Duckhorn Napa Valley 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, $22.94-$31.99, 92+ points, appeared a beautiful polished gold color.
Aromatic honeysuckle and tangerine were lovely.
The medium body carried fair acidity and citrus flavors of tangerine, grapefruit, and hints of lemon on a bed of a creamy sherbet-like texture; what it lacked in crispness, it gained in its stand-alone drink-ability!
Finished long on the well integrated 13.5% alcohol, flowers, white pepper, and ginger.
When I want to be serious about a white wine, this is my go-to Sauvignon Blanc, because it is so consistently good.
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Fattoria Monsanto Fabrizio Bianchi 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva, $15.29-$19.99, 91 points, poured as deep and true a ruby red as any red wine I've seen, but a slight orange transition before the silver lining was beautiful.
The gentle strawberry, red cherry, earth, and coffee notes were pleasant.
A shade richer than medium bodied with good acidity, fine tannin, and complex flavors of cola, red fruit, mint, and bay-leaf struck me as remarkably good for a $15 red wine.
Finished long on the trailing palate, tart pomegranate, and a well integrated 14% alcohol.
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Château Lamothe De Haux Grand Vin 2012 Bordeaux White Wine, $13.99-$14.99, 84 points, appeared a bright gold color which transitioned to light brass and finally gray toward the glass wall.
At colder temperatures the aroma was a pristine lemon/lime, but as it warmed a rather complex evolution transformed the aroma from sweet saltwater taffy to honeysuckle, and finally cantaloupe.
The light body carried fair acidity with rather flat citrus and green melon flavors.
Finished fair on the trailing palate with hints of the 12.5% alcohol and thin tangerine notes.
Varietals were 40 percent sauvignon blanc, 40 percent semillon and 20 percent muscadelle.
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Arnaldo~Caprai 2009 Montefalco Rosso, $16.99-$19.99, 87 points, appeared bright ruby at the core, but the dominant color was orange/red with a transparent rim.
Cedar, black currant, and leather on the nose were okay.
Medium bodied with lip-smacking acidity and mouth-puckering tannin were a bit surprising in their intensity, but proved to be a Buffalo-wings buster of red wine characteristics.
Strawberry and red cherry were almost fruity, yet quite dry, and nuanced savory herbs added some depth to the flavor profile.
Finished long on spice and some heat (14% alcohol).
With a descriptor like "rustic" being tossed about, I've not been very good at nailing that one down, but the word does seem to apply to this rather rough-edged and austere red wine.
Varietals were 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, 15%Merlot.
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Château Cantemerle, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, Haut-Médoc 2008 Bordeaux Red Wine, $32.29-$37.99, 92 points, poured pomegranate red trending sunburst orange toward a broad youthful clear rim.
Smells of red fruit and warm earth were lovely.
The medium-plus body carried good acidity with very drinkable layered tannin and rich red fruit flavors with violets, currants, and dried herbs.
Finished on a long trailing palate, licorice, pomegranate, coffee notes, and a well integrated 13% alcohol.
Varietals are 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.
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Banfi Castello San Angelo 2013 Pinot Grigio, $13.59-$18.99, 92 points, poured a lovely light brass color, and trended gray to the edge of the glass.
An outstanding aroma of apples, peaches, pears, and honeysuckle excelled.
Loads of contradictions with this pinot Grigio: crisp and creamy, fruity with a dominant peach, extra non-descript flavors, 13% unnoticeable alcohol, with good acidity and a high drinkability.
Finished long on the trailing palate which reflected the aromas, but excelled with good ginger notes.
I've never had a vintage of the Banfi Pinot Grigio I didn't love.
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Masciarelli D.O.C. 2011 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, $8.49-$11.99, 89 points, began in the glass as a deep crystalline ruby, but trended a bright purple red toward the clear rim ring.
Though the aroma was nearly asleep, cardamom, cedar, strawberry, and red cherry were quite pleasant.
Nearly full bodied, almost a thick (chewy) texture carried good acidity, persistent grainy tannin, and flavors of the nose richly onto the palate with a dominant red cherry.
Finished fair on the trailing palate, a well integrated 13% alcohol, and gentle paprika spice notes.
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