Last night, a 2005 terre del Nero d'Avola by Rossetti.

This had great press in the WSJ, and was recommended by my local maven, but it was good, not great. 

Don't get me wrong, it was nice QPR at $8.49 after discount, but I expected more intense fruit.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB119941143793166727.html

I am hoping for some nice wines tomorrow night, if the expected crowd turns up, once they get all their flights rescheduled.

last night, the remainder of a bottle of 1997 niebaum coppolla cab franc. 

Last night, a 2004 d'Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz with a cork closure (this wine was offered by the winery with both cork and screw cap closure).

This wine showed very well; a hedonistic but balanced expression of red and black fruits with hints of cedar and the backbone to support at least another five years of ageing before peak.

This wine was consumed at a steak house and stood up to a plethora of food matchups in terms of appetizers and sides; the main course was, of course, dead cow.

One of the drinkers is not a fan of the wines of McLaren Vale; he prefers those of the Barossa Valley, yet he was favorable impressed by The Footbolt.

This is an exceptional value for money and I would highly recommend this to all.

I found a Chateau Montviel 2005 in the cellar and had no idea where it came from. Wow this is a massive wine. It’s my first 05 Bordeaux and it really surprised me. The wine library guy seems to have it at a decent price. I’m pretty sure the new neighbor brought it over as a gift, I knew I liked him!