Zolo 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Odd that there tends to be a common theme in Argentina to call all Cabernet Sauvignons "Reserve". This full body Cab is fairly complex for an inexpensive wine. Notes of currant and chocolate. Decent finish.

Pairing: steak, roast beef, lamb

Recommendation: Buy

Corona Daragon 2009 Old Vine Garnacha

Med/full body. Black fruits, some cedar notes. Decent enough although not spectacular, but an excellent value for the price. Decent finish.

Pairing: Salmon, hamburgers, ribs

Recommendation: Buy

Colio 2002 CEV 25th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon

I gave this wine 10 years in the cellar before trying it and sadly the decade really didnt help it much. Full body. Raspberry with some spice. Long finish.

Pairing: Beef, BBQ ribs, steak

Recommendation: OK

Vina Bosconia 1996 Reserva Rioja

Med/full body. Lots of tart red fruit (cranberries, red raspberry.) Long finish. Sadly over a decade of aging didnt really help.

Pairing: roast beef, roast pork, salmon

Recommendation: OK

Newton 2002 Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon

Full body. Lovely soft tannins. Nice fruit well balanced with earthiness. Long lingering finish.

Pairing: Prime rib, duck, pheasant

Recommendation: BUY

Vila Regia 2010 Duoro

Full body. Nicely balanced. Notes of coconut. Nice long finish

Pairing: Pasta, Steak, beef roast, chili

Recommendation: Buy

Coyote's Run 2004 Off-Dry Vidal

Grasso 1999 Barbaresco

Med/full body. Red fruit especially red cherry. Nicely balanced. Long finish.

Pairing: Steak, roast beef, roast pork

Recommendation: Buy

Mezzomondo 2010 Negroamaro Salento

Med/full body. Red fruits. Fairly forgettable. OK finish.

Pairing: Pasta

Recommendation: Pass

Colle Secco 2008 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo

Medium body. Red berry fruit. OK finish.

Pairing: Pasta, hamburgers, chili

Recommendation: OK

Bottega Prosecco (non-vintage)

Meh, its a sparkling wine. Nothing awesome.

Pairing: Hors d'hoevres

Recommendation: OK

Citra 2010 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo

Medium/full body. Red fruits, fairly tart. Not particularly well balanced. OK finish

Pairing: Pasta, ribs

Recommendation: Pass 

Chateau Morin 2005 Cru Bourgeois

An absolutely lovely blend from Bordeaux. 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. The wine is typical of a well-made French wine. Really nice mature fruit extremely well balanced with some earthiness and depth. Full body with wonderful fruit. Subtle notes that will keep you asking "mmm, what was that?". Lovely lingering finish.

Pairing: Roast beef, pork, wild game, lamb

Recommendation: BUY

Santa Rita 2009 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Inexpensive wine from Chile. Excellent value for the price. It likely wont be gleaning any gold medal awards, but you wont be ashamed to serve it at a dinner party either. Full body, good fruit. Nice finish

Pairing: Roast beef, lamb, pork

Recommendation: Buy

Masi 2002 Campofiorin Ripasso

Lovely Italian Ripasso. Full body and velvety, lots of ripe red fruit especially cherry. Lovely long finish.

Pairing: Pasta (tomato), beef, wild game, lamb, pork

Recommendation: BUY

Carmela 2002 Dry Reisling

Carmela is no longer in business having sold out a few years ago. This Reisling is one of the reasons why it didnt do better. When we buy a Reisling, most of us expect crisp clean flavours. The Carmela Reislings were muddy and exhibited notes of barnyard and minerality.

Pairing: Chinese food, Pork (avoid pairing with delicate fish/seafood)

Recommendation: Pass

Milcampos 2009 Tempranillo

A very drinkable inexpensive Spanish Tempranillo. Medium/full body with very nice red fruit (cherry) notes. Excellent finish.

Pairing: Pork, grilled beef

Recommendation: Buy

Don Mendoza 2010 Reserve Merlot

Very inexpensive Merlot from Argentina. Medium body, good fruit although leaning heavily to the acidic. A bit harsh for my taste. Decent finish. It should be noted that this wine is Kosher.

Pairing: Beef, lamb

Recommendation: Pass

Spinelli 2009 Malbec

A very nice Italian Malbec. Medium body, very nice red berry/fruit and a nice long finish.

Pairing: Ham, turkey, hamburgers

Recommendation: Buy

Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne (non-Vintage)

Every once in a while you might want to experiment with a "name" champagne and Mumm is a well known name in champagnes. But unless you know and LOVE your sparkling wines (and not just in Mimosa or Kir Royale) I would advise against it. To the layman most sparkling wines taste quite similarly and exhibit little variation. As an aside, the way to tell a "better" champagne in the glass is the size of the bubbles. In this case, smaller is better.

Pairing: Anything

Recommendation: OK