10 *Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the PR folks representing the brand. Getting time to clean out the old wine fridge. Shirley keeps doing her part by challenging me to come up with a pairing for some of her weird dinner experiments. Winemakers notes: In the hills near Rome are areas of volcanic soil over 2000 years old. MORE >>

Last March I posted a press release on a new collection of artisan wines in an innovative attractive new package. An international wine collection with six brands and ten items packaged in a new exciting premium 3L wine cask from the Octavin Home Wine Bar ™. The Chardonnay was not impressive. Definitely a good party wine. MORE >>

While there I let the girls buy up all the fruit and veggies along with some free range meat and eggs they wanted while I hunted around for some wine samples. I don't often go with Shirley and Pam to the Saturday morning Central New York Regional Farmer's Market, but I made an exception today. did stop at one and tasted their 2007 Meritage. MORE >>

The first meetup of The Wine Society of Queens was held this weekend at The Wine Room of Forest Hills , where we sampled over a dozen new wines from California, France, Argentina, Italy, Spain and even Georgia (Russia). At the tail end hints of tea leaves, bits of cedar, milk chocolate and roasted marshmallow finish of nicely. MORE >>

Following the Cab I had a Petit Sirah and finished with an old vine Zin PORT that I REALLY enjoyed. The Zin was blended with about 7-8% Petit Sirah & a touch (about 1%) of Cab. finished with a barrel sample of their 2006 Cab which was bit tight but showed blue/black fruit and gripping tannins. Nice wines. MORE >>