Leon Beyer - Pinot Blanc - 2000

Another Alsatian. Another yummy try.

Léon Beyer, Pinot Blance, 2000. Appellation Alsace contrôlée. Mis en bouteille par Léon Beyer. Imported by HB Wine Merchants, New York, NY.

The Furst - Riesling - 2004

One in a long line of Alsatian wines I've bought in an effort to explore the wines of our homeland. We weren't French. We weren't German. We emigrated via Austria to New York. I must admit...most of the Alsatians, including this one, have been quite delicious.

The Furst, vin d'Alsace, appellation Alsace contrôlée, Riesling, 2004. Les vignerons réunis de Kientzheim&emdash;Kayserberg.

Qupe - Syrah - 2003

Yummy, yummy, yummy! Two bottles of this disappeared! Yum! Can't get enough.

Qupé, Syrah, 2003. Produced and bottled by Robert N. Lindquist, Santa Maria, CA. www.qupe.com

Black Opal - Cabernet Merlot - 2005

Don't remember much about this one...we were several bottles into the evening by the time we opened this one. It was good, but hey, that's all I can say.

Black Opal, Cabernet Merlot, 2005. Produced and bottled by Black Opal Wines, Sturt Highway, Nuriootpa, S.A. 5355, Australia. Imported by FWE Imports, Napa, CA.

Sangiovese - 2004

Sangiovese, dry red wine of Molise. Another Italian red table wine. This one did not have an aftertaste of band-aids.

Sangiovese, 2004. Produced and estate bottled by Di Majo Norante &emdash; Campomarino (CB), Italy. Imported by Winebow Inc, New York, NY.

Zolo - Malbec - 2004

From a 3RD where we consumed a few too many bottles. Another amazing Argentinian Malbec.

Zolo, Malbec, 2004. Produced and bottled by Fincas Patagonicas S.A., Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina. Imported by Epic Wines, Aptos, CA.

Altos de la Hoya - Monastrell - Jumilla - 2003

A jumilla from another 3RD. Loved it like all the rest of them.

Altos de la Hoya, Monastrell, Jumilla, 2003. Embotellado por Bodegas Olivares S.I. Product of Spain. Imported by Vieux Vins, Inc, Vineburg, VA.

Trapiche - Malbec - 2003

Another lovely malbec from Argentina. While we didn't have it with steak, we did have it with grilled burgers. It was an excellent complement to the grilled beef. I don't remember exact price, but it had to have been affordable otherwise I probably wouldn't have bought it.

Trapiche, Oak Cask Malbec, 2003. Produced and bottled by Bodegas Trapiche, est.: A-71058. Imported by Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd., New York, New York. www.frederickwildman.com

Sofenia - Altosur - Malbec - 2003

This was my favorite of the three bottles from December's 3RD. I've never had a Malbec before that was unblended. Amazing. Utterly amazing. Another Argentinian success story. I will definitely have to try more Malbecs because of this as well as the Malbec/Merlot from Falling Star.

A redolent and colorful wine with an excellent smooth flavor. This is one to keep on hand.

Sofenia, Altosur, Malbec, 2003. Estate grown, produced, and bottled by Sofenia S.A., Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina. Imported by Tastings Import Company, Chicago, IL, 60607. www.sophenia.com.ar

Luzon - Jumilla - 2004

A redolent red from Spain. Rich in flavor, a bit stronger than I expected. Definitely worth trying again (I've already procured another bottle). Affordable (sub $10).

Luzon, Jumilla, 2004. Estate bottled by Bodegas Luzon, S.L., Jumilla, España, R.E.-7263-MU. Imported by Cutting Edge Selections, Inc, Fairfax, Ohio.

Penfolds - Kalimna Shiraz - 1998

An utterly enjoyable shiraz. Affordable. Is a blend from their various vineyards, but apparently predominantly from the Kalimna vineyard. When on a stocking-up trip recently, I saw there were a number of different blends, with a different dominant vineyard (Coonawara for example). I haven't tried a different blend yet. This blend was a flavorful smooth treat.

Penfolds, Kalimna Shiraz, South Australia, Bin 28, Vintage 1998. Produced by Penfolds Wines, Penfold Road, Magill, South Australia, Australia, 5072. Imported by Southcorp Wines North America, 60 Garden Court, Suite 220, Monterey, CA, 93940. www.penfolds.com

Francis Coppola - Gold Label Chardonnay - 2002

Given my love of Coppola's Claret, I bought the Coppola Merlot and Chardonnay as well. I brought the Chardonnay to Nashville with us for Thanksgiving with my family.

It needed time to breathe, but it turned out to be a decent Chard. Better than a typical everyday or cheap bottle. Again in the 18-22 range, it could serve as a reliable mid-range chard. It went well with the turkey and the rest of the thanksgiving trimmings.

Francis Coppola, Diamond Series, Gold Label Chardonnay, 2002. Vinted and bottled by Francis Coppola Diamond Series, Rutherford, CA. www.niebaum-coppola.com

Francis Coppola - Black Label Claret - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2002

This is one of my favorite wines, ever. It is certainly one of Coppola's best. Affordable at around 18-22 USD, and one of the best cabs I've ever had.

A bit dry, excellent balance in flavor, alcohol, and nose. I highly recommend this wine for a fine aged cheddar, or other cheese begging for a quality red. The 2002 is getting a little harder to find, so I highly recommend you pick up a few bottles for the future.

Francis Coppola, Diamond Series, Black Label Claret, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002. Vinted and bottled by Francis Coppola Diamond Series, Oakville, CA. www.niebaum-coppola.com

Principiano Ferdinando - Barbera d'Alba - Pian Romualdo - 1995

So Chili brought over this Italian Barbera for November's 3RD. I should say up front that there is a split opinion on this wine. Of the three of us that expressed opinions, there are three opinions.

First, my opinion. I found the wine to be strong, flavorful, and interesting. I want to say "spicy" but that's not quite the word I want. Anyway, my interest ended in the aftertaste, however. Because after I swallowed this wine, all I could taste was "band-aid." That's right..."band-aid." All I could taste was a disposable elastic adhesive bandage. Not my idea of "YUM!" or "DELIGHTFUL!" or anything of the sort. I immediately left this wine behind.

Chili and Keli expressed positive notes about the wine similar to my own. Keli and I tried for a while to find words to describe the flavor. She continued to drink it and try to discern its flavor long after I had decided "band-aid." She and Chili polished off the bottle. Keli agreed with me that it was indeed odd, and could understand my comments, but still liked it. Chili liked it, but said it wasn't going to go back on his "to buy" list anytime soon.

So one "Maybe," one "It's OK," and one "It tastes like a used band-aid." You decide for yourself.

Principiano Ferdinando, Barbera d'Alba, denominazione d'origine controllata, Pian Romualdo, 1995. Imbottigliato all'origine - Estate bottled by Azienda Vitivinicola Principiano Ferdinando, di Principiano Americo, Monforte d'Alba, Italia. Imported by Vias Import Ltd, New York, NY.

Handley - Anderson Valley Chardonnay - Estate Grown - 2002

As a lover of chards, I decided to buy this bottle as part of my stock-up visits to my local liquor store. It looked interesting if unassuming, and the price was in my preferred range. We opened it with dinner (November's 3RD). Not your typical chard.

It had an exceptionally strong nose...almost overpowering. And it was strong on alcohol and low on flavor. Again not typical of the chards I've come to know and love. Letting it breathe for a while made it drinkable, but still strong up front with a weak finish. Not my favorite chard in the least. Not terrible, just not quite what I want out of a chard.

Handley, Anderson Valley Chardonnay, Estate Grown, 2002. Produced and bottled by Handley Cellars, Philo, California. www.handleycellars.com

Joseph Drouhin - Primeur - Beaujolais Nouveau - 2005

A bottle from a friend for November's 3RD. A wonderful beaujolais. Will have to keep an eye out for this one next year. I may even stop by our local wine store for a bottle on the way to my Mother's for Thanksgiving. A flavorful beau...go for it.

Joseph Drouhin, Premier, Beaujolais Nouveau, Appellation Beaujolais Contrôlée. Mis en bouteilles par Joseph Drouhin, Négociant-Éleveur à Beaune, Côte-d'Or, France. Imported by: Dreyfus Ashby & Co, New York, NY.

Trimbach - Gewurtztraminer - 1999

I had been saving this bottle for a while. Initially I had thought to share it with a friend at some shindig related to his wedding, but that came and went. I bought this wine since I had not yet had a gewurtztraminer, and this one is from the ancestral homeland, Alsace, France.

This is quite possibly one of the best wines I've had in a while. It was perfectly balanced, full of flavor, just sweet enough, just enough alcohol, and incredibly smooth. It went wonderfully with the port salut cheese and fresh greek pistachios that made up our afternoon snack. Delightful. I must find some more.

Combine the great wine with their (apparently) great attitude: "Enjoy Trimbach wines, with everything except ceremony." Rawk. Vintners after my own heart...

Apparently Trimbach is one of the most widely known vintners of Alsacian gewurtztraminer. If the 1999 is any indication, this is something worth keeping on hand. I bought this bottle at a neary wine shop, for around $15 for the 750ml bottle. That was on sale, so it may cost more retail.

Trimbach, Gewurtztraminer, 1999, Appellation Alsace Contrôlée. Mis en bouteilles par F.E. Trimbach a Ribeauville, Alsace, France. Imported by Seagram Chateau and Estate Wines Company, New York, New York.