WINE REVIEWS & RATINGS:: Italian Red Wine

N.V. Vilmart & Cie Champagne Rosé Rubis - France, Champagne (7/15/2011)
Wow! Strawberry, spice, raspberry, floral and minerals combine to create a complex and expressive wine. Medium finish and acidity is perfect to pair well with a variety of food. A little tannic which I don't mind at all. 93+ (93 points)

2002 J. Lassalle Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut - France, Champagne (7/15/2011)
Nice overall with citrus, dough, chalk and apple notes. Medium to long finish and complex. A good value for an 2002 Blanc de Blancs. (92 points)

N.V. René Geoffroy Champagne Rosé de Saignée - France, Champagne, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne (7/15/2011)
Nice strawberry, minerals, dough and cherry notes. Medium finish and well made. (92 points)

N.V. Charles Ellner Champagne Brut Réserve - France, Champagne (7/15/2011)
My new favorite for $25. Floral, chalk, apricot and orange peel on the nose. The palate picks up a nice mineral element. Good acidity and well balanced overall. A N.V. winner. (90 points)

N.V. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut - France, Champagne (7/15/2011)
Similar everytime. Yeast, floral, apple and pear. The palate has a dough quality and heavy on the minerals. Always good but never great. (89 points)

2003 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Rosé Cuvée Palmes d'Or - France, Champagne (7/15/2011)
Surprised and this did not improve with time. Bitter and a weak palate. Strawberry and mineral and the main features and they are very subtle. This lacks complexity and intensity one would expect from a vintage Rose. (87 points)

N.V. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut - France, Champagne (4/26/2011)
Lemon, yeast, chalk and floral notes. On the palate their is a sharp mineral flavor. Medium finish. (89 points)

N.V. Charles Ellner Champagne Brut Réserve - France, Champagne (3/29/2011)
Dough, lemon, chalk and tangerine on the nose. On the palate it is tasty with tangerine, chalk, lemons, and figs. Medium finish and plenty of flavors. Should drink well for two plus years and at $25 a bottle a great house Champagne. (91 points)

N.V. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut - France, Champagne (3/26/2011)
Nose of minerals, dough and tropical fruit. On the palate sharp acidity with shells, orange peel, minerals and burnt toast. Medium finish and flavors are a bit off on the finish. Not real smooth in other words. Decant but over priced on this occasion. (87 points)

N.V. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut - France, Champagne (3/17/2011)
Nose of dough, lemon, chalk and baked apples. On the palate not as bright acidity as the last bottle with dough, lemon, apples and chalk. Short finish and a bit bitter. Not as good as the previous bottle.

I have to say day 2 and using my air pump system this is a much better wine. More expressive nose the palate offers up chalk, lemon, pie crust, orange peel and floral notes. I would rate this at a solid 90. Once again a Champagne/Sparkler is better day 2. 90 points (87 points)

1996 Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut - France, Champagne (3/5/2011)
A wonderful experience with a complex nose of biscuit, lemon, chalk and apple. As this wine got closer to room temp it really revealed its true character and possessed biscuit, dough, minerals, orange peel, lemon, apple and chalk on the palate and finish. Long finish and complexity was impressive. A young wine that will only improve with time. 94 now with 96 a possible score down the road. (94 points)

N.V. Perrier-Jouët Champagne Grand Brut - France, Champagne (2/15/2011)
Medium gold. Nose is fragrant with lemon, orange peel, dough and floral. On the palate there is dried pinneapple, dough, floral, chalk and lemon. Medium finish and plenty of flavor. There is a hint of sweetness on this wine and much more than most N.V. Champagne I have tasted over the last year. I like this wine a lot and it is one of the better Perrier-Jouet efforts. (91 points)

N.V. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut - France, Champagne (2/11/2011)
A really nice effort. Minerals, dough, citrus, and shells. Good concentration and refreshing. Much less dough/yeast than other N.V. producers. (91 points)

N.V. Henriot Champagne Brut Souverain - France, Champagne (1/27/2011)
Double Blind Tasting at Kevin's (Kevin's House): Another solid showing of this wine with lemon, chalk, toast and dough. The dough was really evident on the nose but not as much on the palate. I have had really good look with their N.V. offerings over the last few years. (91 points)

N.V. Henriot Champagne Brut Souverain - France, Champagne (1/8/2011)
Lemon, biscuit, heavy floral and shell and lemons. The palate on this particular bottle features a lot of shell and lemon flavors along with apple and floral. Medium finish and a good showing. (90 points)

FACT: There are 3 types of wine

1. Table Wine (Most of all wine created)

2. Sparkling Wine (Champagne& Sparkling Wine)

3. Fortified Wine (Port & Sauternes)