EAST COAST PALATE

 The Brigaldara Valpolicella, a corvina blend definitely worth the $13 price.

With a couple of friends and my sister, I opened one of the bottles that I keep in a brown bag so I never know what I'm picking out.  The four of us popped the cork out of a 2007 Valpolicella made by Brigaldara.  Seeing how lightly colored it was and getting some slate and strawberry smells on the nose, my guess was that it was maybe a Pinot noir.  I was way off, but happy as we unveiled the wine and saw what it was: a bottle that cost me $13 and drinks so smooth with a crisp, acidic finish.  It was a beautiful wine that set the tone for an evening of darts, bonfire singing, and a few drunk dials after a lot of Yuengling.  I plan on buying some more Valpolicellas in the near future, it really is a wine that I haven't taken the time to explore yet.