Markham Merlot Napa 2006 - $16

David: Dark purply red. Nose is a little strange. Smells almost like a white wine. Peaches, carrot and root beer are evident. Nose was a little more relaxed on the second day with roses and cedar. Full bodied and yummy. Spicy and concentrated plum and raisin. Strong tannins. Good structure. Plummy tasting finish. Liked this better on the second day. Probably better to decant for several hours.
Score: 4.2/5

Li Veli Passamante Salento 2008 - $9

The negroamaro grape from Puglia.

David: Dark ruby red in color. Nose of violets, cedar and spices. Quite floral. Medium to full bodied. Nice cherry fruit with good acidity. Tends toward cranberry especially toward the finish which ends a little overly tart. Mild tannins. Overall, quite nice. Not a bad value.
Score: 3.9/5

Chateau Puech-Haut Prestige 2009 - $17

55% Grenache and 45% Syrah. 93 point Parker!

David: Dark purple in color. Nose has pepper, violets, some Syrah tire smell. Full bodied, good weight. Black fruits, pepper. Strongs tannins. Good structure. Well layered. Good complexity. Finished long. Very nice.
Score: 4.1/5

Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2008 - $20

Produced from younger vines and so is sold cheaper as "Nebbiolo" rather than Barbaresco but still from the Barbaresco region.

David: Light, brick red. Nose is subtle. A little cherry. A little roses. Very faint of mint and dusty earth. Nose seems to get even less noticeable with time. Medium bodied, soft, silky mouthfeel. Concentrated cherry fruit with decent acidity and balance. Some tannins and a soft pleasant finish. Not a knockout but a pleasant wine. A tad too light and a little boring and not worth the price.
Score: 3.8/5

Cataldi Madonna Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2008 - $17

David:
Nose is dominated by minerals and iron with some floral notes and herbs, maybe fennel. Full bodied with plenty of weight. Wonderful red fruits, cherry and raspberry, with great acidity, balance, concentration and structure. Mild tannins. Nice finish. Overall, a very nice wine. Good with food.
Score: 4.1/5

La Bastide Blanche Bandol 2007 - $23

Over 75% Mourvèdre.

Decanted for 2 hours.

David: Dark, inky red. Nose of leather, roses and blueberry. Full bodied, low acidity with modest cherry fruit and chocolate overtones. Quite tannic. Alcohol is prevalent but not over the top. Finishes a little bitter. Quite nice now but the wine should improve significantly over the next few years. Would probably also benefit from several hours of decanting.
Score: 4.0/5

Montebuena Rioja 2009 - $9

100% Tempranillo

David: Garnet colored. Pleasant nose shows raspberry tart, vanilla, new leather, tobacco. Medium bodied. Good acidity. Raspberry and blackberry fruit. A little light on the palate. Doesn't pack a big punch after the initial attack. Pleasant enough but not too impressive.
Score: 3.8/5

Jean Marc Brocard Chablis Domaine Sainte Claire 2008 - $18

David: Deep gold in color. Nose of fig, pear and stinky orchards. Some minerals. A little spice. Medium bodied. Good acidity.
Score: 4.0/5

Elegantia Cotes du Rhone Valley Selections 2009 - $9

We tried the very nice Gigondas from this producer a week ago.

David: Purple/red in color. Nose is distinctive grenache, with some sweet vanilla, chocolate and spices. Full bodied. Ripe raspberry compote on the palate. Juicy, fruit bomb. However, a little lacking in structure. Finish adds some pepper and some bitters. Overall, a decent wine and decent value but no where near as nice as the Gigondas though at half the price, that isn't surprising.
Score: 3.9/5

Penfolds Thomas Hyland Shiraz 2008 - $14

David: Dark purple, almost black in color. Nose of dark fruits, baking spices, earth and perfumy floral notes. Full bodied with moderate acidity. Good weight. Blueberry and plum fruit. Quite concentrated yet not overly fruity. Almost mellow. Acidity picks up a little on the end. Tannins not too dominant. Solid finish. Good with pasta and probably good with food in general. A gentler wine than the Wolf Blass we had last.
Score: 4.1/5

Wolf Blass Shiraz President's Selection 2008 - $18

David: Completely opaque, black purple. Nose smells like a burning tire. A really extreme shiraz burnt nose. Full bodied. Little fruit. Like biting into a piece of black liquorish, beef jerky. Huge tannins. Some spice. Long finish. Clearly a well made wine but it is a little over the top for my tastes. A shiraz made in the extreme-shiraz way. The wine actually drank better on the second day. The nose lost the burnt tire and it became more likable.
Score: 4.1/5

Elegantia Gigondas Rhone Valley Selection 2009 - $19

A mystery wine. Can't find much info on it.


David: Medium purple in color. Nose of flowers, roses and violets with black currant and blackberry fruit. Aromas of stone and steel with a little forest floor as well and peppery spice and that distinctive Rhone grenache aroma. The nose is good but the wine really excels on the palate. Starts with an explosion of concentrated blackberry fruit with wonderful acidity balance. Then it adds pepper and spice and good tannins. Finally picks up with liquorish. All these blend together in a long and delicious finish.
Score: 4.3/5

Chateau Les Gravieres Saint Emilion 2008 - $22

100% Merlot.

David: Dark purple red. Nose of concentrated red fruits, graphite, berries, some floral tones. Medium to full bodied. Lots of acidity. Cranberry and blackberry fruit. Strong tannins. Well layered with a nice juicy finish. Good stuff.
Score: 4.2/5

Selection Laurence Feraud Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret 2007 - $17

90% Grenache and 10% Syrah.

David: Medium purple red. Nose of roses and lavender, red fruits, a little cranberry and oak. Spritzy mouthfeel. Medium bodied. Good well layered fruits get a little jammy and some coco. Some bitter notes. Good complexity. Strong tannins. Long finish. Very nice.
Score: 4.1/5

David Bruce Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands 2008 - $18

David: Deep yellow. Nose of freshly cut wood, tangerine, mango, creamsicle. Medium bodied. Good structure and balance. Not too heavy. Not too much alcohol. Solid finish.
Score: 4.1/5

Bogle Petite Syrah 2008 - $9

David: Dark purple. Nose of cedar, smoke, briary blackberry, almond. Full bodied. Good weight and structure with dense fruit, good acidity and powerful tannins with good finish. Another great bargain from Bogle.
Score: 4.1/5

Ninety Plus French Fusion Lanquedoc 2008 - $15

David: Medium purple in color. Nose of blackberry, petunias, sweet oak, a little spice maybe nutmeg. Has what I call nose-texture. Full bodied with low acidity. Blackberry, blueberry fruit. Decent structure. Could use perhaps a bit more acidity. Strong tannins. Layers nicely into liquorish or anise with some pepper.
Score: 3.9/5

Chehalem 3 Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009 - $20

David: Medium depth, ruby red in color. Nose is nice, cherry and baking spices, some oaky overtones but not overly aromatic. Medium bodied, with good cherry fruit, good weight and good acidity balance. Layered tastes. Silky mouthfeel with some tannins. Finish is solid with a little liquorish and mild spice.
Score: 4.1/5

Damilano Nebbiolo d'Alba 2008 - $14

David: Light, red brick in color. Nose of roses, cherry and some earthy latex smell. Light to medium bodied. Decent acidity and structure. Cherry fruit with dry liquorish. Light tannins. Good finish. Overall, pretty good, well made but kinda light for me.
Score: 3.8/5

Pacific Rim Wallula Vineyard Riesling 2007 - $15

David: Light gold in color. Nose of white flowers, pineapple and some minerals. Medium to full bodied, with big citric acid, big peach, lime fruit. Nice purity and good structure. Sweetness is not very apparent behind the acidity. Overall, I think the citrus gets carried away. Not a style that I really like.
Score: 3.8/5