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Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Below is a list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

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25% Off All Gift Baskets This Friday Only at Wine.com

Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Below is a list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

This Friday only, November 28, 2008, everyone will save 25% on any gift basket or wine gift set when they enter code FRIDAY25 at checkout on Wine.com. Best of all, customers can get all their shopping done now and schedule the exact future date they want their gift to arrive. Click on any of the banners below to start shopping for your special gift basket from Wine.com.

  

Deliver Holiday Cheer with Gifts from MyWinesDirect

Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Below is a list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

Deliver holiday cheer this season with wine packs and gift baskets from MyWinesDirect. All wines are carefully selected by experts, then approved by panels of wine drinkers just like you -- to ensure that every wine is a winner. MyWinesDirect is an easy and reliable way to discover new favorites.

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Riondo Prosecco Spago Nero NV

Wine: Riondo Prosecco Spago Nero NV
Origin: delle Veneto
Blend: 100% Prosecco
Alcohol content: 10.5%
Bottle closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $9.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "This sparkling wine is produced in full respect of ancient traditions, using Prosecco grapes grown on the Veneto hills. It is characterised by a fine, light perlage and a fresh and aromatic perfume. It is perfect both as an aperitif and as an accompaniment to light dishes."

ABC Wines review: Very lightly sparkling, this wine has a floral, mixed fruit aroma. The palate is quite fruity with a nicely balanced acidity. The finish has considerable mineral character but is pleasing nonetheless. Our score: A fun wine that can be served as an aperitif or with a crisp summer salad. Above Average.

Winery website: Cantine Riondo.

Gnarled Vine Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Wine: Gnarled Vine Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Origin: California
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol content: 12.9%
Bottle closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $7.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: None found.

ABC Wines review: This wine has pineapple and kiwi fruit aromas with significant floral notes, and just a touch of spice. Smooth on the palate and of medium body, the fruit flavors have a mineral, almost flinty, character. The finish develops some smoky acidity but little else of any consequence. Our score: Yet another increasingly generic California sauvignon blanc that just doesn't seem as interesting or complex as its international cousins. Average for the price paid.

Winery website: Oak Ridge Winery This wine is not mentioned on the winery website.

McManis Pinot Grigio 2007

Wine: McManis Pinot Grigio 2007
Origin: California
Blend: 100% Pinot Grigio
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Bottle closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $8.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "The aroma and bouquet are dominated by hints of pear, honey, ripe apple and apricot - with a very slight flint character. The wine has resulting flavors of pear, apricot, ripe apple and is rich, full and round with a nice clean finish."

ABC Wines review: This golden yellow wine has abundant aromas of honey and tropical fruit with floral notes of tree fruit. Very refreshing on the palate, the fruit flavors develop a brisk acidity that lasts well into the lengthy finish which itself is slightly marred by being somewhat unbalanced. We paired this wine very nicely with grilled chicken tenders and pomme frites (okay, French fries). Our score: Above Average.

Winery website: McManis Family Vineyards. The image of the bottle is from an older vintage but, aside from the lack of a screw cap, is substantially the same.

Sobon Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Wine: Sobon Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Origin: Amador County, California
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Bottle closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $11.99

Taste profile from the winemaker (taken from the bottle label): "Crisp and fruity, a perfect match for seafood and fowl dishes. The aromas are a captivating blend of floral and spicy tones, with a hint of tropical fruit, and toasted coconut. Made with organically grown grapes."

ABC Wines review: This wine has aromas of citrus and herbs with distinct spicy, woodland notes. It is of medium body with good fruit flavors that are nicely balanced by a mild acidity. The finish is somewhat smoky, not unpleasant but a little overdone. Our score: Like many California sauvignon blancs, oak aging masks the characteristics of the varietal that most consumers expect and find pleasing and adds little in return. This wine is at best Average in that regard. The fact that it is wildly overpriced doesn't help.

Winery website: Sobon Wine. As of the date of this review, this wine is not mentioned on the winery website.

Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Wine: Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Origin: Western Cape, South Africa
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Bottle closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $9.99

Taste profile from the winemaker (taken from the bottle label): "Gooseberry and tropical fruit flavours, fresh and dry with lengthy citrus finish."

ABC Wines review: This wine has classic sauvignon blanc aromas of gooseberry and grapefruit with significant notes of grassiness. There is little fruit flavor on the palate; mineral and vegetal characteristics dominate. The very long finish develops some acidity as well as brings out some citrus flavors; nicely balanced overall. We served this wine with broiled fish and a Mediterranean salad. Our score: A bit overpriced for the quality. Still, it's on the high side of Average.

Winery website: Boekenhoutskloof Winery.

Morgan Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Wine: Morgan Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Origin: Monterey County, California
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Bottle closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $11.99

Taste profile from the winemaker "This medium-bodied wine features tightly focused flavors of green apples, citrus, and a light floral aroma, rounded out by sweet, grassy undertones characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc. Oak aging offsets overly aggressive flavors and adds an elegant texture. The 2007 Monterey Sauvignon Blanc would make a fine compliment to Caesar salads, assorted crustaceans, poultry, and light pork dishes."

ABC Wines review: This California sauvignon blanc has fresh aromas of ripe tropical fruit, notably pineapple, with notes of citrus. The wine is initially just ever so slightly sweet on the palate before a balancing acidity develops. The finish is quite long, smooth, and very fruitful, with little evidence of oak aging that is typical of the varietals from this region. Our score: One of the best California sauvignon blancs we've had in a long time. It is very food friendly; we enjoyed it with grilled chicken sandwiches accompanied by a fresh vegetable salad though we'd be happy to serve it at a fine dinner party. Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Winery website: Morgan Winery.

Don Giovanni Pinot Grigio 2007

Wine: Don Giovanni Pinot Grigio 2007
Origin: delli Venezie, Italy
Blend: 100% Pinot Grigio
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Bottle closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $9.99

Taste profile from the winemaker (taken from the bottle label): "This beautiful pale straw pinot grigio displays aromas of peach, lemon-lime, pear and apple, accented with floral blossom. To the palate it maintains a perfect balance of fruit and acidity through its soft and lingering almond finish."

ABC Wines review: This very nice wine has floral aromas of tree fruit, notably red apple and pear, with some barely discernible notes of ripe tropical fruit. The palate is of medium body and has a moderate mineral base to it; the fruit flavors here lean more towards to the citrus. The finish also has a significant citrus character to it leaving the mouth clean and fresh. (We did not detect any of the almond flavors mentioned in the winemaker's taste profile.) Serve this wine at a luncheon buffet with cold fried chicken and vegetable salads. Our score: An impressive, food-friendly wine for under $10. Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Winery website: Giordano Wines.

Host a Murder Mystery Party: A Taste of Wine and Murder

Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Or sometimes (like now) we highlight fun products or services that have a wine-related theme.

Host a deadly delicious evening of mystery for fellow wine lovers! Invite 6 to 8 friends to help solve the murder of Barry Underwood, a local vineyard owner, in Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder. Invite your friends to dress up and play the roles of the devious suspects (each with his or her own character booklet with roles and background info): Otto Von Schnapps, Tiny Bubbles, Papa Vito, Marilyn Merlot, Ralph Rottingrape, Hedy Shablee, Bonny Lass, and Bud Wizer. This murder mystery party planner includes recipes, a menu, and music and decorating tips; 8 character booklets; 8 party invitations, envelopes, and place cards; 6 secret clues; and CD with an introduction, a summary of events, and the solution to the crime. (Looking for more mystery parties for adults, teens, and kids, or other host your own mystery evenings? Visit Games of Mystery for all the clues!)

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Wine: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Bottle closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $8.99

Taste profile from the winemaker (taken from the bottle label): "Light yellow in colour, this wine has a distinctive Marlborough bouquet of ripe tropical and citrus fruit. The palate is crisp and zesty, with flavours of lemon, passionfruit, and melon."

ABC Wines review: This straw-colored wine has bright aromas of fresh grass, the zest of lime, and notes of kiwi and gooseberry. It is very, almost excessively, tart on the palate with distinct citrus flavors, notably grapefruit. The finish is lengthy but rather flat and undistinguished. Definitely not a wine to be used as an aperitif, it worked very well with our vegetable salad of tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers with a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. Our score: Immediately recognizable as a New Zealand sauvignon blanc, this wine will not be to everyone's taste, but we found it as well Above Average. We thought last year's vintage was better, rating the Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Above average to Excellent.

Winery website: Nobilo - Discover Our Wines.