If you like Loire wines, you're not going to do better than this. 2005 Eric Texier Vins de Pays O Pale , $16 - This is a sweet wine made entirely from Viognier grapes. My 4's 2002 Domaine du Closel Savennieres les Coteaux Moelleux , $28 - this is a rare sweet wine from Savennieres, crafted only in certain vintages. Just yummy. MORE >>

But they are different from the same wine in 2002, for example, in that they might mature more quickly. It certainly went well with steak, but it was not memorable, didn't inspire me to buy the 2005 version ($35) and lay it down. BrooklynLady and I loved this wine when we visited Adelsheim Winery. Now THIS, this is mature wine. MORE >>

2002 Pian del Ciampolo was in stores until a few months ago and it was graceful, light bodied, but pretty intense wine. 2003 is supposed to be far superior to 2002 in Tuscany and I was excited to try the new vintage. Fuller bodied than the 2002, intense smokey cherry and leather flavors, very earthy. Now, the weekend's wines. MORE >>

2005 Catherine and Pierre Breton Bourgueil Trinch ! , $17. really liked it though, and I imagine that it is amongst the best such Cabernet Franc wines of the Loire Valley. The Bretons are, to me, amongst the most reliable producers of red wine in the Loire Valley right now. 2001 Palacios Remondo Rioja Propiedad H. MORE >>

We continue our foray into blind tasting Thursday night, and the theme is young Loire red wine. I've been so focused on Burgundy lately that I haven't had a Loire red in a little while. So over the past few days BrooklynLady and I exercised our palate a bit, went to the red Loire gym, if you will. And really cheap too. MORE >>