What We’re Drinking – Carleos Serres Gran Reserva
The earthiness is the message with this wine - pair it with mushroom dishes. Highly Recommended. 90 points.
2008 Twomey Merlot
It works with quite a few easy meals as the cab franc and low alcohol rein in any tendency to overpowering fruit here. Pair with a good ol’ American meal like burgers and salad or simply-cooked vegetables. Recommended (89).
2008 Raumland Pinot Noir Cuvée Marie-Luise Brut Blanc de Noir
This has a rich mouth-feel, great complexity, and acids to hold up to the richest food pairing. Drink with stuffed flounder. Highly Recommended (93).
2008 Pedestal Columbia Valley Merlot
Clear, bright, medium-deep intensity, ruby red. Clean, medium intensity aromas of dark fruit, plum, blackberry, sage, and cedar. Dry on the palate, medium-high tannin, medium body and acidity. Flavors of black cherry, blackberry, charred wood, bitter herbs, and moss. Pair with herb crusted lamb or a spicy black bean burger. Recommended. RR
2008 Bodega Inurrieta Sur
Blackberries and brambles show in the nose, with a vanilla background from American oak. The palate is dark and deep, with earthy mulberry backed by black cherry. Mild black pepper and tobacco leaf show on the mid-palate, lingering over a mid-length finish with the mulberry. The depth and complexity of the wine belie the moderate price. Drink with flank steak or ropa vieja. Highly Recommended. DH
2008 Rene Lequin-Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Clos Devant
This is a single vineyard, Clos Devant,white Burgundy from Chassagne Montrachet. It is translucent, with a light golden hue. The noise has an apple pie and caramel sweetness with a lovely white flower bouquet. The palate offers up rich flavors, starting with baked apples, adding creme brûlée and Meyer Lemon on the mid-palate, all with underlying toast and smoke. Gardenias, sweet lemon, and creme brûlée linger on the lasting finish. Acids are very good. This is a good food wine or a delicious sipper. Drink with grilled swordfish. Very Highly Recommended. DH.
2008 Penley Estate “Phoenix” Cabernet Sauvignon
The color is inky dark with maroon edges. The nose is lightly jammy blackcurrant with a background of vanilla and eucalyptus. The palate is more harsh than the nose. Blackcurrant leads, along with some vegetal tobacco leaf as well a higher tones of mint and eucalyptus. It does not show a lot of development from attack through mid-palate to finish, ending with some brown sugar and vanilla from wood. At this price point it is very competitive with California cabernets, showing a more deft hand with wood flavors than is usually seen in the under-$15 crowd, as well as some acid to keep it food-friendly. Drink with a skirt steak. For the price, Recommended. DH
2008 Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina DOCG
Roses and cedar aromas, nice mouth-filling classic Chianti flavors on palate. Fruity but balanced. Nicely integrated tannins with fruit in a moderate finish. Drink with plain grilled meat. Recommended. BSE