Friday, December 31, 2010

The Peñascal Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009

The Peñascal Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Castilla y Leon, Spain
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Yellowish-gold with green highlights, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (melon, pineapple, banana) with some apple blossom and spice (vanilla?) notes. The palate has a similar flavor profile, a combination of spicy and sweet, though well balanced with a moderating acidity. The finish is quite long and considerably fruity.

Our rating: We believe this is our first sauvignon blanc from Spain, and what a treat! It is surprisingly complex, and we really enjoyed the spicy tropical fruit element that carried through from the nose to the finish. We paired it with a pasta dish, but think it is probably best suited for Asian cuisines. We rate it on the very high side of Above Average ... and at just $7 a real value.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "This crisp, dry white wine is light, refreshing, and has a modern style. It has a subtle and elegant nose with pear, peach and apricot aromas and flavours."

Winery website: None found.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Brassfield Pinot Grigio 2009

Brassfield Pinot Grigio 2009
Origin: California
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.7%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light yellow gold, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (pineapple, papaya) with distinct notes of spice and orange zest. Of moderate body on the palate, the fruit flavors are well-balanced, though definitely on the tart side. The finish has an abrupt stone-like mineral character to it.

Our rating: This is an interesting example of this varietal. We liked its complexity, but found that its tartness tended towards bitterness after a while, making it slightly less enjoyable; the rather hard-edged finish doesn't help here. We served our bottle with a simple broiled chicken and rice dish, and believe it would pair well with most seafood and lighter meats. Overall, score-wise, we rate it Above Average but in retrospect it seems that score may be generous.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Vibrant tropical aromas of mango and passion fruit pair with more subtle hints of coconut, ginger, fennel and star jasmine. Ripe peach and pineapple further enhance the delicious flavor profile on a perfectly balanced framework of acidity and minerality. The wine finishes with a supple and elegant mouth-feel."

Winery website: Brassfield Estate Winery.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Helfrich "Noble Varieties" Riesling 2008

Helfrich "Noble Varieties" Riesling 2008
Origin: Alsace, France
Blend: Riesling (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2010
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

Our review: Light golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of citrus and lime zest with herbal notes. The citrus (lime) flavor is most recognizable on the palate, suggestive of freshly made limeade. The finish lacks depth, and is a little tart.

Our rating: Those who tend to avoid rieslings may be surprised by this one, which is more crisp than soft. It is not necessarily sweet, but is not altogether dry either; a somewhat tart limeade (as mentioned above) is probably a most apt description. Despite being slightly unbalanced -- especially into the finish -- we rather enjoyed our bottle of this varietal, and suggest it be served with Asian cuisines. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Crisp and alive. The delicate acidity is balanced with minerals, citrus and green apple. Just barely off dry, with a full mouth-feel and long finish."

Winery website: None found.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Moon Crest Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Moon Crest Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.8%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: November 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Light gold with green highlights, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit, lemongrass, and orange zest that carry through to the palate, which has a slightly unbalanced acidity. The moderately long finish has a little too much mineral character, and is a bit chalky.

Our rating: This wine was purchased as part of a California-mixed pack and is generally of good value as such. Rather versatile as a food wine, we served our bottle with chicken and vegetables, but we can see it paired with a wide variety of cuisines. Fine as an everyday wine, though we wouldn't save a bottle for special occasions ... and almost certainly wouldn't pay the $12.99 list price. We rate it about Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Fresh and zesty with aromas of melon, fresh cut grass, green apple, sweet citrus zest and fig. Fruit and herbal flavors with a refreshing, finish."

Winery website: None found.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Twin Bridges Pinot Grigio 2009

Twin Bridges Pinot Grigio 2009
Origin: California
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: November 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Greenish gold in color, this wine has aromas of green apple with spice (almost cider-like) notes. Nicely balanced on the palate, the fruit (mostly apple) flavor develops quickly but then fades rapidly, replaced by a slate-like mineral character.

Our rating: There's certainly some interesting aspects to this wine, but overall we were slightly disappointed. We served our bottle with a shrimp dish and think it pairs better with seafood than, say, chicken or vegetables. Still, we think it is the finish that left us feeling less than totally satisfied, and rate it on the low side of Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Honey-scented, floral aromas [with] easy-drinking crisp, tangy and sweet fruit flavors."

Winery website: None found.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Monte Clavijo Viura 2009

Monte Clavijo Viura 2009
Origin: Rioja, Spain
Blend: Viura (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $7.99

Our review: This light gold-colored wine has citrusy aromas couples with citrus floral notes. The citrus flavors are bold on the palate but are well-balanced. The finish is brief and unremarkable.

Our rating: As noted above, this wine is citrusy, which puzzled us a bit since we were expecting more tropical or tree fruit character. As such, it is probably best suited for seafood. We opted for a salad course, which was fine as well. Still, we have to wonder about this wine. We previously rated the Monte Clavijo Rioja Viura 2007 Average, but it was a very different wine than this. We'd actually rate this lower, on the low side of Average (nearly Below Average) but we continue to be puzzled at how different these two vintages are.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

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Monday, December 13, 2010

Chateau Los Boldos "Momentos" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Chateau Los Boldos "Momentos" Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Origin: Valle de Casablanca, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of grapefruit and lime with notes of orange blossoms. The citrus flavors tend to dominate the palate but are not overpowering; the finish has a little grassiness but is otherwise unremarkable.

Our rating: We should have paired this wine with seafood but elected to go vegetarian instead. Probably not the best choice, but it was OK in the end. There isn't much depth to this wine, so we'd recommend that it be served with a light meal. We try to avoid buying wines just a year apart in vintage, but we erred here. A year ago we rated the Chateau Los Boldos "Momentos" Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Above Average. This wine rates just a little lower, on the very high side of Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Very bright and wide wine with greenish reflexes. In nose has a strong intensity, it highlights grape fruit and fresh pear. In mouth lime, guava and grapefruit flavors appear. Good presence of acidity gives it freshness."

Winery website: Viña Los Boldos.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Graham Beck Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Graham Beck Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Coastal Region, South Africa
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $11.99

Our review: Silvery green in color, this wine has peppery aromas of gooseberry and lime with considerable grassiness. The fruit flavors on the palate offer a nice contrast, not nearly as spicy or tart as one might expect from the nose, though clearly crisp and citrusy balanced with some tropical flavors. There isn't much of a finish, though a lingering almost bitter sensation remains.

Our rating: Though there are several facets to this wine that we like, and we think make it a good seafood pairing wine, we couldn't get past the overly astringent or harsh finish (that we initially characterized as "bitter" ... which is still how we think of it). It must be consumed with food, which admittedly does take the edge off the finish. And while its overall score from the individual components rates it on the high side of Average, we wouldn't buy it again.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "An expression of tropical fruit on the nose -- litchis and passionfruit, with notes of ripe figs and capsicum. Great concentration of tropical fruit and grassiness and peppers on the palate. A crisp, lively acidity and persistent but elegant finish."

Winery website: Graham Beck Wines.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Robertson Winery Chenin Blanc 2009

Robertson Winery Chenin Blanc 2009
Origin: South Africa
Blend: Chenin Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Golden straw in color with aromas of ripe apple and peach coupled with floral and tropical fruit notes. The flavor profile on the palate is similar with a rather unusual slightly sweet, slightly spicy finish.

Our rating: There are some unusual characteristics to this wine that make it interesting, though to be honest, it isn't all that memorable. It's very food friendly; we served our bottle with a simple chicken dish that worked quite well. We think it may be worth a try, especially at this price point, though we rate it only Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "An appealing light straw colour. Light with lovely ripe, attractive rounded fruit. Fresh floral nose and an exciting acid balance."

Winery website: RobertsonWinery.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Kudos Pinot Gris 2009

Kudos Pinot Gris 2009
Origin: Rogue Valley, Oregon
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of apple and peach with notes of flowers. The fruit flavors on the palate initially tend towards the sweet, almost tropical in character. A mild acidity develops into the finish, which is long though without much depth.

Our rating: We rather liked this wine and were somewhat surprised by it. The off-dry character would pair well with many Asian cuisines, which is how we wished we'd paired it. (We served it with a pasta dish, not the best choice in retrospect.) We rate it Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

San Giuseppe "Lily Collection" Pinot Grigio 2009

San Giuseppe "Lily Collection" Pinot Grigio 2009
Origin: Veneto, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: This wine is pale -- to the point of being nearly colorless -- straw with slight citrus, green apple and almond aromas. The palate is also similarly lightly flavored with a finish that has some mineral character to it.

Our rating: We initially thought this wine may be slightly corked, but convinced ourselves it was simply the natural almond-like aromatics being given off and carried forward as flavor. Still, we didn't quite like it. We served our bottle with a chicken and pasta dish, an appropriate pairing. But in the end, we think there's something off here, whether accidental or intentional we're not sure. We rate it Below Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Delicately fragrant and mildly floral, this wine boasts a pale, straw-like yellow color with a hint of reflective gold. Its silk-like texture, combined with a light-bodied and delicate taste, awakens the palate with intense fruit flavor that is instantly refreshing."

Winery website: San Giuseppe.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Albino Armani 1607 "Corvara" Pinot Grigio 2009

Albino Armani 1607 "Corvara" Pinot Grigio 2009
Origin: Adige Valley, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: October 2010
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99

Our review: Light straw with gold highlights, this wine has a pleasing bouquet of tree fruit (ripe apples and pears) with notes of peach blossom. The wine is of light- to medium-body on the palate, with a near-perfect balance of fruit flavor and acidity. The lengthy finish adds depth to an already interesting wine.

Our rating: This is an elegant, sophisticated -- and probably most important, incredibly delicious -- wine, one best suited for lighter meals … or simply as an aperitif (which is ultimately how we enjoyed our bottle, since it was gone long before the table was set). Its subtle complexity probably impressed us the most here. Quite possibly the best of this varietal we've had the pleasure of consuming this year, we rate it Excellent (and suggest you seek out a bottle or two for your next gathering of friends and family).

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Pale straw yellow in color, this wine displays beautiful aromatics of white flowers, white peaches and ripe pears. The fruit flavors extend to the palate which is clean and fresh, with great underlying structure and balance and a long, complex finish that has just a hint of spice."

Winery website: Albino Armani.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

NewHarbor Sauvignon Blanc 2009

NewHarbor Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: Straw with green highlights, this wine has aromas of gooseberry and lemongrass with slight citrus floral notes. Crisp on the palate with well balanced citrus fruit flavors that extend into a clean, refreshing finish.

Our rating: This is a very nice, harmonious example of this varietal from New Zealand. We found it very food friendly, enjoying our bottle with a soup and salad combination, but we think it would pair well with most any poultry or seafood dish. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Opens with a playful interplay of bright gooseberry, grapefruit and fragrant honeysuckle, touched by hints of green chili. In the mouth, intense flavors of gooseberry and grapefruit dance through the palate, balanced by a subtle complexity that adds texture and depth. A crisp, lively minerality weaves through the long finish. Pair this tantalizing wine with seafood, light pastas or grilled chicken dishes."

Winery website: None found.
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