Rosso Di Valtelina, Plozza 2006

Very nice basic Nebiolo from Lombardi. Cherry on a palate, nice almost chewy tannins.  I liked it a lot.  For me it is a perfect everyday Nebiolo.  .I found it at Stews Wine in Farmingdale Long Island

Terre di Tufi, Tosacana

Interestingly enough the bottle doesn't have a vintage year on it.  Annoyingly enough, enough it is marketed as a "White Super Tuscan"  Somehow, almost everything coming of out Tuscany these days has "Super" attached to it irrespective how crappy the wine is.  However, this one is actually good.  The wine is very well balanced.  It has incredibly long finish.  You can feel it lingering in your mouth.  It is mineral with a palate of spicy tropical fruits.Terre di Tufi is made up of 80% local Vernaccia blended with a little Chardonnay, Malvasia and Vermentino. Full body. It somewhat reminds me Campania whites.   I highly recommend it.  $13.99 at the Bottle and Cases, Huntington, Long Island.

Egri Bikaver, Eger, 2003

This one is coming from Eastern Europe.  Hungary has a long tradition of wine making, both red and while.  With an exception of desert Tokaj, Hungarian wineries never reached international prominence.  Some of those, however, are not bad, Egri Bukaver (Bull's Blood) is one of the oldest Hungarian Red wines.  It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  It taste as Cabernet Sauvignon from cold climate.  This one is definitely over its life span.  I would, however, would be interested to taste younger vintages.  The wine is not bad.  

Asprolithi, Roditis, 2008

This white comes from Northern Peloponnese.  Roditis is a traditional Greek grape variety.  Wine is very simple, light and refreshing. It has  11.5% alcohol by volume.  All of above makes it a nice summer wine.  Nose is floral, palate is citrus. 

Clos Saint-Pierre, Premier Cru, Givry 2005

Don't buy it, uninteresting Bourgogne of no particular character.  Somehow, it happens to be a preferred wine of Henry the IV. Go figure...

Moscofilero, Mantinia 2008

Delightful white wine from the Peloponnese.  Unoaked, intensely aromatic, light, refreshing.  ALl in all a delightful food wine. Found at Bottles and Cases on Long Island, Huntington.

McCarthy Oregon Single Malt

Distilled of a fermented mash pf peat malted Scottish barley and barrel aged 3 years.  Very descent scotch

Pudeval, Lanquedoc, 2008

Yet another undistinguished Southern France Red.  Not particularly good, not particularly bad.  Pretty drinkable yet not that interesting

Hudson, Fiur Grain Bourbon

I liked it a lot.It drinks like a nice scotch. 

L'Exception, Blanc de Blancs. Blanquette de Limoux, 2005

This vintage Blanquette available for $9.99 a bottle (consider it free for the wine of this quality) gives  much more expensive Champagne wines a run for their money.  Made using Champagne methodology, it has all the attributes of a good Champagne.  The flavor profile is unmistakable Blanquette: apples, apples and yet again apples.

In Champagne region Blanc de Blancs presumes 100% Chardonnay wine.  I am not sure it works the same way in Limoux.  If  I am to guess, this is a Chardonnay /Mauzac/ Chenin Blanc blend.  L'Exception name presumes that Chardonnay was barrel fermented.

P de Roy, Grand Cru St Emillion 1998

Well,definitely not worth the price it commands.  It is a very good St. Emillion yet it is not worth $90 dollars a bottle.  There is almost infinite universe of wine in this price range that are an order of magnitude better. 

Chevalierr de Lascombes, Margaux 2004

Didn't really do it for me, not overly interesting.  Somehow, I expect more from a 2nd label of a classified growth.  Pretty indistinct, middle of the road Bordeaux ...

Angaro, Malbec 2008

This a nice Rose reminding me Tavel although much later and less alcoholic (that I do like).  Bone dry with a whiff of raspberry.  Add 4 dollars price tag to it and you have a winner!.

Batitu, Central Valley, Chile, 2009

Whoever brought Sauvignion Blanc to Chile was or is a great man.  This is my favorite Sav. Blanc after those made in France.  In fact it is very close to a traditional French flavor profile.  This little wine (that I proudly for 4 bucks....) make for a wonderful aperitif.  It also great simple white to accompany your dinner.  Very simple fresh. lots of apple flavor.  Truly enjoyable!

Connetable Talbot, St.-Julien, 2006

2nd wine of the Chateau Talbot (4th growth).  This is a really good stuff.  Black currant on a palate, fresh and balanced.  The wine is ready to drink now.

Papa Celso, Dogliani, 2007

Very good Docetto, true to its character, nice structure, balanced.  This is one of these wines that are just a pleasure to drink.  The palate has some leather and,  I would say,  blackberry.  Definitely a buy!

Villetri, 2004

I liked this one, very nicely done with good structure and great balance

About the blend and area: Velletri is a hilltop town and commune in the province of Lazio/Latium, south of Tuscany. In 1950, seventy Velletri winegrowers joined to form a co-operative. Today the co-op has the support of over 1000 partners! The “Terre dei Volsci” is a blend of Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Cesanese, Bombino Nero, Merlot and Ciliegiolo. (hat tip to this site for the info). The blend and the oak aging gives the wine a depth that is wonderful and a smoothness that is delightful and (almost too) easy to drink.

L'Ame Soer, Terres de Viennae, 2006

This is just a wonderfl wine made by Ogier family.  It has all characteristics of a great Northern Rhone Syrah.  The wine comes from teh village on Ampuis that seats on a Southern edge of Northern Rhone region.  In fact one coul argue that it is actually Southern Rhone.  I would, however say that the wine is closer to Northern Rhone in its style.  Most definitely get it.  The wine is not cheap going for about $33 yet it is totally worth the money.

Rubrato, Aliganico de Feudi di San Gregorio 2006

Wonderful Aglianico reminding me Northern Rhone, muscular structure: black fruit, dry plum, leather, smoke.  I really enjoyed that one both with and without the food.  The wine comes from Compania region.  It is definitely a buy.  Found at Stew's Liqueurs, Long Island.

Gaglioppo, Calabria, 2008

In my very subjective opinion, there is no such a thing as a good wine with a nose of a strawberry preserve (yes, the above statement extends to Beaujolais....).  This wine came highly recommend by the Stew;s Liqueurs staff.  However, I still say no.  It is too fruity with no noticeable structure to support it.  This is not a bad wine yet it is so far from my palate that I have to say no, don't buy it.  I was relieved to find out that Parker thinks very highly of it.  Yet another reason not to buy it....

Heritages, Cotes du Rhone 2007

This Cotes de Rhone comes from the Ogier family who I  consider one of the best Rhone vintners.  This blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre is Ogier cheapest wine that taste as a well done cheap wine.  There is no magic here, this is $11 stuff tasting as a well made $11 stuff.  Granted that you can do much worse for $11 this is not something to specifically look for.  It however, do for a dinner if nothing else is readily available.

Moet & Chandon, Imperial

Lovely Champagne. Brut Impérial is the driest of Moët & Chandon champagnes, with almost no liqueur added in the dosage. The resulting wine contains less than 1.5% sugar.  Color: Pale yellow with shades of green. Nose:  lime.  Palate: Predominantly Pinot characteristics. full body with long finish.

Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky

12 years old Single Malt comes from the oldest Japanese distillery.  This is a really nice scotch!  In fact, it is save to say it is better than any Scottish Single Malt selling for the same price.  This one goes for $40. All in all very pleasant.  I am not an experienced Scotch taster so can't tell you what flavors are there yet I can tell you that it is very pleasant, smooth and has a character of a well made Scotch.

Kalimna Bin 28, Shiraz, 1997

Penfolds definitely knows how to make age worthy wines.This 12 years old Shiraz taste very fresh.  This is not the type of wine that I prefer yet I can definitely appreciate the quality.  Typical Australian Shiraz flavor profile.  Lot of black currant, soft tannins, some spiciness.  It was great with roasted lamb, that pretty much was the reason for me to open it to begin with.

Shaya, Verdejo, 2008

Very nice well made verdejo that comes from Rueda, light and crisp with citrus fruit on a palate and just a touch of minerality.  I liked it a lot; great food friendly white.  I found this wine at Stew's Long Island for $14.99

Cannonau di Sardegna, Riserva 2005

Here is my first review of anything coming out of Sardignia.  I liked it.  Cannonau is Sardegnia local grape variety related to Grenache.  The wine has a barnyard notes  on a nose reminding me classic Southern Rhone yet it is much lighter (and fruitier) on a palate.  In fact this is really interesting contrast: first you smell something like Southern Rhone and than you taste something like Pinot or Gamay ....  Nice balance, black pepper, some plum.  This a great every day wine for $11.  It was found at Stew's Long Island.

Reneau, Chateau Lafayette, Riesling 2007

NY Finger Lake Region semi-sweet Riesling.  It is a good wine for what it is yet this is not a style I particularly appreciate. 

Asprolithi, Roditis 2007

Very simple refreshing white coming from Patras by the Gulf od Corinth.  Very refreshing, light white with crispy lemony palate and floral noze.  With $8.99 price tag (Long Island Bottles and Cases Wine Shop) it is a buy.

Domaine Bois De Boursan, Chateauneuf Du Pape 2000

This is a wonderful Chateauneuf.  Buy it if you can find it.  The wine has great barnyard nose and wonderfully balanced palate with blackberries, a touch of spice and plum supported by soft, integrated tannins.  All in all, it is a pleasure to drink now and will definitely get better yet if it is left to age.  This wine is not cheap.  Moreover, I am under impression that I got the last 3 bottles of 2000 vintage of it at MacArthur Liquors.  The price range for this wine is $36-50.

Raphael, Cabernet Frank, North Fork of Long Island, NY 2007

It does remind me Vale de Loire Cab Franc although it is a bit fruitier...I am not a big fun of this style yet it is a very descent wine.  Nice fruit, very light, food friendly.  All in all, everything one would expect from a well done cold climate Cab Franc.  Long Island wine stores is probably the only place where you can find it.

St. Henry, Shiraz 2002

Here is one of the Penfolds premium shirazes from South Australia...It is indeed very nicely done with a restrained fruit (black currant mostly) and soft tannins.  The wine is drinking well right now and will probably improve for a few more years. I do not know how much it is yet suspect that it is not cheap.