Bull's blood wines are blends, traditionally from northern Hungary.   The name comes from the dubious story that says after the locals fought off the Ottoman's, the Ottomans said the people there were drinking dark red wine made from bull's blood which gave them strength.  This made from the "500 year old" recipe as a blend of Kekfrankos, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zweigelt.  It drank nicely especially given its $12 price tag.  Purple in color, with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with plums and black cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has tart che

This is from 100% Hárslevelű grapes grown on the volcanic Somlo hill near Lake Balaton.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with apricots, slight lemons, smoke and salinity.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is a broad wine, i.e. not concentrated but with strong acidity.  Lots of tart orange fruits with a bit of salinity.  It improves with a bit of air.  This works better with food but does drink well on its own.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  It will work well with lighter foods; chicken salad would work well.  

This made from the Ezerjo grape in the Mor region of Hungary.  The wine is fermented in small Hungarian oak barrels for three months before being transferred to stainless steel.  Light yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose  has lemons, oranges and underlying minerals.  A bit of smoke, too.  On the palate, this has crisp acidity.  Medium bodied.  Oranges and grapefruits with lots of minerality. Very tasty but it begs for food.  This should drink well for the next five to seven years.  It will work with cheeses very nicely and most lighter foods.  

This is a white made from the Olasrizling grape more commonly known elsewhere as Welschriesling or Italian Riesling and has no relationship to Riesling.  12.5% ABV.  Silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has Meyer lemons, pears, smoke and minerals.  Light bodied.  On the palate, this has tart apples, pears and slight orange citrus notes.  A bit of almonds on the finish.  It is refreshing with strong acidity.  This should drink well for the next five to seven years.  It will work better with food.  Smoked whitefish should be a nice pairing.  

Made from the Juhfark grape on the Somlo hill near Lake Balaton in Hungary.  Silvery green/gold in color.  The nose has pears, smoke (it is grown in volcanic soil), slight soapy note and an herbal note.  On the palate, this is semi-sweet with apples and honey notes.  It  has a tart green apple streak on the finish.  This improved with air and definitely needs some food to counter the acidic bite.  Drink over the next five years.  It worked well with soft cheeses and will work with most lighter foods.  

My first time trying the Juhfark (pronounced YOU-fahrk) grape.  The term refers to the elongated shape of the grape bunches.

Beautiful showing for this stalwart of Napa.  What a great vintage.  Consumed over two nights, it was even better on night 2.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is classic with cassis, black cherries, cedar, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of cassis and black cherry fruit with an underlying dry earthiness.  Still a fair amount of oak and tannins - it is young.  This should get better over the next five years and drink well for ten to twelve after that.  That said, it is delicious today.  Given the price of Napa Cabs, at MSRP of $48, this is priced attractiv

Wow.  This was a first time trying this wine and it is excellent.  ColleMassari is the largest estate of the Montecucco appellation in central Tuscany.  This is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 10% Ciliegiolo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  The wine spends 18 months ageing in oak barrels and barrique then 12 months in bottle.  Tasted over two nights, it was even better on night 2.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black cherries, cherries, and a bit of pepper and spice.  Initially, there is also some mint on the nose, but

From the Montecucco DOC in Tuscany.  La Pianore is a certified organic farm with a zero carbon footprint situated in a nature refuge.  The wine is a blend of Sangiovese (at least 60%) and Merlot aged in 25% Wood and 75% Stainless for six months and then another six months in bottle before being release.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has nice cherry fruit, hay and salinity.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has an interesting rustic quality.  Light tannins.  Flavors of cherries and slight orange peel.  A bit of a bitter almond on the finish.  There is s

From the little known Montecucco Songiovese DOCG in Tuscany, this wine really showed well.  Served to some friends, everyone agreed that this was really very nice.   This wine is aged for two years in French oak barriques, and a minimum of another six months in the bottle.  This is 100% Sangiovese.  I believe the 2015 is the current release.  If served blind, I would have guessed Brunello.  Ruby in color, with just a hint of browning, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, allspice, and slight forest floor.  Medium to full bodied.  Serious tannins that resolved slightly with air.  On the