Sunday, May 31, 2009

Cornaro Pinot Grigio 2007

Cornaro Pinot Grigio 2007
Origin: Veneto, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $8.99

Our review: A pale yellow-green in color, this wine has aromas of green apple and citrus. The wine is light-bodied and initially exhibits a brisk acidity. Citrus and apple flavors are soon discernable on the palate with lime dominating somewhat, leading into a fairly long finish with a dry slate character.

Our rating: A pleasant wine, if not a memorable one, and priced a little on the high side. It would pair well with most vegetarian dishes or a light salad. We consider it about Average. Note: The synthetic cork was exceptionally difficult to remove.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery (bottler) website: Cantina Montelliana.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Hugues de Beauvignac Picpoul de Pinet 2008

Hugues de Beauvignac Picpoul de Pinet 2008
Origin: Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Blend: Picpoul (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $9.99

Our review: A light lemon yellow in color with strong, pleasant aromas of tropical fruit and honey, this wine has considerable mineral character on the palate. The fruit flavors are balanced with a somewhat assertive acidity. The dry finish is uncomplicated and clean with a definite citrus (lemon) character.

Our rating: A nice wine, but pricey at $10. We served our bottle with an appetizer platter but it would go well with most fish dishes. Our rating: On the high side of Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Monday, May 18, 2009

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Saturday, May 16, 2009

Woodbridge Moscato 2008

Woodbridge Moscato 2008
Origin: California
Blend: Muscat Canelli (60%), Orange Muscat (30%), Muscat of Alexandria (10%)
Alcohol Content: 10.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Suggested retail price: $8.00

Our review: Pale yellow in color and quite floral on the nose with notes of orange blossom, honey, and spice, this wine is not quite as sweet as one might expect on the palate. The flavors are of tropical fruit (honeydew melon and pineapple) and honey and leave a slight tingling sensation on the tongue. The finish is surprisingly rich and expressive for such an inexpensive wine, though relatively brief.

Our rating: We're not sure this is a good pairing wine and indeed we enjoyed ours simply while reading on the deck. It is undeniably sweet but not cloyingly so; serve with fresh fruit or with a light dessert or, probably the best option, as a sipping wine. Definitely an Above Average wine and at a very attractive price.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Displays perfumed aromas and lightly sweet flavors filled with orange blossom, fresh citrus, lychee, honey, and spice. The wine’s style is slightly effervescent (called frizzante in Italy) so that the fruit dances on the palate. Then the bright, delicious flavors turn silky on the honeyed-fruit finish."

Winery website: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Santa Julia Torrontes 2006

Santa Julia Torrontes 2006
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $4.99

Our review: Vibrant aromas of citrus fruit with light spice and faint floral notes are presented by this wine. The flavors on the palate are of a similar combination, interesting and complex, and accompanied by a brisk acidity that becomes increasingly unbalanced into the finish. The extended finish itself has a spicy, slightly bitter character to it.

Our rating: This wine was in the bargain bin at our local store. We had previously rated the vintage quite highly and thought this to be price too good to pass up. We served the wine with grilled panini, a fine choice, though it should pair nicely with a wide variety of foods. Not as good as the previous year, still we rate it well Above Average. And at $5 a bottle, a steal.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Silver yellow with brilliant pale green reflections. Notes of rose, orange peel, white peaches, fruits salad, chamomile and other aromatic herbs. A fresh flavor and light body with flavors of rose grapefruit, ripe fruits like peaches and pears. A balanced wine with great fineness in aromas and flavors."

Winery website: Familia Zuccardi.

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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 an offer we recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Fess Parker Viognier 2005

Fess Parker Viognier 2005
Origin: Santa Barbara, California
Blend: Viognier (100%)
Alcohol Content: 15.2%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: June 2006
Suggested retail price: $24.00

Our review: A bright gold in color, this wine has heavy aromas of honey, vanilla, and caramel with significant floral notes. Full-bodied on the palate, the flavors are rich, smooth and complex with a nicely balanced acidity. The oak cellaring adds a distinctive touch of spice to the lengthy finish.

Our rating: This wine was a gift from a friend years back that, quite frankly, we had stored and forgotten about. It may have been better a year or two ago but even now, it seems to have held up quite nicely. It has, dare we say it, a Chardonnay character to it that some may enjoy (or not). As a viognier, we rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "This fragrant wine offers up aromas of peach, honeysuckle, apricot blossom, vanilla, and nutmeg with a touch of pineapple, ripe peach, lychee and citrus flavors. The subtle oak and spice combined with its refreshing acidity puts forward a balanced wine that is simply perfect with the floral aromatics of Asian cuisine and lighter fare."

Winery website: Fess Parker Winery.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Gancia Prosecco Extra Dry NV

Gancia Prosecco Extra Dry NV
Origin: Canelli, Italy
Blend: Prosecco (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: April 2009
Purchase price: $10.99

Our review: Light gold in color, this sparkling wine has aromas of pineapple and orange blossom. Very flavorful and dry on the palate, the fruit flavors are nicely balanced. Some minerality is introduced into the finish which itself has light nut-like characteristics.

Our rating: We enjoyed our wine with fresh fruit at an outdoor brunch. It's a nice, safe choice but not exceptional. Still, we rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A captivating, aromatic fragrance, typical pear and melon fruit flavors." (From the bottle label.)

Winery website: Gancia. The image of the bottle is similar though somewhat different from the wine we reviewed.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Ca' Tullio Pinot Grigio 2007

Ca' Tullio Pinot Grigio 2007
Origin: Friuli, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: April 2009
Purchase price: $9.99

Our review: Pale yellow, this wine has soft aromas of apple and melon. Quite fruitful on the palate, there is a good balance between the slightly sweet fruit flavors and a brisk acidity. The finish is disappointing, though, somewhat bitter and unpleasant.

Our rating: Though we didn't care for the finish, this wine is fairly typical of the varietal from this region. We served our bottle with a pasta dish where it paired fairly well. Still, we rate it only Average at best.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Ca' Tullio. The image of the bottle shown is different from that of the wine reviewed.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: Western Cape, South Africa
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: April 2009
Purchase price: $8.99

Our review: Pale yellow with a tint of green, this wine has aromas of grapefruit and grass with discernable herbaceous notes. The palate is initially slightly sweet before the fruit flavors come through though they don't fully develop, remaining somewhat weak. The finish is short and undistinguished.

Our rating: This is one of those rare wines where it's easy to pick out its flaws but in the end they don't seem to matter much and the overall impression is rather agreeable. Not an elegant wine by any means, but definitely one to enjoy with a light lunch, on a picnic, or at the beach. We were pleasantly surprised, and rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Colour: Brilliant light green. Bouquet: A hint of green fig followed by ripe gooseberry and tropical aromas. Taste: An elegant, crisp wine displaying ripe gooseberry flavours on the fore palate backed by tropical fruit and a hint of grassiness that lingers long on the aftertaste."

Winery website: Two Oceans Wines.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: Casablanca Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: March 2009
Purchase price: $9.99

Our review: A pleasing blend of lime and gooseberry aromas with slight vegetal notes (bell pepper) are presented by this pale yellow / green wine. Of light- to moderate-body, the fruit flavors are not pronounced and are accompanied by a stone-like minerality on the palate. The extended citrus-based finish has a somewhat chalky character to it.

Our rating: A rather unique take on this varietal that will not be to everyone's liking. A good wine to serve with grilled shellfish. It notably improved in depth and complexity after being opened a bit. We rate it in the high side of Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Clear with nice green reflections. The nose has the traditional and ‘savage’ aromas, which are particularly expressive and typical: boxwood, gorse and exotic fruit (pineapple and lime). In the mouth, it is fresh, very juicy and balanced with good persistence. The grapes from Casablanca and Leyda bring minerals to the wine as well as elegance."

Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc 2008icon is available to purchase from Wine.com.

Winery website: Vina Los Vascos.

Save 15% on 6 Bottles during the Wine.Com Clearance Sale

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 an offer we recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

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