Cougar Vineyard & Winery, Temecula Valley (California) Montepulciano 2011

I wrote about the 2010 version of this wine, and I’m glad to say the Rick Buffington is clearly onto something in Temecula.  His work with Italian varieties is paying dividends in the glass.  This wine is much like last year’s rendition, showing cherry, blueberry, tobacco leaf, dusty earth, mild roasted coffee and cedar spice aromas, all of which translate well on the palate.  It’s long and food friendly — try it with eggplant parmesan.  The price is a little silly, but it’s a solid wine.