Dellatorri Chianti Other words on the label: denomi nazaione de Origine controllate e geratita 2004 Red Wine Product of Italy The label of this wines tries to convince me that the winery has been around forever. It features a gold foil crest of a sea horse overlooking a picturesque Italian seaside cliff and words that
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You Bet Shiraz 2002 Other words on the label: Southeastern Australia I admit it. I didn’t get the joke, even after looking at the label that prominently featured two donkeys. The smell is not attractive. It’s mostly of mud and makes me afraid to take a sip. I’ll drink it anyway because it was a
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Red Guitar 2005 Navarra Other words on the label: Denominacien de origen Old Vine Tempranillo Garnacha The label has a warm orange background with dancing stick fingers, one of which plays a red guitar. There’s also a floating bull’s head. You read that right-a floating bull’s head. The wine smells of cinnamon and ancho chile
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Kingfish Cabernet Sauvignon Other words on the label: California 2005 This wine was a delight to drink. It is one of those rare light-bodied cabernets that drinking doesn’t feel like swimming upstream against the current. Plum featured most prominently on the palate, with a gentle hint of chocolate and brown sugar. This mixture was mildy
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Monte Antico Other words on the label: Toscano Indicazione Geografica Tipica Red Wine 2003 Sangiovese The first sip was overwhelming earthy, by which I mean it tasted like dirt. After a few more swirls, I attributed the earthiness to mushrooms, leavened with the pith of a grapefruit. This wine just didn’t taste quite natural. The
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Villa Concina-Italia Other words on the label: Montepulciano D’Abruzza 2004, Central Italy   This is a medium-bodied wine that goes down smoothly. It is dangerous to drink because it’s light on flavor, making it easy to ingest quickly. The wine is leathery with a hint of plum but the texture is similar to dissolved paper
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2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Other stuff on the label: Chatham Hill, NC The aroma was full of pepper and tobacco. This is a rare cabernet that is full-bodied, smooth, and also lacking acidity. It’s warming to drink, which is very nice after spending 30 minutes waiting for the bus ride home. The wine’s texture was visually
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Casa La Joya Reserve Other stuff on the label: Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Colchagua Valley, Chile   This cabernet smells of tart raspberries, coffee, and blueberry syrup from IHOP. It tastes of plum and leather, which calls to mind Fruit by the Foot. There is a little raspberry as well.

Xpression Red Wine Other stuff on the label: Ironstone Vineyards, 2003 California On a beige speckled background, two pink blossoms hang out in a gold frame with matching lettering. For this wine, I followed the manufacturer’s suggestion to drink it slightly chilled. If you try it colder or at room temperature, let me know if
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Two Tone Farm Cabernet Sauvignon Other stuff on the label: 2003, California The label looks like a frame out of a bad horror film. It’s an old two door car, pulling out and heading into the unknown. Drinking the wine is a similar experience. It smells of licorice and palm trees, which is very unusual
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