Palladio Chianti

2003 Palladio Chianti ($9) -- Italy by Winebow Leonard LoCascio Selections. 100% Sangiovese in steel tanks. Pleasant fruit flavors with smooth finish. Not complex or loaded with fruit, but a very good choice for mid-week pasta or pizza. Did I mention the $9 price.

Spanish Rose

2004 Torres De Casta Rose ($10) - Catalunya Spain. Made from Garanacha and Carinena with skin contact of 24 hours. (From the nice notes on the back label!) I wish I had found this fine wine earlier this summer. It's still hot enough here to enjoy and will make a fine lunch for those Sunday brunchs in the Fall. Delicate fruit flavors with a medium finish and some acid backbone for most meals. Very dry with tannins present. Excellent choice for $10 from a very good producer from Spain.

Summer's Over

Summer's over and it's time to drink red wine again. Actually, it's still 90 degrees and humid here and I'm still drinking whites and Rose's, but I just got a case of a great Spanish Rioja.

2001 Allende Rioja ($27) - Spain; imported by Cutting Edge Selections; produced by Finca Allende. This wine was rated very highly by Parker and is at a good price for a weekend wine. I bought the case without tasting but pulled a cork as soon as it arrived. Full fruit flavors and velvety finish right out of the gate without breathing. A great wine for the price. I urge you to try it.

Oh, it's good to back in town and back to work. Right!