Firesteed Pinot 2007

• Area: Oregon
• Grape: Pinot Noir
• Alcohol: 12.3%
• Rating: Black C- Dilettante C-

Description: Bright red cherry and vanilla toast make up the pleasant nose. Unfortunately, sipping is a disappointment. Limp notes of red fruit with a hint of coffee was all we could get out of this. Sadly, this is nothing like the 2006. Perhaps this wine is far too subtle for our palates. Of course this is just our opinion. Others could disagree.

Price: $15

Sorry, no photo at this time.

Venta Mazzaron 2006

• Area: Spain, Tierra Delvino de Zamora
• Grape: Tempranillo
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Rating: Black A Dilettante A, The Z A, Qar A, Jason A, Mom A

Description: Everyone I serve this to, loves this wine. It offers up notes of caramel, tobacco, licorice, espresso, spice and loads of succulent black fruit. The Mazzaron is full and lush in the mouth with undertones of vanilla. Great balance and structure, it works equally well with dinner or as a sipper.

Food: Rosemary lamb, grilled ribs marinated in looing sauce, pungent cheeses.

Price: $13 Buy this one again and again....

Georges DuBoeuf Saint-Amour 2009

• Area: France, Saint-Amour
• Grape: Gamay
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black B Dilettante B

Description: Cherry blossoms, violets and herbs make up this lively Beaujolais. Better slightly chilled. No decant.

Price: $10

Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2007

• Area: Italy, Veronese
• Grape: 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese.
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black A- Dilettante A-

Description: About 30% of the fruit is air dried, Amarone style, giving this wine an added dimension of elegance and complexity. The nose has lovely aromas of perfume and espresso. A black licorice attack is immediately followed by elements of stewed fruit, coffee, chocolate and leather. It finishes with a rich burst of cassis. Yummy. Decant for at least 30 minutes to tame and soften any rough edges. We will revisit this one in a year or two and see how it developed.

Price: $17

Crios De Susanna Balbo Malbec 2009

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: Malbec
• Alcohol: 13.9%
• Rating: Black B- Dilettante B

Description: Dark and brooding flavors of spice, purple fruit and black licorice. The Crios has a touch of heat on the finish that dissipates with air. Best decanted for an hour. Another year in the bottle should tame its youthful zeal.

Glass sensitive. If it isn't pleasing out of one glass, try another. Even if the glasses are the same brand, same style and out of the same box.

Price: $13

Previous vintage: 2007

Andezon 2008

• Area: France, Cotes du Rhone
• Grape: 90% Syrah, 10% Grenache
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black C Dilettante C-

Description: Coffee, spice with herbal notes and maybe a little black cherry. So weak on the palate, we weren't sure what was in there. The road tar finish dominates. Unimpressive and rather boring. Decanting for 20 minutes softens the harsh acidity but does little else. Wine Advocate gives this a much better review. We obviously disagree.

Quite different from the 2007.

Price: $11

Sorry, no photo.

Santa Ema Merlot Reserve 2008

• Area: Chile, Maipo Valley
• Grape: Merlot
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black B+ Dilettante B+

Description: Caramel dipped blackberries on the nose. New world in styling, the attack is bright and vibrant. Mocha, vanilla, blackberry and plum flavors give way to a lingering finish of black currents. Nice and smooth in the mouth. Decant for 10 minutes.

The 2008 was a little different than the 2007.

Price: $10 We will probably buy this again. Inexpensive, tasty wines are welcome in these economic times.

Portillo Malbec 2009

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: Malbec
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black B Dilettante B

Description: Aromas of plums and violets with a hint of pool liner. Friendly, fruity and easy going with a spicy finish that gives this wine a Spanish flair. Not too heavy and not too light. Decanting not recommended. It loses something with too much air.

Price: $8 Great buy. We will probably get this one again.

Sorry, no image at this time.

E.Guigal Cotes Du Rhone 2007

• Area: France, Cotes du Rhone
• Grape: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black B- Dilettante C

Description: Leather, spice and some dark fruit, highlighted by a lingering finish. This has a nice mouth feel, unfortunately it lacks in personality. We consider this as an unobtrusive, drinkable table wine. It doesn't compete with food.

Price: $12

Puydeval 2008

Area: France, Languedoc
Grape: 60% Cab Franc, 28% Syrah, 12% Merlot
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: This wine has a depth of character that's better than its price and youth, would suggest. New World in styling, this has thick flavors of plums, vanilla, mulberry, incense and spice . The incredibly long finish is dry with a touch of minerality.


Price: $12

Milbrandt Merlot 2007

• Area: Washington, Columbia Valley
• Grape: Merlot
• Alcohol: 15%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 89
• Description: Very cherry vanilla with a hint of blackberry and spice. Velvety in texture with a lingering vanilla finish. Decanting not required.

Black said, "this is so smooth in the mouth, it's like it's been lubricated."

Price: $13

Ichanka Malbec 2008

• Area: Argentina, Famatina Valley
• Grape: Malbec
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 92 Dilettante 90

Description: Rich and lush and a hint of mocha and spice. Well rounded in the mouth with tons of juicy ripe fruit. The finish is soft and elegant. Great for those nights when balanced simplicity hits the spot. Decanting not required



Price: $11

Adam, my favorite wine consultant, tells me that taste buds of all stripes really like this Malbec. This is another buy again.

Vitiano 2008

• Area: Italy, Umbria
• Grape: Cab Sauv, Sangiovese, Merlot
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: This is a great pizza wine. Actually, I think this is my favorite pizza wine. The nose has elements of black cherry and vanilla ice cream. Ripe mulberries and cherry on the attack with a creamy mouth feel. The lingering finish has a New World brightness that makes it playfully unpretentions. Good balance between light and dark, fruit and dry. Decanting not required.

Price: $8 We will certainly pick this up again for our next wild mushroom and Spanish chorizo pizza.

Santi Solane Ripasso 2006

• Area: Italy, Valpolicella
• Grape: 75% Corvina, 25% Rondinella
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 87 Dilettante 87

Description: New World in styling, this offers notes of vanilla, toast, red fruit, spice, almond and cherry jam. Smooth in the mouth with a spicy attack and an apple tart, lingering finish. Despite this being in the Ripasso style, it had no amarone character whatsoever. After 40 minutes in the decanter it develops a caramel note on the finish.

Price: $12

Monte Antico 2006

• Area: Italy, Toscany
• Grape: 85% Sangivese, 10% Cab Sauv, 5% Merlot
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Rating: Black 89 Dilettante 89

Description: This Super Tuscan has a New World brightness. Elements of cherry, oak, florals and fine tannins make this a friendly, easy going wine. Decanting not required.

Price: $9

Note: Screw top

Chateau De France Pessac Leognan 2003

• Area: France, Pessac-Leognan
• Grape: Cab Sauv 60%, Merlot 40%
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Rating: Black 91 Dilettante 91

Description: So very French aromas of purple flowers, elderberry and espresso beans. Great balance and elegance with a bone dry black currant lift on the finish. Decanting for 20 minutes softens the sharp edges nicely.


Price: $20

Mira Salinas 2006

• Area: Spain, Alicante
• Grape: 65% Monastrell, 25% Cab Sauv, 10% Gaernacha Tintorera
• Alcohol: 15%
• Rating: Black 93/88 Dilettante 93/87

Description: Yes, we each gave this wine 2 numbers. Before I explain why, let me first describe the glorious wine that was worthy of 93 Eclectic points.

I poured it fresh from the bottle.


Vanilla, saddle leather and just a touch of barnyard on the nose. Full, bold fruit attack with lush flavors of black cherry, blueberry, pan drippings, spice, black pepper and buttery oak. Meaty and beautifully balanced in the mouth. The black currant finish was dry and lingering with a touch of spring mint. Ooo, yum.


Then the air hit it.


Like a Kamikaze pilot, it took a sudden and rapid nose dive. One sip it was great, the next sip it was totally limp. What it gained in fruitiness didn't make up for what it lost in complexity and depth. It was still certainly drinkable, but only worthy of an 87.


Do not decant this wine. Avoid disappointment by pouring it for many and drinking it quick.


Price: $23

Beni di Batasiolo 2003

• Area: Italy, Barolo
• Grape: Nebbiolo
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: Herbs, wood and a touch of florals make up the nose. Dark and brooding with a cherry and red currant lift on the finish. We enjoyed this wine even though we thought it was missing something that kept it from being great. Since this was our first experience with the Nebbiolo grape we must revisit it. Decant 15-20 minutes.



Price: $15 (list $44)

Beni di Batasiolo on the web

Punto Final Reserva 2006

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: 99% Malbec, 1% Cab Franc
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 90

Description: The nose offers aromas of blueberry, blackberry, toast and vanilla. Juicy fruit on the attack with a provocative palate of vivid fruit, black currants, chocolate and a tiny hint of butterscotch. The finish is long and dry with notes of black currant and slate. Decanting not required, although air enhances its mature and complex nature. Despite the time spent in oak, it's not overly woody. Yummy.

Price: $16

Note: 50 year vines, ten months in French oak.

Previous vintage: My review for the 2005 can be found here.

Enrique Mendoza Reserva 2003

• Area: Spain, Alicante
• Grape: 70% Cabernet, 30% Syrah
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 90

Description: Red berries, vanilla, menthol, tobacco and a hint of pool liner is soft and supple in the mouth. Nicely balanced with a sweet/tart black currant finish that has light undertones of grass. No decanting required.


Price: $20


Note: Spicy/hot food brings out some sweetness.