2010 Cupcake Vineyards Pinot Grigio

This Pinot grigio has a nice crisp bouquet, with grassiness, pears, and slate--a dream on a warm sunny day.

Pears and slate show in the flavors, too. We tasted a nice sour apple that livened up the mouth. The wine displays good acidity and plenty of it. There seems to be a bit of a lack of balance, though, on the back end. We were left with a flat one-dimensional finish. Alcohol left us fiery--too overpowering to overlook. Aside from being a nice affordable dry white to cook with, we would pass on a glass.



Body: Light
Approx. Cost: $10
Food Pairing: Cook with it!

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Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

We got some dried herbs, green pepper, and some figs on nose. Flavors of those same notes were paired with spice. There was a nice balance of green herbs and ripe fruit. The mouthfeel was great--delicate tannins, dry with a long finish. Complexity of flavors was there, especially commendable for a $15 wine. Definitely give this one a try! It would be a great wine to bring to a party--tasty, versatile, and it's in some cool packaging! Top Pick!

Body: Medium to Full
Approx. Cost: $15
Food Pairing: Pasta with red sauces, grilled herb-dressed pork chops

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2007 Ruffino Fonte al Sole Toscana

This Sangiovese was super dark in the glass, and we could easily smell its aromas from over a foot away! We smelled an earthy, oaky wine with raspberry jam. Very intriguing!

The mouthfeel was good, with a firm grip. Raspberries and strawberries were prominent. This is a perfect example of a wine that is "fruity" yet dry. Many people confuse fruity and sweet. Earth, dried herbs, and spice join the fruits, too. Our only gripe is the heat from the alcohol. It isn't overwhelming, but definitely noticeable. This leads to a little bit of an imbalance. Coupled with a lack of complexity, we weren't too crazy about this wine. It isn't bad for $11, and it's definitely serviceable!

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2006 Tenuta Argentiera Bolgheri Villa Donoratico

Rich Italian blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Merlot. Very deep in color, this blend sports some wonderful aromas of vanilla, mocha, toasted oak and green peppers!

Layers of leather, currants, plums, coffee and dried herbs filled our palate. The tannins have some serious grip in the mouth, but the wine offers great balance of acidity. Subtle oak flavors and green peppers finish it off on the back end. Decently long lasting finish leaves you wanting more!

This robust, medium-to-full bodied wine is sure to please most, especially bold cab drinkers! the complexity of different flavors justifies the $20 price tag. This is a perfect "gift wine!" Very good! Top Pick!

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2008 Cusumano Nero D'avola

Sicily, here we come! Or at least, that's how it feels! Sicily's star wine, Nero D'avola, brings wonderful enjoyment to the table.

Lots of berries fill the glass: blackberries, raspberries, and black cherries. Its medium to full body has just the right amount of tannins and acidity. Very subtle earth, soil, and toasted oak tones are present, too!

We paired this with a linguine frutti di mare (tomato-based seafood sauce), and it paired very well. I definitely recommend this with your meal. It is a really good value ($12).

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