Sturino Trotta Cellars, LLC-Special Select-Cabernet Sauvignon-Napa Valley-California-2006-$39.99-A nose of cherry and spice, medium brick amber in color. A smooth, very interesting Cab, at first color is Pinot Noir like, after a two plus hour decant it starts looking more like a Cab, with black cherry, currants, vanilla and spice on finish. A rich and elegant wine, please give wine a full decant, supposedly grapes from same vineyard as Caymus Special Select. NR CR-92 Good with ribs, chicken, pasta.
D’Arenberg PTY, Ltd-The Laughing Magpie-Shiraz-Viognier-McLaren Vale-Australia-2007-$17.99-A nose of dark fruit and heat, dark purple in color. A full bodied but way too hot blend, maybe this was an off bottle as I have enjoyed it in the past, with blueberry, blueberry, licorice, but was very disjointed and alcohol was overwhelming the fruit, used rest for cooking. RP-91-92 WS-87 CR-82 Good for cooking, at least this bottle was.