2003 Feudi de San Gregorio, Falinghina:
Apricot nose and palate with good balance, nice presence in the mouth and decent length. No signs of ’03 alcoholic-agony; nice wine.

2003 Bodegas Campos Reales, Tempranillo:
Disjointed but not uninteresting with pretty, sweet fruit, fine grained structure and some complexity. For $7, it’s OK; for more, its not.

2002 Protocolo, Rosé:
Past prime but not over the hill; clean and delicately flavored without the verve it had six months ago. Buy the ’03 and don’t bother with this.

NV Bellavista, Franciacorta Cuvée Brut:
The real deal for $20. Clear as a bell across the palate with light aromatics, a nice bead and crisp flavors that carry both finesse and flavor. Have it with a salad or a pizza; I doubt it has many food-pairing limits. A very yummy sparkler.

1998 Paloma, Syrah:
Drinking well now without artifice or complexity, it still delivers good flavors and nice balance.

2002 Silver Pines, Rosé:
Not showing the incredible crushed raspberry on the nose and palate that it did last September, but still a tasty, albeit alcoholic, full-flavored rosé that is a pleasure to drink.

2002 Anselmi, Capitel Foscarino:
It’s instructive when one goes to dinner with folks who bring all kinds of wine and everyone winds-up drinking this. One more endorsement for this complex, authentic Soave made from Garganega. Excellent wine with at least a short term shelf-life.

2003 Guy Saget, Muscadet de Sevre et Maine:
Saline and light fruit on the nose; with a thin mouth-feel, little flavor and no cut or character. About $9. Why anyone would buy this insipid juice when Pépière’s Muscadet is available at $10 is beyond my comprehension.

2003 Menade, Rueda Cuvée Richard Sanz:
Honeycomb and flowers on the nose; excessively sweet on the palate (nearly cloying) with little finish. Serve over ice to your great-aunt. Pretty poor.

Best, Jim