Reserve Naturelle Chardonnay 2012

Light straw yellow, first nose has a touch like gooseberry then it follows fresh grass and a hint of lime. Quite fresh in the mouth and velvety feeling with a touch of butteriness. It offers an easy drinking and a surprisingly balanced character for its price/quality ratio. The fresh final is short-moderate but fun with a touch of minerality. It can be a friend for a lot of dishes like salads as a main dish or seafood plates. With this price/quality ratio, this wine could be your daily white. It is also an organic product. 10,47€/75cl/Janaury 2014

Masi Bonacosta Valpolicella 2011, Italy ( Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, Alch 12%)

Light red transparent color with purple notes on the rims. The nose is a bit extroverted and fruity. Grape molasses and rose hip jam notes leaves the stage to wood, slightly leather and alcohol at the second nose. In the mouth some notes of damson and cherry, a bit dilute, tannins are strong but integrated. Acidity is satisfying. In time, it leaves the feeling of sour fruits on the palate. The short-moderate final is  fine. But overall, nothing so big, not a surprising wine. Even a bit industrial. But it is a food wine, it would fit well a wide variety of red meat dishes, could be drunk at home parties, picnics etc. The fruity notes of Valpolicella is there but not too deep. Try it as a table wine with food. The curiosity and qulaity of Masi wines are on parallel with the price. 84/100 Price: 10,90€/75cl/April 2013

Verrocchio Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2010, Italy ( Corvina 70% Rondinella 30%, Alchl 13.5%)

Rims are crimson as a young wine and gets darker purple through the middle. First nose is very rich of aromas, intense and satisfying. The aromas like fresh fruits such as peach and cherry leave the stage to berry aromas after swirling, like raspberry, blackberry and a bit of leather follows them too. Vanillin is also sensed after some time and that can be a good hint for oak. This medium bodied wine loses nothing of fruity structure in the mouth, very rich and balanced. Even though the tannins create a bit dryness in the mouth, it does not effect the overall balance. With really low senses of tobacco and thyme come out during you enjoy the wine with a  relatively high alcohol content. But the alcohol is not breaking the balance. Tannins and alcohol do not fight against the fruit. You have a possibility of having different aromas in the nose slightly, for ex. green pepper in this almost elegant wine with a sweet-ish moderate final which makes you smile. A joyful day with friends or even alone while reading your book, this wine would be your accompany. I think it would fit a variety of dishes from white to red meats, fried or barbecued, as well as charcuterie and tapas/meze styles bites. Do not be afraid of cooling your wine for a while (usually people do not cool their red wines and also in Finland quite much restaurants serve reds very warm), especially this fruity one. No potential to age. When you decide to drink, no reason to decant, just drink as you open. 90/100 Price: 12.90€/75cl/January 2013 (Photo by Alko)