Sunday, February 27, 2011

Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde 2009

Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde 2009
Origin: Portugal
Blend: Loureiro (60%), Trajadura (30%), and Alvarinho (10%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: A very pale straw in color, this wine has aromas of citrus and citrus flowers. The palate has a light, soft citrus flavor, slightly tart with a faint sensation of effervescence. The finish adds a touch of minerality, is surprisingly long, though without much depth.

Our rating: This is a most delightful "green wine", perfect as an aperitif before or served during a light meal, or all by itself while reading a book or enjoying a sunset. The citrus character suggests pairing with seafood, though we think it could easily accompany most fish or white meat dishes. (We had intended to serve our bottle with a vegetarian pizza, but it was gone long before the pie came out of the oven!) We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent. (Vinho Verdes are intended to be consumed young, so purchase the most recent vintage you can find.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Harmonious wine with a fresh, fruity and delicate aroma, where the presence of tropical fruits and white flowers is evident. The palate offers a long and persistent finish."

Winery website: Aveleda. Our Wine. Our Love. Our Life..

Friday, February 25, 2011

Armento Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2008

Armento Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2008
Origin: Abruzzo, Italy
Blend: Trebbiano (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: February 2011
Purchase Price: $5.99

Our review: Medium, almost amber, gold in color, this wine has aromas of spiced (cider-like) tree fruit with strong notes of citrus and honey. The palate is surprising thin, flavor-wise, with little depth. It is a bit acidic and slightly reminiscent of unripened citrus fruit. There is little finish.

Our rating: This wine disappointed us, and we're wondering if maybe it might be past its prime here and not aging well. We served our bottle with a chicken and rice dish, which helped soften some of the rough edges, but didn't really improve it much. Sad to say, we didn't even finish our bottle and rate it Inferior.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

LaLande Sauvignon Blanc 2009

LaLande Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Gascony, France
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light yellow-gold in color, this wine is very fragrant, with aromas of tropical fruit and honey. Smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors are initially a bit sweet but a moderating acidity quickly develops. The finish adds some mineral character, is persistent but rather thin.

Our rating: This is a nice, but not necessarily memorable wine, lacking some of the citrus/grass notes that we typically associate with this varietal. We served our bottle with a lunch of salad and sandwiches, an appropriate setting. It's probably best paired with lighter meals, or maybe appetizers. We rate it about Average, maybe a little better.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Frontera Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Frontera Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Origin: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: February 2011
Purchase Price: $7.99 (1.5 L)

Our review: Light straw with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus and grass (more along the lines of lemongrass) with very slight citrus floral notes. Well-balanced on the palate, the fruit flavors are citrusy but not tart or astringent. Some minerality develops into the finish, which is moderately long but rather flat.

Our rating: We should probably say up-front that this has rapidly become our "go-to" ABC wine, versatile enough to pair with many dishes -- and we do just that together with enjoying it all on its own. Its (on the high side) Average score is all the more remarkable given its low price point. Yes, it has its shortcomings -- we'd prefer a more refined palate and a more complex finish -- but for an everyday table wine, especially one that prices out to just $4 a standard 750 ml bottle, this wine works just fine for us ... and suspect it would for you too.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Pale yellow in colour this young and romantic wine is full of expressive fruit flavours. On the nose are aromas of the intense freshness of mature fruit as well as a slight touch of chilli, particular to the Curico Valley region. This fresh wine is light and explosive, leaving ones palate refreshed and satisfied."

Winery website: Frontera: Chile in a Glass.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Barbadillo Palomino Fina 2008

Barbadillo Palomino Fina 2008
Origin: Cádiz, Spain
Blend: Palomino Fina (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: February 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light golden straw in color, this wine has a light, pleasing blend of citrus and green apple aromas. The fruit flavors on the palate are similar, soft but rather dry. Some smokiness (akin to smoked almonds) develops into the finish, and persists for quite some time.

Our rating: We have never sampled this varietal as a table wine before; the grape is also used to make sherry. Not knowing what to expect, we served our bottle with a chicken and rice dish, with which it paired well … though we suspect seafood might be a better choice here. This is a wine that we'd rate above average had it not been for the finish, which we really didn't like much, even with food. As such, we rate it on the low side of Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Picnique Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Picnique Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.3%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Pale greenish gold in color, this wine has soft citrus aromas together with notes of lemongrass and herbs. The citrus (mostly lime) flavor on the palate has a good acid balance, not too tart, not too sweet … but also without much depth or character. The finish is lengthy but a bit thin.

Our rating: We try to avoid bringing up price when reviewing a wine -- though we do it often enough! -- but this is a good example of a perfectly adequate, everyday-type wine that is overpriced. Had this wine been priced in the $5-$6, even $7 range, we'd probably be more enthusiastic about it. It's nice, but nothing special ... and most certainly doesn't warrant paying $9 for it. We served our bottle with a late lunch of cold chicken and green salad, and we enjoyed it, so maybe it was worth it. And we have to say, we deeply appreciate the recent trend of California vintners to not overoak this varietal. Still, in the end, we only rate it Average (price aside).

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Ledgewood Creek Winery and Vineyards.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Riff Pinot Grigio 2009

Riff Pinot Grigio 2009
Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light gold in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (papaya, banana, melon) with notes of spiced cider. The fruit flavors on the palate are almost immediately masked by a strange bitterness, not at all reminiscent of the bouquet. The finish is lengthy, but adds little else.

Our rating: This is, simply put, an unpleasant wine. We're not exactly sure what went wrong here, but the bitter fruit flavors are hard to get past. We served our bottle with a chicken dish, decided we wanted to enjoy our meal, and quickly opened something else. A later sampling confirmed our initial impression, that this wine is Inferior.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Nederburg Lyric 2010

Nederburg Lyric 2010
Origin: South Africa
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (56%), Chenin Blanc (23%), Chardonnay (21%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Pale gold with silver and green highlights, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (apples and peaches), but also some tropical fruit notes with maybe a touch of citrus. Nicely balanced on the palate, the fruit flavors are quite expressive, tending more toward sweet than tart. The finish is lengthy and has a bit of chalkiness, but it isn't distracting.

Our rating: This is a most interesting blend, three varietals that work, for the most part, in harmony with each other (even if one of them in Chardonnay). Maybe that's where the "Lyric" comes from! It's a very fruity wine, not overly complex, and probably best suited for Sunday brunches or maybe as an aperitif or with appetizers. Indeed, given its almost festive feel, we can see it being served at a party with family and friends. Suffice it to say, we enjoyed it, and rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Colour: Brilliant green. Bouquet: Aromas of peach and apricot mingle with the aromas of freshly cut grass and passion fruit. Palate: Crisp and generous with a fresh acidity."

Winery website: Nederburg Wines.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Brassfield Serenity 2009

Brassfield Serenity 2009
Origin: California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer, and Semillon (proprietary blend)
Alcohol Content: 13.7%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Citrus, herb, and green apple aromas are exhibited by this pale, greenish-gold wine. The fruit flavors on the palate have a similar profile, mostly citrusy but with a bit of an edge. The finish is more rounded and smooth, pleasant though relatively brief.

Our rating: Definitely not a wine to be served alone, this blend requires food to help balance and enhance it. We found that we enjoyed our second glass far more than the first; maybe breathing a bit or simply warming up a bit helped improve its overall composition. Generally, we find that wines that have more of a citrus character pair better with seafood, but we served our bottle with a chicken and pasta dish, and we think poultry is probably the best way to go here. In the end, we have to say we liked this wine's complexity, and rate it on the very high side of Above Average. (We rated the Brassfield Serenity 2007 Above Average, nearly Excellent. Based on our notes, it was lighter in character than this vintage, though we also mentioned that it, too, had an interesting complexity. And not that price necessarily means anything, but we paid nearly 50% more for the 2007 vintage than the 2009 one.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: "The distinctive and intense fragrances of gooseberry, green apple, pineapple and juniper berry are followed on the palette by Honeydew melon and kiwi. A perfect balance of acidity with a hint of sweetness makes this wine a perfect match to spicy pan-Asian flavors, Tex-Mex or exotic Indian cuisine."

Winery website: Brassfield Estate Winery.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Corvo Insolia 2009

Corvo Insolia 2009
Origin: Sicilia, Italy
Blend: Insolia (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Yellow-green with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit with very slight citrus, almost lemongrass notes. Round and very flavorful on the palate, some citrus tartness with a bit of slate-like minerality is introduced into the finish, which is very brief but otherwise unremarkable.

Our rating: This is a nice wine, though not a terribly refined one. It's light enough to pair with a luncheon or with appetizers, yet has enough depth (at least initially) to hold up to more robust meals. Insolias are not common in the US, and this one is inexpensive enough to consider, if you've never tried it before. We rate it Above Average, but have the sense that it could have been much better.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Intense juicy peach and melon aromas are followed by tangy citrus and fresh apple on the palate."

Winery website: Vini Corvo.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Zafrika Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Zafrika Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Origin: Western Cape, South Africa
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: January 2011
Purchase Price: $4.99

Our review: Light straw with silver-green tints, this wine has aromas of citrus (grapefruit) and lemongrass, with notes of green apple. There's a nice sweet/tart balance initially on the palate, the fruit flavors mostly citrusy. Into the finish, though, a grassy, herbal character takes over, accompanied by some minerality.

Our rating: There's not much depth to this wine, but it has some interesting qualities. We served our bottle with broiled white fish, but believe it probably pairs best with shellfish … and within that group, probably chilled appetizers. For the price, it's rather good, but objectively we rate it just Average, downgraded mostly for a distinctly odd finish.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A crisp, dry wine of high quality with aromas of tropical flavours and hints of green pepper."

Winery website: None found.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

$10 Shipping All During February at Wine.com

Wine.com $10 Shipping during February 2011

Wine.com is offering $10 Shipping all during February 2011. Ship anything, anytime, all month long. They'll hand-pick, pack and deliver your order for just ten bucks! Order one bottle, one case, or a mega-sized gift basket. Either way, you'll pay only $10 for shipping when you enter coupon code TENBUCKS at checkout. This offer ends 2/28/11.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Marques de Montañana Viura 2009

Marques de Montañana Viura 2009
Origin: Calatayud, Spain
Blend: Viura/Macabeo (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: January 2011
Purchase Price: $4.99

Our review: Pale yellow with greenish-silver tints, this wine has aromas of sweet tree fruit (ripe peaches, pears) with slight floral (orange blossom) notes. The fruit flavors are a bit thin on the palate, but are well-balanced. Some spiciness is present in the finish, which is lengthy but otherwise undistinguished.

Our rating: We weren't all that impressed with this wine, but to be fair there's nothing really wrong with it. The flavors never developed much and while it would seem to be food friendly, we're not altogether sure one enhances the other to any significant degree ... as a good wine should. We ended up serving our bottle with a vegetarian pizza, but think that a simple pasta dish might have been better. We rate it on the low side of Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Fruit and floral aromas. The taste is warm and round and off dry."

Winery website: Axial Vinos.
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