FATTORIA MONSERRATO AGLIANICO SANNIO 2004

Quite a bit of alcohol on the nose. I like how it has aged - quite a round, velvet-y mouth feel with smokey licorice flavours. First time I have ever had the Aglianico varietal.

MASI CAMPOFIORIN 2007

This was a wedding gift from Andrew and Christina. It is a very dry red from the Verona region of Italy. The style of wine is called Ripasso which involves extra fermentation using semi-dried grapes. It takes on a very refined and rich flavour with hints of licorice and cedar.

Weingut Clemens Busch Vom Grauen Schiefer Riesling 2009

Bought in Munich, Germany while traveling on business. We had it with some pad thai and it paired perfectly. This wine is silky smooth and well balanced. I often find Riesling to be on the sour side but this wine went down very easily. Vom grauen schiefer translates into "of the grey slate" which speaks to the terroir where this wine is produced in the Mosel wine region.

CHANSON PERE & FILS BOURGOGNE 2007

Pixed this up at Brix in the South End. Looking for a nice sipping Pinot Noir, and this was recommended as a bottle you could take home and drink right away. It has a very nice ruby colour with hints of redish brown right at the very edges. The nose is a bit earthy, with a bit of apple spice that reminded me of autumn. This wine is very well balanced with strong tannins and a bit of a bite of alcohol, making me thing this wine could be aged a little longer.

Flock Mendocino Chardonnay 2008

Velvety smooth with a nice buttery finish. Well balanced with notes of maple and honey. A great bottle to Christen our new Riedel Vinum chardonnay glasses.

QUPÉ SYRAH CENTRAL COAST 2006

Qupé is a winery in Central California that specializes in Rhone style wines and Chardonnay. The Syrah Central Coast has a 2% touch of Grenache and is comprised of grapes from Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. This inky, mellow wine has a jammy nose and coffee flavours with a peppery finish.

WILLM RIESLING 2008

I have always been intrigued by the long necked bottle and yellow label of wines from Alsace. They are some of the classic fragrant whites - Riesling and Gewürztraminer. Today I tried a Riesling from Willm. It has a very pronounced nose with notes of orange and pear. It shows flavours of Macintosh apples and lemon zest. Would go well with oysters.