodied white gave rise to some subtle tastes of herbs, olives and artichoke. Strong nose. Best chilled.
4.4/5

Di Majo Norante Contado Aglianico 2005 - $12

David: 100% Aglianico from Molise Italy. Crimson in color. Nose is a bit subtle. Black current, crushed stone, oak, herbs and pomegranate. Delicious big black current, blackberry fruit on the palate with good acidity, a bit of spice. Juicy. Nicely balanced with good structure. Moderate tannins. Nice finish.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: Light nose; medium bodied. Fruity mix of dark and red fruits. Well balanced. Medium tannins. Good length. A very easy-going wine all around, would go well to wash down with pasta.
Score: 4.0/5

Masi Amarone Wine Tasting a Binnys

Meet Tony Apastolokos, North American director for Masi, who will conduct a seminar showcasing the classic and unique process of vinification of Amarone. You will sample one single cru Ripasso: Brolo Di Campofiorin, and four single cru Amarone's: Costasera, Vaio Armaron, Campolongo Di Torbe and Mazzano.

All these wines are made by Masi in the Veneto region of Italy.

Tasting notes:

Masi Masianco 2006 -$12 - A white wine. Blend of Pinot Grigio and Verduzzo. Nice yellow color. Spectacular nose. White peach, lemon oil, minerals, oak, flowers. Full bodied. Creamy texture. Decent acidity and well balanced. Tastes like an expensive white burgundy. Hazelnut finish. Fantastic value.
Score 4.3/5

Masi Brolo de Campofiorin 2006 - $25 - A red Amarone. Garnet in color. Nose of coffee grounds, rose petals and plums. Opulent fruit. Chocolate and black cherry fruit. Nicely layered with good tannins and a long finish.
Score: 4.1/5

Masi Costasera 2006 - $60 - (Pictured) A red Amarone. Dark purple in color. Nose of chocolate covered plums, tobacco, coffee and menthol. Wonderful, opulent black cherry and plum fruit with excellent layering and complexity. Great tannins. Botrytis gives it the slight sensation of sweetness despite it being completely dry. Some cinnamon and liquorish on the finish. A spectacular wine.
Score 4.6/5

Masi Serego Alighieri 2003 - $75 - A red Amarone. This one aged in cherry wood and this gives it flavors and aromas of cherry and cedar. Cigar and herbs. Chocolate covered cherry on the palate. Some port-like oxidization. Big tannins and complex structure with plenty of wood characteristics. High alcohol.
Score 4.5/5

Masi Campolongo di Torbe Amarone 2001 - $160 - Older and more port-like than the rest. Browner in color. Figgy and spicy. Flavors of almond. Big tannins and big sturcture like the rest.
Score 4.3/5

Masi Mazzano 2001 - $185 - More purple than brown. Nose of plums and molasses and chocolate. Black cherry fruit with smoked meats, spice and strong tannins.
Score 4.4/5

Nelm's Road Merlot 2007 - $21

David: Dark crimson in color. Big nose of rich, ripe red cherry, berries, vanilla. Fox fur, maybe shoe polish. Big opulent fruit on the palate. Moderate acidity. Strong tannins. Some spice. Good structure and complexity. Lots of sediment. Solid finish with some heat.
Score 4.1/5

Jean Max Roger Sancerre Cuvee G C - 2006 - $19

David: Bright gold in color. Gorgeous nose of honeyed mellon and minerals. Some muskiness. Acidity and fruit are wonderfully balanced. Complex layers of fruit. Even a bit of spiciness or herbaceous notes. Overall a beautiful wine. Went nice with barbeque chicken.
Score: 4.4/5

Jessica: seemingly light. Fragrant nose with flowers and mild herbs. Crisp and fresh. Delicious.
Score: 4.3/5

Alto Almanzora Este 2007 - $8

David: A red blend from Andalucia Spain. 45% Monastrell, 25% Tempranillo, and the rest syrah, garnacha, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon. Crimson tending toward purple. Medium depth of color. Fantastic nose has black cherry, red currant, smoke, spice box, coffee and vanilla. Nice black fruit on the palate, decent acidity. Gets spicy quickly. Medium tannins. Nice structure and balance. Ends on dark fruit notes, some bitterness and a little heat. Pretty nice and a good value.
Score 4.0/5

De Bortoli Merlot 2006 - $6

David:
Light purple in color. Pinot-like, cherry nose. High acidity and tart cherry define this wine. Good and cheap, food wine. Not complex but has sufficient structure to keep it interesting. Soft tannins. Some spice. Some cola on the finish.
Score: 3.8/5

Jessica:
Juicy and sweet. A touch of vanilla. Palatable, rounded and balanced.
Score: 3.9

Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2008 - $8

David: Yellow in color. Nose of flowers and tropical fruit and of course oak. Very soft mouthfeel. High alcohol but not harsh. Overall, a nice, likeable, low-priced Chardonnay.
Score: 3.9/5

Jessica: Solid no frills chard. Did the job. Crisp with subtle fruits. Oak present but not overwhelming. Easy summer drinking wine.
Score: 3.8/5

Plume Bleue 2007 - $10

David: This french VDP is 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. Light crimson/purple in color. Nose is weak and pretty hard to detect. Red fruits. Some of that distinctive grenache smell and maybe crushed rock, minerally aromas. Decent acidity and pretty good strawberry, plum fruits followed by soft tannins. Finishes with some bitterness that is interesting and not unpleasant. Overall, I like the wine but it is subtle and not especially exciting.
Score: 3.7/5

Domaine du Bouscat, Cuvee la Gorgone 2006 - $16

David: A Bordeaux blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 18% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep purple in color. Nose is earthy more than fruity with leather, black fruit and violets, a hint of menthol. Opens up a bit after a while. Full bodied and dense. Not overly fruity or acidic. A bit hollow on the mid palate. Mild tannins. Finish is decent but not especially attractive. Overall,the wine is good but not a stand out.
Score 3.5/5

Jessica: Peppery and leather in the nose. Initially a strong nose but eventually became more subdued. Full-bodied, but easy going down due to the low-impact tannins. Nothing about this wine really stood out that much. It was good, but not great.
Score: 3.8/5