Vini Nobilis Hellenico Aglianico

Name: Vini Nobilis Hellenico Aglianico
Color: Red
Varietal: Aglianico
Vintage: 2006
Country/State: Italy
Region: Campania
Price: $16
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)

Last night we watched the Super Bowl and enjoyed our first ever bottle of Aglianico, a grape grown throughout Southern Italy. This one was from Campania and we drank it with a supreme pizza. The wine was big, bold, and fairly rustic. The tannins were gripping, but the dark red fruits came across, along with black tea and earth. It was better with the food than it was on its own...I liked it but didn't love it. Still, it's always fun to try new wines and new varietals.

Unfortunately, on the second night the wine had fallen off pretty drastically and was practically undrinkable.

McWilliam's Pinot Noir

Name: McWilliam's Pinot Noir
Color: Red
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: Australia
Region: SE Australia
Price: $12
Stars: 4 (out of 5)


This was our first Australian Pinot Noir, and it definitely won't be the last...It was big and juicy with a much bigger body than I expected from a Pinot. It featured red berries, cherries, and some spice. It was very smooth and a bit more complex than I thought it would be. Overall, I was very pleased with the McWilliam's Pinot Noir. Good stuff!

Cupcake Petite Sirah

Name: Cupcake Petite Sirah
Color: Red
Varietal: Petite Sirah
Vintage: 2007
Country/State: California
Region: Central Coast
Price: $10
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)

We had the Cupcake Petite Sirah earlier this week and it was just OK...It wasn't nearly as big and bold as I was hoping from a Petite Sirah. Because of this, it fell a little flat for my taste. It was very fruit forward, featuring red berries and some vanilla. There was nothing really wrong with it, but it just didn't hit the spot.

Catena Malbec

Name: Catena Malbec
Color: Red
Varietal: Malbec
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Price: $17
Stars: 4 (out of 5)


The Catena Malbec is a juicy, delicious, silky smooth wine from Argentina's Mendoza region, known for its incredible success with the Malbec grape. This one features raspberries, dark berries, some spice, and a bit of black pepper. The tannins create a nice mouth puckering sensation. The finish was very long on this wine and the nose was really expressive.

Fattoria di Bibbiani Poggio Vignoso Chianti

Name: Fattoria di Bibbiani Poggio Vignoso Chianti
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Sangiovese/Canaiolo/Malvasia)
Vintage: 2005
Country/State: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Price: $12
Stars: 4 (out of 5)


We drank this excellent Chianti last night with spaghetti, meatballs, and tomato sauce...Both the meal and the wine were delicious. This Chianti went really nicely with the pasta. It was juicy with cherry, raspberry, and strawberry flavors. The nose on the wine was fantastic, featuring big aromas of red fruits. The wine was dry and had a very long finish.

It's been awhile since we've had a Chianti, and this one from Fattoria di Bibbiani did not disappoint.

Pierre Amadieu "La Grangeliere" Vacqueyras

Name: Pierre Amadieu "La Grangeliere"
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Grenache/Syrah)
Vintage: 2007
Country/State: France
Region: Southern Rhone (Vacqueyras)
Price: $19
Stars: 4.5 (out of 5)


I chose this wine from Vacqueyras to drink with our Christmas Eve festivities...Krista made bacon-wrapped filets cooked in a red wine mushroom sauce with mashed potatoes and a nice fresh salad. The wine and the dinner were great. We had the 2005 vintage of this same wine about a year and a half ago and really enjoyed it, too. Much like that one, this 2007 was a little hot right out of the gate. Luckily I planned ahead and poured it in the decanter at around 3:30 and left it there while we went to church. By the time we got home and had a first glass at 6:00, it had mellowed out nicely and was really open and delicious.

The aromas and taste were primarily red fruits - strawberries and raspberries, with a bit of peppery spice. It was smooth and well-balanced, with a long finish...I have the Gigondas from Pierre Amadieu, as well, and can't wait to try it soon to see how it compares to the Vacqueyras.

Merry Christmas!!

Helfrich Vin D'Alsace Riesling

Name: Helfrich Vin D'Alsace Riesling
Color: White
Varietal: Riesling
Vintage: 2007
Country/State: France
Region: Alsace
Price: $13
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)


The Helfrich Riesling is a clear, bright yellow in color with a rather muted aroma. Nothing specific came through on the nose for me, except maybe a little bit of light citrus. The flavors are crisp and quite dry. We drank it with a tex-mex style soup and then finished the bottle after dinner. I drank most of this one myself. Krista had only one glass...I enjoyed it, but wasn't necessarily blown away by it. I appreciated the medium body, dry style, and the minerality, but just wasn't as impressed with the overall taste.