Newton Napa County 2008 Unfiltered Chardonnay

Newton Napa County 2008 Unfiltered Chardonnay, $32.29-$39.99, 92 points, is more round, more rich, and more full-bodied than your average California Chardonnay, as you might suspect with the term "unfiltered" used on the label. Does that mean it's better? I can't answer that, and like everything in life you have devotees, but I just taste the wine and try and give a relative judgment as to how much I like the wines I taste. The price of the wine has to be taken into consideration, and this is not an inexpensive Chardonnay. 
There is another aspect of buying a wine, and as I've mentioned before: how will the bottle itself enhance your "table setting" and is that a consideration for you, is the meal an important occasion?
I've included a picture of the whole bottle to display the elegance of this one and how lovely it is; I'm guessing that the Newton winery spent a bit more money bottling this wine.
To the wine:
The color is golden with brassy tones.
The aroma is apple blossoms and honey-dew.
The medium-plus body carries mouth-watering acidity smoothly, is off dry, and has flavors (none-over-powering) of melon, quince, vanilla, butterscotch, and caramel.  The wine finishes long with ginger and white pepper.
I like this wine, and I believe the cost of $32.29 is comparable to other Chardonnay wines in the low 90s; is it your best value? Only in tasting will you know.



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Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain 2007 Red Wine

Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain 2007 Red Wine, $50.99-$59.99, 93 points, 45% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, has a
dark red to deep purple color with a clear rim, but this wine trails near black at the core.
As I poured this wine, waves of blackberry and purple grape flowered upwards with just a hint of alcohol (14.5%).
With fair acidity, and smooth tannin, this near full bodied dry red wine exudes elegance, dressed in floral raiment and rich black berry, licorice, and mellow spice that is only intensified with a touch of heat on the long finish train.
Though this red wine was wonderful as a stand alone wine, it overpowered my rare spicy strip-steak; I'll have to pair it with something a bit more dominant.




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Sokol Blosser Willamette Valley 2010 Pinot Gris

Sokol Blosser Willamette Valley 2010 Pinot Gris, $15.29-$19.99, 93 points, is one of those wines I can safely say: "Though I'm not sure why this is such a good wine, I know one when I taste one." I suspect that when you pour a cold glass of this wine for your family and friends you'll see the instant pleasure on their faces. So, what ever price you pay, you'll get one of the better Pinot Gris wines sold in the Granite State.
To the wine:
The color is near water-clear with gold and lime hues.
Though the aroma is soft and subtle, it is nevertheless lovely sweet apple and apple blossoms.
Having a light-plus body that carries good acidity  (medium-plus for the nonplussed), and off-dry. The mouth-feel is full, rich, brisk yet substantial, and refreshing.
The flavor contradicts the axiom: "You don't get sweet and bitter from the same fountain." Sokol Blosser begins with sweet quince and warms to tart apple.
I want to say this is not a complex wine, but I might be at odds with my description of it. So finishing with my post and the long ginger finish of this wonderful Piont Gris, I'll leave you with the profound simplicity of this quaffer of a wine.


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Michele Chiarlo Monferraton 2006 MonTald Albarossa

Michele Chiarlo Monferraton 2006 MonTald Albarossa (DOC), $23.37-$27.49, 90 points, is an uncommon grape varietal hybrid of Nibbiolo and Barbera grapes and grown in Piedmont, Italy.
The color is deep rosewood, black at the core, and with a clear rim.
"Barnyard Blues" was the aroma upon opening, so I let it sit over night to behold a transformation not unlike a princess kissing a frog (Sometimes a wine needs more time before it shows-off what it has to offer). This morning the "butterfly" bouquet was sweet cooking spice, hints of cedar, and black cherry.
The near full body shows high acidity and layers of firm tannin.
Black cherry was the fruit of note, but this is a complex wine, a delicious wine with eucalyptus and floral notes, a bit chalky with earth and mushroom.The finish was long on the palate notes, but juicy with only a hint of spice.

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Nino Franco Rustico Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

Nino Franco Rustico Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, $14.99-$17.99, 92 points, is another new favorite sparkler from  Italy.
The color is near clear with gray/brass tones.
The aroma is a bella subtle blend of apple and vanilla.
Brut dry with a light body, fizzes into a head, and continues weakly for a long time. Has good acidity, and paired bella with our tuna.
Typical neutral fruit flavors are present, and with that noticeable acidity, they continue onto a long finish.


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Tua Rita Rosso Dei Notri 2009 IGT Toscana

Tua Rita Rosso Dei Notri 2009 IGT Toscana, Red Wine with 60% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, 15% Syrah, and 10% Petit Verdot.
Price: $22.94-$26.99
Score: 92 points
Color: Burgundy
With a bouquet of Black currant, cinnamon, "after the thunderstorm freshness", and dried herbs which carries onto the palate.  
Good acidity and soft tannin on a medium-plus body, smooth with red-wine bourbon (14% alcohol) and a finish reminiscent of  Sambuca are the hallmarks of this wine; looking for globs of fruit? You won't find them here, though some Damson plum is present.
If you like this style of wine, then I highly recommend this dry red wine with red meat cuisine, or traditional Italian pasta dishes.
As a stand alone sipper? Yes!


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Benton Lane Willamette Valley 2009 Pinot Gris

Benton Lane Willamette Valley 2009 Pinot Gris, $13.59-$15.99, 84 points, is very clear with some grey tones, the aroma makes me a bit suspicious, having a (not pleasant) funky grapefruit aroma, good acidity carried on a light-plus body and citrus flavors, ending fair on a ginger finish.
As is often the case with a borderline-spoiled bottle of wine, I'm not happy with my review, but it is what it is until I get a chance to find a more recent vintage and try again. As it is, not a recommended white wine. 

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