La Massa, IGT, 2010, Tuscany, Italy

This super Tuscan style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese gives you an introduction to the style with just enough body, complexity, and old school style to get your palate salivating.  It's got a sexy nose of raspberry, whipped vanilla, clean oak, and a bit of rust.  Though far closer to medium rather than full-bodied, the La Massa has a densely packed core of flavors.  Rhubarb, cranberry, raspberry,and sweet tobacco ride on a layer of roughly grained tanins.  The juice of the berries kicks in beautifully on the mid-palate like gushing juice from the center of hard candy.  The acid still dominates the fruit suggesting this is more of a food pairing wine.  The finish is very dry and long.  Priced in the teens, the La Massa comes highly recommended.  

Feudi di San Gregorio, Falaghina, 2010, Compania, Italy

This wine is kinda boring but then again so am I.  Falanghina is one of dozens of native varietals in the Campania, one of Italy's oldest wine growing regions.  At it's best, the varietal's dominant citrus notes are balanced with nuances of minerality and spice.  This offering has a straw and light gold color in the glass.  Lemon, lime, rock candy, and bit of laughing gas are present on the nose.  The San Gregorio has medium to full body with a bright fruit forward notes.  Nice dried tropical fruit notes do battle with candied lemon (think sour patch kids and jolly ranchers).  I didn't pick up any spice or minerality.  It also falls off pretty quickly but at least ends dry and clean.  Drop 13 bucks at for it at Costco and no one will give you any dirty looks at your next dinner party.

P.S.  For something that is most emphatically not boring, check out my friend Shannon's Hawaii-centric nacho blog!