Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley 2010

Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley (WS90, $27.99, SKU 34066) I was going to serve a Californian Chardonnay as a starting wine for the evening but saw this 90 pointer at the LDB store. I figured that this was less expensive than the chardonnay and has a WS rating, so why not. I normally do not know how to appreciate the viognier grape but found this to be quite pleasant. There was medium body with some fruits and a medium finish. It would go well with seafood or Chinese food.

Viticcio Bere Toscana 2009

Viticcio Toscana Bere 2009 (WS90, $19.99, SKU 206490) I found this inexpensive Italian wine while wandering around the 39^th LDB store. I wanted to try it to see what this inexpensive wine did to deserve 90 points. Wine Spectator did say that it should be enjoyed between 2013 to 2020.  I opened it for dinner but found it too harsh and dry. I sent it over to one of my tasting panel members. He later told me that he drank it the next evening and still found it very dry. However he tasted it after another four days and liked it. So I gave it another chance. This time I opened the wine in the morning and decanted it at lunch time. I poured it into a breathable wine glass at 7 p.m. and still it did not open up for the next two hours. It would have been a good wine to complement a nice Italian pasta with tomato sauce or pizza. I poured the rest back into the bottle and waited another two days. Then it the harshness was gone and it started to taste like a decent sipping wine. My problem is this: who would want to put a $20 bottle of wine in the cellar and wait five years. Furthermore, who would want to decant a $20 bottle of wine for two to three days before drinking it. So if you have the patience and/or serving some Italian food, open a bottle the night before and serve it with the food.