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

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

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

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.

Lawrence Feraud Seguret 2007

• Area: France, Cotes du Rhone Villages
• Grape: 90% Grenache, 10% Syrah
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 86 Dilettante 85

Description: This wine is difficult to specifically pin down because it continuously morphs as it airs. The first sip is different from the 3rd, the 10th and the last. Generally speaking, it has a tantalizing perfume nose. Round in the mouth with notes of licorice, lavender, spice and dark fruits. Sweet tannins on a lingering finish are reminiscent of cherry Robitussin. Decanting not recommended.


Price: $15

Villa Pillo Borgoforte 2007

• Area: Italy, Toscana
• Grape: Merlot, Sangiovese, Cab Sauv
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Rating: Black 91 Dilettante 90

Descripton: This Super Tuscan was aged 12 months in oak. The nose is bold with notes of romano cheese, wood and dark fruit. The weak attack of dark fuits morphs inot a black cherry, mixed fruit bouquet where each grape can easily be detected. Bone dry finish of black licorice and black currents. Black said, "this one sings like Pavarotti." We will buy this again. Decant at least 35 minutes. Better after an hour.


Price: $12


Note: Short synthetic cork. Not recommended with salads or sour foods.

Terra Andina Altos 2008

• Area: Chile, Valle Central
• Grape: 70% Malbec, 30% Petit Verdot
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 89

Description: Dark inky purple with aromas of road tar, berries, vanilla toast. Fruit forward and juicy in the mouth. This wine is quite changeable. When first opened it's cab-like. As it airs, it gets dryer as the malbec qualities become more pronounced. The dry finish has elements of black licorice and road tar with a nice black current lift.


Price: $13


Note: Glass sensitive.

Previous vintage: 2007 reviewed here.

Chateau De Bousquet 2005

• Area: France, Bordeaux, Cotes De Bourg
• Grape: Merlot, Cab Sauv
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 89

Description: Herbs and leather come together to give the nose an earthy quality. Smooth in the mouth with subtle flavors of black cherry, chocolate and berries. Old World in styling with a restrained tastefulness. Nice balance and depth. The finish is so very dry with dark fruits and soft tannins.

Price: $14

Food: This was nice with a lemon pepper roast chicken.

Conde De Valdemar Crianza 2004

• Area: Spain, Rioja
• Grape: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo (Carignan)
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 87 Dilettante 86

Description: This is the kind of wine that needs food to lean on. Gentle tones of wood, spice, plums and berries lead into a pomegranate finish.

Price: $12

Catherine le Goeuil "Cuvee Lea Felsch" Carianne 2006

• Area: France, Cotes du Rhone Villages
• Grape: Unknown blend
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 89

Description: Sweet dark fruits such as blackberry and mulberry with a touch of spice and cigar box. The driven finish is dry, with a wet stone nuance. Decanting not required. Organic.

Price: $12

Andezon 2007

• Area: france, Cotes du Rhone
• Grape: 90% Syrah (40 yr vines), 10% Grenache (60 yr vines)
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black B Dilettante B

Description: The nose and attack have bland notes of flowers, dark fruit and licorice. When first opened, a crisp acidity dominates. After 20 minutes in the decanter, notes of cherry, candy apple and black current appear. The lingering finish is dry with hints of black pepper and jam.


Price: $11

Alain Jaume & Fils Grand Veneur Reserve 2007

• Area: France, Cotes Du Rhone
• Grape: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: Lovely tones of vanilla, toast, dark ripe fruit, forest floor and saddle leather make up the nose. Peppery black licorice on the attack with a plush mouth feel. Lots of dark fruit with a sweet 'n sour character gives way to a lingering, spicy finish. Decanting not required.

Chateau d'Or et de Gueules

• Area: France, Costieres DeNimes
• Grape: 45% Syrah, 35% Old Carignan, 20% Grenache
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 86 Dilettante 87

Description: A bright, red fruit salad sprinkled with spice. Silky and supple in the mouth with a touch of rusticity. The finish is dry and lingering with flavors of dew kissed strawberries. Decant 15 - 20 minutes to soften up the cranberry high notes.

Price: $15

Bodegas Atalaya Almansa 2007

• Area: Spain, LaMancha
• Grape: Monastrell, Garnacha Tintorera and other red grapes
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 89

Description: The nose is fully loaded. Black cherry, cinnamon, coffee, chocolate and a touch of saddle leather. It stalls on the attack, but manages a worthy come back. Nicely balanced and full in the mouth with flavors of ripe dark fruit, roasted spice, oak and a touch of barnyard. The finish is dry and broad with bold tannins and touch of tobacco. Decanting not required. Softens with air.

Price: $14

Note: Good as a sipping wine and as a food wine. We had this one with a grilled flat iron steak in crushed peppercorns. The combination brought out its darker, more brooding characters.

Les Quatre Tours Prestige 2005

• Area: France, Provence
• Grape: 40% Grenache, 40% Cab Sauv, 20% Syrah
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 89 Dilettante 89

Description: Aromas of spice, cloves, leather, oak, eucalyptus and cherry waft out of the glass. Oh so cherry on the attack and bold in sassy in the mouth. Integrated flavors of currents, spice, vanilla, black pepper and red fruits. Old world style with a new world lift. The 05 is brighter and sassier than the 04. Darker elements of prunes and dried fruits appear with some air. Decanting not required.

Price: $17