Bacchus wine shop is having a sale and these two wines were found in the bargain bin and opened for dinner.
Michele Chiarlo Le Monache Monferrato Rosso 2003 - Barbera, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. A little dill on the nose. Juicy red berry fruit. Some chocolate covered cherries. Soft tannins but good acid structure. An easy, drink now wine. Good.
Campo di Sasso Il Pino di Biserno Toscana IGT 2004 - Very dark. Beautiful, flowery nose. Full and modern with obvious creamy oak. Young. Deep chocolate and coffee flavors. Dangerously close to Barossa Shiraz in style but not quite there yet. Very long, smoky, tannic finish. This wine defnitely makes an impression. Needs time. No indication of grapes on the label but some research reveals Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Very good.
For dessert we had a Kracher #3 Welschriesling/Chardonnay Trockenbeerenauslese. Didn't really concentrate on this wine but it was pleasant enough but not really interesting for me except for the somewhat strange, almost salty, sensation I got on the finish.