2009 Belleruche Cotes-Du-Rhone

Taste: 2/5
Value: 2/5
Price: $12

A 60% Grenache/40% Syrah blend from French winery M. Chapoutier.  The palate was very dusty and chalky.  Rated 89 points by Wine Advocate and claimed to be the best vintage of his lifetime by winemaker Michel Chapoutier, I feel like I'm missing something here.  I'll just have to assume it's my affinity for California wines!

2010 Riondo Pinot Grigio

Taste: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Price: $12

In a blind tasting, I would have guessed Sauvignon Blanc, hands down - and there are several Sauvignon Blancs that I like better than this Pinot Grigio. 

Tasting notes from winemaker: This Pinot Grigio possesses honeyed, lemony, ripe apple and assorted tropical fruit aromas and flavors. It’s medium bodied and beautifully concentrated, with a creamy complexity that caresses the palate with no hard edges. This superbly pure wine is delicious by itself, but it also complements perfectly an assortment of culinary dishes.

I did not get honeyed or creamy, but definitely got lemony/citrus and some serious "vibrant" acidity.  Don't get me wrong, it was a pleasant wine, but not what I was expecting for a Pinot Grigio and not one I'd likely buy again.  Riondo Prosecco - now that's a different story!

2008 Folie a Deux Amador County Zinfandel

Taste: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Price: $13 (regularly $20)

This was a recommendation from my wine shop as a substitute to my go to Tarrica Zinfandel ($14).  Even on day two, the palate was hot.  I found more pepper and spice vs the jammy red fruit I love in a Zin.  Apparently, Amador County is reputed for producing Zins that have more of a spicy, anise/licorice side - I'll have to keep this in mind!

2009 Tavignano Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi

Taste: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Price: $13

I really had no idea what to expect when I opened this, and I was NOT disappointed ;-).  Verdicchio is a white Italian varietal derived from "verde" and refers to the slight green/yellow hue that wines made from the grape can have.  The nose was crisp and fruity with a hint of floral.  The palate was nicely crisp and acidic while juicy and smooth.  Would both recommend and buy again.

Tasting Notes: The 2009 Tavignano Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore is a knock-out white wine from Italy’ Marches that comes across as a real crowd pleaser. Made from 100% Verdicchio, it truly raises the bar and further pushes the envelope on quality in the pretty Castelli di Jesi DOC, a pastoral green region of central Italy that sits beside the Adriatic Sea. Bright in color, beguiling in bouquet, and full of flavor, Tavignano’s Verdicchio offers up a cornucopia of scents and savors in the form of spring flowers, sweet almonds, heather, stone fruits, and a tangy freshness from the salt spray that emanates from the nearby sea. Full-bodied for a Verdicchio from Castelli di Jesi, Tavignano continues to evolve in the glass for up to an hour or more after opening, gaining length and depth as it emerges from a fresh core of fruit, mineral, and rarified air. Drink this wonderful white wine moderately chilled (40º-45º F), and as often as you can.

Food Pairings: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi serves admirably as the traditional fish wine of the Marches, and the 2009 Tavignano Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore will play that role to the hilt. However, Tavignano’s 2009 Verdicchio is much more than a pleasant fish wine. Flavorful and harmonious, it pairs beautifully with all kinds of hors d’oeuvres: salmon canapés, stuffed mushrooms, Caprese Salad (ripe red and yellow tomatoes with fresh basil and warm, thinly sliced mozzarella), and smoked Italian meats such as salami, sopressata, and mortadella. Traditional Paninis with cheese and prosciutto as well as grilled sweet Italian sausage with peppers and onions make fine companions to this wine, too. However, one should not neglect the affinity that fine Verdicchio has for accompanying the fruits of the sea. Therefore, lightly fried calamari, grilled rock fish in a tomato and herb broth, and even Cioppino, the spicy Italian version of Bouillabaise, make our list of favorite accompaniments to Tavignano’s 2009 Verdicchio, but as you like it. Buon Appetito!

2009 Tarrica Gewurztraminer Central Coast

Taste: 1
Value: 1
Price: $10

Tarrica Zinfandel is one of my go to wines, so I was excited to try another varietal under their label, but was sorely disappointed.  In addition to missing the expected lychee notes, it was very one dimensional and flavored water-esqe.  I'll stick to their Zin!