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

Gruet Pinot Noir 2006

I took a big leap of faith and ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir from New Mexico a couple of nights ago (Huckleberry Bar, Williamsburg). Produced by a French winemaker Gilbert Gruet, this bottle tastes like a Burgundy. A classic black cherry/cassis mouth, fresh and energetic, medium body and a funky sauerkraut bouquet. Although the bottle claims oak barrel, I didn't taste or smell much of it (which is a good thing). Great wine, wish it was a bit cheaper.

$46 in a bar, $26 retail
81 points

Odoardi Savuto, 2005

A pretty unusual blend of Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nerello Capuccio and Magliocco Canino from Calabria. Very pungent bouquet of lavender and spices with a note of opium, medium body, deep brownish red. The mouth is equally funky with black fruit, tobacco, molasses, bitter herbs and some earthy, mineral aftertaste... nor schiste though. Perhaps the coolest thing about this wine is the many flavors I got to taste and smell for the first time...

40$ @ Bar Veloce NYC, 81 points

Monte Da Cal, Adega em Fronteira, 2006

This wine is an amazing value. Seriously. This is not a cheapo quaffing Chianti, we are talking respectable business... 40% Aragones (aka Tempranillo), 30% Alfrocheiro, 30% Alicante Bouschet, medium to full body, deep velvety purple color.
The nose opens with pepper, spice and some cedar wood notes, mouth is dry and centered around tart black currant and cherry. Short, but lively; energetic and very, very drinkable. I'll be checking them "vinhos regional Alentejanos"!

Uva Brooklyn, $10, 77 points

Bruno Clair Marsannay Rose, 2008

An honest, steel cask aged Burgundy rose Pinot Noir, picked up at a spring tasting event at Union Square Wines NYC. Flavors of strawberry and Champagne, dry, mineral, sharp with traces of watermelon and sour cherry. Served chilled, so the nose seemed pretty minimal, mostly red fruit... Great spring wine! We paired it with cherrystone clams and had a blast.
$25 in retail, 78 points