2004 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee

Winery: Chappellet Mountain Cuvee

Wine: Cabernet, Napa

Retail: $24.59

Description: "Mountain Cuvee is a winemaker’s blend that beautifully expresses the distinctive qualities of the traditional Bordeaux varietals. Complex spice aromas and concentrated sweet fruit abound in this wine. The nose entices with blackberry, ripe plum and dried cherry mingled with clove and vanilla. Notes of dark chocolate add richness to the fruit. The mouth is alive with berries, cherries, plum and spicy oak. The mouthfeel is full, weighty and smooth with a long lingering finish. By blending four of the Bordeaux varietals—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot—we have created a wine that is approachable, balanced, and ready to drink upon release."

Ratings: WW- 89

Review: 87-88. Initally concentrated and dusty in the nose surprise with fresh cherry fruit on the pallet, with elegant tannins on the way out. Continues to open and gets a bit over fruity.

2006 Banfi Le Rime Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio

Winery: Banfi Le Rime
Wine: Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio
Retail: $8.49

Description: "Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are nurtured to perfection in select hillside vineyards of the Banfi estate in Montalcino, Tuscany. The grapes are gently pressed, followed by vinification "in bianco," or "off the skins" at low temperatures in stainless steel resulting in a delightfully harmonious wine. Le Rime, pale straw in color, is an aromatic, fruity white wine with a crisp finish replete with refreshing acidity. Served chilled, Le Rime is the perfect partner to a full range of foods including pasta, vegetables, fish, seafood and poultry dishes."

Ratings: WS- 85 (1998)

Review: 85. Very pale appearance. Simple crispness lacks the fun interplay between the chard and pino gris found in the '05. Chard hardly comes out. Clean finish

2005 Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc

Winery: Valley of the Moon

Wine: Pinot Blanc

Retail: $20.49

Description: "This traditional Alsatian-style wine varietal is a blend of grapes from vineyards that are located in the Russian River Valley and the Southern Sonoma Valley. Both viticultural areas have deep alluvial soil and a cool climate due to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean and the San Pablo Bay. These cool microclimates are responsible for preserving the crisp acidity and fresh fruit character of the wine. This perfectly balanced Pinot Blanc pairs well with seafood, shellfish (particularly oysters), poultry, salads, fruits, light pastas and mild cheeses. Its structure and fruity flavors also complement spicy cuisine. "

Ratings: WE- 88

W&S- 87

Review: 86. This grape has an interesting history, wiki it. Perfumed taste, big body, yet fresh, pinot gris taste. Farily long and ununiform. Chard like body. Would go great w/ spicy seafood.

2005 Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc

Winery: Robert Mondavi Winery

Wine: Fume Blanc, Napa

Retail: $17.49

Description: "Jasmine-tinged aromas lead to fresh melon and pear flavors enlivened with a hint of orange and complex floral and mineral notes. Beautiful balance of crisp acidity and creamy texture from sur lie aging. "

Ratings:WE- 92 (2004)

W&S- 91 (2002)

Review: 87. Oakey and pear with ambient herb and earth in the nose. Consistent pear and citrus taste. Mineral finish is not the cleanest. Etheral nose is the best part. '04 vintage was significantly better. As far as I can tell the descript is bogus.

2005 Lawson Dry Hills Pinot Noir

Winery: Lawson Dry Hills
Wine: Pinot Noir, Marlborough
Retail: $20.49


Description: "The excellent 2005 vintage in Marlborough allowed us to hand pick the grapes for this wine in perfect condition with deep colour and concentrated berry fruit flavours. The grapes were hand plunged during fermentation in small open top vats and the resulting wine was matured in new to four year old French oak barrique. This Pinot Noir has concentrated black cherry, red berry and fragrant oak characters complemented by a supple palate, excellent weigh and a long rich finish. "


Review: 90. Very intense barnyard earth nose is also first impresion in the pallet but it quickly moves to dense fruit. Serious and capivating. Another excellent Marlborough pino.

2004 Huia Pinot Noir

Winery: Huia

Wine: Pinot Noir, Marlborough
Retail: $22.99

Description: "A classical blend of six Pinot Noir cultivars each impart their unique flavors to the wine. This wine shows intense black berry and cherry aromas. On the palate, these characters meld with hints of smoke, spicy flavors and violet flowers. The tannins are silky and well integrated. This wine has beautiful balance and length. "

Reviews: Wilfred Wong - 91

Wine Enthusiast - 90 ('03 vintage)

Review: 91-92. Fruit foward with solid backing and smoke and spice presence. Good structure. Enjoyable length and finish. Description fits the wine well. A great NZ pinot.

Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir '05

Winery: Edna Valley Vineyard

Wine: Pinot Noir 2005

Retail: $23.99

Description: "A delicate flower on the path to Pinot Noir bliss, the refined and primary fruit '05 Edna Valley Vyd Pinot Noir stays tried and true to the varietal; great with seared salmon. "

Reviews: Wifred Wong- 90

Review: 89-90. Initally poor development, but opens up nicely. Pleasant pepper and spice nose follows to the pallet and continues to the finish, with the pepper staying even after the cherry fruit. A refined, moderate pinot in the mist of a wild, novel variety in this price range.

2005 Cardoini Pinot Noir

Winery: Cardoni

Wine: Pinot Noir, 2005

Retail: $9.99

Description: "This Italian uses grapes from the famous Veneto region. Experience rich flavors that pair well with prosciutto, risotto, red meats, and mild cheeses. Theart of the label is from an Etruscan Fresco inTarquinia from the fifth century B.C.

Review: 87. This is a decent pino for ten bucks. Lovely eched bottle is best part, however. Smoke and classics pino flavors show up for a easy table wine. Yes, I know it is the wrong label, try to find a pinot label, I couldn't.

Beaulieu Vineyard Pinot Noir Coastal

Winery: BV

Wine: Pinot Noir, NV
Retail: $10.49

Description: "This A fine easy-drinking pinot noir, the Beaulieu Coastal is a good example of a well-conceived and
well-balanced effort; with mild spices. The result of the interesting process of importing French grapesand bottling them in California.."

Review: 82. Vin de Pays grapes are imported from France and bottled in Napa. This is the worst pinot noir I have ever had, perhapts with the exception of the two-buck chuck version. Tannic, dull. Forced rasberry and cherry flavors. Not easy to drink. Please, buy a merlot or malbec if you want a decent red for ten bucks.