Terra di Seta Chianti Classico 2010 (about $17)

About the Wine: The Gallo Nero (black rooster) is a mark of quality in Chianti.  Please feel free to insert your own cock joke here.  It is not the end all be all of great Chianti, but it is an encouraging sign when a Chianti carries it.  This is the first Kosher Chianti I have ever seen and it is very encouraging for the progress that department is making.


About THIS Wine:  It is a clear, ruby red in the glass.  The nose presents notes of cherry and leather.  The palate is dry with nice berry notes that go on in the finish.


Drinking This Wine:  This one can be enjoyed by itself, but it definitely wants food.  Pasta or maybe a soft cheese would make a good pairing.


Overall Impression:  The wine is good and the price is reasonable, especially for a Kosher wine of this quality.  This wine is reasonable for the price.

Conde de Pircardo Tempranillo 2013 (about $11)

About the Wine:  Tempranillo is a signature varietal of Spain and a few of its clones are also very successful in Portugal.  The varietal is grown elsewhere, but never with much commercial success.  The bottle carries the Rioja designation but not a label that distinguishes how long it was aged in oak, such as Crianza or Reserva.  It is a risk, but I have a real affinity to the wine of the region.  Also, this price point speaks to me at a profound level.

About THIS Wine:  The wine is ruby red in the glass with a pink rim.  Cranberry is prominent on the nose, which unusual for a Rioja.  They typically have distinctive notes of cooking fat, which I did not get at all from this wine.  The palate is dry with good fruit and a firm tannin in the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Something like steak or sausage would make a good pairing here.

Overall Impression: There is no reason this wine could not go for twice the price and as such it is a steal.  My one caveat is that it does not present like one would expect from a Rioja.  For someone who wants a great value dry red, though, this is where it's at.



90+ Merlot 2014 (about $11)

About the Wine:  This year's 90+ Merlot is sourced from Mendocino, California  a region I've never much cared for, but that has produced some gems of late.  Hopefully this will be one of them.


About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is a dark but not quite opaque purple.  The legs are thick and run almost like a port.  When I first smelled it, I thought, "Smells like Merlot."  It has the dark, smoky quality on the nose that I always associate with the varietal.  Even after a little time to breath, the palate is very tight.  This is awfully young for a Merlot and I imagine it would have benefited from a little more age before release.  Tannins are present but not bracing in the finish.


Drinking This Wine:  Let it decant for a long time, at least an hour if not more.  This is the kind of bottle that will be better the second night.  Drink it with red meat.


Overall Impression:  I am a little disappointed but that is mostly because I've had such good luck with the brand.  At $11 per bottle this wine is reasonable for the price.