1) Monkey Business, Zinfandel, 2005 (Sonoma County, California) - Early on New Year's eve I was downtown with Nancy and while she went off to shop I popped into a favorite wine store to see what they had.  They were in the middle of a big wine tasting and I could hardly move in the store.  An attendant recommended this zinfandel, which is not old vine and is fairly inexpensive (around $10ish).  I just needed to get out of the crowd so I bought it.  I've had mixed results with wines recommended by that store but in this case they were right on.  Despite not being old vine this is a very tasty, bold, fruity, balanced zin.  Really it was quite the delight and drank more like a $20 zin.  Good value.  I'm going 7 out of 10 for this one for above average.

2) Marques de la Villa, Malvasia, 2006 (Toro, Spain) - I had brought this to work as part of our grape tastings.  What a treat.  In fact many any our tasting group were going back for seconds.  There's interesting fruits like apricots and peaches, a nice mildly sweet white wine flavor, and it drank smoothly.  There certainly was nothing disagreeable about it.  Pretty darn good for an $8 to $10 wine.  7 0ut of 10 for above average.

3) The Rare Wine Co. Historic Series, Madeira, New York Malmsey Special Reserve, no year (Madeira, Portugal) - This could have been hype but it turned out to be fantastic.  About a year ago I read an article on a flight about not only madeira but this company which has access to really old madeiras and which tries to replicate their nuances in more recent madeira stock.  At $45 I suspected maybe this is just a moneymaker, a way to trick suckers.  No, it's real.  Uncorked this has the most delightful and rich combinations of bouquet and flavors.  I has the essences of a really good sherry, a good port, and something special all it's own.  Rich coffee abounds with carmelized sugars.  Several in our tasting group at work seemed almost stunned by it.  It is my intent to go ahead and try the other two madeiras in this series because really what they've made here is remarkable.  Well done.  10 out of 10 (and I don't give that very often).  I mean this is the type of wine where a single drop on your tongue is a flavor explosion which demands full attention and active participation by you.  You just don't get that with many fine wines in the world.