Famiglia Bianchi Malbec 2006

Region: Argentina

Grapes: Malbec

Price: $15

Dark in color, bright in flavor. Aged in French and American oak barrels for 10 months. No worries about it being too oaky, though. Very fruit-forward. Full of ripe cherries and black fruits. Acidic, but very pleasant.

South American Wine Spam?

Don't mind if I do.

For those not in "the know", South America is one of the top regions to find inexpensive, yet impressive vino. Wine Spectator's Wine Of The Year was Clos Apalta from Casa Lapostolle in Chile. Don't take their word for it, though. Find your own answers in the world of wine. Its not the question of what someone else likes, but what you like.

Personal opinion: for the money, reds from Argentina and Chile are hard to beat. They tend to be ripe and vibrant and the wineries use some of the latest technology and techniques to keep variation down from one vintage to the next. What does that mean for you? It means that if you liked that 2007 Alamos Malbec from Mendoza (which, for under $10, is a steal and is completely delicious), you will most likely enjoy the 2008 as well.

Where does that leave us? Tasting notes coming.

Vinterra Chardonnay 2006

Region: Napa Valley, California

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 13.5%
Price: $15

Light and bright at first glance with a pleasant nose of melon, comes across very earthy and oaky, almost, but not completely, masking a background of citrus. Very dry. For oak lovers.

Tin Roof Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Region: North Coast, California

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13.5%

Price: $7

Pale amber with lots of crisp citrus and tangy tropical fruits. Very acidic, but not unpleasant. Would be great with spicy food.

Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Rosé 2007

Region: Chile

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14%

Price: $9

A very deep ruby for a rosé wine with a nose of grapefruit and melon. These continue on the taste buds with an added plummy-ness. Light alcohol burn with the finish due to high content. Very rich for a rosé.

Les Tours de Beaumont 2005 Haut-Médoc

Preface: I have so many of these things to put up. This is a little thing called "ketchup".

Region: Haut-Médoc, Médoc, Bordeaux, France

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

ABV: 13%
Price: $14

Light bodied, with a nose of toasty wood and sweet berries. Tannins are a little too strong, overwhelming what might otherwise be a fine, if a little light, red blend. Blackberry is drowned leaving only the spicy tannins and bits of oak.

Samuel Adams Imperial Double Bock

Preface: So, I am on a strange beer kick.



Region: Ohio, USA
Type: Double Boch
Price: $10 for a 4-pack
Alcohol Level: 9.5%

Dark, rich, with a distinct malty sweetness as well and a nice complimenting bitterness and woodiness.

Unibroue Trois Pistoles

Region: Quebec, Canada
Type: Strong Dark Ale
Finish: Bottle Fermented
Price: $12 for a 4-pack
Alcohol Level: 9%

And now for something completely different! This beer is a thing of beauty. Pitch black opacity with a small head, this beer has a very strong roasted flavor that hits the palate like a 2x4, but with a sweetness that seems to almost mirror a dessert wine in the finish. It is a monster of a beer. Drink from either a goblet or a cognac glass for optimal feel and flavor. Unibroue claims it will cellar for up to eight years. Enjoy responsibly, as it hits you rather hard.

Vinturi Wine Aerator

Preface: Some call it a break, I call it unexcused laziness. Here we go once more into the breach!

What Does It Do?: This simple little device makes most wine better. Period.

What Is It Good For?: Everything.
Price: $40

This device, simply, changes everything. If you like wine and don't have a budget for pre-aged Rothchilds or Sassicaias, or the time or space to cellar wine to the optimal age, or don't want to leave the bottle open all day waiting for the wine to finally open up, this gadget is a must.

A must.

The Vinturi Wine Aerator  is a simple device. Place it over your glass, pour wine through, drink! The Vinturi pumps just the right amount of air into the wine, opening up the nose and blasting the flavors forward, while in most cases quelling the astringent bite that many wines can have. It works for both red and white (even though they have two different products aimed individually at red or white, they are both the exact same, just a different color).

It won't make a bad wine good, but it can make a mediocre wine great and a good wine fantastic. Highly recommended.

La Ninota Priorat 2005

Preface: Huge break...sorry about that. Here we go again!
Region: Catalogne, Spain
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Merlot, Tempranillo, Carignan
Price: $18

This dark red meritage (pronouced like heritage) from Spain has a nice body and can only be described as "ultra-dry" (ie, it will make you want a glass of water afterwards). The nose is a strange oaky-plumy beast and the wine is full of ripe black fruit (plums and dark berries) with hints of coffee and spice.