2007 Alamos Pinot Noir

2007 Alamos Pinot Noir

Nice inexpensive pinot noir from the fairly reliable Alamos label. Very appealing, fresh nose with red plum and cherry notes. Light-bodied and well-balanced. Above average for the price, for sure.

Tasting Tags: argentina cherry inexpensive noir pinot

2008 Tormaresca Neprica

2008 Tormaresca Neprica

Super bargain from Costco. Probably the best $8 red I've had in years. Well balanced, with some plum, dark berry and chocolate mixed with some subtle musty, earthy elements typical of Italian or Spanish reds. Not going to blow you away with a complex or long finish, but certainly competes with wines for twice the price. A great every day table wine.

Tasting Tags: earthy fruity inexpensive

2007 Brancott Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Brancott Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

This is the "Reserve" which is a bit harder to get your hands on than the regular Brancott, but for a few bucks more I think you get a better wine. A pretty mellow nose - some classic grass and celery with nice lemon zest. But the flavor and finish is super for this price - great balance.

2005 Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape

2005 Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Another super effort by Charbonniere for about 50% less than you'll pay for some other Chateauneufs of the same quality. 2005 is being called a super year, and this young wine is already showing promise. Beautiful nose, elegant balance of fruit, earth and spice, this is a good wine for a special holiday dinner.

2004 Alma Rosa El Jabali Vineyard 2005 Chardonnay

2004 Alma Rosa El Jabali Vineyard 2005 Chardonnay

This is Alma Rosa's single-vineyard chardonnay and it's worth trying (ideally at their tasting room in Buelton - formerly Sanford Vineyard and one of the sets in Sideways). Honeysuckle and white peach on the nose, perfect acidity - and not too buttery or oaky! One of the best chardonnays I've had in the last year.

Tasting Tags: alma chardonnay rosa sanford sideways

2001 Truchard Syrah

2001 Truchard Syrah

Wonderful wine. WineLibrary.com has been selling this at basically half price for last 6 months, and I've probably bought about 2 cases over that time. This is one of those wines that straddles that New World/Old World line perfectly - deep, juicy fruit balanced with damp forest, cedars, pepper, vanilla. Not over-the-top fruity. And the fact it's an 01 has given it plenty of time in the bottle to soften up and become velvety and spherical. Drinking superbly right now - if you can get your hands on one!

Tasting Tags: califronia napa syrah

2006 d'Arenberg The Stump Jump GSM

2006 d'Arenberg The Stump Jump GSM

Red berry and some eucalyptus/mint on the nose - not bad - but a bit austere and sour in the mouth, almost under ripe. I expect better from d'Arenberg.

2005 Clos de L'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape

2005 Clos de L'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Highly recommended. Elegant, balanced, medium-bodied wine with everything you expect from a high quality Chateauneuf du Pape. Cherries and spicey leather on the nose, velvety mouth feel and explosive, long finish.

2003 Clos de L'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape

2003 Clos de L'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape

I drank this along side the 2005 to compare and while I preferred the 05 slightly, this is a fine wine, especially for under $30. Lots of rich black fruit, spice and tobacco. A slight mushroomy, musty, sulfury element that you get in some Rhone wines, but subtle enough to work fine complementing the other flavors. Super with lamb.

2005 Yalumba Siraz Viognier

2005 Yalumba Siraz Viognier

Dissapointing wine for 15 bucks. I know there's a lot of excitement these days about the Australian Shiraz-Viogniers, but this Yalumba just doesn't cut it. Lots of artificial elements in the nose and one dimensional flavors. Tasted more like a $7 Shiraz.