Gimme the Greencap

Lisa's gone nuts over a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo she found in the Small Vineyards section at Hy-Vee Liquors. I'm not going to quarrel with her; it doesn't have the funky sweatsocks association that most of the Italian reds we like do, but it's smooth and a steal at $12. It's the 2005 Barba Colle Morino.

I would have liked it even more if my first taste of it hadn't followed the newest Seghesio Zin, the 2005 Prati -- a four-vineyard combo from a wine family that has processed grapes in the Alexander Valley for nearly a century. This wine is considerably more, $26 WITHOUT the shipping charge, which one has to pay since one cannot buy this baby on the shelf anywhere. Nope, it's reserved for the Seghesio wine club whores. Thank God Lisa is one. She has me wheedle special orders out of the Seghesio tasting room, which is usually a breeze with my skills at flattering prose combined with her. . . credit card. Which the folks at Zin Heaven (that's Seghesio) know intimately.

I'd like to compare the Prati Greencap Zin with the everyday Seghesio bluecap that is widely available -- side by side, to see if the $10 zin-difference is worth it. And since Lisa left a Cortina Zin here (another only-for-the-wine-club-whores Seghesio offering), I'd be even happier to have a blowout evening with a blind tasting of all three. But Andie ain't drinking right now, and no one else loves the Zins like we do, and I can't keep up with Lisa consumption-wise, and it will take more than two of us to dent and rate these lovelies.

Maybe I'll call Kim Tappan. She's always very helpful.

One-liners

I’ve divided some of the wines I tasted this spring into easily understood categories.

Might or might not buy again:

Pillar Box Red, an Aussie Cab-Shiraz-Merlot blend touted as a best value: the 2005 is a bit sweet and uncompelling, but a decent drink at $10.

Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier blend: I can’t taste the 5 percent white wine in this Barossa offering, but it’s a good effort, if overrated at 90 points.

The Panilonco Carmenere 2005 from Trader Joe’s, WAY tastier than the price would indicate, and another reminder that I just flat out like this grape, even if it’s not from Casillero del Diablo.

Will definitely buy again:

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, 2006, as good as the 2005 and 2004 and chock-full of the distinctive gooseberry/lime/grapefruit notes that make all of the Kiwi SBs from Marlborough County WONDERFUL buys at $9 to $15.

Seghesio Barbera, Pinot Noir, Old Vine Zin, Sonoma County Zin: Never mind the vintages; they were all tasty (and not inexpensive, alas).

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot: The 2001 was terrific; the 2003 and 2004 are good and well worth their $10 price tag.

Four Vines Cuvee Old Vine Zinfandel 2004: Not a big bold Zin in the style I love, but remarkably easy on the tastebuds, with or without food.

Will never buy again:

David Hill Estate Pinot Gris, which was just plain awful; whether corked or intentionally peach-colored, this loser gives a bad name to the pale Pinots, which is lamentable, as some of them are actually sophisticated and appealing.

Can’t remember:

Wines failing to register one way or another in my memory include the 2002 Solanera from Spain; the mass-produced mélange known as Big House White; and the Santa Ema Merlot 2004.

Wish to hell I could buy again:

The Nozzole Chianti Classico 1997: Lovely.