Babbo Proseco

Sweeter than the Charles de Fere sparkling wine.

Purchased at Chesapeake Wines
Price: ~$17

Charles de Fere: Blanc de Blancs

I forgot what this tasted like, but it was dry and crisp. Affordable, I wish I had orange juice.

Purchased at Chesapeake Wines
Price: ~$12

Clairette de Die Jaillance

I know I'm breaking the rules here. This is a sparkling wine. However, for those who do not like dry champagnes, this is an excellent choice. It is my de facto standard when I'm in MD. It is a little sweet due to the muscat grape. I wouldn't dare use this for mimosas. It's great without it.

Purchased at Chesapeake Wines
Price: ~$19

Solomon's Island Mist

Blueberry Pinot Noir
Black Rasberry Merlot
Although both bottles are made in Maryland and appeared to be interesting, these $12 wines are a sham. At 6.5% alcohol, these are fruit juices and really lack any complexity. They were too sweet and even my parents-in-law didn't enjoy them. Never again.

Errazuriz 2004 Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon

Medium bodied and needs time to open.

Product of Chile
Paid 355 pesos (~ $33 UDS) for 750 mL @ Hotel Villa Del Sol (Room service)
Suggested by Antonio (his favorite)

Chalone Pinot Noir

Whether or not, Forbes ranks Chalone Vineyards highly in the top 25 American Pinot Noirs, I enjoyed this bottle.

The Big Red Monster

Although initially intrigued with the label, not impressed with this table wine.

Georges Dubceuf 2004 Pinot Noir

It's Easter Sunday and I wake up to a lovely egg white, bacon and english muffin breakfast. I'm flipping through the channels. Why not embrace the grape? It's fruity, smooth and balanced. After the second glass (Suzanna and I had 2 each) I felt so sorry there was no more left. I don't know how much this was, but I could drink this everyday. Thanks, E!

Pinot Noir, Vin De Pays D'oc, red table wine
12.5% alcohol
Product of France
750 mL
Gift from Ms. Yvonne Baffour

Hacienda 2005 Pinot Noir

Unfortunately, I lost my notes on this Pinot Noir. It is cheap.

Bodega Norton 2005 Malbec

This does not get a fair chance because we needed something to go down with dinner.

[4/7/07, 1:30pm] We give it a second chance. After buying suits for my father, brother and yours truly, we come home to eat our leftover penne and sausage, mushrooms and onions in marinara. The initial sips are tough, but this spicy wine goes well with each bite of sausage.

13.5% alcohol
Country of origin: Argentina
Region: Mendoza River Valley
Paid $7.99 for 750 mL @ Pelham Bay Wines, Bronx, NY

Danzante 2004 Chianti

It's a crappy week, so Suzanna and I need to medicate. I smell cherries. It has a sharp bite which I don't like. Unfortunately it will never have the opportunity to breathe as we will finish this before cook dinner.

12.5% Alcohol
Country of Origin: Italy
Paid $8 for 750 mL @ Lehigh Wines, bronx, NY

Sweet B*tch 2005 California Merlot

Though the name is sexy, the taste is reminiscent of little italy and san janero outside with christmas lights, cheap pasta, and marty who swears that what he's pouring me is the best in the house (my tongue tells me cheap bulk port wine). After a tiny sip, I turn my nose up, slam the glass down, and pass it to johnny-boy who looks at me blankly with game controller in hand. "Drink this !" I command. He puts down the controller, sniffs the glass like a pup sniffs a pile previously laid by another dog, lets out a trademark "eh, I'll drink it if you don't want it" and finishes my glass for me. Pete returns from the kitchen for his sip, and also does not seem impressed. Strange that this is a merlot self-proclaimed as "slightly sweet and fruity."

[4.3.07] Johnny-boy asks for the sweet b*tch after discarding the lovely wedge of brie I brought out for him. More than half the bottle remained. He popped the cork out and continued to swig the sweet juice like a bottle of mickey until it was empty. classy.

Alcohol 13%
Country of Origin: USA
Region: Goal Winery, Soledad, California
Paid $8 for 750 mL @ Pelham Bay Wines

Jealous B*tch 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

I am dismissed early from class only to come home and troubleshoot my struggling home internet connection. The wine label has an angry looking bulldog. It has a rabid bite and needs to sit and open up. Scent of cherry and oak.

Jealous B*tch Vineyard
Country of origin: Australia
14% Alcohol
Paid $7.99 for 750 mL @ Pelham Bay Wines

French Rabbit Pinot Noir

I am experiencing Suzi withdrawal so I play poker with the boys and enjoy this wine. It's smooth and simple with my pizza. So good I have 5 glasses and pass out on the couch. I wake up with "lipstick."

Paid $8.99 for 1.5 L @ Pelham Bay Wines, Bronx, NY

Bootleg 2003 Southern Red Puglia

Bold, spicy, needs to open. I'm not in love of the four grapes I can't pronounce. Koyo and Gimlet are preparing for their wild weekend. I try to enjoy this while I wait for chicken, fish and rice to cook.

Country of Origin: Italy
Marcello & Massimiliano, Apollonio of Terre del Grico
Paid $10 for 750 mL @ Lehigh Wines, Bronx, NY

Castle Rock 2005 Pinot Noir

Strangely does not taste smooth & fruity like most pinots, has a sharper character like chianti.

14% Alcohol
Country of Origin: USA Sonoma, California
Region: Monterey Country
750 mL
Recommended: Lehigh Wines, Bronx, NY

Mirassou 2005 Pinot Noir

After a long hiatus, I have decided to resume the wine commentary. At least 20 bottles of wine later, we begin with this pinot noir. 4th of 5 bottles I purchased at the wine distributer near Pete's old apt on buhre. This is a standard pinot, tasty, smooth, fruity. John shares a sip with me, but is unable to comment since he is eating ham and polly-o string cheese.

Alcohol: 13%
Country of Origin: USA
Region: California
Paid: $10 @ Lehigh Wines, Bronx, NY

Little Penguin 2005 Pinot Noir

I will admit, we drink more Pinot Noir than any other wine. We may drink it more than any other type of alcohol. But since the love of my life introduced it to me, I can't stop myself looking for different vineyards which make this type of wine. Joe Gim and I originally picked this 1.5 L value bottle in August when we had his 2nd wedding reception in MD. I couldn't help but keep myself away from the camera, so I don't remember this bottle. Today, Suzanna's dad talked to me about our parents' initial meeting. Otherwise my future with his daughter has been sealed (in a good way). I smell cherries, but taste a little spice. It's far from complex but it does the job at the moment. I could easily see this bottle in an Italian restaurant with the markup of $50. It would piss me off, but If the other names don't excite me, I would have no choice but to partake in this memorable vino.

13% Alcohol
Size: 1.5L
Country of Origin: Australia
Region: South East
Paid $11.99 @ Northway Liquors, MD

Bistro 2005 Pinot Noir

Bought this wine in maryland during crabfest. Didn't get to drinking it, busy drinking all the box wine (chardonnay was FUNKY) Lost the dominoes to jimbo and his new woman. But back to tonite, watching parental control, waiting for freshdirect order, then I'll do my nails and watch some nip/tuck or scrubs. I miss my schmoomoo.

Alcohol: 12%
Country of Origin: France
Region: Burgundy
Vineyard: Barton & Guestier
Paid $9.99 @ Northway Liquor, MD

Vigna del Melograno 2004 Uva di Troia

After watching 2 episodes of Nip/Tuck 2nd season, I popped open this bottle. It didn't need much time to breathe, it smells fantastic and it tastes fantastic too ! Very smooth with a nice finish. Celebrity fit club is on, and I realize that ex-baywatch babe weighs as much as I do, is taller than me, but looks like a chunky monkey. Jeez-loueez. I must be a heffer. My head is getting hot, and I miss my lover… but I realize that he is here more than he is anywhere else--which is probably not fair to the rest of the world :( Hopefully we will be together forever soon enough so that I won't have to share him too much longer.

Italian Red
13% Alcohol
750 mL
Region: Castel del Monte
Vineyard: Santa Lucia