When it comes to buying wine I am often reminded of the old cliche, "A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing." OK, maybe "dangerous" is too strong a word when it relates to purchasing a bottle of wine but it can certainly mislead people into buying something they really didn't intend to purchase.

Last month I was approached by a sweet, older woman who needed a bottle of wine for her doctor. She proceeded to hand me a piece of paper with the words "reserve wine" scribbled on it. As most shoppers are during the holiday season, she seemed to be in a bit of a hurry...but I had to find out more in order to help her.

In Spain, Portugal and Italy, for example, "Reserva" is a regulated term controlled by law, at least ensuring the wine gets additional aging. In most new world countries where "Reserve" is not regulated, it means nothing. One of the top selling wines in our stores has the term "Vinters Reserve" on the label strictly for marketing purposes.

I was fairly certain my guest could have cared less to hear me recite the aging requirements for reserve wines around the world, but I still wasn't sure what to recommend.

She went on to tell me how her doctor saved her husband's life and how he loved traveling to Italy. Ah! Now we were getting somewhere. I quickly showed her two of my favorite Italian wines, La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gli Angeli 2004 and Poggio Castellare Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2006.
   

 La Gerla- "The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gli Angeli emerges from the glass with sensual red berries, sweet spices and flowers. The wine's richness and density are impressive while French oak adds an extra dimension of volume and spiciness that follows through to the round caressing finish. a terrific effort from La Gerla. 92pts." (Wine Advocate)

Poggio Castellare Brunello Riserva 2006- "A combination of power and finesse, this red evokes concentrated plum, cherry and underbrush flavors, with a vibrant structure. Gets more focused on the long, racy finish, where cherry, spice and mineral notes interplay. 95pts." (Wine Spectator)

Oh, and after the guest read the reviews and heard my praise for these two great wines, the lucky doctor got both bottles.

Paul Quaglini