2002 Suavia Soave Classico, Veneto $14

Another beautiful Soave from the Veneto. Wine see's no oak at all which tends to show in that light straw looking color with a soft green-like hint around the rim. On the nose you can pick up some soft honeydew and herbs like mint. On the palate she was pretty full-bodied with some really good acidity. I might even take this down with some nice spicy phad thai! On the finish there was more melon and citrus with a hint of minerals. There is a lot more going in this wine than most would think. I like it.

2001 Bridgman Cellars Yakima Valley Sangiovese $ 14

Here is a wine that I was not looking forward to trying but glad I did. Almost purple in color with soft strawberry's and little spices. I am going to guess that with the strawberry notes being what they were, the vines were only a few years old and they were trying to get all the money out of the vineyard they could. A bit smokey on the palate yet made the wine taste good. I believe there was a brush fire near by as some other 2001's had the same smokey note. I like it but I do not think they are making it anymore. Tasted 1/04.

2000 Guenoc North Coast Petite Sirah $20

Light in color, looked like a dark fruit punch kool-aid, minus the "OH YAH." Nose was pretty solid but lacked the spice I was looking for. Medium body with a light finish. Not bad, but for the price I would rather just pick up a nice bottle of CSM. Tasted on 1/04

1999 Langtry Meritage $25

Deep red in color and tight as nails on the nose and palate. I was having a hell of a time trying to pull anything out on the nose and was having even more of a time trying to get anything but acidity and tannins on the palate. The finish was pretty much no there since the tannins were sitting in my mouth. tasting this wine was like being at a heavy metal concert, but not being able to hear anything and wanting to put your fist in the air and not having any hands. Tasted 1/04

1999 Guenoc North Coast Claret $25

I find it funny that they don't make the same wine anymore. The current vintage is the 2005/06 Meritage and comes form Lake County. The 1999 I tried came from the North Coast and even though they called it a Bordeaux blend it was more like a general Meritage. Brick red in color with a nice rich vanilla nose. Fruit was lacking on the palate and the finish did nothing for me. Tasted on 1/04

2000 Guenoc North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon $20

Brick red in color with very light red legs. Must have been a hot harvest or hot that summer. On the nose there is nothing but oak and dark red fruit, at least the fruit came out on this one. On the palate though there was some nice fruit to compliment the fruit on the nose. Pretty decent acidity and the alcohol was actually on the lower side when it came to the palate. Finish was a bit off but was not unpleasant. Nice. Tasted on 1/04

2000 Guenoc Lake County Zinfandel $10

Wine had a light red color, almost the color of a not fully ripen cherry. Loads of black spices and herbs with a hint of cinnamon on the nose. On the palate there was a helping amount of tannins and acidity. The palate and the nose did not match. I have a feeling that they might be trying to cover the lack of fruit with oak. None of those jammy notes that you want in a nice zinfandel. Wine was tasted in 1/04

2002 Abbazia di Novacella Sylvaner, Trentino $18

Almost lemon peel yellow with some good but light wet stone and wet fir-like plant leaf going on. There even seemed to be a light petrol note as well. Pretty decent acidity on the palate with some nice wet stone and petrol notes again. Finish wise, this was amazingly long for a sylvaner but was drinking very well. Again, light petrol on the finish. Wine is 100% sylvaner, spends 1 year in stainless steel and 4 months in the bottle prior to shipping. Good stuff.

2002 FRASCATI D.O.C. SUP. Regillo Black Label $10

This is one of those great little gems that is nice to have around the house when people show up. Goes great with loads of different foods. Clear with a nice lemon/perfume nose. On the palate, things are jumping around, has a light almond finish and leaves you wanting more. Great for those summer nights. Talk about a blend of grapes though...Malvasia di Candia - Trebbiano - Malvasia del Lazio - Bombino - Greco.

Bisol Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene "Crede" - Veneto - $14

I have always loved this Prosecco because it is so simple yet goes with everything. Made with 90% Prosecco and 10% Verdiso & Pinot Bianco, this beauty is clear with very tiny bubbles of goodness. Has a very-light hue that looks like a dash of lemon dropped in water. On the nose this charm tends to pull out some pear and hay notes with a very soft almost delicate palate. The finish is clean and crisp. I might even take this over some higher-end Champagnes!

Marco De Bartoli Vecchi Samperi Ventennale $70

This fortified wine is made up of 100% Grillo grapes. This is one of those rare chances when I was able to try something that is out of my comfort zone. Marsala is something that I normally won't jump on but being that this was a 20 year old Solera I said what the hell. Aged in oak barrels for around 20 years while it is put through the Solera method.

Dark amber in color. Orange blossoms on the nose with a light cream or soft runny cheese to follow. On the palate there were some good toasty notes with lots of spices and nutmeg. Dry as the desert and would go great with a nice cigar. Impressive.

1998 Castello di Meleto Vin Santo 375ml $50

This Vin Santo is 100% Malvasia and see's a staggering 60 months in oak barrique's! Grapes are dried on racks before pressing. The color of this Vin Santo is a light amber with a sherry-like nose. Has almost a pastry cooked nose to it as well with loads of nuts. On the palate though it had a nice citrus note with more nuts. This thing covers your mouth with luscious mouth-feel and goodness. The wine is perfectly balanced and is amazing. The finish begs for you to put just a little more in your mouth. Leaves you wanting more.

1998 La Salette Amarone Classico "Pergola Vece" $150

Blend of 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 10% Croatina with 36 months on oak, this is a beast! The grapes from this monster are hand picked from the top three cru's then dried for 6 months. Then to top it off they bottle age the wine for another 8 months. This wine will sit for 15 years but has the potential to last another 10+ years after that.

With a color that looks like iodine and nothing but pepper and spice with loads of tobacco and a hint of latakia, this thing blows your nose away. On the palate she was exploding with life and rich tannins. Balance and acidity were perfect as she put this thick layer of dark tree fruit all over your mouth. On the finish she lasted for another 45 seconds but not before she spit a little more spice at you then softly went away. This is why I love wine!

2002 Syncline Winery Milbrandt Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley $14

Dark purple in color, nose of black fruit jams and spices, a little sweet with a hint of pepper. Nice long finish of spices and herbs. Should age well for 10 years. Tasted Feb. 2004.

2002 Domaine Francois Mikulski, Meursault-Charmes, Côte de Beaune $50

This was the first time I was trying this producer and I can say that I really was not that impressed. I had heard a few good things so I thought, what the hell. Yah well it was decent but not for the price. A bit darker than hay in color with a light nutty nose and some honey/lemon on the palate. Good acidity and balance but nothing to really scream about. Wine should peak in a few years. I'll try it again in a few and see if she hits me different.

2004 Domaine Jean Boillot et Fils, Puligny-Montrachet, Clos de la Mouches, Côte de Beaune $80

Does the word minerals mean anything to anyone? This wine has it. Could it be since the vines are stacked on top of argilo limestone? Nah that couldn't be it at all. A light hint of honey and wet rock on the nose but then on the palate you get smacked with this white peach and over-ripe tree fruit that should be found only in Georgia! The wine is balanced and ready to roll. Minerals come through all the way to the end leaving a nice light peach/honey residual left for the finish. What the hell was I just tasting? Amazing.

2004 Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne, Côte de Beaune $105

This bottle was great. Light as hay in color with a nice rich malolactic nose and a slight bread dough hint to follow. Very soft on the front palate with just a hint of spice on the tip of the tongue. Great notes of light white pepper and hints of very light vanilla. I think it was aged for about 14 months as it is a bit chewy on the end. Imagine this wine with a nice baked chicken and some fried potatoes! In about 7 years this wine will really show you what it's made of.