Domaine de Villeneuve - Chateauneuf-du-Pape (2004)

Domaine de Villeneuve "Les Vieilles Vignes"
Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Appellation Chateauneuf-du-Pape contrôlée)
Domaine de Villeneuve, Route de Courthezon, Orange, France (2004)

Full strawberry nose on opening this bottle - divine! Full, robust, great legs, and great longevity. Complex layering of fruit, earth notes, and slight spice, this wine is definitely reflective of the price tag ($$).

We enjoyed it this evening with boeuf bourgignon, artichoke risotto, cheese, and salad.

I was saving this wine for a special occasion, and I am very glad I did. It was worth the wait, and the investment.

McWilliams - Cabernet Sauvignon (2006)

McWilliams
Cabernet Sauvignon
Hanwood Estate, South Eastern Australia, 2006

I found this wine to be lightweight throughout. I chose it to accompany a homemade chili, and it did not overwhelm nor did it get overwhelmed. Lots of blackcurrant, with a hint of vanilla and an easy oak finish.

Las Moras - Tannat (2006)

Las Moras Reserve
Tannat
San Juan, Argentina, 2006

It starts lightly, with lots of fruit, and eases into a sweet, silky, and woody, but slightly spicy finish.
A subtle but deep wine. Tannat is a new grape on the scene and I am enjoying discovering it more. In this wine, I loved the balance between woody and fruity.

Château Aydie - Tannat (2005)

Château Aydie
Tannat
Vignobles Laplace, Madiran, France (2005)

Dry start that quickly evolves into a dark sensuous fruit. This Tannat has all the character and elegance of the grape, with the slight French zing. Best decanted and let to breathe for the best body.

Brumont - Tannat-Merlot (2005)

Brumont
Tannat-Merlot
Vin de pays des côtes de Gascogne, France (2005)

Light, full-berried wine. Simple at first encounter, but mellow, warm, and smooth with each additional. The merlot adds much to the body and berry (cherry), but the Tannat, a grape local to the Gascogne region of France, keeps the wine feeling like smooth silk on a warm summer's eve.

Barefoot Cab-Sauv (2007)

Barefoot
Cabernet-Sauvignon
California (2007)

Lovely mellow and curvy wine. Gold-medal winner at the World Wine Competition (2007), this laid-back west-coast wine is presumptuous enough to challenge the European Cab-Sauv combinations, and come out neck-and-neck.

Rich and full bodied Cabernet combines with luscious berry to produce a very easy and pleasant wine to drink with many dishes.

Caracter - Argentina (2008)

Caracter
Chardonnay-Chenin
Argentina (2008)

A surprisingly delectable wine made of equal portions of Chardonnay and Chenin grapes. First impressions were of pear and crisp apple, followed by a hint of herb and tropical fruit.

Made in Mendoza region of Argentina, a region more well-known for its full bodied reds, this was a lovely summer delight.