Le Clos du Tue-Boeuf, Touraine, 'La Guerrerie, 2004
Color a light, purplish red. Smokey, gamay-iodine nose, this one is effusively fruity, with sappy gamay flavors. Not sure of the blend here, but think it is gamay-pinot noir. Delicious everyday wine. B+
Bruno Giacosa, Roero, Arneis, 2005
Light bright gold. Pear and almond blossom scents. Light pear-skin and hazlenut flavors, with a soft ginger-wasabi finish, along with dry talc. Has the dull plodiness that I associate with arneis, like a sullen block that falls with each gulp. Good, friendly wine. B+/A-
Paul Pernot, Volnay 'Carelles', 1999
Dark black cherry colored. Floral filled black cherry and cooked beets on the nose, echoing again on the palate, along with a note of camphor, black raspberry, and chernozem. A masculine Burgundy chunky in its dimensions but without a sense of elegance. B+
Emidio Pepe, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, 2001
Color is an intriguing walnut-washed gold. Muted hazelnut and lemon cookie dough on the nose, along with dried hay mixed with wildflower. Hazlenut biscotti, with lemon wax lips, and dull clay notes on the finish. Shortish finish. Has the feel of a peasant wine, of wine amde by hands and not machines. B+
Pierre Usseglio, Chateaunuef-du-Pape, 2000
Still holding its own and still young. Warm garrigue and sweatbox aromas, with kirsch and Provencal flavors on the tarry and still tannic finish. Not bad at all for the price of close to $20 I paid for it. B+