2013 Louis Latour Valmoissine

Louis Latour is one of the best winemakers from Burgundy. I love their wines, but Burgundy by Louis Latour is pretty expensive here, in US. This company also experiments producing classic burgundy wines (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) in other areas, some far from burgundy. Domaine de Valmoissine is located in the South of France, approximately between Marseille and Nice. You'd expect Provence wines from this area, something full-bodied and powerful. But here is Pinot Noir, usually coming from colder regions, and it's quite good. Somewhat stronger than Bourgogne, but with distinctive sour note of Pinot Noir. Usually I buy french wines which have appellation contrôlée mark, but I'd always make an exception for Louis Latour.
Was a great pairing for smoked pork chops, would be good with any poultry or light meat, like pork or veal.

2014 Eguren

Nice Spanish Rose. Doesn't feel too powerful, although it's 100% Temporanillo. Spicy, with barely distinctive honey note both in nose and taste.
Would definitely buy again.

2014 Albero Rose

That was an experiment. Rose made from bobal grapes. I've never heard of bobal. But it's a pretty good rose. Spicy, with a taste of lingonberry. Powerful, like most Spanish rose wines.
Tasted great with baked cod.

2012 Hécula Monastrell

Nice Spanish wine. Spices in the nose and taste. Distinctive taste of cherry. Powerful but well balanced. Need to remember where did I buy it and buy some more.
Was a great pairing to chicken tajine dinner. Would be great with any meat and poultry, and especially good with spicy dishes and mutton.

2012 Cantine di Ora Amicone

Nice Italian red. Bought in on sale at Haskell's. Surprised how pricey it is on the Internet: $15+, I usually don't buy wine in this range, except for special occasions, when I can splurge on Chateneuf du Pape or champagne. This is probably the best wine for people who likes something sweet, but elegant and don't want to pay for Sauternes or Tokaji. No, it's not as sweet as Sauternes. Producers claim nose and taste of raspberry and cherries, but to my taste it's more like strawberry and burned caramel. Very pleasant taste. In this wine, sugar doesn't spoil the taste, quite opposite, it adds some balance. Powerful, full-bodied wine.
Was a great pairing to smoke trout pizza. Can go well with any meat.
Would buy again if I see it on sale. Yes, I'm a cheap bastard.

2012 Grand Bourjassot Cuvée Fanny

Would never buy again. Maybe this wine satisfy appellation rules, but the result is awful. In blind tasting, I would never say it's Côtes du Rhône. Usually Rhone wines are intense, with strong taste and nose of chokeberry, with leather and smoke. A little bit of sugar can be OK, but I prefer when there is none.
In this case, sugar is the main ingredient. Everything else is way behind. No smoke, no leather, just a hint of chokeberry. And that's in a quite good year.
Probably first time I'm that disappointed in Côtes du Rhône.

2012 Château Haut-Sorillon

One more Bordeaux which is good even in a bad year. Taste and nose of black currant, slightly chalky, with good finish. Available at local Trader Joe's, so the price is low. Very good pairing with any read meat, poultry, pizza. Also good with some fish, like tuna, mahi mahi or swordfish.
Today I found out that 2012 dried out at local Trader Joe's, they had 2013. Which was a horrible year for Bordeaux. I decided to take a risk and bought a bottle to try. Wait for an update...