I have for you two wines whose names naturally go together - Grace (score 88)  and Faith (score 90).

This was a delightful evening we shared with friends.  Lynn and I had our friend Fr. Brendan over to help us discern the proper scoring of our wines, and the wines were perfect for the occasion - what could be better than grace and faith in the midst of good friends sharing good food and good wine.

Grace, properly speaking is a Chianti Classico made by Il Molino di Grace (the windmill of grace). It has an exceptional Chianti character that  is well worth the enjoyment.  The wine impresses from the pour with a deep opaque red.  The nose was rich in spice and fruit. The wine was well balanced and was appropriately firm with soft tannins providing a good backbone.

Rating: 88

This week I have the pleasure of formally introduced the Tripel Ale to Benedictus Fructus. Specifically we have the Petrus Gouden Tripel Ale from Belgium. Tripel refers to the brewing process where up to three times the malts are added.  It also corresponds roughly to strength-  this one is 7.5% alcohol. Petrus is an abbey style ale, which refers to the style - which is a take on the Trappist monk style, but it is a commercial brewer.

With a name like Petrus, this one had to get on our tasting list.  Petrus refers to St. Peter. The label shows St. Peter holding the keys to heaven in one hand and a frothy pint in the other. Of course delights such as Beligian Tripels provide only a shadow of the joy in heaven. Which means heaven must be a pretty awesome place, given the pleasure in these treats.

Rating: 90

Today we have for you a tasty Italian treat. This time it is the 2007 Banfi Chianiti Classico. This wine was delightful to drink at a summer wine tasting picnic, and we highly recommend it.  I think it is one of the better Chianti's I have had.

This wine makes it onto our list because of the label art which shows Pope Pius II, who was Bishop of Sienna in the image depicted. Here he is meeting with soon to be Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal.  The bishop was instrumental in arranging the marriage as an emissary for Frederick to the King of Portugal. The future pope accompanied Frederick and Eleanor to Rome where the two were wed, and Frederick was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

Rating: 86

Lacryma Chrsti is a wine from grapes grown on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius in Italy. It comes in both red and white.  We have a 2006 white Lacryma Christi from Sannino Herculaneum winery. I picked this bottle up at the Wine Exchange for $14.

Lacryma Christi means "tear of Christ", and according to Wikipedia is named for a story that Christ cried when Lucifer fell, and that the tears fell on the slopes of Vesuvius and gave inspiration to the wines that came from there.  While the story is mythical, the name nevertheless drew my attention.  I must say, though, that a wine with such a name holds high expectations.

Rating: 91

A good friend brought me this wine to share.  I told him about my endeavors with the site and so he offered up this Franciscan 2005 Magnificat. I must say that it is one of the best bold reds I have had in a good long time.

In terms of the goals of this site, this wine hits my target on two fronts – the Franciscan and the Magnificat.  The winery is not owned by the Franciscan’s but appears to be named in their honor.  The Franciscans were the first to plant wine vineyards in California, but it is not clear if that is the source of the name (if anyone knows the history of the winery’s name, please share).

Rating: 92

Hefeweissen is one of those elixirs that I have come to appreciate more and more, but this one I am quite happy to now be acquainted with and I am more than pleased to share it with you.

Franziskaner is German for Franciscan, and the bottle has a Franciscan friar on the label hoisting a tankard of brew.  The brew gets its name because when the brewery was founded it was located across the street from a Franciscan monastery in Munich. At least this is according the the earliest records found in 1363(!) where it was referred to as the "brewery next to the Franciscans."Several hundred years later, we are left with a delicious legacy.  Click here for more of the history of this brewery. On to the review of this worthwhile treat....

Rating: 85 points

So how does this treat end up on our rating list? A couple things to know about me - not only do I love beer, wine, food, the Church and God, I also love Latin - which I am certain stems from my love of the Church. So my interest was piqued by the medieval Latin on the bottle.

Rating:

There are few things in this world more delicious than chocolate, and we bring you a rather rich example of that delightful treat.

The Brigittine Monks in Ammity Oregon support themselves by making what they call gourmet confections, and I simply call tasty. The particular variety we have today is  Chocolate fudge Royale - without nuts.  I am partial to fudge with nuts, but this particular tasting was being shared with my children who do not like nuts.  I don't know where they got that from, but it is unfortunately true. Rest assured the good monks do make this flavor with nuts, as well as other flavors (more about that below).

Rating: 83 Points

In walking through my favorite beverage store, I saw this beauty.  Looking at the bottle, there is no surprise why this India pale ale ended up in my basket.  A great big cross on the front, the brewery name is "Mission", and there is a Spanish galleon with the cross motif repeated.  A cross displayed so prominently, and such clear references to California history necessitated that your reviewer partake of the promising elixir.

Rating: 89 points

For a site like this, it is only appropriate that the first item rated is named "Genesis."  Genesis, of course, is the first book of the Bible and covers the first things; from creation, through the Noah and the flood, to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, and ends with the story of Joseph.  Here we consider the 2005 Genesis Merlot from Hogue Cellars.