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.

Conde de Valdemar Reserva 2004

Preface: So I was lazy this week...here is part 7 of my 11 part series of Spanish wine...
Region: Rioja, Spain
Grapes: Tempranillo
Price: $22

The Conde de Valdemar is a nice full-bodied red with a beautiful ruby red color and notes of raspberry and oak. Would be great with a meal off the grill.

Viña Mayor Reserva 2002

Preface: Part 6 of my 11 part series of Spanish wine...
Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain
Grapes: Primarily Tempranillo
Price: $18

This red was aged for 5 years before being released to the unsuspecting public. Was it worth the wait? Personally, I don't think so. It has a very heavy aroma of tobacco, is incredibly dry and somewhat like leather with the hint of cherries and oak in the background.

Cosme Palacio Y Hermanos Rioja 2004

Preface: Part 5 of my 11 part series of Spanish wine...salud!
Region: Rioja, Spain
Grapes: 100% Tempranillo
Price: $10
Alcohol Level: 13.5%

Another incredibly dry red, this one with an undefinable nose (my collegues and I were thinking possibly the french oak barrel it was aged in coming out very strongly). While the nose is not very appealing, the wine was a nice light red with flavors of spice, coffee, prunes and blueberries.

Barahonda Monastrell 2006

Preface: Part 4 of my 11 part series of Spanish vino...enjoy!
Region: Yecla, Spain
Grapes: 100% Monastrell (Mourvedre)
Price: $12
Alcohol Level: 14.5%

Bone-suckingly dry with loads of tannins. Medium red in color with a spicy nose. I get cherries and licorice out of this wine, but they are hidden behind the bold tang of the tannins. Not to be enjoyed without food, for sure.

Condesa de Leganza Rose 2006

Preface: Part 3 of 11 in my ongoing run through Spain...
Region: Castilla La Mancha, La Mancha, Spain
Grapes: 100% Tempranillo
Price: $12

Intense in every way. Dark pink with a very-berry nose. Raspberries and blueberries fill your mouth with every sip and linger for the finish. Delicious and very refreshing.

Falset Marçà Garnacha Rose 2006

Preface: Part 2 of 11 in my ongoing romp through Spain...
Region: Montsant, Catalonia, Spain
Grapes: 100% Garnacha (Grenache)
Price: $10

Light pink with a nose of sweet cherries. Tastes like cherries, tobacco, and cedar. Not very refreshing, really. Unless you like wood.

Bodegas Algareiro Albariño 2006

Preface: Took a break for the Forth, but that does not mean that I wasn't enjoying some wonderful (and not so wonderful) wines. This is my first installment of eleven wines from Spain that I recently got a chance to taste. All will be short, sweet, to-the-point and possibly incomplete due to time restrictions (I was at a company tasting and they moved far too quickly). Enjoy.
Region: Rías Baixas, Spain
Grapes: Albariño
Price: $10

Yellow-green in color. A very dry white wine that seemed more like a Pinot Grigio or a typical Chardonnay than anything special. A nice amount of citrus, but lots of floral overtones that I found mildly unpleasant. Nicely balanced acidity, though.

Rosemont Hill Of Gold Shiraz 2004

Region: Mudgee, Australia
Grapes: Shiraz (Syrah)
Price: $12
Alcohol Level: 13%

Completely against my expectations. Deep purple in color with a nose of spices. Flavor is very spicy, with a slight sweetness behind it, full of dark fruits. "Oaky" comes to mind. Even with all this, the wine was a lot lighter than I expected it to be. Would be recommended to people who like Pinot Noir.