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.

Hogue - Harvest Red Varietal Blend - Washington

This bottle was brought by a guest to October's Third-Thursday dinner party. I'm sometimes a bit wary of general affordable reds. But this one was exceedingly drinkable (as evidenced by me and Chili drinking most of it) with a good balanced flavor. It went well with meat, and oddly enough went really well with cookies. Cookies?! Not a dessert wine, but it complemented the sugar in the cookies quite nicely. We're such philistines.

Hogue Harvest Red Varietal Blend, Table Wine, Columbia Valley. Produced and bottled by Hogue Cellars, Ltd, Prosser, WA. www.hoguecellars.com