Ecco Domani

Pinot Grigio
Italy
2009

The bottle boasts floral and tropical fruit aromas with a crisp, refreshing taste.  And its not too far off.  This is a decently cheap wine, found at most grocery stores in Los Angeles - and it pairs amazingly well with sushi.

Colin:  I would say that this is my favorite Grigio.  I love it with sushi and fish, as it is the perfect companion.  Most whites have a bad finish for me, and this one doesn't.  I enjoy its lingering fruity, buttery taste in my mouth.

Rating: 9 out of 10 glasses (when compared to other Grigios)

Rachel:  It has a somewhat sour, fruit smell, but don't let that fool you - the flavors are incredible.  It has a slightly buttery taste of a Chardonnay, while still retaining the crisp and sharp taste of a Grigio.  I think this is why this remains one of my favorite Grigios that I've had to date.  Definitely has pear and floral notes, I think this is good for any wine drinker - red or white lovers.

Rating:  9 out of 10 glasses

Aerate: No

Cost:  This ranges in stores from $6.99 - $9.99, but it's almost always under $10.

Where can I find it?  Ecco Domani's website has a nice wine finder on it (they will tell you if a retailer sells it near you!)  Which is absolutely fantastic.

Tollo - by Cantina Tollo

Sangiovese
Terre di Chieti
Tuscany, Italy
2009

A dry red that is so dark it is almost purple. Has an oaky smell and very strong, bold taste. We reviewed this wine with our dinner at Louise's Trattoria. They have half off a bottle of wine on Friday and Saturday night. Getting a bottle of wine at Louise's on a normal night isn't worth it. They charge $32 for a bottle of Gnarly Head! 

Colin:  A Sangiovese that deserves a nice Italian meal. When brought together, you can guarantee that each will complement the other. A viscus fruit body dissolves into a biting finish without leaving a bad taste in your mouth. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rating:  8 out of 10 glasses

Rachel: This wine has a very strong initial taste. Its a full bodied wine and does not lack in flavor. However, this wine has a bit of a sour finish. Other Sangioveses that we have had have been a much smoother finish. There's hints of vanilla and currants. It would be higher if the finish tapered off more smoothly, but that bite is what some people like about a wine like this.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10


Where can I find it?

Searching high and low on the internet will lead to you a dead end (or to the Cantina Tollo website).  You'll find plenty of reviews and mentions, but you cannot find out how to buy this wine.  Cantina Tollo doesn't even list this as one of the wines they sell.  Our suspicions lead us to believe that this is a restaurant only distributed wine, which is too bad, because this is a great wine.  If anyone does find this outside of Louise's, please post!

Two for one: Monte Antico IGT & Mark West

This is a two-for-one wine review.  We went out to dinner, Rachel ordered a Sangiovese, Colin got a Pinot Noir.  After tasting both, we switched glasses because we each preferred the other's choice.  That's the benefit of drinking with a partner.

Sangiovese
Monte Antico IGT
Tuscany, Italy
2007


It is 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot.  It is a blend from Italian wine specialist, Neil Empson, and renowned wine maker, Franco Bernabei, from the finest grapes from the Tuscan hillside.  It is aged one year in oak and then six months in the bottle.

Colin:  I really like the initial tart taste, because it rolls out into an oak-y, very unique flavor for a sangiovese.  I find it to be really good, because it is very unique.  I have not have a sangiovese quite like this.
Rating:  8 out of 10 glasses

Rachel:  This sangiovese has a very smooth and long finish.  It is initially very bold in flavor, has a very great smell to it.  It initially is vastly different from most wines.  There is a sour initial taste, with a bite to it, but it crescendos into a very nice finish.
Rating:  7 out of 10 glasses

Where can I find it?
A local wine specialty store.  If you google search it, there are some shopping results that come up.

Cost:  $9.99-$14.00 - Found a bunch online and they range - most are above $10 though.  Still a decent price for a great bottle.  (Their 2006 is worth $75.00 currently, got a 90 on Wine Spectator - so this is a wine you can hold onto, if you have a cellar of course). 

Pinot Noir
Mark West
California
2009

Mark West specializes specifically in pinot noirs.  This particularly blend is aged in French & Hungarian oak for approximately eight months before bottling.  They are a green company and have a pretty neat website (see below).  And bonus:  Under $10.  It is from California's Coastal Appalachian.

Colin:  The pinot noir is mild at best.  There are not really any distinguishing characteristics about it.  I would agree that it is very light.  It has a nice finish, and I don't think it is a bad wine - I just don't like it as much as other pinot noirs (as a pinot noir lover).  This is definitely for someone who does not like a very robust red, because it is very smooth and fruity.
Rating:  4.5 out of 10 glasses

Rachel:  This pinot noir is initially very fruity.  It also has a very smooth finish.  I honestly just wanted to drink the entire bottle, I fell in love with this Pinot Noir.  The rich, fruity, sweet side of this wine makes it not traditional for red wine drinkers/lovers.  This is the white wine lovers' red wine.
Rating:  8 out of 10 glasses

Where can I find it?
Mark West Website or BevMo, Ralphs, K&L Wine Merchants - at your grocery store

Cost:  Under $10