Marchesi De Frescobaldi-Nipozzano-Riserva-Chianti Rufina-Sangiovese-Italy-2005-$18.99-A nose of plums, dark ruby in color.  A smooth, food friendly red, plum, medium bodied, some chocolate, spice, elegant, a very good value.               RP-89                 WS-90 (#76 Top 100 2008)               WE-89                CR-4.5                   Good with veal, chicken, pasta.

Andrew Rich Wines-Pinot Noir-Willamette Valley-Oregon-2006-$19.99-A rich classic Pinot nose of spice and cherry, perfect Pinot ruby color.  A smooth, rich flavors of cherry, plum with nice acidity and decent finish.  Did not enjoy as much as the first time I tried a couple months ago.           RP-90            WS-90            CR-4         Good with seafood, cheese, salads.

Solaria 123-Brunello Di Montalcino-Sangiovese-Siena-Italy-2001-$45.99-Initial nose of sweet cherries, needed a three hour decant, 2nd hour very funky earthy odor, third hour sweet fruits and tobacco, ruby in color.   A food friendly, medium bodied wine, cherries, chocolate, smooth earthy interesting red.               RP-91              CR-4-4.5                Good with meats, chicken, pasta.

Bruno A. D’Alfonso-Badge-Sta. Rita Hills-Pinot Noir-California-2006-$29.99-A nose of currants and earth, medium ruby in color.  Dried currants, earthy, some spice, a medium bodied Pinot, a bit disjointed good not great.                WS-86               CR-4                   Good with seafood, chicken, salads.

Allegrini-Valpolicella-Dry Red-Fumane-Italy-2007-$11.99-A nose of cherry, ruby in color.  A smooth, easy drinking, food friendly red.  Cherry, berry, herbs, medium bodied, a good value.          RP-87               WS-86                CR-4                    Good with chicken, cheeses, salads.

Novelty Hill Winery-Syrah-Columbia Valley-Washington State-2005-$15.55-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color.  Black and blue berries, some pepper, licorice, more medium bodied, good finish, good not great.               RP-89                WS-89                  WE-91            CR-4          Good with ribs, chicken, pasta.

Bill and Noel Ireland-Fireblock-Dry Riesling-Watervale-Clare Valley-Australia-2008-$11.11-A nose of minerals and citrus, pale straw color.  Very dry, lemon, medium acidity, light bodied, just can’t get into a Riesling…not bad, just my fav.                RP-88               WS-88              CR-3.5-4          Good with seafood, cheese, salads.

Castello Banfi-Brunello di Montalcino-Sangiovese-Italy-2001-$60.00-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark ruby in color.  A delicious red, currants, blackberry, smoke, tea, spices, full bodied with a long finish, decanted for two hours.                   RP-89              WS-93              WE-91            CR-4.5               Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

Sequoia Grove Vineyards-Cabernet Sauvignon-Napa Valley-California-2005-$29.99-A nose of dark fruit and tar, dark ruby in color.  A smooth Cab, was a little disappointed that it did not have the fullness as previous vintages that I have had.  Currants, spice, chocolate, oak is integrated, dry finish, a solid Cab just not great.           WS-83           WE-93            CR-4            Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

Fattoria Casa Di Terra-Terratico Di Bibbona-Poggio Querciolo-Italy-2006-$29.98-A nose of dark fruit and coffee,  beautiful amber color.  A smooth, full bodied blend, black and blueberries, nice use of oak, with a nice polished finish, a special wine.             WS-93             CR-4.5              Good with meats, pasta, cheeses.

C. Santa Lucia-Monte Antico-Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Toscana-Italy-2006-$8.99-A nose of cherries and flowers, medium ruby in color.  Plum, cherries, spice and earth, medium bodied, I found it a bit sour, not as good as the hype.             WS-90 (#61 Top 2009)          WE-87            RP-86              CR-3.5               Good with chicken, veal, pasta.

J.L. Chave Selection-Offerus-Saint Joseph-Red Rhone Wine-France-2006-$16.72-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark in color.  A smooth, bright medium bodied wine, strawberry, plum, some floral aspects, earth.   Second time I have had in the past year, a solid wine.           WS-91           CR-4-4.5            Good with fish, salads, pasta.

B. Shiftin Cellars-Terroir Napa Valley-Wine Library Tribute Series-Zinfandel-Howell Mountain-Napa Valley-California-2005-$29.99-A big nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color.  Still a big Zin for being five years old, black cherries, currants, chocolate, pepper and spice, smooth for such a full bodied red.  This wine was a special project of the staff of The Wine Library and they did a great job in producing a very good wine.             NR               CR-4.5              Good with steak, ribs, pasta.

Tenuta Poggio al Tesoro-Mediterra-Toscana-Italy-2006-$17.98-A elegant nose of berry and chocolate, dark amber in color.  A smooth easy drinking red, dark fruit, earth, a juicy wine that was flat out enjoyable.    This is the third time I have had this wine in the past few months, all with similar results.          WS-92            RP-90             CR-4.5           Good with veal, chicken, pasta.

Les Cretes-Coteau La Tour-Vino da Tavola-Italy-2005-$34.99-Not sure of the real price I paid since it was in a 3 pack and was the throw in bottle..funky nose, ok terrible nose, only thing normal was color, a ruby red.  A terrible wine, made it past a couple sips, not sure what RP was thinking, somehow turned out to be a decent cooking wine.               RP-92                CR-2                Good as cooking wine.

Sarah’s Vineyards-Besson Vineyard-Syrah-Santa Clara Valley-California-2005-$17.77-A very interesting nose of spice and currants, big and bold, dark purple in color. A delicious Syrah, big, smooth,  black currants, black cherries, a very complex wine with a long finish.           RP-90          CR-4.5-5              Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

Fattoria Selvapiana-Vendemmia-Chianti Rufina-Italy-2006-$15.99-A nose of sweet spice,  medium ruby in color.  A smooth, medium bodied very food friendly red.  Black cherries, minerals, leather and spice, a good value.    I trended more towards Parker’s rating than Spectator’s.            RP-90           WS-85             CR-4-4.5              Good with veal, salads, pasta.

Chateau Teyssier-Saint-Emilion-Grand Cru-France-2006-$14.88-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark ruby in color.  A full bodied red that got better as I drank it over three days, needs time to open at first.  Blackberry, licorice, earth, dry with good acidity.               RP-90              WE-88             WS-85              CR-4                 Good with steak, ribs, pasta.

Tenuta Poggio al Tesoro-Mediterra-Toscana-Italy-2006-$17.98-A elegant nose of berry and chocolate, dark amber in color.  A smooth easy drinking red, dark fruit, earth, a juicy wine that was flat out enjoyable.    This is the second time I have had this wine in the past few months, similar results.          WS-92            RP-90             CR-4.5           Good with veal, chicken, pasta.

Chappellet Vineyard-Merlot-Napa Valley-California-2006-$24.99-A nose of red currants and cedar, dark ruby in color.  A smooth medium to full bodied red, red currants, cherries, spicy chocolate with a very good finish.   I just started drinking Merlot again and this is a good one.                WS-90               WE-90               CR-4-4.5             Good with chicken, pork and pasta.