Dark, thick ruby with purple highlights are the rich colors showing in this Bonarda, and the bold aromas are matching stride for stride with bright cherries, stone fruits, an earthy forest floor, red fruit, blackberries and fresh herbs. Aged 12 months in French Oak barrels, contains 13.4% alcohol and retails for about $39 MORE >>

so if you are reading this for the first time, before reading the "tale" below you should know that the goal of this exercise is to taste wines blind and deduce the vintage, grape, and other matters of importance. Typically, I have different stores (familiar with my objective) send me "themes" of wines in groups of 2, 3, and 4. MORE >>

With a ring of spring flowers Twisted around her wrist She walked foot over stones -pudding and round- Smooth rocks warming The void of each arch — At a mountain stream -fruity and red- On its bank She plucked ginger So startling and austere She sharpened her tongue and tossed a rock Sending ripples across [.]. MORE >>

From Radda in Chianti, Tuscany, Montevertine's Martino Manetti produces this blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino, with malolactic fermentation in cement vats, and aged for 24 months in slavonian oak barrels, then 6 months in bottle. On the palate ripe black cherry, pepper, textured layers and velvety super long finish. MORE >>

Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Pinot Noir 2009. With its velvet texture, nose of well sorted fresh grapes, and fresh flavors, this is a well balanced New World Pinot that can match many foods, especially salmon, pork, rare duck. Mazzocco Sonoma Petite Syrah Aguilera 2007. Macari Sauvignon Blanc 2009. Very refreshing with clean, citrus, mineral flavors. MORE >>