Taylor Fladgate Porto Late Bottle Vintage 2000
Porty and pruny – w noticeable alcohol – true to type and sometimes the wine seems to have the alcohol integrated even better than usual. Bottled in 2006 in Oporto, by Taylor across in Vila Nova De Gaia. 20% $17.99 at Bottle Barn Taylor
Fonseca Porto 10 Year Old [...]

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Gran Sasso, Puglia, Primitivo IGT 2005
Tasted in May ‘08 this wine was blooming with brett and would repulse most consumers. A bottle tasted later in the summer proved to be a different animal. Oaky and earthy with new world fruit, an appropriate amount of acid to brighten the wine and some tannin. Thus it lacked [...]

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Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2003
Tonight’s bottle showed some herbaceousness and tannic grip, as well as evolving fruit. The bottle opened earlier in the year showed classic cherry fruit and complexing earthiness with some evolution and stewed fruit. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and 4-5% Syrah and other grapes. Estate bot in Barberino Val [...]

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This flight pairs two of Italy’s well-known white grapes. Vernaccia from Tuscany and Vermentino from the island of Sardegna. Classically the Vernaccia has been described as crisp and full of minerality while the Vermentino was known for its broader, almost flat feel on the palate. Yet with better viticulural practices, reductive winemaking [...]

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Jocelyn Lonen Napa Valley Zinfandel Port 2004
This wine combines sweet fruit, an essence of chocolate and spirit.  One of the class affectionately described it as like a chocolate candy filled with liqueur,  ‘alcohol in an envelope of something sweet’. 100% Zin, sold out at the winery. P&B Napa 18.2% $21.99 (375) at Traverso’s Jocelyn Lonen

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This flight features 5 Zinfandel from 2001 to 2005 sourced from Napa and Paso Robles.
Eberle Paso Robles Zinfandel 2005
Like eating a sweet cherry pie, this wine combines rich fruit, glycerol and oak into a viscous delight.  Even with the high number, the alcohol is completely integrated at this point in time. This originates from the [...]

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Marsala is known the world over but like Madeira it often gets categorized as a mere cooking wine. This is unfortunate as the flavors can delight and since the wine is out of fashion, it’s price point is attractive.
Florio
Marsala DOC Fine Ambra Secco
Marsala DOC Fine Ambra Dolce
The former makes a nice aperitif in that [...]

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Cantine Rallo Moscato di Pantelleria DOC 2003
This is the second bottle of this vintage tasted this year.  The Muscat comes through (known as Zibibbo in this part of the world).  During the last tasting we placed it side by side with a Passito from Donnafugata and they made a nice contrast.  Both were delicious. The [...]

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Planeta Sicilia IGT La Segreta Rosso 2006
Black fruits, mintiness and a moderate amount of extract and some light structure make this an easy drink. 50% Nero d’Avola, 25% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 5% Cab Franc grown at 100-250 metres, 9 tonnes per hectare, vertical trellis, all stainless, estate bot in Menfi (AG) 13% $15 at [...]

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This flight shows two budget Island reds with different personalitites. Nero d’Avola also goes by the moniker Calabrese.
Feudo Arancio Sicilia IGT Nero d’Avola 2005
This wine carries on value shown in the 2003. One of the class described the smell as ‘chocolate covered cherries’. The wine is a simple light-bodied dry quaffer. [...]

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Southern Italian white table wines have improved by leaps and bounds over the last decade. As in other hot winegrowing regions, temperature control in the cellar is making the difference between wines that smell like nuts and varnish versus fresh fruit and other primary grape aromas.
Argiolas Vermentino di Sardegna DOC Costamolino 2006
The smells of [...]

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Blandy’s Madeira 5 Year Old Malmsey nv
This wine is quite consistent in displaying complexity, sweetness and balancing acidity.  Again today’s bottle wraps caramel and butterscotch into a good value fortified dessert wine. For me it’s so good with Rocquefort. Produced and bottled by the Madeira Wine Company in Funchal 19% $23 for a full bottle [...]

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Fratelli Revello Barolo DOCG 2003
This is the Revello’s regional bottling and it’s no slouch. Tasted earlier in the year, I wrote: spot on for the price, with new world styling of chocolaty oak and ripe fruit along with massive tannin and classic licorice. Now in September this wine still shows its licorice in a very [...]

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Barbera can deliver berry flavor with the acidity to keep up with acidic dishes. This flight featured two examples from either side of the Atlantic. The first time the California offering was from Seghesio. Tonight we line-up a wine from Jeff Ruquist.
Andrea Oberto Barbera d’Alba DOC 2006
Recent bottles of this estate’s Dolcetto and [...]

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Gewurztraminer has its detractors out there, yet I remain a fan. This flight features two regions that embrace this variety, Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley and sunny Alsace in the eastern reaches of France.
Handley Anderson Valley Gewurztraminer 2006
This wine radiates roses and parfume, in a light-bodied format with a hint of RS, classic touch of bitterness [...]

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Domaine Weinbach Alsace Reserve Pinot Blanc 2005
This is a gem.  There is fresh citrus, stone fruit and floral notes to smell.  In the mouth there is a moderate+ amount of acidity and the taste of citrus.  This is a very refreshing Pinot Blanc. The Faller family has been a leader in biodynamic viticulture in Alsace. [...]

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Zenato Delle Venezie IGT Pinot Grigio 2006
This regionally-labeled bottling has been a good value high-acid white. The 2005 emphasized citrus notes. The 2006 tasted in this class showed fruits ranging from citrus to tropical. There is a new world freshness, with a healthy dose of acidity and a little phenolic grab and minerality. This [...]

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