2005 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Two Barns Vineyard $120

This was an amazing Pinot Noir! I mean a bit darker than burgundy with a nose of rich cherries, red fruit and some nice spices. On the palate it was like having liquid silk in your mouth. Light notes of coffee and chocolate as well. Finished very smooth and soft. I don't like the price but I love the wine. If I had a few bottles of this they would not last long. I don't have the will power to say "no I'll wait till later" nor would I want too. WOW!

2005 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Renegade Ridge Estate $120

I'm a huge fan of Pinot Noir and have been since before the movie Sideways came out. I mean I'm glad they brought Pinot Noir to the attention of others but now it seems like the prices are so screwed up that nobody can even touch them. I mean this wine from Oregon is around $120. ITS FROM OREGON PEOPLE!

If this was from Burgundy then yeah I might drop that much on a bottle and I actually have many times but not from the US! I really need to do a side by side to see if they really are as good as wines from Burgundy.

That being said, my notes. Deep red in color with a great nose of cherry and blueberries. There was even a bit of pepper and some light floral notes. On the palate this thing was rich. Good minerals but the fruit was not showing as well as one might want. Good fruit, don't get me wrong but it will need a bit more time in the bottle before she is ready. Slightly sweet on the end but nothing like it should be. It was just a bit closed up. Cellar time will show this beauty what it takes to be a prom queen. Right now she is just a runner up. Maybe this Pinot does have what it takes to be a $120 bottle.

2003 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Monatalcino Tenuta Nuova $60

Pretty dark in color but what really made me stand at attention was the amount of dark cherries and blackberry that I was picking up on the nose. There was even a light-hint of wet herbs and licorice. Very full-bodied on the palate with many layers showing every 5 seconds. I know this was aged in 600-liter barrels for like 30 months but one can hardly tell. I believe it was also 35% new oak but again, with the balance and finish on the wine, who cares? Great wine.

2001 Enrico Santini Montepergoli $60

This is a really nice Super Tuscan style wine. I think this is like the 6th or 7th vintage for this producer and it seems to be going well for him.

Garnet in color with a pretty good stink on the nose. I mean it smells like a nice barnyard and wet leather, does not taste like that on the palate though. Nice notes of dark-vine fruit with some more earthy flavors. This thing really pulls the terroir out and drops it in the glass. Tannins were a bit chewy but then mellowed out. Great acidity and balance. Rounds itself out pretty nice. I'll take it!

2009 Broglia Gavi di Gavi la Meirana $19.99/ Vias Tasting

First off let me explain the label a bit to you. Unlike wineries in the US, old world winemakers expect you to know how to read the label. This might be why so many people buy shitty wines from California, cause they just don't know what they are drinking so they pick up something they can understand. For me this is part of the fun I get is understanding the label and being able to educate people.

Winery name: Broglia

Region: Piedmont

Grape: Cortese

Vineyard: La Meirana

So what we have now is: 2009 (vintage) Broglia (Winery) Gavi di Gavi or Cortese di Gavi (Grape Varietal) La Meirana (Vineyard). That being said, onto the notes of me suckin and spitin. This wine has almost a light hay-like color with this tint of light green on the rim. Nice flowers and citrus on the nose. No oak on this baby. Dry on the palate but still has that nice refined finish. Would be great with grilled trout.

2007 Cantele Primitivo $10.99/ Vias Tasting

I love the price of this wine as much as I love the rustic palate. 100% Primitivo, malo in stainless steel and aged in oak for 6 months. Color wise this wine is almost a shade less than iodine. On the nose this bitch has some spice and some dried herbs. The mouth feel is a little sharp yet still has a nice rustic taste to it. Almost rust-like as well on the palate. I actually love it. Great little daily driver to keep the heart red.

2006 Castillo di Melato Chianti Classico $19.99/ Vias Tasting

This is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot that was aged in oak for 12 months with 80% in Slavonian oak while the rest was in French oak.

Man this thing is rich in color with a nose that is to die for. I mean this is a Classico for only $20! Great nose of rich cooked cherries, herbs and light vanilla. On the palate this thing is chewy. Tannins are nice but will hold up to a nice beef stew.

2008 Produttori Barbaresco Nebbiolo Langhe $21.99/ Vias Tasting

Wine is actually medium bodied with good floral notes. Hints of spices and white pepper on the palate. This was actually the least favorite of the wines I tasted but it was still pretty good. Gives you an idea of how great the wines were.

2005 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino $45.99/ Vias Tasting

Then we come to this mutha! I've tasted every wine that Argiano has and have never been unhappy with what they have in the bottle. Amazing in color in that it is light burgundy in with a light brown rim. Notes of cooked brown sugar and light mocha on the nose while on the palate it was like drink liquid silk. The fruit actually comes out on the palate while the spices hang around on the nose. About 20 seconds later it was all over and all I had left was a smile on my face like a school boy who fell in love with his teacher.

2009 Marenco Strev Moscato d'Asti $15.99/ Vias Tasting

So to finish off the tasting I was given this juice. 100% Moscato d'Asti paired up with a pumpkin cheesecake.

I wish more Americans would drink these types of low alcohol wines. This is a great before or after wine for any occasion. With a tropical nose and rich tree-fruit like ripe peaches, this is a wine that all should enjoy. I should also mention that if you smell something that reminds you of the paste you used to eat in grade school, you are smelling the correct wine. I love this wine! Don't judge me about the paste, you know you did it.

2005 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Auslese Gold Cap $60

I can't even go into details on how much I love this wine. I'm not going to tell you what it is cause if you don't know that by now, stop reading my shit! What region? Figure it for yourself! Really, if you are tasting these types of wines, there is little I can tell you that you have not already sniffed and tasted on your own. All you need to know is that is has a nose of petrol and wet rock that blows off after a few minutes and the honey and orange blossoms creep up. This shit should be used for sex not wine tastings. It's just that sweet. Hold onto your panties and cavities as the juice in this bottle will make any sweet-tooth ache. Could not have asked for a better way to end the day.

2009 Tempus Cellars Riesling, Evergreen Vineyard $17

This was the first time I had tasted anything from Tempus Cellars and I'm glad it was a Riesling. The wine was pretty clear with notes of citrus and light-wet rock. Pretty dry Riesling but tended to fall a bit short or even flat on the finish. I think if the price was around $10 I'd say get a few for those hot summer nights but being that it is $16, a pretty new winery and the wine does fall short...sorry.

2007 Five Star Cellars Merlot, Walla Walla Valley $32

I think I've come to the conclusion that if the wine is from Walla Walla it will be over priced. I remember a few years back when this wine was about $15 per bottle yet now it's hanging around $32 and for what? The quality might have improved a bit but not at a 100% increase. The color was more on the sides of lighter than brick red but the nose smelled like someone opened up a fresh box of ALL washing soap. As for the palate it was more rustic maybe irony with a hint of iodine. Not something I was expecting when I saw that it was oak-aged in 160% new oak. Pass.