Pavão Vinho Verde NV (2010)

Pavão Vinho Verde NV (2010)

Origin: Portugal
Blend: Unknown
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light- to medium-gold in color, this ever so slightly sparkling wine has aromas of apple and pear, with slight hints of cider and almonds. The fruit flavors on the palate are a bit like unripened apple and apple peel, rather tart and astringent. There isn't much of a finish, but as the fruit flavors fade a mild minerality appears.

Our rating: Usually we prefer our Vinho Verdes ("green wines") as an aperitif, or simply as is while relaxing, but in this case we found we enjoyed this wine a bit more when accompanied by food. Granted, we served it with breakfast-for-dinner — scrambled eggs, ham, potatoes and onions — so there was every expectation that it would pair well. Still, this wasn't one of our favorite examples of this blend. Though typically a non-vintage wine, the bottles are stamped with their date of export. We previously rated a 2009-dated bottle on the low side of Average. We score this 2010-dated bottle a little worse, still Average but just barely.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: None found.

Placido Pinot Grigio 2010

Placido Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (1.5L bottle)

Our review: Light straw-gold in color, this wine has rich aromas of apples and tangerines with floral notes. The fruit flavors — similar to those on the nose — have a nice acidic balance, not too tart but not too sweet either. The fruitiness diminishes into the finish, which has a dry mineral character to it.

Our rating: Having been disappointing by so many of our experimental 1.5L wines of earlier this summer, we were surprised at how much we enjoyed this particular wine. To be sure, there isn't much depth to it and it tastes like the generic pinot grigio that it is, but for what we believe to be it its intended purpose — or at least how we would serve it, at an outdoor gathering of friends and family together with grilled meats and vegetables — it is more than suitable. Its relatively low alcohol content is rather attractive in this context, as well. And it has a screw cap, unlike so many others, and something we actually prefer, a thoughtful addition by the winemaker. On our standard scale, we rate it Average, but for our next party, where we need an inexpensive, versatile wine, we'll be looking for this one.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: None found.

Martín Códax Albariño 2009

Martín Códax Albariño 2009

Origin: Rias Baixax, Spain
Blend: Albariño (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $5.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A medium gold in color, this wine has aromas of mixed tropical fruits with significant notes of spice. Of moderate body on the palate, the fruit flavors tend towards tree fruit (apple, pear) though there is some tropical fruit (pineapple, guava) present as well. The finish brings out the spice a bit, reminiscent of cider.

Our rating: This wine has a lot of character to it. While one will be tempted to serve it with a meal — and we're thinking a poultry dish is best — it can also be enjoyed as is, just relaxing and enjoying the late summer breezes. Indeed, our bottle was nearly gone by the time the chicken breasts came off the grill. Rich and smooth, we rate this wine Above Average, Nearly Excellent. We previously rated the 2006 vintage similarly. (A quick note about the price paid: this wine was in a "marked down" section, and is almost certainly not what you would pay for it. Indeed, Wine.com currently lists it for $16.99. We wish now we had cleared the vendor where we purchased our bottle of their remaining supply.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: This refreshing food friendly white wine is crisp, elegant and dry and has aromas and flavors of pear, passion fruit and apple with bright acidity.

Martín Códax Albariño 2009 may be available to purchase from Wine.com.

Winery website: Martín Códax.

The Beachhouse White Wine 2010

The Beachhouse White Wine 2010

Origin: Western Cape, South Africa
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (80%), Semillon (20%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light gold with green/silver highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus (orange, lime) and lemongrass with fresh floral and herbal notes. The citrusy, but not too tart, flavors are accompanied by tropical fruit, but not too sweet, flavors on the palate. The finish is very brief, but has a touch of minerality to it.

Our rating: There is not much complexity to the wine, which is not necssarily a fault as we think it makes the wine quite versatile, able to pair with a wide variety of foods. In our opinion, South African Sauvignon Blancs generally work best with moderately spicy Asian cuisines, regardless of underlying protein, and this wine did not disappoint in that regard. We served our bottle with orange chicken, and found it to be an appropriate pairing. The inclusion of Semillon in this blend seems to soften the wine a bit, a nice touch, and one that should appeal to those who may consider some Sauvignon Blancs as too harsh. We rate this wine Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Twinkling bright and pale straw with playful lemongrass and gooseberry aromas layered with hints of honeysuckle and tangerine that race across the palate in a refreshing burst of tantalising citrus fruit finishing with a vibrant crispness.

Winery website: The Beachhouse: A Wine by Douglas Green.

Sobon Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Sobon Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Amador County, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Silver-gold in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit and spice. Other than an initially brief and pleasant citrus tartness on the tip of the tongue, there isn't much fruit flavor on the palate; rather, it is more of a slightly smoky, earthy character with a crisp acidity that increases a bit into the finish, which itself it lengthy with considerable depth.

Our rating: Those who favor California interpretations of this varietal will not be disappointed in this effort. It's nicely complex, and would pair well with most meals that include roasted meats or vegetables. As with many "oaked" white wines — and to be sure, we aren't sure this wine has experienced any oak aging, but we'd be surprised if it hadn't — allowing it to breathe a bit before consuming improves its overall character. We previously rated the 2007 vintage and the 2008 vintage of this wine, rating them both Average. We think the current wine is a tad better, rating on the high side of Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: 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. (From the bottle label.)

Winery website: Sobon Family Wines. This varietal is not mentioned on the winery website.

Robert Mondavi "Private Selection" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Robert Mondavi "Private Selection" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: July 2011
Suggested Retail Price: $11.00 (750ml bottle)

Our review: The green-gold wine exhibits aromas of lime, citrus zest, and lemongrass, with very slight notes of citrus flowers. The citrus flavors are a little muted at first, but quickly develop on the palate. The somewhat astringent finish has some mineral character to it.

Our rating: Maybe it shouldn't, but it continues to surprise us how much temperature is a factor in reviewing wines. We typically serve Sauvignon Blancs reasonably well chilled, but in this case, we found that as this wine warmed it improved. What we initially considered to be muted or flat flavors developed quite nicely after 20-30 minutes or so. We served our bottle with a grilled pork chops and asparagus, probably not the best choice but not a bad one overall. It demonstrated to us how versatile this wine can be. Our recommendation is to chill this wine and then allow it to breathe for 15-20 minutes before serving. As such, we rate it Above Average.

This wine was received as a sample for review. See our Disclosure Policy for more information about our reviews of sample products.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Lemon/lime, with freshly cut grass and floral notes on the nose. The flavors of the same family with a nice acidic backbone. The acidity leans to the citrus side making for a very food friendly wine. Enjoy this superior Sauvignon Blanc with crab salad, calamari, prosciutto-wrapped pears, and roasted chicken.

Winery website: Robert Mondavi Wines (Private Selection). The information on the website is a little dated; the most recent information mentioned is for 2008 vintages.

Kirkland Pinot Grigio 2010

Kirkland Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: Friuli, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Straw-gold in color this wine has aromas of tree fruit (apples, peaches) with notes of flowers. Nicely balanced on the palate, the fruit flavors are similar in character as those on the nose, slightly tart and accompanied by a mild minerality, which remains well into the finish.

Our rating: We previously reviewed the 2009 vintage of this wine, sold exclusively at Costco, and were delighted to see it again in our local store. When we compared our notes, year over year, we found that these two vintages are broadly similar, but we think the present bottle is somewhat more refined, more interesting than last year's. We served our bottle with an appetizer platter consisting of both hot and cold finger foods, and found it paired nicely with everything. We think its versatility is a strong factor in its favor, but would suggest poultry — like chicken satays with a peanut sauce and pickled cucumbers on the side — as its best food match. We rate it on the very high side of Above Average. And maybe the best part: it's priced a dollar less than last year.

Taste profile from the winemaker: A bright and fragrant bouquet of crisp apple and pear notes, with a hint of tropical fruit and a touch of dried nuts. The acidity is crisp followed by a clean and refreshing finish. (From the bottle label.)

Winery website: None found.

flipflop Pinot Grigio 2010

flipflop Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: California
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $5.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Lemon yellow in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (pineapple, melon) with significant notes of tree and citrus fruit (green apple, orange). Smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors are an interesting mix of sweet and tart, settling more towards the latter into the finish, which retains much of the fruit character, though is reminiscent ever so slightly of apple peel or citrus rind.

Our rating: This is a new label, launched earlier this year by Underdog Wine Merchants, with seven varietals all with a recommended retail price of $7 per bottle. There's nothing complex about this wine, but it is very drinkable. We served our bottle during a pot-luck style lunch, and given its versatility in pairing, that's probably a good choice. It would also do well at an informal gathering of friends and family, and work well with appetizers. We enjoyed this wine, rating it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Light-bodied, refreshing with tropical citrus, ripe pear and a zesty, clean finish.

Winery website: flipflop: to each, their own. According to information posted on the website, for every bottle of flipflop wine purchased, Soles4Souls will distribute a pair of shoes to someone in need (up to 100,000 pairs this year).

Robert Mondavi "Private Selection" Pinot Grigio 2010

Robert Mondavi "Private Selection" Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: California (primarily Monterey County)
Blend: Pinot Grigio (82%), Pinot Blanc (8%), Sauvignon Blanc (5%), Gewürztraminer (5%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: July 2011
Suggested Retail Price: $11.00 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Aromas of tree fruit (pear, apple) with notes of citrus and a hint of spice are exhibited by this pale yellow-gold wine. The palate has a similar flavor profile, which is accompanied by a brisk acidity. The wine finishes cleanly, but is relatively brief.

Our rating: This is an example of a wine that is much better when consumed with food than when enjoyed on its own. Alone, it is somewhat harsh — though that's probably too strong of a word to use — but in conjunction with a meal, it's quite nice. We served our bottle with a Spanish chicken and rice dish, and found it paired beautifully, the wine complementing the onions, bell peppers, and spices present. Probably not the most versatile of wines, but one that will definitely be enjoyed with the right meal. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Boasts an enticing aroma of fresh, ripe pears with appealing peach, vanilla, and spice scents adding complexity. A pretty wine with a round, creamy palate and crisp entry, it has the typical tonic water, pear, and floral grassy flavors that culminate into a lush, silk-textured finish — inviting pairings with food.

This wine was received as a sample for review. See our Disclosure Policy for more information about our reviews of sample products.

Winery website: Robert Mondavi Wines (Private Selection). The information on the website is a little dated; the most recent information mentioned is for 2008 vintages.

Undurraga Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Undurraga Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light yellow-gold with green highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus, lemongrass and sweet herbs. Gently crisp on the palate, the citrus flavors are paired with a dry minerality. The citrus character dissipates into the lengthy finish, a slightly neutral herbaceousness remaining that is more pleasant than not.

Our rating: We chose (not overly) blackened white fish sandwiches to serve with this wine, a nice choice. The soft, almost mellow character of the wine works well with a lighter meal. The wine also works well on its own; indeed, we had consumed more than half the bottle before the sandwiches were ready. We think that it could readily be enjoyed with other sandwich meats, such as roasted turkey or even pulled pork. Quite typical of this varietal from Chile, it has the bonus of being attractively priced. We rate it on the high end of Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: It has a pale colour with green tones and is fruity, floral and exciting. It is perfect to accompany salads, fish, seafood, and cold meats.

Winery website: Viñas Undurraga.