Thursday, September 29, 2011

Si Soave Italia 2009

Soave, Veneto, Italy (wine review and rating)

Si Soave Italia 2009

Origin: Soave, Veneto, Italy
Blend: Garganega (90%), Trebbiano (10%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2011
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium gold in color this wine has aromas of perry (pear cider) and other tree fruits with faint floral notes. Of moderate body on the palate, the fruit flavors are similar to the nose, with more than a hint of spice or herbal tea notes. The finish is clean but otherwise unremarkable.

Our rating: Earlier this week we reviewed another Soave, yet the present wine is markedly different. Not different in a bad way, just different. Though it may seem at first there is a lot going on here, it's relatively simple in its structure. Towards that end, we think it works best as a wine to serve at lunch, or with a light meal (think sandwiches and salads). Last year we rated the 2008 vintage Average, and we rate this one similarly, maybe a touch higher. Regarding the unusual arc-shaped bottle, we like it quite a bit. It's playful and practical. Kind of like the wine itself.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: Si Soave Italia.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Cantina de Monteforte "Re Teodorico" Soave 2009

Soave, Veneto, Italy (wine review and rating)

Cantina de Monteforte "Re Teodorico" Soave 2009

Origin: Soave, Veneto, Italy
Blend: Garganega (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2011
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Bright yellow with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus, green apple and herbs, with notes of spice and a hint of lemongrass. The flavors on the palate have a similar profile and are reasonably well-rounded. The finish is fairly short, but clean and refreshing.

Our rating: There is a lot of character and depth to this wine, so much so that — and somewhat to our surprise — we were a little unsure how to describe what were tasting, and constantly revising our notes as a result. We enjoyed our bottle with Tuscan-herbed chicken and roasted potatoes, a nice pairing … but also one that could have influenced how we perceived the wine. This is one of those cases where the wine seems to adapt to the meal being consumed, an interesting aspect. We think it probably pairs best with lightly seasoned poultry and vegetable dishes, though we wouldn't be adverse to trying it with pork. Overall, we rate it on the high side of Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Color (Visual): Clear, bright straw yellow. Aroma (Nose): Notable nose of violets and almonds. Taste (Palate): Vibrant and sapid with a characteristic aftertaste of almonds.

Winery website: Cantina di Monteforte.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Soave: The Wine and its Origin

This coming week we'll be reviewing two Soave wines, but before we did, we thought we'd acquaint ourselves with a little more about the wine and its region.

There are three different types of Soave:

• Soave DOC, which includes the sub-zones of Soave Classico and Soave Colli Scaligeri;
• Soave Superiore DOCG (2001) which also includes wines with the "Riserva" designation; and
• Recioto di Soave DOCG (1998) a dessert wine not often found in the US at present.

Soave must be composed of a minimum of 70% Garganega, although many of the Classico wines contain up to 100%. Many winemakers utilize Trebbiano di Soave, typically about 10%, for its enlivening acidity, and although Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco are permitted their use is becoming increasingly rare. Most of the wines are vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks. Some winemakers use wood for ageing, in particular for the Classico wines, but they focus on older oak that merely adds roundness to the wines without being too prominent.

Soave Italy

For centuries, the Garganega grape has produced noble, elegant and harmonious wines that have countless mentions in historical documents and Italian literature. Today Garganega — when it is grown in optimum locations and conditions with low yields and when the grapes are allowed to ripen fully — produces wines with delicate flavors of pear, pineapple, and apricot that become fuller and more luscious with age.

Garganega thrives in Soave, where the terroir yields superb quality white wines. The Soave production zone is situated in the eastern part of the province of Verona in Italy's Veneto region. The Soave zone — characterized by gentle rolling hills — includes parts or all of the areas belonging to the municipalities of Soave, Monteforte d'Alpone, San Martino Buon Albergo, Lavagno, Mezzane, Caldiero, Colognola, Illasi, Cazzano, Roncà, Montecchia and San Giovanni Ilarione. The majority of the vineyards are in the hills including the historic "Classico" zone, which lies between the charming medieval town of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone, the oldest original zone. Beautiful centuries old castles, churches, bell towers, and aristocratic villas are all part of the rich history and traditions of this area, and indicative of the region's principal product, Soave wines. Eons ago, the Soave area was covered by a tropical sea as evidenced by saline sediments in the soil that are expressed in Soave wine, with its rich mineral quality and distinctive fresh, clean and fruit-forward flavors. The tufaceous volcanic terroir of this area also lends to the development of complex and multi-faceted white wines.

We'd like to thank the Soave Consortium for providing the above information to us and Colangelo & Partners for providing two samples of wine from this region for review.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Collezione Marchesini Orvieto Classico 2009

Orvieto, Italy (wine review and rating)

Collezione Marchesini Orvieto Classico 2009

Origin: Orvieto, Italy
Blend: Grechetto and Trebbiano (percentages unknown)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A very pale gold in color with a tint of green this wine has aromas of citrus (lemon) and orange blossom with very slight notes of herbs, maybe lemongrass. The fruit flavors, mostly lemon and other citrus, are nicely balanced on the palate, and have a bit of body to them. The finish is relatively short and tastes a bit of lemon or orange zest.

Our rating: This is a very pleasant wine, if not an altogether interesting or memorable one. There are a lot of familiar characteristics to it, so much so that it fails to distinguish itself as something different and unique. That isn't necessarily a bad thing — all things considered, we rather enjoyed our bottle — but it seems a bit generic, like an everyday table wine … which maybe it is. Serve it with classic Italian dishes, though it's also quite nice on its own or as an aperitif. We rate it Above Average overall.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: None found.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Anakena Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Central Valley, Chile (wine review and rating)

Anakena Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light citrus scent with hints of lemongrass and orange zest are exhibited by this pale straw-colored wine. There is some initial citrus tartness, but it is quickly balanced by a mild tropical fruit flavor.

Our rating: We've been fans of this wine label for some time now, having previously enjoyed the 2006, 2007, and 2008 vintages, as well as one of its higher priced sister labels, the 2009 Anakena Indo Sauvignon Blanc. This 2010 vintage is comparable, in that it is incredibly food friendly, pairing well with most any dish and probably most particularly Asian cuisines. Still, we think it isn't quite as good as in the past — primarily due to the somewhat odd finish here — and rate it Above Average. Nevertheless, we continue to recommend the wine as a candidate for everyday consumption.

Taste profile from the winemaker: A crisp pale gold Sauvignon Blanc, with intense notes of white peach, pineapple and citrus. On the palate it is fresh, and with a pleasant finish. Delicious with chicken salad, white fish and light appetizers.

Winery website: Anakena: Roots of the Andes.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Villa Maria "Private Bin" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Marlborough, New Zealand (wine review and rating)

Villa Maria "Private Bin" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $10.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Greenish-gold in color with silver highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus, gooseberry, and lemongrass with faint herbal notes. Crisp on the palate, the fruit flavors are tart and tend towards freshly cut grapefruit. The finish includes some minerality.

Our rating: There is no mistaking that this varietal wine with its characteristic style is from New Zealand, but it's a very approachable example. And for a wine that can be said to be "crisp", it's also very "smooth". This is one of our favorites from the region, and we typically serve it with simply prepared white fish filets. But it would also pair well with most any vegetarian dish, especially an Asian-inspired one. We have previously rated the 2006 vintage and 2009 vintage Excellent, and are pleased to say that this current vintage also merits this rating.

Taste profile from the winemaker: This vibrant Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with a fruit-salad-bowl of flavours including ripe gooseberry, passionfruit, fresh citrus lime and exotic herbaceous aromas. The wine has an exciting palate with layers of juicy flavours, intensity and fullness, finishing with a refreshing crisp, clean and racy acidity.

Winery website: Villa Maria Estate.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Vino de Eyzaguirre Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Colchagua Valley, Chile (wine review and rating)

Vino de Eyzaguirre Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Lemon yellow/gold in color, this wine has an aroma of tropical fruit with notes of orange zest. The tropical fruit character is carried forward onto the palate but seems a little flat. A bit of grassiness develops into the finish.

Our rating: We've said on several occasions that we're fans of Chilean Sauvignon Blancs, and this wine is a good reason why. Very food friendly, the wine's character is such that it neither overwhelms nor conflicts with most dishes. Better yet, it tastes more expensive than it is. Probably best served with seafood, we also think it pairs nicely with mildly spiced chicken dishes; chicken satays with a Thai peanut sauce for example. Score-wise, we rate it well Above Average, but subjectively it's a bit better than that.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Pale straw color with soft green hues. On the nose, it has fresh notes of lychee and lemon zest with hints of grass and tropical fruits. In the mouth it shows lively acidity, appealing brightness and good volume with a long, pleasant finish.

Winery website: None found.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Recaş "Castle Rock" Fetească Regală 2010

Romania (wine review and rating)

Recaş "Castle Rock" Fetească Regală 2010

Origin: Romania
Blend: Fetească Regală (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: This wine is golden straw in color with apple/pear aromas and a hint of cider-like spice and herbs. Rather smooth on the palate, the flavors are similar to the nose, accompanied by some citric-based acidity. The finish tapers off gradually, leaving an ever so slight tropical fruit-like sweetness behind.

Our rating: We've never tasted this particular varietal before — indeed, this is our first wine from Romania — but apparently this grape is quite common in the region. Since we didn't know what to expect, we prepared our standard meal to serve with unknown wines, sauteed chicken breasts and herb-infused rice — it's actually quite a common meal in our house anyway — and were pleasantly surprised at how well it paired. We think poultry dishes, especially those that are mildly spiced — think North African or Middle Eastern here — may be ideal. It's not an overly complex wine but one that has a lot of character to it. In a word, it's interesting. One of our more unusual ABC wines, and one you may be unfamiliar with; we rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: Cremele Recaş. The bottle image of this wine differs slightly from the one we reviewed.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Fish Eye Pinot Grigio 2010 3L Box

South Eastern Australia (wine review and rating)

Fish Eye Pinot Grigio 2010 3L Box

Origin: South Eastern Australia
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: N/A
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $15.99 (3L box)

Our review: Medium gold in color, this wine has aromas of nectarine and pineapple/mango with floral notes. The palate tends towards tropical fruit flavors, though they are a little harsh. A very slight chalky minerality creeps into the moderately long finish.

Our rating: Two years ago we reviewed the Fish Eye Pinot Grigio 2008, rating it rather poorly. We almost skipped buying this cask version until we noticed that instead of California, the wine originated from Australia. OK, that was enough of a difference for us to give it a try. And overall, we're glad we did … though let's be clear, this isn't a great wine by any means. It's rather generic and lacks character. But for its probable intended purpose — an informal gathering of friends or family, a backyard barbecue, a quick glass with a quick lunch, and the like — it's more than adequate and has the bonus of being quite food friendly. If you store your boxed wines in the refrigerator, and most of us probably do even though we know it overchills it, you may find that the wine is markedly better after it warms up a bit in the glass. We rate it about Average, but at just the equivalent of $4 a bottle, it's really a good value.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Refreshing and flavorful, with a pleasant touch of ripe peach and citrus.

Winery website: Fish Eye Winery.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

La di Motte Pinot Grigio 2009

Fossalta di Piave, Italy (wine review and rating)

La di Motte Pinot Grigio 2009

Origin: Fossalta di Piave, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2011
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit, tropical fruit and very slightly of bananas, with hints of honey and spice. Smooth, almost creamy, on the palate with an initial tingling sensation on the tongue, the dominant flavor is one of spicy cider with a nice balance to the acidity. The finish is very brief and unremarkable.

Our rating: Almost everything about this wine, from the color to its slightly smoky character, suggests it was cellared in oak, but according to the website, this wine experienced no oak aging. Not expecting this, we mispaired it, serving this wine with a light meal of cold turkey sandwiches and a crisp green salad when we think it would probably best be served with something more along the lines of a fully dressed Thanksgiving dinner. Unlike most any other Italian version of this varietal that we've had recently, we're not sure if it is typical or not — it's certainly unusual based on our experience — but in the end we rather enjoyed it and that's all that probably matters. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Straw yellow colour with lively highlights. Soft on the palate with well-balanced acidity. This wine has an elegant bouquet, typical varietal aromas with hints of hay.

Winery website: La di Motte. The bottle image, taken from the winery website, shows a green bottle. Our was brown, but otherwise identical.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Finca Los Maza Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Mendoza, Argentina (wine review and rating)

Finca Los Maza Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.3%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: This straw-colored wine with gold highlights has aromas of tree fruit (notably apples) with strong floral and spice notes. The fruit flavor on the palate is of a similar character accompanied with a nicely balanced citrus-like tartness, with a very slight, but not unpleasant, bitterness appearing in the finish.

Our rating: We appreciate the complexity that the winemaker tried to introduce into this wine, though we thought the overall flavors were a bit flat and not quite harmonious. We suspect the brief oak cellaring softened the wine just a tad too much, rendering it somewhat muddled. Not a sipping wine, but one that pairs nicely with freshly prepared, richly flavored foods. We served our bottle with oven-fried chicken, baked potatoes and steamed vegetables, a solid pairing. (That may not seem like a "richly flavored" meal to you, but trust us, it was!) Attractively priced, and noticeably different from its cousins to the west (i.e. Chilean Sauvignon Blancs), we think it's worth checking out. We rate it on the high side of Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Color: Pale yellow with green hues. Aroma: Grapefruit along with other citric fruits. Mouth: Fresh and butters with citric notes and a well-balanced acidity.

Winery website: Finca Los Maza.

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