2005 Lafkioti Rodamo Red

This wine has moved near the top of my list by providing very good quality at an affordable price. It balances the Greek varietal Agiorgitiko, which thrives in the Peloponnesian Nemea appelation, with the famed French Cabernet.

The wine is labeled as Local Korinthian red wine by its producers, Lafkiotis winery in ancient Kleoni whose marketing heavily reminds of us the history and geography embedded in Greek wines.

They age the Rodamo for about 10 months in French oak to give it the balanced taste that appealed to me so much. Nice fruit notes come out with an amount of earthiness and an edge on the tannins. Since it's part Cabernet, that left me wondering what this 2005 vintage might be like in another year or two. Hopefully, Robert at Asadur's has procured a few more cases of this because I'd like to grab a few more bottles to enjoy in 2010 and perhaps '11.

Try it as soon as you can find it. Maybe with a rich red sauce and pasta.

It cost me $10.75...that's hard to beat

2005 Laloudi Moschofilero-Roditis

I was hoping this wine would be better. It wasn't bad, but it just seemed too light and bit empty to me. I bought it because its blend of Moschofilero (probably 80%) and Roditis intrigued me, and in the glass its pale-yellow color looked delicious. On the palate, the touch of sweet citrus was nice, but didn't offer much else.

From the other reviews I've read, if I can find this one again, I would go for a later vintage (like 2008) and open it about an hour before drinking. I hope that would bring out its subtle flavors. It would be worth it just for comparison's sake.

I got it from my Greek wine guy for $13, which for me is too high for a wine I didn't like that much.