What Would Mikey Drink

Captivating wine. I’d like to try an Usseglio higher-end label. Smells like lavender, crushed black pepper and warm dirt. Interesting gamy, smoky, mineral flavors with good balance. Perfect with a piece of sopressata. This is a wine that can be contemplated for not a lot of money. An excellent value. I got this 6 months [...]

Huge, brooding, sweet and utterly fantastic with ripe waxy caramel, and porchini mushrooms. Dark purple and red fruits, spice, earth and a very long finish. Light and long, smooth and round. Stains the palate. 3 hours later, I can still feel the wine. My favorite American pinot, thus far. Got this on a wine list [...]

Very California in size, color and extraction. Cherry syrup, cinnamon, and wood bark all emerge from this masculine pinot. It is huge and impressive. Fans of burgundian style pinot won’t like it, but it is tasty and fun, with a long finish. Drank with chicken picatta- a nice pairing. Even though it is 7 years [...]

Made from the ancient aglianico grape in Salerno. A dark, inky ruby frame shows off this powerful, intense wine. Impressive aromas of stones, metal, stewed cherries and dark chocolate. Large scaled and very tannic, needs pairing with fatty meats. Interesting to try, but heavy-handed. It is a lot of wine for the money however. Retail [...]

Score on winebid. This wine was about $40 at release in 2002. I won 2 bottles for $30 each. Burgundian in style, with deep complexity including a very dirty/ funky nose (in a good way), summery wild blackberries, rhubarb and all-spice. Excellent balance between tannins and acids. Quite a ride for the price. Grade: A- [...]

Serious shiraz teeth from this palate staining wine. My teeth are painted purple. Lovely and delicious. Tastes like at least $50. Flowers, figs, plums, milling spices, and bacon fat make up this large scaled, yummy offering. My first Two Hands. I will buy more, for sure. This is a lower end offering- can’t wait to [...]

Lightly colored for an ’03. Closed, tight and too young. Incredibly feminine floral aromas. Dripping with personality, like a beautiful elegant woman that walks by, smelling like expensive perfume, but then she’s gone, then the impression of her perfume stays behind. Spring violets, lavender, muted dark fruits, and some damp earth make up this compelling [...]

Nice round simple juice. Mostly one flavor of stewed fruits, with some flowers in the aroma. Would make a good bistro wine. I’ll pass, not enough excitement, but certainly solid. Retail $15. Grade: B www.whatwouldmikeydrink.com

Dead ringer for a Pommard. Unexpected lightness in color, body and bouquet for a Beaux Frères. Tart, and floral, earthy and tannic. Its lightness glides across the palate like silk thread. Lots of interesting plums, sour cherries and Darjeeling tea. Not enough fruit to be an A-. This wine is fully mature, or possibly a [...]

Impressive, perfumed floral aromas. Smells like a Chambolle Musigny. Lighter, delicate style. Pretty pinot fruit, and a nice crushed violet bouquet, but some of it hides behind acid and tannins. At this price, I’d like to see more depth and substance. Got this for $40 on Winebid- a good place to shop for values. Grade: [...]