2006 Fontezopa Marine Marche Rosso

Color: ruby

Nose: red cherry

Palate: bright red cherry with medium+ tannin.  Beautiful acidity with some hints of milk chocolate, black pepper & licorice.

Food Pairing: pasta w/ duck raghu, gnocci with meat sauce.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $15 per glass @ Lupa, NYC

Noteworthy: unfiltered and unfined.

Verdict: Very nice!

2007 Jean-Claude Bachelet et Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Vielles Vignes

Color: dark ruby

Nose: attractive milk chocolate & vanilla, mocha, raspberry, licorice, Earth/forest floor & Asian spices

Palate:  bright acidity enveloped the whole mouth then the minerality & tannin kicked in.  Ended with a medium finish at the tip of the tongue.  Very complex & masculine, though it didn't seem to have the long finish that the Potel Vosne-Romanee had.

Food Pairing: boeuf bourguignon

Alcohol: 13%

Purchased from: Astor Wines, NY

Price: $30 (on sale)

Verdict: Very nice!

2007 Nicolas Potel Vosne-Romanee Vielles Vignes

Color: dark ruby

Nose: dark cherry, chocolate/mocha, earth, Asian spices

Palate: bright acidity and grippy tannin coat the whole mouth then it ends with a beautiful, long finish.  Complex wine with lots of actions going on, e.g.  dark cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, soy sauce.

Food Pairing: goat tagine, mushroom risoto, cranberry & walnut couscous.

Alcohol: 13%

Purchased from: RyeBrook, NY

Verdict: Very nice!

Poggio Dei Vigneti Prosecco Extra Dry

Color: pale straw with nice bubbles

Nose: green apple, pear & stone fruit

Palate: bright ripe stone fruit with medium acidity

Food Pairing: grilled octopus & shellfish, watermelon & mint salad, orzo with olives & cherry tomato salad

Alcohol: 11%

2007 Joh. Jos. Prüm Auslese Mosel

Color: bright & intense gold

Nose: petro, honeysuckle, ripe white peach, pineapple, orange peel, golden raisins, damp wine cellar (like Bouchard & Patriache)

Palate: luscious honey & toasted nuts.  Complex & fat.  Intense ripe pineapple & orange zest.  Bright acidity w/ a long mineral finish. 

Food Pairing: Great with spicy Chinese or Indian.  Would go nicely w/ pineapple torte as well.

Alcohol: 7.5%

Purchased from: Grapes, White Plains, NY

Price: ~ $35

2008 Maison Louis Latour Montagny 1er Cru

Color: straw/light gold, bright & clear

Nose: generous stone fruit & minerality. Some citrus & green apple note.

Palate:bright acidity albeit w/ a fat body, noticeable chalk on a very long finish.  Got some honeysuckle and pear.  Nice & balanced. 

Food Pairing: Great w/ steamed white fish or chicken in white sauce.
Alcohol: 13%

Purchased from: Stew Leonards, CT

Price: $19.99

2008 Rochioli Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Color: Bright dark cherry & ruby.

Nose: pronounced coconut, vanilla, mocha, dark chocolate and bright red berries.  Noticeably liquorish.

Palate: Bright red fruit with hints of mocha & chocolate.  Rather full-bodied.  Coats the whole mouth with nice coconut/vanilla flavors then ends with long acidity at the tip of the tongue.  Evolved into more blackberries & vanilla after a couple of hours.  Bit hot on the finish.  Very modern & approachable now.

Food Pairing: salmon w/ soy sauce, goat curry, lamb chops.

Alcohol: 14.5%

Purchased from: RyeBrook, NY

Price: ~$35