Piemontese table wine for cheap dollars

Renowned producer Paolo Scavino has a 2007 Rosso Vino da Tavolo (red table wine) that you can afford to share with people you somewhat like. The wine is a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The clean lines on this wine remind you of a sports car: really good to look at, but much more fun to drive. Medium in body, fresh, and bright, this wine has something for everyone. A Wine Guy Value.

Yet another LaPosta Malbec

The 2008 LaPosta Cocina Malbec is a fine example of the fruit-driven wines of this area.
But don't expect big, juicy, in-your-face sweet and sticky. When you open the wine and pour it into your vessel of choice, you will get soft red berries on the the nose and violets and blueberries gently tumbling down your tongue. On the finish you get a hint of the 20% new oak barrels used to age this wine for ten months.

2008 Crios Chardonnay, not a winner

Susana Balbo produces some of my favorite wines from Argentina, but not this time. The 2008 Chardonnay is not a winner; it lack cohesion. Unlike her other wines, which all have balance and ripe fruit that you enjoy immediately, this guy sucker-punches you with too much oak and no fruit or acidity. Give this one to your old boss when you quit your job, just so he knows how much you think of him.

Wine Guy Has News

Hi everyone - Sorry that I have not been keeping up with my blog. Trust me when I say that I have been keeping up with my wine "tasting" duties - the sacrifices I am willing to make for you.
Now to my news (drum roll please)...(wait for it): I have left my old position working for Deluca's Market to start my own wine and cheese store. (Pause for adulation.) I have thought about doing this off and on over the years, but I was always content with my situation. Then things change and I was force to put up or shut up. So coming this fall you will find me at Bacco's Wine & Cheese in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. Keep checking back here - I will post more details as they are finalized.

Mapema Sauvingnon Blanc

The 2009 Mapema Sauvignon Blanc is a gem. This wine has notes of red grapefruit, but does not suck the life out of your face like some others that I have had. The texture is on the rich side for a 100% sauvignon blanc, and the finish is light and crisp, with hints of honey and lemon. A Wine Guy Favorite

what is in the back of your fridge?

I found a bottle of 2004 Terlaner Nova Domus Riserva in the back of my fridge last night and thought, what the heck, how bad could it be? It was a blend of 60% Pinot Blanc, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine showed nothing at first glance, so I decided to let it start warming up, and that's when it came to life. Over the course of the evening there were peaches, pears, citrus notes, and stoic minerality - the flavors just kept coming. What a stupendous bottle of wine. A Wine Guy Yeah Baby. And now I am off to do some more fridge diving.

Ridge Vineyards

Tried four wines with Eric Baugher, winemaker at Ridge Vineyards. First was their 2007 Santa Cruz Chardonnay. This wine has great balance and nice acidity. The grapes were grown in limestone and that really shows through on the finish. This wine needs time to mellow.

Next we had the 2006 East Bench Zinfandel. This wine is 100% Zinfandel, and you know it is right from the nose to the finish. This wine screams Zin without being over the the top; it is reserved and well-made in keeping with the Ridge style.

Then came the 2007 Lytton Springs. Fluctuating aromas lead to a structured wine that would be awesome with a grilled ribeye. Oh baby.

Finally we had the 2006 Monte Bello. Oak hits you in the face, good old American oak. The wine is a rich purple that almost reflects your desire to dive in. Cassis flavor is layered with dark fruits and toast - did I mention the oak , good old American oak, that comes back on the supple finish? I put a half glass off to the side and found it today. Wow, what great stuff. A Wine Guy Favorite.