Velenosi Brecciarolo 2006

• Area: Italy, Rosso Piceno
• Grape: Montepulciano, Sangiovese
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 91 Dilettante 90

Description: Brooding aromas of dark fruit, spice, vanilla, olives and pan drippings waft out of the glass. Filled with Italian teroir, it attacks with pure concentrated fruit. Chewy in the mouth with flavors of walnuts and olives sauteed in spicy pan drippings. Like Mario Andretti, this wine drives through the finish line with bone dry testosterone. Intensely Italian and robust. Tight when first opened so decant for at least 35 minutes. We'll visit this one again.

Price: $14

Note: Synth Cork

Food: Good with red sauce. Stands up to diavolo with skill.

Rapariga da Quinta Tinto 2006

• Area: Portugal, Alentejano
• Grape: Alicante bouschet, Aragones (Tempranillo), Trincadeira
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 87 Dilettante 87

Description: Aromas of black raspberry, spice, vanilla and burning wood. This food wine has an attack that is fruity with a licorice undertone. Bright and vibrant in the mouth, it finishes with lingering tannins and crushed grape seeds. Decanting softens this one up.

Price: $15

Note: Better with food than alone.

Trivento Amado Sur 2006

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: 75% Malbec, 15% Syrah, 10% Bonarda
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 87 Dilettante 88

Description: The nose is thick with aromas of plums and black raspberries. In the mouth it's syrupy and jammy with a dusky earth note on the warm finish. This is one of those easy drinking wines that is more sophisticated without food. Decant for 30 minutes.

Price: $15

Ferenc Takler Heritage Cuvee 2003

• Area: Hungary
• Grape: 38% Kekfrankos, 25% Merlot, 20% Cab Sauv, 10% Cab Franc, 7% Kadarka
• Alcohol: 14.3%
• Rating: Black 91 Dilettante 92 Nwjr 91

Description: A powerful nose displays unusual and complex tones of cut grass, herbs, raw potato, old dust, mulberries, flowers and raisins. Thick and rich in the mouth, it attacks with dark fruit. The nose follows through on the palate with added flavors of vanilla, jam and a touch of mushroom. Soft, brooding and sensual, this exotic blend is not for the neophyte. Black said, "This wine tastes as old as Dracula." Nwjr said, "The finish will still be there tomorrow." Decant this beauty at least 35 minutes. I will most certainly pick up more of this.

Price: Drinks like $30. We paid a mere $9. I hope Takler doesn't figure out how much this wine is really worth.

Michael David Petite Petit 2006

Area: California, Lodi
Grape: 85% Petit Syrah, 15% Petit Verdot
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 90

Description: Scents of eucalyptus, black raspberry, strawberry, vanilla and violets. The attack is slick and smooth with a strong California teroir and gobs of fruit. The whole experience is like digging into a bowl of black-cherry vanilla ice cream with a creamy/chalky mouth feel to match. It finishes dry with a nice strawberry lift. Gregarious and friendly, this wine is a pleaser. Decanting 15 minutes releases the florals on the nose.

Price: $16

Note: From the makers of 7 Deadly Zins

Michael David on the web

Loios J Portugal Ramos Vinho Rigional Alentejano 2007

Area: Portugal, Alentejano
Grape: Aragones (Tempranillo), Trincadeira, Castelao
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: Black 92 Dilettante 90

Description: This festive fop is flush with fruity frenzy. Berries of every type and color explode on the palate. It's round, lush and oh so dry. A hint of white pepper finishes it off. Absolutely no wood found here.

Price: $11

Urban Uco 2007

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco
• Grape: 50% Malbec, 50% Tempranillo
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 88

Description: The nose has aromas of smoke, vanilla and dark fruit. The bulk of the fruity flavors are on the finish. Blackberry, plum, blueberry and spice notes are accented by a nice jammy lift. Even though it lacks some structure it's round in the mouth. We liked it.

Price: $10 (it drinks more like $15)

Food: Works well with hot, spicy foods

Dona Paula Shiraz-Malbec 2005

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: 60% Syrah, 40% Malbec
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 90 Nwjr 93

Description: The nose has elements of saddle leather, menthol, plums and blackberry. The bright attack is followed by integrated flavors of blueberry, stewed fruit, spice, black pepper, pomegranate and a hint of mint. The long, dry finish has a nice lift at the very end. Nwjr says, "light, with a ton of flavor."

Price: $12

Clos de los Siete 2007

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: 48% Malbec, 28% Merlot, 12% Syrah, 12% Cab Sauv.
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Rating: Black 87 Dilettante 92 Nwjr 90

Description: Aged for 11 months, 2/3 in new French oak with the balance in vat. Bottled without fining or filtration. Dark opaque purple it clings to the glass. Rich, complex aromas of dark fruit, olive, menthol, cherry and blueberry. The attack is fruity- sweet and feels like plush velour in the mouth. Full flavors of sweet ripe fruit, toasty oak, rich dirt, cocoa, violets, cherry, black olives, blackberry and a touch of crisp minerality. The outstanding finish is bone-dry with flavors of ripe fruits, olives, warm clay and a hint of dill. Wonderfully complex from start to finish. Decanting is not required although it gains balance with some air. Black said, "this demands respect." Nwjr said, "delightfully schizophrenic." I agree with both statements and will buy this beauty again -- if the store has any left.

Price: $15

Baron de Magana 2003

• Area: Spain, Navarra
• Grape: 70% Merlot, 20% Cab sauv, 10% Tempranillo
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 87, Dilettante 87, Nwjr 87

Description: Aromas of flowers, cherry, smokey oak and ripe fruit waft out of the glass. Almost liquor like in the mouth, the sweet attack immediately followed by a soft dryness with flavors of flowers, fruit and coffee beans. It finishes up with soft and lightly sweet tannins. Food brings out a richness that isn't there alone. Decant 30 minutes.

Price: $14

Sacra Natura 2006

• Area: Spain, Terra Alta
• Grape: 35% Carinena, 20% Merlot, 20% Cab Sauv, 15% Syrah, 10% Tempranillo
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 88, Dilettante 89

Description: The nose on this organic wine has elements of spicy stewed fruit with a hint of vanilla. Spice, oak, tobacco and blackberry are well integrated on the palate. A note of pomegranate tops this off giving it great balance. The finish is dry and lingering. Decanting for 20 minutes brings out a thick and rich mouth feel.

Price: $18

Tikal Patriota 2005

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: 60% Bonarda, 40% Malbec
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black; 91 Dilettante; 88 Nwjr; 86 The Z; 95

Description: We were all over the map with our numbers on this one. We haven't had much experience with the bonarda grape so it's difficult to compare it with other wines of this type. This blend has the subtle elements found in a Bordeaux with the brightness of a California red. We didn't get much Argentine teroir here yet it was pleasant and very drinkable.

The color is dark purple. On the nose there are elements of dark fruits, elderberry and chocolate. The mouth feel is rich and very dry with soft flavors of buttery caramel, dark fruits, cherries, and cocoa. The lingering finish is bone dry with elements of wet stone and soft tannins.


Price: $28

Ben Marco Malbec 2006

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: 90% Malbec, 10% Bonarda
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 89, Dilettante 88

Description: This has the beautiful black/purple color. This unfined and unfiltered wine has more of a Cote du Rhone character than a classic malbec. On the nose there's subtle elements of wood, black cherry and wet moss. On the palate it's chewy with concentrated flavors of dark coco, mulberry, black cherry, grapes and earth. The lingering finish is well rounded with a hint of crushed grape seeds at the very end. 15 minutes in the decanter is recommended.

Food Pairing: venison, duck, beef bourguignon

Casa De La Ermita Crianza 2004

• Area: Spain, Jumilla, Murcia
• Grape: 40% Monastrell, 25% Tempranillo, 20% Cab S., 15% Petit Verdot
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black; 88 Dilettante; 88

Description: Aged for 9 months in American and French oak. The nose is full of dark fruit and wood. Soft and velvety in the mouth with flavors of cherry, spice, vanilla and a hint of coconut. This wine has the body and texture of a nice Bordeaux with a long finish that's dark and woody. Good straight out of the bottle, although decanting for an hour brings out some earth tones and softens the acidity. With the softened acidity, some of the high notes disappear.

Food Pairing: Gooseberry lamb, tuna, chocolate cake
Movie Pairing: Edward Scissorhands
Musical Pairing: Danny Elfman

Casa De La Ermita on the web

Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

• Area: California, Napa Valley
• Grape: 86% Cab, 12% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Rating: Black; 91 Dilettante; 92 The Z; 91
  
  Description: Deep red/purple in color. The nose is thick with dark fruit, wood and tobacco. On the palate it's dense and brooding with lush flavors of blackberry, plum, black cherry, cedar wood, a hint of spice and sun dried tomato. This fruit forward wine has a great complexity with plenty of lift and thrust that balances with the long dry finish. At the very end, a hint of licorice tickles the tongue. I'm not sure this wine is worthy of it's $41.00 price tag as there are less expensive wines that we've rated higher. Despite this, it was still great.
  
  Food Pairing: We did not pair this with dinner, although I think it would be great with a char-grilled steak.
  TV Pairing: The film Farinelli or The Tudors
  Musical Pairing: Orf, Chopin, Loreena McKennitt

Trefethen on the web