2006 Zwei.1 Zweigelt (Austria)

Can't read the label (German?), but this Austrian wine we received from the Williams-Sonoma Wine Club was nice! Much fruiter and lighter than we normally drink, but it was smooth and had a touch of vanilla. Even though it took a few minutes to get past our strange bias against wines with screw-tops instead of corks, we decided that we would definitely drink this again.

2006 Carmelo Ortega Saxa Loquuntur Rioja

Delightfully dark and bold, was terrific with soy/balsamic-marinated flank steak and, interestingly, homemade pizza! It was completely unexpected but terrific wine!

2005 Chateau Callac Bordeaux - Graves

Gravelly texture smooth on the tounge, earthy blackberry yeilding to a sweet cherry finish. Superb!

2003 Domaine Saint-Damien Corbieres

$4 bottle from Whole Foods. Worth half what I paid. Watery and lacking depth, this blend has the flavorful constitution of wet paper. Do not buy.

2007 Remonte Tempranillo - Spain

As our first Tempranillo, this was a rather interesting wine. We enjoyed the flavor and spiciness. Not watery, slightly sweet, yet still bold. Very nice.

2007 Thierry & Guy Fat bastard Merlot - France

We thoroughly enjoyed this plump companion. As promised, full-bodied and flavorful. Great with steak!

2006 337 Cabernet Sauvignon - Canada

Tasty, delicious red. Dryer than most cabernets. You can taste the bordeaux flavor!

2005 Castell del Remei Gotim Bru - Spain

Interesting to try, but a bit spicy. I didn't care for it with scallops. Perhaps a darker meat or chicken would have been a better pairing.

2006 Da Vinci Chanti

As always, a crowd pleaser. Keep it up!

2006 Castello Monaci Piluna Primitivo - Salento

Honestly, I didn't think I'd like it from the bottle. Being made from zinfandel grapes, I was expecting more 'boxed wine' appeal. However, this primitivo surprised me with its bold, dry taste and flavorful ending. Quite pleasurable.

2006 Giordano Toscana Rosso - Tuscany, IT

Lovely wine with a rich, full flavor. A favorite.

2006 Chateau Foeur de Regaud Bordeaux Superieur - Gironde, FR

Smooth, inviting, pleasurable. Goes to show the French know how to do it right!

2005 Volpaia Chianti Classico

Very dry and flavorful. Deep with a tasty finish that lasts. More fruity than oakey. Very enjoyable.

2007 Remonte Tempranillo - Navarra, Spain

A sweeter wine with tart nighlights, unique in flavor. Not for every meal, but very good with pasta or lighter starch flavors. A pleasure to try for the experience.

2007 Thierry & Guy Fat bastard Merlot - FR

This was amazingly good. By far my favorite merlot. Rich flavor, very tasty.

2006 Davinci Chianti - Vinci, IT

Very drinkable. Dry, unbiting. However, not flavorful enough to be the best, but a decent standard.

2006 Giordano Toscana Rosso - Diano d'Alba, IT

One of my favorite toscanas. Lovely, rich flavor. Smooth.

2004 Biago Toscana - Santa Lucia, Italy

A bold, fruity toscana with a pleasurable aftertaste. Quite enjoyable with dinner.

2007 La Grange Cabernet Franc - Haymarket, Virginia

Sucked. We relieved ourselves of the rest of the bottle before finishing. I will consider retrying this wine after they change the formulation to make it less berry juice and more wine.

2006 Santa Cristina Toscana - Santa Cristina Antinore, Italy

Strong, bold flavor. Tasty, fruity, but not overpowering. Very enjoyable.

2006 Chateau le Gris Bordeaux - Boutielle Region, France

Surprisingly good bordeaux. Enjoyed until it was gone, then lamented I only had one bottle. I look forward to the next opportunity to reacquaint myself with this pleasurable friend.

2006 Tommasi Poggio Al Tufo Vigneto Rompicollo Maremma Toscana - San Pietro Incariano, Italy

This wine gets mentioned repeatedly in this blog as it is one of my favorite standbys. Always decent with pasta or just about any meal. A great all-around table wine with a good combination of dry and pungent flavors.

2005 Beaulieu Vinyard Coastal Estates Pinot Noir - California

I was given this bottle and was expecting it to be a regifted dud. Was I surprised! With smooth entry, this fruity wine was not overly punchy, but left a rather nice taste and was a joy to drink. This gets added to the list for guests who don't like the dry wines, but are looking for a good red to go with a pasta dish.

2006 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet - South Australia

Very enjoyable wine. The mix of the two wines leads to a full flavor, dry, with lingering tastes that complement the meal. Would buy again.

2004 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro

My favorite! Dry, flavorful and potent. One glass outshines bottles of other wines. Expensive, but a pleasurable experience.