The Godson.

Tasca d'Almerita, Cabernet Sauvignon, Contea di Sclafani, DOC , 2002. 

We loved this wine,and honestly, I wasn't expecting a lot. Cabernet from Sicily promised to be raisined and dense and dirty. Instead it was totally clean with really good intensity of tannins and great complex concentration of fruit AND acidity. It actually had good acidity. It wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny. I'd drink this over Bordeaux any day. 

While I usually don't say much about the producer, because there are lots of places you can find that info on your own, Jeff Z. from Rosso Wine Shop, where I bought the wine for $40.00, sent me this info.  

Tasca d’Almerita’s experiments with the most important international red variety have led to the creation of this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has focused the entire world’s attention on Sicily’s extraordinary but still little-known potential for creating truly impressive wines. Winner of many Italian and International awards, Tasca d’Almerita’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a very cosmopolitan wine. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown in estate vineyards planted at 1,600 to 1,950 feet above sea level with a south/southwestern exposure. This iconic Cabernet is aged for 18 months in oak barriques to achieve maximum elegance and refinement.

I love that it's COSMOPOLITAN! Just like me!!

This was actually a sort of "challenge" to a wine I wrote about a while back that reminded me of the Godfather. I have to say, Jeff was right. This wine just reeks of  violins and horse heads. 

The schnizzle! 95 pt. (RP) wine under $50.

2004 was a great vintage in Tuscany and the Isole e Olena, Ceparello, IGT is 100% Sangiovese, it spends 14 months in barrel. Really low yields (Only a pound and a half per plant for those of you who care.) The estate was founded in the 1960s by a man who made his way to Tuscany via Piedmont. Yahoo!

The wine is very concentrated, but still traditional in style, a little dusty but also has a great long, incredibly sexy texture. Give it a go... It's Buzzin' like Shwayze. (I know what she was on - by the way - Ceparello. And she did fall in love - by the way - with Ceparello.)

Available at Woodland Hills Wine Co. for $49.95. 

Blue Barbera.

Giacoma Bologna, Braida, Monte Bruna, Barbera d'Asti, 2005.

Now if this picture appears slightly pornographic I apologize. It's just that the wine was so delicious that we each had to lick the bottle. Sort of gross, but you know, we were in the cemetery so it seemed to make sense at the time. (The featured tongue is Kris Longley, Chef de Cuisine at the Hungry Cat.)

It's semi-modern in style. A little oak, a little fruit, a little dust, a little tannin, a little acid. It was just super well-balanced and quite complex for barbera. Peter says this is "everything he likes in Barbera." Amy (that's me) says, "Perfect for drinking outside when the weather is turing a little cool."

Peter found this at Mission Wines in South Pas for $26.99.

Udderly delicious.

Are you seeing red? No! It's just the Atalayas, Ribera del Duero, 2005. 

I have been in a real Ribera del Duero phase lately. Don't ask me why - I just can't seem to get enough of the old world and the new American Oak. This one was particularly delicious especially for the price point! I found it to have some wonderful plummy fruit and that high toned bruised apple (ala volatile acidity) quality. It's not very weighty - perfect for Sangiovese and Pinot lovers who want to take a little trip to good 'ole Espanol. 

I found that the moderate plus alcohol would give me courage to fight a bull should the opportunity arise. Or at the very least it could persuade me to milk a cow. 

For some reason the model (one Cynthia Mendoza) felt compelled to advertise her own little udders.   

Purchased at Mission Wines in South Pasadena for $23.99.

Llama wine.

I totally dig this awesome little wine, La Yunta, Torrentes, Argentina for $8.99 at K&L in Hollywood. 

This is one of those wines that when you smell it you expect it to be sweet and then its not. It's just a lightly tropical juice monger, not too high in acid and really floral and aromatic. 

Torrentes has certain albarino and even viognier like qualitites to me, but lacks the acidity of albarino and the weighty mouthfeel of viognier. This Torrentes is another Capri-Sun style wine, which isn't a bad thing in this case!

I certainly feel like if I had a Llama and a case of this wine I could travel around the Andes for a while.  

Anyway, for $8.99 what do you have to lose?

Where's the beef?

This is the first and only time I am going to write about an unimpressive wine. I figure it's really a waste of your time, but think this as a warning.

First, you should know, I am generally weary of recommendations because I have such specific criteria and I know what I like. Second, I was at Wine Exchange with an incredibly knowledgeable Burgundy man. He said to me, "Jadot and Bouchard were great in 2005... you have to get this wine..." as we loooked at the Louis Jadot, Savigny-les-Beaune, Clos des Guettes, 2005.

So I bought it - for $29.99 none the less. 

And, you know what? It tastes just like I thought it would. A little weedy, coarse and edgy with a short finish. And the alcohol stands out. That's crazy!!! The fruit does not support the alcohol. Where's the soft 2005 fruit? It was a near perfect vintage. But still, Jadot is a big "slick" winery (for Burgundy) and produces exactly what you'd expect it to produce. Industrial wine. This may be the first 2005 that's disappointed me. 

This is the deal - I'm not saying it's total crap. It's drinkable for sure and not entirely unpleasant. But for the money? I've got better places to spend $30 thank you very much. My socks and underwear have holes in them for Godssakes. That's the sacrifice I make to drink to good wine every night. And for the record - this is not worth holey panties. 

Victoria's Secret here I come. 

Chateauneuf-de-luscious-fruitiness.

Cote de l'Ange, Chateauneuf-de-pape, 2005 is another uber-delicious wine. It's like crazy people! I got REALLY lucky 2 nights in a row.

Peter blind tasted me on this one again, and I thought it was Italian because of some really nice (not offensive) notes of Volatile Acidity. But - big shock - I was wrong. AGAIN.

Anyhoo, all ego aside, this wine is just luscious goodness. The fruit is so sweet and elegant and refined. Ultra silky smooth (like shiny pantyhose) and really complex with lots of baked cherry and spicy cedar qualities.  

It's $37.99 at Domaine 547. Remember - free delivery in LA. As in, you call up Jill, order it and it shows up at your front door and you didn't have to do anything. 

You're not kidding anyone with that gym membership that you never use. Go ahead, let loose. Embrace your sedentary lifestyle.