2006 Domaine de Montrieux (Emile Heredia) Le Verre des Poètes [Pineau d'Aunis] (Vin de Table Français [area of Loire Valley], France) cork closure, 12.5% - imported to USA by Metropolis Wine Merchants, New York, New York - appears inky black, smell distinct cedar, cedar toast crunch cereal, fascinating nose, warm and toasty with hint of nutmeg, tiny bit of blood, taste juicy and ripe, bit of effervescent fizz that dissipates, alive feel, tons of vibrant flavor, tons of spark, mellows out into delicious meaty flavors, best after open for three days, still kicking on day five
2008 Matthias Dostert Roter Elbling (Deutscher Tafelwein [Mosel], Germany) synthetic closure, 11% - imported to USA by Savio Santana Selections, Metropolis Wine Imports, New York, New York – my first roter elbling - appears salmon color, smell bright fresh fruit, slight mineral, taste explosion of flavors, juicy, dry, explosive, attractive at first, but comes off as unwelcome technicolor after some time, ends up tasting like the stereotypical tafelwein—notes of both over- and under-ripeness, very juicy, pretty indestructible wine that I paired with sauteed broccoli and cauliflower with cumin, coriander and a bit of thai pepper—would be a better match for a dish with much more explosive/spicy flavors, to tell the truth, not a bad product, but a bottle isn't all that satisfying and doesn't come anywhere close to the $16 pricetag, pass