Philippe Le Hardi Santenay 1er Cru La Comme, 2005

This 1-er Cru Santenay was purchased in 2007 from the producer in Burgundy. It was really hard to keep my hands off it for 3 years, but finally the day has come! Pretty much everything about this wine was a surprise: full body, velvety brick red, after uncorking exploded with flavors of fresh red currant. That phantom bouquet disappeared after 10 minutes: the nose shifted toward Jeggermeister, green parsley, mint and lingering rubber notes. Equally volatile mouth settled on licorice and strawberry, with a bitter herbal finish. To match the wine I made duck breast in Pinot noir reduction sauce, with shimeji mushrooms and grilled squash. Everything worked out pretty amazing!

25 Euro from producer, 90 points

Tintilia Del Molise, Catabbo 2008

The only reason why I decided to write about this bottle is the fact that Tintilia is a super rare variety (15 hectare) grown only in Molise (south-east Italy). The wine itself seemed very refined and definitely tasty, but I wouldn't give it many points for originality... Medium-full body, brick red, silky and viscous. Simple bouquet of cherry/red fruit. Acidic red fruit on attack, sour cherry, red berries mid-palette; the finish abruptly shifts toward caramel, toffee and sweet molasses. Very solid and surely worth trying.

46$ @ D.O.C Bar Brooklyn, 77 points

Monfiorenza Monferrato Freisa 2008

Freisa: a less known casual red variety from Piemont.

An excellent spring choice: lighter body, purple-ish red, intense, acidic berry on the palette: gooseberry, red currant and a warm, sweeter raspberry finish. The nose is herbal, bit spicy. I would highly recommend this wine to pinot noir drinkers: it's got similar energy and sharpness. I imagine this variety must have a very hard time competing with nebbiolo, dolcetto and barbera... too bad, it's quite something. Organic, inexpensive and very tasty!

12$ retail, Uva Brooklyn, 78 points