The Phantom 2005

Don't be afraid of this Phantom (by Bogle), in fact you should invite it in!! The 2005 Phantom is a wonderful full-bodied wine made up of 55% petite sirah, 42% zinfandel and 3% mourvedre. It has a dark inky color with an aroma that changes by the hour. Initially, I picked up some plum and cherry along with pepper. Then a little later I also picked up a blueberry and blackberry aroma with a hint of chocolate. The taste is very fruit forward with some spices including anise which is common to CA zins. Great wine for a rack of ribs or other meats. Open and decant for a hour before serving. For our palates, we rate this at 90+ and I will be looking to buy more to cellar.

2000 Paul Jaboulet Aine

Last night we had a very nice wine from the Paul Jaboulet Aine winery in the Rhone region of France. This is a family winery that has been around since 1834. The wine was the Gigondas Pierre Aiguillo 2000 and is made from a mix of 80% grenache, 10% syrah and 10% mourvedre greapes. This is a medium-full bodied red with a pale red color and a nose of currants, chocolate and cherry. On the palate, I picked up some peppery yet sweet fruits and some tobacco with nice ripe tannins. This was rated 87 by Steven Tanzer (2003) and 88 by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2001). I would have to rate this more in the 90-92 point range. I wonder how they would rate it after another 6-8 years in the bottle?? Since it is not a big hearty wine, it can be served with just about any food. We served it with a pasta dish and it was a very good compliment to the meal. I highly recommend this wine.

2007 Martin Codax

The Albarino wine from Bodegas Martin Codax in Spain is a white wine made from 100% albarino grapes. This medium bodied white wine has a yellowish green color with a floral aroma along with citrus and herbs. This reminds you of a Viognier. It has an acidity like a Riesling and the taste of peaches, pear and mellons. Very nice wine to combine with a seafood meal. Nice wine. Will buy more.

La Mascota Malbec

We purchased 2 bottles of the La Mascota Malbec but accidentally picked a 2004 and a 2005. However, it was a great opportunity to try two vintages side-by-side. The 2004, although a year older, was not as intense and tasty as the 2005. The 2005 had a blackberry, plum taste with a hint of licorice along with the spicy/peppery taste found in most malbecs. This is a full-bodied wine that you could cellar for a few more years. Be sure to decant this prior to serving. We served these wines with a coconut curry chicken dish that complemented the spices well. Pass on the 2004.

2005 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Riserva

The 2005 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Riserva Rocca Guicciarda is a nice medium-bodied chianti made from the Sangiovese grapes. It has a fruity nose with some berry, plum and chocolate flavors with a nice long finish. There is some earthiness to this wine, like many tuscan wines. Wine Advocate gave this an 87 point rating. This is a nice wine to serve with cheeses and lighter foods. We had a memorable visit to this estate in Tuscany a few years ago. You may want to hold this wine for another 2 years.

Punto Final 2007

The Punto Final Clasico is a Malbec produced by Bodega Renacer in Argentina. The grapes come from 50+ year old vines and are hand picked. This wine is unfiltered so you might see some sediments in the bottle. I had very little. This wine has a very dark appearance with smokey cherry and blueberry aromas. The taste was overpowering of black fruits along with some pepper and earthiness. Be sure to decant this wine. I tried it again the following day and it did not get any better. The previous vintages were better so give this wine another couple of years. Retails for about $11. I prefer the Alamos over the Punto Final.

Tinto Figuero 4 2006

The Tinto Figuero 4 wine was produced by Vinedos y Bodegas Garcia Figuero, a small family owned and operated winery that was started in 2001 in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. The Tinto Figuero is made from 100% tempranillo grapes harvested from 10-20 year old vines and then aged in new oak barrels (85% American 15% French oak) for only 4 months, hence the 4. It has a nice dark red color with strawberry and cherry aromas but more of a blackberry taste. It had a relatively long finish to it with smooth tannins. My wife's sister and brother-in-law in Switzerland served this with a fondue chinoise (thinly sliced beef, pork and veal dipped into a hot broth to cook) and it was the perfect pairing. The Wine Advocate gave this wine an 88 point rating. I would agree with this rating. It retails for $20. According to Steve Kreps, Jr. from Quintessential Wines (see ad in side bar), the Tinto Figuero 15 is outstanding. If I can't find it locally, I will call Mr. Kreps and have it shipped. Give these wines a try.