Bonnachi Brunello 2006 and Zind Humbrecht Gewurz VT 2005

I'm not sure if you'd call Bonnachi Brunello 2006 a red wine gem at nearly £30 a bottle.

For me it just slips into that category given the powerful nose, lush deep colour and big bold dry fruit with excellent tannins and that Brunello smokiness/tobacco hints.

It's classic Brunello, fast becoming a favourite wine area of mine.

The Sampler (UK) has it for £28, although in the store itself the cost is around £31.50.

Not the cheapest bottle, but with a discerning wine fan friend of mine coming around for dinner, it seemed worth the 'investment risk'.

It went wonderfully with sirloin steak. Here's where you can buy it, at least in the UK.

The Zind Humbrecht Gewurz VT 2005 we had with dessert was a stunner.

Not remotely cheap, (£40 for a half bottle) but for a white wine, it was a perfect finish to the meal:

"Gorgeous nose of honeysuckle, exotic spice, subtle lychee and tropical fruit. Full-bodied and rich yet incredibly balanced with a long finish" is how the Sampler describes it. Bang on.

Highly recommended if you want to splash out for friends. A very special wine indeed.

Rosso del Palazzone Montalcino 05/08 blend is incredible value

I opened my new case of Rosso del Palazzone Montalcino 2005/2008 wines last night.

They are 'baby brunellos'. Produced right next to top Brunello vinyards, but sold at much lower prices, when available via a specialist merchant.

Interestingly, the vineyard is owned by Dick Parsons, former Time Warner CEO.

In an earlier post I said I hoped these would be a delicious bargain, and I may have been right.

My view it it's a superb bargain at £11 or so per bottle.

A huge bold nose, a hint of mustiness on the palate. In the glass it looks like a 15 year old left bank claret, and drinks a little bit like it too.

It's probably a little dryer, with a hint of perfumed smokiness and a finish that just keeps going.

I've only had a couple of small glasses and it will be interesting to see how the wine is today when it's been open for a day. Jancis Robinson says it keeps well.

There's no year on the bottle. I thought I was getting six 2005 wines and six 2008's. I'm now guessing it's a blend of those two years. Having re-read the website, that seems to be the case.

However it's been done, it's a triumph at the price. Go get some, I'd suggest.

Here's where you can buy it.

'05 / '08 Rosso del Palazzone, Montalcino, worth exploring?

Putting in my Christmas orders a little early, I've also just ordered a case of this.

It's a mixed case of Rosso del Palazzone Montalcino 2005 and 2008 wines.

At £11.45 a bottle it looks like a total bargain. I was in Chianti country back in July and loved the Brunello wines I tasted.

An Italian wines expert I was speaking with at Berry Brother's told me the 2002 is a stunner, along with I think 2000 and 2004.

This is an entry level version. Hard to get hold of apparently as production is limited.

According to Jancis Robinson:

"It is pure Sangiovese with a hint of the warmth of this corner of south-eastern Tuscany—much lusher than the average Chianti—but without any excesses of oak or alcohol. The wines, made with oenologist Paolo Vagaggini, are aged in varying sizes of cask. I would happily drink this any time over the next two years and would pat myself on the back for having found such an honest, pleasurable message in a bottle from Tuscany."

At less than £12 it's got to be worth a punt. I shall report back in the next couple of weeks.