I 'm currently making room in my wine cooler for a recent large quantity buy, so I pulled out a Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2005 Riserva for a pizza dinner tonight. had this wine about four years ago and wasn't fully impressed at that time, but thought I'd give it another chance and the price was right. Great Buy! MORE >>

Very interesting tasting of Australian wines Susan Barros organized today for the first Wine Australia Tasting of 2011 -- Unusual Varietals and Classic Blends. 2008 Moss Wood Ribbonvale Cabernet Merlot – Margaret River. 2006 Cullen Mangan Malbec Petit Verdot Merlot – Margaret River. So now you are asking: did it work? MORE >>

The second, I enjoyed with my daughter's roasted organic free range chicken and some fabulous roasted potato fingerlings. This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject. Dornfelder is a cross between Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe grapes. MORE >>

Greg Dal Piaz from Snooth organized a tasting last week to sample nine Bordeaux wines from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 vintages, and below are some of my tasting notes. 2005 Chateau Mazeris Canon Fronsac Raspberries, blue fruits, cooked fruits, wax cherry candy, $30. Chateau Dassault St. MORE >>

The wine is 85% Cab/Sauv, 10% Merlot and 5% Syrah which gives it a nice fruity and peppery finish. By drinking charitably, A4C donates a significant portion of the proceeds to worthy non-profit organizations." It can also be disappointing when the wine received is one that I don't normally drink or one that I have a hard time with. MORE >>