I'm not big on wine gadgets. My favorite decanter is a huge old chemistry lab beaker I bought at a garage sale for $2. But a friend at work prevailed upon me to try this gadget.
It's a simple wine aeration device. You hold it over your glass, pour wine into it, and the scientific "Venturi Principle" (which is based on the pressure gradient caused by a flowing liquid) causes two small jets of air to be sucked into and aerate the wine as it speeds through the device into your glass.
The result is that, for wines that are closed initially and usually don't start to hit their stride until the bottle has been open a couple of hours, the wine actually smells more open and intense from the first pour. The flavors are also more developed right away.
I have found that the improvement varies depending on how tight the wine is when first opened. For wines that drink well immediately upon opening (usually wine thats are near their maturity), there's not much difference. But for wines that are in their youthful apogee, the effect is greater. I haven't been using it that long, but so far the greatest difference I noticed was in the Chateau Bel Air reviewed below.
I have done the test where you try try one glass poured straight from the bottle and one glass poured through the Vinturi, and it really does work.
I got mine at Bed Bath and Beyond for $39 (minus the 20% because I had one of those mailer coupons), but I have also seen them at Spec's.
I recommend this device!
A voluptuous wine made from the relatively rare and exclusive Sagrantino grape, which is grown (exclusively, I think) in Umbria. 
This is my first endorsement of the 2010 campaign. The U.S. Senate race in Arkansas is heating up and Blanche Lincoln is primed for getting burned.
Holy cow! What a wine -- and what a value!
My skepticism was in control the past few days. I just could not believe Massachusetts would actually put a Republican in ANY Senate seat, much less "Ted Kennedy's seat." I disagree with Republicans who say it was not Ted Kennedy's seat. He bought and paid for it so that makes it his.
I used to like Pat Robertson but over the past few years I think he has slowly began creeping into senility. Do I think God hit Haiti with the earthquake as vengeance for all of the voodoo that takes place there? No.
I have been hearing stupid comments from Rachel Maddow over the past year or so and I am really wondering how she can have a television show that people watch. I know, there aren't many who watch but ANY viewers just baffles me.
For those of us who receive a weekly (bi-weekly, monthly, etc.) paycheck, you may notice a change this month. Unless you got a raise, the amount of your paycheck may be less.
For those of you who might think Hollywood is 100 percent sold out, lock stock and barrel, in bed with Obama and liberals, I have some news for you. There is a shining star in the darkness.
