2007 David Alessandro Pinot Grigio $13.99

Clear with a light straw color, sound wine, med intensity, aroma of light white pepper. Soft with a light pear and citrus flavor, med body with a 10 second finish of light minerals. Great Pinot Grigio from Venezie.

Tasted 09/08

2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Riesling $15.99

Clear w/ a light straw color. Light wet rock and petrol notes on the nose with a hint of citrus fruits. Great balance with peaches and tropical fruits with a finish of light lemons and orange blossoms.

Tasted 10/08

2006 Jekel Vineyards Riesling, Monterey $11.99

Wine is clear with a light petrol noes and hints of tropical notes to follow. Light white pepper on the palate with a medium mouth feel. Finish is soft and nice.

Tasted 10/08

2006 Dr. Loosen Riesling, Erdener Treppchen, Kabinett, Mosel $24.99

Clear with a light pee color. Soft stone fruit with a decent amount of petrol on the nose. Sweet with a light fizz mouth-feel. High acidity with a med plus finish of light limes and lemons.

Tasted 10/08

2008 Yellow + Blue Organic Torrantes $12.99

Wine is lightly yellow with a touch of green. On the nose there is a helping amount of tropical fruit with a hint of lime peel spritz. On the palate this baby is medium bodied with great acidity. There is also a nice bit of mineral notes on the finish as well. Really nice wine as long as you don't chill it too much. Don't let the fruit close up, let it open up. Plus...I love the box!

Tasted 5/09 via Polaner Wines

2008 Yellow + Blue Organic Rosé $12.99

This is a blend of Syrah and Monastrell with a kinda dull looking white zin look. I will even go as far as saying that is has a light color of possibly rhubarb. Light strawberry and earth tones on the nose with hints of soil and sea salt on the palate. Finish was ok, but I think there are others I would rather dine upon.

Tasted 5/09 via Polaner Wines

2008 Yellow + Blue Organic Malbec $12.99

Almost purple in color with a nose of a stink gym sock (This is a good thing as it does blow off.) After the blow-off period this wine really shows you what an organic wine is all about. Rich red fruit with hints of light spice and chocolate. Medium body and balance, ages in foudre for 6 months.

This is a great organic wine in a great package. Comes in a 1.0L tetra pak or cardboard box. I really like this wine and like the package. Wine will go great with grilled meats or a nice pot roast.

Tasted 5/09 via Polaner Wines

2000 Apollonio Copertino Divito Riserva $21.99

With a blend of 70% Negroamara and 30% Montepulcino, this wine is bone dry!!! Almost black in color with a nose of rich red black and red fruits. There is a slight hint of mint and earth tones that follow. Sweet oak on the palate with good acidity and balance. Loads of blackberry and spices. Like I said though...bone dry!

Tasted 5/09

2003 Tenuta San Felippo Fanti Brunello di Montalcino $51.99

Being that this wine is a 2003, I was not expecting to see a brown rim like this in a 2003! the nose was different as it was less dried flowers and more of that ink and tar I love to smell. Lots of dark fruit like black cherry and over ripe cherries. Finish was herbal with a solid balance.

Tasted 5/09

2003 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino $59.99

Light brown on the rim. Then the nose came. Wine was cooked! There is always one in the bunch that is bad. Don't let anyone ever tell you that they never get a bad bottle. They have, they just don't know what to look for.

This one smelled like a light wet rust and tasted like iodine.

Tasted 5/09

2003 Apollonio Copertino $14.99

This is one hell of a blend. 70% Negroamara, 15% Montepulciano, and 15% Black Malvasia. The color is deep red to almost black. Do not wear white clothes when tasting this wine!!! Rich notes of earth and black stone fruit are heavy hear folks. Wine is full bodied with a helping of homemade jam on the palate. Black berry jam! Finish was pretty quick, leaving no real aftertaste. Very nice wine.

Tasted 5/09

2003 Apollonio Salice Salentino $12.99

This is the second time I have tried these wines in a controlled tasting setting. Wine is made from 80% Negroamaro and 20% Black Malvasia.

Brick red in color, candied sugar on the nose with a light floral and earth note. Wine has hreat structure with good spices on the palate. Tannins are there but not over powering. Finish was medium bodied. but lingered on like an old man's fart.

Great wine!!!

Tasted 5/09

1999 Tenuta Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino $59.99

This is made with 100% Sangiovese and 100% love!!!

I have been wanting to try this wins for awhile now, but never had the chance to until now. The color of this gem has some brown notes on the rim but is pretty solid in the center. It might be starting to show is age (10 years) but the nose and the palate are a different story.

The nose had some nice floral notes with some light dried herbs in the center. As for the palate, there is a helping of spices and oak just begging to be consumed. Great balance and acidity should keep this wine holding up for another 5 years. Light red fruit on the finish as she tends to slip away softly into the night.

Tasted 5/09

2005 Emilio Moro Red Wine $29.99

Wine is 100% Tinto Fino, has 23 days of maceration and see's 12 months of French and American oak. That being said, the color of the wine is a hair past maroon. Rich spices and dried herbs on the nose. On the palate this is a red fruit bomb with notes of casis and oak. The finish is soft with a light floral note. This wine should age very well and could use a nice hour in the decanter before serving. Would go great with a nice prime rib or grilled burgers.

Tasted 5/09

2007 Bernhard Eifel Alex E Riesling $16.99

The color is almost a straw-like color with a light hint of green. Has an almost crayon wax-like nose to it. Pretty full bodied on the palate with rich acidity and lots of wet stone fruit. Wine wants to be sweet than it is! Very long acidic finish.

Tasted 5/09

2008 Fuzelo Vinho Verde $7.99

A new edition to the wine shop. Pretty clear in color, but the nose is to die for. Crisp mineral notes with a helping of lime and lemon peel. Slight bubbly on the mouth feel. Pretty high acidity with a nice long finish. Wine would be great with a nice spicy dish.

Tasted 5/09

2007 Three Blind Moose Riesling $10.99

Pretty clear in color. Solid grapefruit notes with some really nice acidity and balance. On the palate the fruit is less showing but then slowly comes out on the finish. Nice wine.

Tasted 5/09

2007 Schmitt Söhne Relax Riesling $10.99

Clear with a great notes of green apple and light wet rock. Medium dry on the palate with a sold smooth finish.

Tasted 5/09

2005 Tinto Pesquera $32.99

Deep red in color with a nice soft garden mint lingering around. Hints of chocolate and ripe berries are hanging around as well.

Pretty big on the palate as the spices sat on the tip of my tongue. Wine should lay down for a few years before it is opened again. Needs time to settle down.. Finish was pretty big then softly went away.

Good stuff.

Tasted 5/09

2004 Castano Solanera $14.99

Parker gave this 92 points. With a blend of 65% Monastrell, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Tintorera, this wine is aged for 10 months in oak.

Another wine that is rich red in color, hints of rich red fruit that has been drying on a rack. Very light notes of minerals and something like wet fur...

Pretty big on the palate! Black pepper and spice come out of the front gate. The finish was rather sad. Kinda just went away without saying it was leaving. Sad.

Tasted 5/09

2003 The Gate Shiraz $22.00

At first I did not pick up too much from the nose. In regards to the color though there is a nice deep hue of red with a lighter burgundy rim. The palate is a different story! This damn thing cold take the paint off a house. Very full bodied with rich black fruit and oak. Lots of pepper and cedar with a pretty good amount of earth. With a aclohol percentage of 15%, this wine is a full belly sit down! Maybe the gate should be locked for a few years so this can mellow out?

Tasted 5/09

2004 Fox Gordon Eight Uncles Shiraz $22.00

A nice wine form Barossa Valley, Eight Uncles is damn near black in the center with a deep red rim. On the nose, this wine smells like brown sugar, spices with a light green Nyquil scent. I actually like it even though I hate the smell of Nyquil!

BOOM, this is pretty big on the palate with a ton of black fruit and oak. There is a very small amount of sugar lingering around though. Pretty good balance with a alcohol percentage of 14.5% that does not taste like it.

Wine would go great with grilled red meat.

Tasted 5/09

2007 Bernhard Eifel Max E Riesling $12.99

Talk about a great little QbA from Mosel! Around 11.5% alcohol, this beauty is clear with hints of gooseberry and wet stone. This is a wine that is made in Germany but made for the US market. Pretty decent nose of wet crushed white fruit with light floral notes. On the palate the wine is soft with high acidity. Has a great mouthfeel and a nice finish of crab apples. Good stuff.

Tasted 5/09

2004 Hugel Pinot Blanc "Cuvée les Amours" $19.99

The lovers blend as the label reads has a great nose of light pears with just a hint of granny smith apples. Good citrus on the palate with a light mineral with just a hint of zest to follow. Great long finish makes this a good wine for the summer time or try it with some light seafood or Asian food.

Tasted 5/09

2008 White Haven Sauvignon Blanc $14.99

Clear with a huge nose of cat pee! I love it already. Rich limes with pretty high acidity. On the palate, this beauty gives you a light white pepper and some good white fruit. The finish is pretty long as it craves you for wanting more. This is a great example of a textbook New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc! I love it!

Tasted 12/08

2006 Mac Murray Pinot Noir $15.99

Now this is what I'm talking about for a Pinot Noir! Lighter than red in color, soft spices with a hint of medium plus acidity. Smooth finish. This is what I would call a Pinot Noir that wants to be like something from France, but is willing to settle for California and willing to understand the dirt that it is settled in. Very nice!

Tasted 12/08

2005 Ghost Pines Cabernet Sauvignon $19.99

It would be really nice if I could get one wine rep to bring me a few wines that they actually like rather than just trying to make a buck from me.

Blood red in the Middle. Rich red fruit on the nose with a hint of dried herbs. Nail polish on the palate with a softness. Hollow on the end with no finish. That was it?

Tasted 12/08

2005 Ghost Pines Merlot $16.99

Rich red fruits and has a bang on the front. 18 months in oak, some Syrah but seems a bit on the tight side Nail polish on the side with a hint of shrubs. As with the Chardonnay, seems like they are rushing things a bit.

Tasted 12/08

2006 Ghost Pines Chardonnay, Winemaker's Blend $16.99

Light hay with a hint of straw in color. Malo on the nose with medium plus vanilla notes. Soft with a bitterness or green fruit and berries. Light oak. NO. Wine is not balanced. Seems like they are just trying to make a quick buck. California has plenty of those already.

Tasted 12/08

2007 Fratelli Moscato d' Asti $15.99

Just what I want in a nice Moscato...Paste on the nose. Let me explain that a bit. Remember back in the day when we all used to paste in elementary school? No, I'm the only one? Right. Anyway, this wine smells like the old school paste with the stick built into the cap. Rich nose of tropical fruit and a taste that is just like the nose. Very smooth with great acidity.

Tasted 1/09

2006 Two Angles Peite Syrah $19.99

I'm not sure what is going on in Napa, but it seems like they are trying to compete against Washington and France. At first I thought this might be a wine I could drink. Then I tasted it. It was a wine that was made in a different world. Black as ink in color, a nose that smelled like the color with maybe a hint of earth. On the palate it was a massive TNT keg ready to go off, and there was enough oak to choke a logger. I know Napa is wanting to become the wine capital of the world, but shit...just make a wine we can all like. Come to WA or France and learn something.

Tasted 1/09

2007 Pillar Box Red $14.99

Wine is brick red with a brown rim. Wine smells over extracted and rich-like of ink. On the palate the wine seems a bit dusty and has loads of oak. Making up for the lack of fruit I guess.

Tasted 1/09

1006 Brandal Albarino $17.99

Clear with a rich nutrient nose to is. Very soft on the palate with a hard wheat or hay finish. Not bad but not what I was looking for and for the price as well.

Tasted 1/09

2007 Two Angles Sauvignon Blanc $17.99

Wine is clear with a light hint of straw. Soft straw notes on the nose with light lemon on the palate. Acidity and body are medium. Has almost a Burgundy flavor to it. Nice but the money, I'd have to pass.

Tasted 1/09

2004 Wellington Vineyards Zinfandel $14.99

Deep red in color with a nose of home made raspberry jam. Large hints of blackberry pie. Medium bodied with good spices and great balance. Hints of black pepper and a very soft finish. Wine was actually a good little jammy Zinfandel. I would buy this wine even though it if from Sonoma Valley.

2004 Wellingotn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Mohrhardt Ridge Vineyard $21.99

Blood red in color with notes of spices and dried herbs on the nose. Rich on the palate with loads of spice and black pepper. Finish is medium bodied with soft tannins. Decent wine for the price.

2007 Wellington Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc $14.99

Clear with a hint of pine needles and wet rock. Wine is bone dry with very low acidity. Wine is not really that well balanced and could use a little help. From Sonoma Valley.

2007 Rhein River Riesling, QbA, Rheinhessen $11.99

Clear with a hint of Champagne-like color with a nose of cough syrup. Good residual sugar with a hint of white pepper and minerals. The finish was kinda short, but this would a be a good wine to start people off on. Light rock dust on the finish.

2007 Dr. F Weins-Prüm Riesling QbA Mosel $16.99

Clear with a light straw-like color. Nose of honey sickle and hints of minerals. Very crisp acidity and great balance. Very light hints of peach on the palate with a nice smooth finish.

WS gave it 90 points

2007 Hans Wirsching Silvaner $18.99

Trying out a new wine rep in my area. Maximum wines are the distributor for Rudi's German wines so I am looking for quality rather than bulk juice shit! This Silvaner is from the Franken region, this wine is clear with a light mineral notes. There is a light beer taste on the palate with hints of crisp green apple and citrus. Very smooth on the finish.

2006 Vina Robles Cabernet Sauvignon $16.99

When you are looking at a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Petit-Verdot, you know you're going to get something good. This is a traditional left bank Bordeaux blend that taste and smells like a $50 bottle.

Rich notes of herbs and spices on the nose. Deep red in color might make you think the wine is over-extracted, but its not. Rich red fruit on the palate with a hint of nail polish (this is good thing). Medium plus on the tannins with great acidity and balance. Finish is smooth with light hints of spices on the finish. Really nice Paso Robles wine.

2007 Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz $14.99

Deep red in color with a healthy amount of spices on the nose with an extra dose of soft red fruits. Very soft tannins with a nice solid core. Finish is medium bodied with a light red fruits that follow. A really nice wine from the Limestone Coast.

Parker rated this 90 points

2006 Tolosa Chardonnay Edna Ranch $15.99

Most people know that I'm not a huge fan of California Chardonnay's. This is one of those rare cases when I actually found a nice Chardonnay from the central coast. Wine sees no oak at all and is 40% malolactic.

Soft yellow in color, it has a great nose of light butter and crisp green apples. Just as on the nose, wine is crisp on the palate with a light bite to it. Slight hints of kiwi and tropical fruit. On the finish, it is pure and simple (not is bad way) with a light touch of green juice. Aged in stainless steel for 8 months. I like it.

2006 1919 Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina $9.99

The 2006 1919 Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina is a pure gem. Like its brother the Malbec, this a great wine for the price. Deep red in color, rich red fruit notes with some great black spices and rich herbs. A little stronger than the Malbec, but finishes with some nice soft tannins and decent acidity.

2007 Evodia Old Vines Garnacha $12

Ruby red in color. Bacon smoke on the nose. Rich black fruit on the palate with load of black pepper and spice. This is a BIG damn wine. Finish was a bit heavy and loaded. Pretty high acidity and medium plus tannins. Pretty good wine, but might need some time in the bottle or need to be decanted before it is ready for the mouth.

2006 Tall Poppy Select Shiraz $5.99

Garnet in color with a hint of pepper on the nose. On the palate though the wine is pretty juicy with loads of red/black fruit. There is a slight spice on the end but still has a smooth finish. Tannins and acidity were pretty balanced. Great wine for the price.