McManis Family Vineyards, Petite Sirah, 2006 (California) - I've had plenty of Sirah but I never before had a bottle labeled Petite Sirah and I believe this grape is a cross breed of the original Sirah with something else.  Regardless I expected a taste indistinguishable from most Sirahs.  Well, I was surprised.  This is very similar but it has a unique concentration of blackberry and tobacco and I'd give it an edge over traditional Sirahs.  It's a bold fruit forward flavor bomb of a red, a treat non unlikely having a sinful red Zinfandel.  And despite it's immensity - even Nancy liked it.  The first glass was a resounding 8 out of 10, latter glasses may have slipped to 7's, but I'm still going with an 8 for a final score.  Well done.

Branko, Tocai Friulano, 2004 (Collio, Italy) - Hungary sued a variety of wines with variations on the name Tokaji which they consider to be their own signature product.  Italy ended up on the losing end and now this wine has to change it's name (presumably to just Friulano but time will tell).  The ruling was in 2005 thus this bottle still had the old name.  I feel for the Italians because not only is this wine nothing like Tokaji but also reportedly they've been making it in Italy longer than Hungary has made Tokaji.  Anyway how was the wine?  Well we tried this at our tasting group at work and had mixed reviews.  To me it's most like Chablis.  It has strong minerals and substantial acidity and it's rich and buttery.  Personally, the acid sat in my stomach a while and was a negative, however, others tasting it were having cheese with it and said it went great with cheese.  Maybe in fact this is what Chasselas/Fendant is meant to be like and the sample we had back when just didn't measure up.  But Tocai Friulano - now there's a wine to have with cheese.  And I'll add this had a very long finish for a white.  Yet, it wasn't my favorite by a long shot.  I'm only going to score this a 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Ulacia, Cosecha, Getariako Txakolina, 2005 (Spain) - This is a Basque white with a funky bottle and label which fascinated me in the story.  I had hoped it was a Hondurrabi Zuri but looking on the web I think it's a blend at best.  Regardless, we really enjoyed this wine.  When I first pulled the cork it had a subtle effervescents like it would not have taken much more to turn into Cava sparkling wine.  The taste had subtle citrus.  Really it was quite agreeable and Nancy and I both agreed its taste reminded us of a Cava without the fizz.  She liked it enough to ask for a repeat and to make it a regular for us to stock.  So a nice wine.  I'll give it 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Cusumano, Nero D'Avola, 2007 (Italy) - This is the 2nd I've had of this grape.  This sample was much lighter, kind of like a pinot noir.  Flavor was decent but didn't blow me away.  Really I think this was a pretty weak sample of Nero D'Avola.  Just a 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Domaine Labbe Gaec du Pont Royal Vignerons, Abymes, Jacquere, 2007 (Savoie, France) - Another tried at our tasting group at work.  Personally I'd say the Jacquere grape is like a very weak Sauvignon Blanc.  However, what's curious is the great diversity of reactions and descriptions among our tasting group.  Some said grassy others no grass at all.  Some fruity some dry.  Some loved the bouquet and others compared to a funky furmint we once had.  So yeah some liked it OK and others couldn't stand it.  Strange.  I thought it was simply OK.  I'll give it a 5 out of 10 for lower average.