Rocca delle Macie 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva, $16.14-$24.99, 89 points, has a garnet to ruby color with flashes of violet and a large transparent rim.
The aroma began cardboard-like, but blossomed beautifully into sweet spice-box with cedar notes.
A medium bodied wine, the Rocca delle Macie 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva is balanced, having competent acidity with an ample tannic presence which seem swept away with the blackberry, boysenberry, tart cherry, and dusty plum which is carried onto a fair finish with added spice.
Just a side note on varietals, there is 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot with 90% Sangiovese in this wine.
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Allegrini 2006 La Grolla Red Wine, $25.49-$29.99, 91 points. Sorry for all the high scores, but I just love Italian wine; is a bias showing? Allegrini 2006 La Grolla Red Wine has a deep-dark ruby-red color with flashes of garnet.
The aroma is a standout bouquet of earthy-cinnamon with a firm floral character that is pronounced on the early palate. With some time to breathe, this floral character subsides and a more balanced and unusually juicy character fills the mouth with a lush black cherry, damson plum, boysenberry, and hints of chalky licorice/mocha.
The finish is long and spicy. The alcohol is unnoticeable (13.5%) and weaved into a balanced beauty of a wine.
For the winery's fact sheet: Allegrini
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Willamette Valley Vineyards Oregon 2009 Pinot Gris, $17.99-$19.99, 93 points, is almost as clear as water with just the faintest flashes of copper.
The aroma is sweet melon, kiwi, and
hints of lichee nut, also spelled Lychee or leechi or whatever, but it is a little reddish fleshy evergreen fruit with lots of beautiful aroma.
The body is medium with some viscosity, medium acidity and is just bit sweet.
The finish is good with just a hint of Asian spice, pineapple, and sweet grapefruit.
The flavor is mostly its aroma, but is lovely, and very easy to drink by itself or with lemon baked haddock, or other Eastern sea cuisine.
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Capanna 2006 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, $47.59-$55.99, 93 points.
My son declared this Brunello to be an "exciting adult wine."
The color was true perfection throughout, in a spectacular crystalline Ruby to shimmering Burgundy with a slim transparent rim.
The aroma was a blast of cinnamon, clove, cedar, and alcohol (15%), with hints of tart Red cherry, smoky wood, and truffle.
The medium body carried bright acidity with moderate tannin and a "hot" sensation.
The flavor was dominated by a woody bourbon-like burn throughout and more strongly on a very long finish; I'm not the authority to say, but I will: I believe this is the structure, the design of this wine, and with only hints of tart cherry, tar, and licorice, plus your imagination, this is the wine you'll be drinking, rather sipping, unless you like you whiskey straight-up and straight-down.
This was not the style of red wine I'm accustom to, but I certainly appreciated its quality, or as the guy from Grapes R great would say: brood over.
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J 2010 Pinot Gris (California), $15.99-$18.99, 92 points, has a lemon/lime color, and that is what I got on the nose (cold).
The light body (cold) carries a very clean, focused, crisp, refreshing, and predominately lime flavor with a nice finish of lemon zest and hints of ginger.
With mouth watering acidity, this Pinot Gris would be a match for fried clams, oysters, or baked perch.
As the J Pinot gris warmed the body became more lush yet retained all that crisp and refreshing character.
One of the better Pinot Gris wines I've tasted.
Now, granted I'm no expert on wine, especially white wine, so all those who like their Pinot Gris with salmon or Thai food might just want to read: Eve Bushman's Wine 101
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King Estate 2009 Pinot Noir, $23.79-$27.99, 90 points, is a clear cranberry color throughout, and has a transparent rim.
The aroma began with cinnamon, and as it warmed there arose licorice, green pepper, and earth.
A light-plus bodied wine that carries bright red fruit, cranberry, strawberry, and cherry, with a consistent finish.
This is a good Pinot Noir that improved with air.
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King Estate 2010 Pinot Gris, $14.44-$19.99, 90 points, has a light lemon/lime color, and the aroma is a mellow honeysuckle with lichee notes.
The flavor profile is tart citrus with hints of honey, and ginger. This Pinot Gris has a long spicy finish all on a light body, crisp and refreshing with no hint of alcohol (13%)
This is a thirst quencher, a crowd-pleaser, and though not particularly complex, it is quite tasty, almost reminiscent of a good Sauvignon Blanc without a fresh-cut lawn.
Having good acidity, it paired nicely with my supper (Grilled chicken sandwich and asparagus on buttered mashed potatoes).
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