There are cool tastings, there are fun tastings, and then there are tastings that really, really blow you away.

Last Friday night at Chill Wine in West Palm Beach falls into the last category.

It wasn’t just the quantity of wine (28 bottles) or the lively turnout or the fact Pete Meyaart, chief wine geek at Chill, donates all the proceeds to different charities or causes. All of that stuff is awesome on its own. But this time, it was the amazing quality of wine he poured. The cheapest bottle runs for $33.99 and the vast majority of them fall into the $69-$89 range. That’s pretty impressive. Just to put it into perspective, at most wine tastings I’ve been to, they might have one or two show-stopping $55 bottles. There were four bottles that cost $114 or more. Wow. And each bottle tasted expensive, was worth the price tag, and proved to be pretty darn luscious.

But let’s go beyond the quality to the very best part (for me). The concept. The tasting was set up as a “California vs. Italy” tasting with one table for Italian wine and the other for Californian wine. This meant that you had the perfect opportunity to compare the different styles and really learn as you tasted. On hand pouring and dispensing knowledge was local Mark Spivak, whose radio show “Uncorked” runs each week on WXEL. I really appreciated the time he took with me to really explain and talk about the style of each Italian wine. It meant a lot to me and I feel like I truly learned from this event.

At the end of the night, I learned something important about myself. As much as I swoon for Bordeaux wine or dig the sweet dessert wines of Europe, I think I am a New World Girl. But I might not have realized that if it weren’t for this tasting. But then again, maybe I’m just a California-dreamin’ girl.

Let’s go on to the wine. Since I personally tasted 24 of them, I won’t bore you with each, but instead, the ones that truly stood out to me. We’ll start with Italy…

La Spinetta Barbaresco “Gallina” Piedmont 2005
This wine was the priciest bottle poured and is currently on sale at Chill for $119.99, although it took me a while to get to the taste because I couldn’t stop smelling it. It had the most amazing aroma, almost an earthy, pine smell (I wrote down “smells like Christmas”). I picked up some raisin, orange, and raspberry aromas with a lot of earthiness. Spivak told me it was developed in a more modern style and very reflective of the terroir. It scored 94 points from Wine Spectator and 92 points from Robert Parker. It was big but well-balanced, complex and a lingering finish.

Viticcio Chianti Classico Riservia “Lucius” Tuscany 2005
We’ll go straight from the priciest wine to the cheapest ($33.99), which I also loved. It was a smooth blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, classifying it as a Super Tuscan (I love those). Compared to some of the super dry wines I tried before this one, I found it smoother and definitely an easier-to-swallow price. Wine Spectator gave it 92 points.

Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany 2003
I don’t have a huge number of notes on this wine except for “LOVE IT.” It was very smooth, less dry than some of the previous and it had an amazing aroma. It cost $84.99.

Next it was time for California, and for those wondering how I was even able to judge the wine at that point, I was careful to spit that night so I could evaluate the wines without being influenced by the alcohol. And yes, I agree, it seemed almost criminal.

DuMOL Syrah, Russian River Valley 2007
This was the first one that caught my eye (sorry, Chardonnays, I tried). It has an almost pink color and was a fruity and gentle, which is why it caught my taste buds. It sure didn’t act like a Syrah! It’s from the Russian River Valley. It lacked the overwhelming spice and pepper that too often ruins Syrahs but instead was mature, ready to drink and would be very easy to reach for when hosting a dinner party. Price is $63.99.

Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa 2005
This one got three stars on my tasting sheet, more than any other wine. It had an incredibly unique smell and taste that I can only describe as velvet chocolate. Its tannins were completely supple and soft, it slipped down my throat with a gentle slide (this one I swallowed) and I kept returning to my glass to smell and sip some more. This wine was incredible. And Robert Parker agrees with me because he awarded it 95 points. So there. It sells for $69.99.

Seavey Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005
This one also merited three stars and a swoon in my books. This was one of the most relaxing, lovely, amazing wines I’ve tried in a while. It was a beautiful dark garnet. The aroma was not overwhelming or amazing, but pleasantly filled with dark fruits and more chocolate. It had a subtle tannic presence. This wine was made by a French winemaker from the St. Helena region of Napa. It was comforting, luxurious and beautifully done. My notes say “It’s like falling into the most comfortable chair,” which pretty much sums it up – if the chair is dressed in silk or gold. Go buy, even though it’s $94.99. Then invite me over for dinner. (Because sadly, I can’t afford it.)

Blackbird Vineyards “Illustration” Napa 2006
I first became aware of this winery through the amazing wine blog “Vinography” written by Alder Yarrow when he wrote a great entry on this winemaker and the wine. Go read it here. This 70 percent Merlot Napa wine (yes, it was a Merlot that did it for me) has a beautiful ruby color and is a lovely, elegant, smooth and mellow wine. It’s gentle and accessible to non-wine drinkers. It would go well with a variety of soft foods and make great company if you were to have it without food. It sells for $93.99, which is still out of my price range, but it was a lovely wine to conclude the tasting on.

My only regret from the whole evening is that I’m not a millionaire, as I had to leave this tasting empty-handed but for the memories of the wine