Falesco Vitiano 2004 is from Umbria of Italy. Umbria is right at the centre of the Italian boot nick-named the Oven of Italy - very hot! The Vitiano consists of equal parts of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It has been consistently rated both by WA and WS with high eighties and low nineties. I have tasted the previous vintages - solid but my ratings were consistently lower by 2-4 points. Dark red and purple in colour. It has a nose of “Italian wine” followed by dark cherry Jello (Robertson’s) or cherry jam, red licorice, dry cranberry and dry wild flowers (popourri). This respectable medium body wine has good balance of fruit, body and good grippy tannin but it is meant to be a juicy quaffer with fair structure than a serious wine. The finish is fair with some dark bitter chocolatey notes. Drink it up in the next few years. I keep failing to understand why the big boys rate this wine with such a fuss?! (Rated 86-88 points) by Michael Lam of the Beverage Review.

This Talomas Chardonnay (83%) / Viognier (17%) came with a musky buttery nose mixed with very faint gasoline and the usual tropical fruit and pineapple suggesting the wine has gone through malolactic fermentation. The wine was surprisingly fresh, refreshing and crisp unlike many California chardonnays which are OTT (Over the top): Smokey, oaky, full body, with full blown malolatic buttery and off dry fruit — I call it being suffocated by Dolly Parton’s bosoms…Although this Char is not too complex as expected, I believe the Viognier has contributed the wine with much vibrancy and spiciness. The lifted but balanced acidity also means the wine is versatile with a large variety of food. The wine was reduced in BC from $21 to $7.99 in the summer of 2006 after Mondalvi was bought by Constellation brand in 2004. It’s still available at private stores such as Central City of Surrey in BC at $12. What a mark up (!) but still fair in price I guess. Drink now like the way I quaffed it down after filming! (Rating 87-89) points by Michael Lam of the Beverage Review.

Domaine Brusset is a relatively large producer in Rhone. This wine is from an appelation in Southern Rhone called Gigondas created in 1971. Unlike Northern Rhone, which employs solely Syrah. The wine would probably be a combination of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carrigane and Cinsault. On the nose, some cherry liqueur or kirsch character popped out mixing with some earthy barnyard but the wine was not giving much. I deliberately aired the wine before tasting but still…more cherry fruit and dry berry/flower characters came out upon tasting. It has a medium to full body followed with some astringency characters like bitter lemon/tangerine. The tannin is sandy, mouth coating and immediately dried out the tongue. The finish is relatively short and leaving my mouth dry. The style is traditional and backward. I fail once again why the both WA and WS rated this wine so high (93 and 94 points respectively) in the past. (87-89 points) rated by Michael Lam of the Beverage Review.

An Australian wine that is from the Barossa Valley. A blend of 4 grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. On the nose, sweet cassis (Ribena) or black current cordial, black plum, cherry pipe tobacco, sweet dill and sweet black liquorice. Upon tasting, the above all came up with secondary nuances like coffee, cola, spice and dark chocolate. A forward, full body wine that has balanced acidity and structure. The tannin is fine. This comfort wine is a good expression of a new world fruit driven pseudo-style Bordeaux. The finish is long with a beautiful tingling feeling at the back of my throat. Rating (91-93 points).

Chateau de Carles is from Fronsac in right bank of Bordeaux. Fronsac is considered as a ‘minor’ region north west of two more famous communes west of Pomerol and St. Emilion. Here the main grapes are merlot and Cabernet Franc as to the predominant Cabernet Sauvignon in the left bank. 2003 was an usually hot year. Much merlot in the Pomerol region shut down during the summer months due to the intense heat but St. Emilion did. Also, many minor producers benefit from the heat producing ripe and plummy fruit. The Ch. de Carles was sold at Cad$23 - considered as a value buy. The wine has some vibrant red fruit (red cherry, red soft berry) intermixed with some earth, soil and barnyard characters. What came in tasting was it also carried some dark chocolate,ink block, graphite and licorice characters. The body was medium and soft. Not too complex but has reasonable solid structure. Drink up within the next 2-4 years. (Rating 86-88 points) by Michael Lam of the Beverage Review.