Renzo Masi Chianti Riserva

On the bottle: The Riserva us produced only in very good vintages, from a selection of the best grapes.
It is composed of 95% Sangiovese and 5% colorino. This wine is released after a minimum of 30 months of aging.

750mL, 13.5% Alc. by vol, HEB, $11.99

I have bought 2 bottle of this wine now, and I am finally getting around to reviewing it. One bottle got downed at the New Years party, and I barely even got to try it! I finally bought another bottle for review. Like most Chianti, this is very easy to drink, and goes perfectly with tomato sauce. I love a good earthy, dry Chianti and this one did not disappoint. Because it's a Riserva it must be aged at least 2 years in wood and 3 months in bottle before being sold. This aging really adds to the complexity of flavor. This one reminds me of plum and dark chocolate. It is very dark and will dye your mouth dark purple, so be careful! I will be buying more of this for sure.

Cavit Pinot Grigio 2010

On the bottle: Cavit Pinot Grigio originates in northern Italy's picturesque delle Venezie region, source of the world's finest Pinot Grigio. To this ideal terroir, Cavit brings a half-century of winemaking experise and an endless passion for quality and innovation. Elegant, crisp and light, with delicate nuances of fruit Cavit Pinot Grigio is remarkably versatile. Excellent served well-chilled.

750mL, 12% Alc. by vol, left at my house after new years, internet says $10

My first tastes of this are apples and pears. Crisp and acidic, this wine would be great on a hot summer day, or with spicy food. I didn't feel like waiting until summer, so this wine felt a bit out of place on chilly nights, but it was still delicious and not too sweet for me. This wine does seem a bit watery in comparison to the heavy reds I've been drinking lately, but I would buy this again for an outdoor party, in the summer, if I'm short on cash and don't need to impress anyone.

Prima Perla Prosecco

On the bottle: Italian - sparkling white wine - extra dry

750mL, 11.5% Alc. by vol, left at my house after the New Years party

My first thought when drinking this wine was pears! You get an acidic citrus zing and then the taste of pears. Prosecco is made differently than Champagne in that the secondary fermentation (which makes it bubbly) takes place in large tanks before bottling. Champagne gets it's secondary fermentation in the bottles. Because of this, Prosecco is less bubbly than Champagne. I did some research online and this particular Prosecco is available for about $8.50 online. I really enjoyed this wine. I think it would pare well with lemony chicken or white fish. I would definitely get this wine again for a party, and now I am very curious to try other Proseccos.

2006 Levata Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

On the bottle: A delicious expression of the Montepulciano grape, this smooth tasting wine offers intense cherry and plum aromas and a dry harmonious flavor. Pair with grilled or stewed meats, savory sauces and pasta dishes. Serve at 64-68 F.

750mL, 12% Alc. by vol., Specs, $6.99

I bought this wine with the Yalumba Y Series Viognier which I reviewed first. I was drawn to the simple black and green label of this wine. I bought this wine because it was inexpensive and I have never tried the Montepulciano varietal. I drank this with dinner, which was a noodle stir fry. It wasn't a spicy stir fry and this wine paired well with it. This dry wine has a nice acidy punch and goes down smoothly. It didn't give me the sticky mouth feeling I get from Cabernet. As long as the price stays the same I would definitely buy this wine again. I'm interested to see if it pairs well with spicy food.