Even when I lived in the Abruzzo region of Italy this bottle was a rare sight.  So what it was doing on the shelf here in Menlo Park… is beyond me.  But if you ever see it, buy it!  It is smooth and lush, a big wine with a subdued personality.  Like most great producers Pasetti also has a 2nd wine at half the price, which simply carries the label “Pasetti.” I’m not positive but I think the Testarossa is their “grand vin” (never heard the Italians use a descriptor for “first wine” so I’ll just stick with the French term).

scored

paid $24

Its dawning on me that my love affair with California wines is on the ice.  The turning point was the thanksgiving holiday, which involved copious trips to local wineries and restaurants with visiting family.  So, the going price for a very good bottle of Santa Cruz Mtns Pinot Noir or Zinfandel is $30-$50.  Not quite as bad as Napa, but I realized that I just don’t love these wines 100% more than, say, this Pauillac.  At some level the comparison is flawed, since this wine is made from very different varietals (probably 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with a splash of Merlot to soften it and Petit Verdot to plump it up…) but I feel justified.

scored

paid $27

Still wistfully remembering the Rauzan-Segla from October and I stumble across this gem.  ’99 was apparently a big production year but I was surprised to see this bottle still for sale.  ”We have a direct line to the Chateau”.  Of course you do…

scored

paid: $36

Enjoyed this beauty in celebration of AA’s first publication (in October, 2 months of catching up to do here).  Simultaneously outside my comfort zone in terms of price, and an inspiration for me to do that American thang and go make gobs of money (so I can have this every friday).  Embodies all the qualities one could expect from a Grand Cru CLasse Margaux:  stiff tannins that don’t grate, velvety fruit, all in a light liquid that goes down deceptively easily.  As Bob Dylan said, “you’re gonna make me lonesome when you go.”

Update to the cranky business of scoring and rating wines:  catchpeter has switched to emoticons!

scored

paid $72

Hmm.  There was a tag under this bottle saying 90 points from someone.  I thought it was WE or WS.  I sincerely hope not.  This wine is drinkable, yeah, but not at all balanced.  Too acidic and too fruity at the same time.  I didn’t finish my glass and the rest of the bottle is in the fridge, waiting for me to learn how to cook coq au vin.

paid: $9

scored: 75

I’m used to tasting this grape alongside its rougher rival Grenache and softer sister Syrah.  But all by itself, it holds up very well!  At least in Juan Gil’s estimation.  This needs a second go around for sure.

paid: $13

scored: 90

Exploring the wonderful world of Costco wine, now that we coughed up the membership fee.  It costs $12, but drinks like $18.  A very balanced wine.  Now if I buy about 10 more bottles, I will feel like I earned back that damn membership fee.

paid: $12

scored: 88

If one is lucky enough to have friends who just happen to bring over a bottle of very respectable Champagne for no particular reason other than its saturday, that is a very good thing.  But when one’s friends sail over that bar, and bring said Champagne on a bed of ice… damn.  I could still remember the simple, crisp taste of the Veuve de Vernay when we opened this, and wow is this a whole new world of complexity.  Apparently this is a lighter-bodied Champagne.  Word.  I would definitely seek this out.  Dunno what the “Grand” implies in “Grand Brut”.  I think the dosage is the same as a Brut.

I’m having nostalgia for the days when I couldn’t tell Chateau Margaux from Mouton Cadet.  With Champagne and its less famous, non-regionally branded comrades, “hhiigh hhknow hhnu-theeng”.  Except, that this bottle was light, tasty and worth going back for seconds.  I need a crash course in bubbly before I open the bottle of vintage ‘98 Billecart-Salmon we received as a gift!  Off to a good start.

paid: $10

scored: - (no basis for score, but I’d buy it again)

As far as I can tell, the Acacia “A” is well-regarded and generally liked by all (where “all” means people who are willing to pay $20/bottle or ~$10+/glass).  Its easy to see why:  there is nothing offensive about this wine.  It has good enough fruit, and it is decently smooth.  Not a whole lot else going on though.  The finish is very quick.  It occurs to me that I should taste this blind against the Castle Rock (which costs about half as much!).  Very curious which would prevail.

scored: 87

paid: $15 (on sale from $19)