Monday, January 31, 2011

Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $7.99

Our review: Pale straw in color, this wine exhibits aromas of citrus (grapefruit, lime) and vegetable (bell pepper). Crisp on the palate, the tart flavors are well-balanced, not unlike freshly squeezed limeade. There's a hint of tropical fruit sweetness present. A touch of astringency emerges into the finish, but dissipates quickly; the finish is clean though relatively thin.

Our rating: This is a very nice example of this New Zealand varietal, nicely complex but not overwhelming. We enjoyed our bottle with broiled fish fillets, a fine pairing. Consider serving this wine with any seafood dish, especially those that may be on the spicy side. We bought our bottle on sale, and as such consider it a great value for this Above Average to Excellent wine.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "The wine is pale straw in color with green highlights. Aromas of ripe gooseberry and capsicum dominate with tropical melon and grapefruit notes apparent. This wine displays full fruit intensity. The ripe capsicum and gooseberry flavors with hints of pungency sit well with the supporting tropical fruit flavors. A well-balanced wine showing the crisp, vivacious acidity associated with this style."

Winery website: Brancott Estate Limited.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Picton Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Picton Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2011
Purchase Price: $7.99

Our review: Straw in color with green highlights, this wine has the typical aromas of this varietal from New Zealand, gooseberry and lemongrass, with some slight herbal, maybe vegetal notes. Nicely balanced on the palate, the fruit flavors offer an ever so brief hint of sweetness before becoming pleasingly tart. Some minerality creeps into the finish, which is rather short and undistinguished.

Our rating: We enjoyed this wine, which we consumed largely as an aperitif (though we intended to serve it with pan sautéed white fish). It pairs quite well with seafood, but could also be served with most any vegetarian dish or even a light lunch of sandwiches and salad. Priced very attractively (especially given the recent rise in prices for Kiwi wines), we rate it well Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Trapiche Torrontés 2008

Trapiche Torrontés 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Yellow-gold in color, this wine has a pleasant blend of citrus and tropical fruit aromas, with slight herbal and floral notes. There is a nice acidic balance at first, the fruit flavors quite expressive on the palate. But into the finish it is less harmonious, a somewhat bitter character emerging that tends to mask the other elements present.

Our rating: If it weren't for the rather odd finish on this wine, we'd have rated it quite highly. It's well-rounded, and food-friendly; we suggest serving it with Asian cuisines as it could stand up to chicken, pork, or seafood dishes, anything from mild to spicy. But the finish is really quite incongruous here, not bad necessarily, just not complimentary, knocking our score down to just Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Yellow-greenish color, with golden hints. Flower and citrus aromas. Fresh in the mouth. Elegant, well balanced wine."

Winery website: Trapiche | Argentina.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Condesa de Sarabella Viura 2008

Condesa de Sarabella Viura 2008
Origin: Calatayud, Spain
Blend: Viura/Macabeo (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: January 2011
Purchase Price: $4.99

Our review: Medium stray in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (banana, melon) and honey with some spice notes. The slightly sweet fruit flavors are nicely balanced on the palate, though a bit on the thin side. The finish adds some spice and maybe a bit of citrus, but is quite brief and doesn't allow for these characteristics to develop.

Our rating: This is not an exceptional example of this varietal, but given it's price, it's really not a bad one either. Probably the worst can be said about it is that it isn't memorable. It is, however, rather food-friendly; we served our bottle with broiled chicken, a good choice overall, but can see it paired with a wide variety of meat, rice, or pasta dishes. We think it's a good, if Average, change-of-pace ABC wine, and at just $5, it's definitely worth having a bottle or two on hand. (Look for a more recent vintage, if possible, as these wines are intended to be consumed young.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A pale straw yellow colour and strong fruity flavours of banana and citrus. On the palate the wine is well-balanced, smooth and fresh."

Winery website: Axial Vinos.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Chateau de L'Hoste Bordeaux Blanc 2009

Chateau de L'Hoste Bordeaux Blanc 2009
Origin: Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France
Blend: Unknown (but presumably predominently, and maybe entirely, Sauvignon Blanc)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light- to Medium-gold in color, this wine has moderately strong aromas of tropical fruit (melon, mango) with slight notes of spices and orange blossom. The fruit flavors on the palate are similar, but are accompanied by some orange/citrus rind character and are slightly bitter, almost smoky. The bitterness/smokiness intensifies into the finish, which also introduces a bit of minerality.

Our rating: Most assuredly not a sipping wine, the overall profile of this wine markedly improves when paired with food. We served our bottle with a fairly light meal of cold chicken and a salad, but think it would do much better with something far more substantial and richly flavored. We actually didn't care much for it as we consumed it -- and to be honest we're generally not fans of finicky wines, of which this seems to be one -- but are willing to bet that paired properly, this wine is probably better than the low Average rating we're giving it.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Chateau Los Boldos "Cuvee Tradition" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Chateau Los Boldos "Cuvee Tradition" Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Origin: Rapel Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: Straw colored with silver and green highlights, this wine has mild aromas of citrus, tropical fruit, and lemongrass. The primarily citrus flavors are nicely balanced on the palate. Some minerality creeps in towards the finish, which is lengthy though a bit thin.

Our rating: This is a very nice example of this varietal, but not an exceptional one. We served our bottle with broiled chicken, with which it paired well, but we would have expected this wine to have a little more character; it seems to promise more than it can deliver. We still rate it Above Average, but we sense it could have been much better. We recently rated the Chateau Los Boldos "Momentos" Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Average (though it costs a bit less).

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, grape fruit, pear and exotic fruit. Good presence of acidity gives it freshness."

Winery website: Viña Los Boldos.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Domaine de Gournier Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Domaine de Gournier Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Cévennes, France
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 14.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Pale lemon yellow in color, this wine has a very pleasing bouquet of tropical fruit, some citrus, maybe lemongrass with herbal notes. Smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors are quite well balanced and harmonious. There's also a bit of grassiness here. A touch of heat develops into the finish, which is slightly bitter, though not unpleasant.

Our rating: This is a surprisingly rich wine, full of complexity and depth. Not best alone, it needs food to bring out its range of flavors and round off some of the edges, especially towards the finish. We served our bottle with a roasted chicken dish, with which it paired very nicely. We think most any white meat would be suitable; we're less sure how well it would work with seafood, though. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Mesta Macabeo-Moscatel 2009

Mesta Macabeo-Moscatel 2009
Origin: Uclés, Spain
Blend: Macabeo (50%), Moscatel (50%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Greenish gold in color, this wine has aromas of peaches, maybe a little orange, with slight herbal and floral notes. The flavors on the palate are similar though a bit thin, ever so slightly on the sweet side though a moderating acidity quickly develops. The finish is a bit tart, but otherwise unremarkable.

Our rating: This is a very interesting wine, and with a complex, ever evolving flavor profile. We served our bottle with a chicken dish, but we can easily see it pairing well with a wide variety of dishes, from seafood to pork. The most significant drawback to it is that it is a little thin and watery, a characteristic that prevents it from scoring any higher than Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A crisp, versatile white. Intensely aromatic and fresh, it makes a great aperitif or accompaniment to poultry and fish."

Winery website: Bodegas Fontana.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Oak Leaf Pinot Grigio NV

Oak Leaf Pinot Grigio NV
Origin: California
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: January 2011
Purchase Price: $2.97

Our review: Pale gold, nearly colorless, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (apple, pear) with just a touch of honey. Initially quite fruity on the palate, the flavors are well balanced though fade and flatten out very quickly. A hint of spice is present. There isn't much of a finish.

Our rating: Oak Tree wines are available exclusively at Walmart and are value priced. But is it worth the three bucks we paid for this pinot grigio? Most definitely. In contrast to another low-priced wine we sampled recently, this wine has some character to it, is quite drinkable, and could easily serve as an everyday, go-to wine. Price aside, we rate this wine Average, but it's hard to overlook the fact that it's only $3; we're impressed.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Oak Leaf Vineyards.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio 2010

Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio 2010
Origin: South Eastern Australia
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $3.99

Our review: A pale straw in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit, notably green apple, with a slight hint of citrus. On the palate, the fruit/acidity balance is off, with a flavor of unripened apples, maybe some apple peel present. A bit of minerality and an odd bittersweet element (over-ripened fruit?) takes over the finish.

Our rating: Never one to pass up a bargain, this wine was on sale for $4 … but we're not entirely sure it's even worth that. There are several unpleasant aspects to this wine, noted above; it's not undrinkable but we'd be hard pressed to come up with a food pairing that would improve it. We rate it Below Average to Inferior. (Just a couple of months ago we rated the Yellow Tail "The Reserve" Pinot Grigio 2008 Average.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Lively green apple and pear aromas with a crisp, clean and refreshing palate."

Winery website: [yellow tail].

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Helfrich "Noble Varieties" Gewurztraminer 2008

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

Our review: A light lemon yellow in color, this wine has aromas of pineapple, melon, and honey … and maybe just a touch of spice. The spice character comes through more on the palate, complimenting the sweetish fruit flavors, which overall have a good balancing acidity. The finish is very fruity.

Our rating: This is a good brunch wine, one to serve with a buffet featuring a wide variety of foods. We also think it would work well with spicy Asian cuisines, those meals that are typically hard to pair with wine. We're generally not fans of this varietal, but this is a well-rounded example that we rate Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Replete with many intriguing aromas of flowers, fruits and spices. It follows with a rich palate and vivid fruit flavors which are complimented by a full body that transitions into a long and pleasant finish."

Winery website: None found.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: An exceptionally pale green in color, this wine has aromas of gooseberry, lime, and lemongrass with slight herbal notes. Pleasantly crisp on the palate, the citrus flavors are well balanced, initially with some tropical fruit coming through before becoming slightly tart into the finish, which has some mineral character but otherwise is lengthy and rather citrusy.

Our rating: This is a very nice example of this varietal. Though it clearly has a New Zealand signature to it, it is well rounded with some interesting nuances. Probably best paired with seafood, we'd choose grilled whitefish over shellfish, though both probably would work well. It could also be served as an aperitif, which is basically how we enjoyed our bottle. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "The wine is light straw in colour with green highlights and displays vibrant fruit aromatics of pink grapefruit, passionfruit and a complex minerality. The palate shows balance, both ripe passionfruit flavours and a tight, fresh acidity."

Winery website: Stoneleigh: Marlborough New Zealand Wines.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Durbanville, South Africa
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2011
Purchase Price: $7.99

Our review: Greenish silver in color, this wine exhibits vegetal (asparagus, green pepper) aromas coupled with notes of citrus and lemongrass. Similar characteristics are present on the palate, the flavors crisp and somewhat tart. A slight herbaceousness is also present. The finish is lengthy but doesn't add anything different.

Our rating: This is a nice example of this varietal, but it seems a bit one-note to us, that it needs something to round it out. It's well balanced, acidity-wise, and would pair very well with seafood, but we think it may do better with a vegetarian meal, or possibly a simple pasta or rice dish. We rate it about Average overall.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Colour: Pale green. Nose: Complex combination of papaya, grapefruit, lime and winter melon with green fig and prickly pear flavours coming to the surface as the wine changes temperature. Taste: The palate is a combination of fruit flavors and green pepper."

Winery website: Durbanville Hills.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Zagarrón Verdgjo 2009

Zagarrón Verdgjo 2009
Origin: La Mancha, Spain
Blend: Verdejo (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Pale gold in color, this wine has bright aromas of tree fruit (apple, peach) and apple blossom. A ripe apple flavor come throughs on the palate, initially rather mild though growing quickly in intensity towards the finish. The finish is slightly tart, almost like apple peel in character.

Our rating: This is a very pleasant but not overly complex wine, one that can readily be paired with a wide variety of foods. With its fruit-forward flavor profile and relatively low alcohol content, we think a light lunch or freshly tossed salad would be perfect. We, for example, enjoyed our bottle with cold chicken sandwiches. We rate it on the very high side of Above Average, and at just $7, consider it a terrific value for an ABC wine.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Yellow with green tonality, bright and clear. Intense aroma with balsamic note. Soft and complex in mouth."

Winery website: Wines Zagarrón.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (89%), Semillon (11%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: This pale straw wine has soft aromas of tropical fruit and lemongrass with slight herbal notes. The citrus flavors on the palate are quite crisp, even tart. There's a dry minerality present as well. The extended finish adds a citrus-zest element.

Our rating: Our overall impression of this wine is one of spicy tartness, and kind of an odd mix at that. The finish goes on forever, usually a strong point for us, but we're not sure in this case. Overall, it's a rather unusual wine and not altogether unpleasant, though it's probably not one we'd buy again. We served our bottle with a broiled white fish dinner, probably a good choice given its general character. On the score sheet, it rates on the low side of Average. (We previously rated the Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc 2007 quite high, Above Average, nearly Excellent, a marked difference from the present vintage.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: "The wine offers fresh aromas of herbs and lavender with a beautiful floral note. A touch of Semillon is added for richness. This wine would pair well with dishes with cream sauce."

Winery website: Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery.
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