Thursday, March 29, 2012

Campogrande Orvieto Classico 2010

Campogrande Orvieto Classico 2010 (wine review and rating)

Campogrande Orvieto Classico 2010

Origin: Orvieto, Italy
Blend: Procanico (40%), Grechetto (40%), Verdello (15%), Drupeggio and Malvasia (5%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A very pale silver-green in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (pineapple, banana) with faint notes of citrus flowers. The flavors on the palate are similar though have a slightly bitter, almost nut-like character to them. The finish is remarkably similar to the palate, so much so that there is virtually no transition to make note of.

Our rating: We chose to pair this wine with a simple pasta dish with a side salad, but think it may be better served with a more robust meal. There's a fair amount of complexity to this wine, but we're not convinced it is all that harmonious. It is very different from the everyday ABC wine and we didn't dislike it by any means, but we're not sure we'd rush out to buy another bottle. We previously reviewed the Campogrande Orvieto 2006 and apparently enjoyed that vintage much more than the present one, rating it Above Average. We would rate this bottle Average at best.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Straw yellow with green highlights, the wine shows aromas which recall bananas, pineapple, and flowers. Full on the palate, savory and soft, it is a pleasurable, easy-drinking wine.

Winery website: Santa Cristina.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Tariquet Classic Ugni Blanc Colombard 2010

Tariquet Classic Ugni Blanc Colombard 2010 (wine review and rating)

Tariquet Classic Ugni Blanc Colombard 2010

Origin: Côtes de Gascogne, France
Blend: Ugni Blanc (70%), Colombard (30%)
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium yellow/gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (notably peaches and apricots) with notes of flowers. Very smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors are similar to the nose, nicely balanced at first, though a little too acidic as the finish develops, which has some unusual notes of under-ripened fruit.

Our rating: This is a rather complex wine, but most definitely not a sipping one. It seems to need food to help round out the various elements present. We served our bottle with roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes and steamed green vegetables, a good if safe choice. Poultry seems like the best pairing here, but we could easily see it accompanying pork dishes as well. We previously reviewed the Tariquet Classic Ugni Blanc-Colombard 2008, emphatically stating that it was really a seafood wine not to be paired with poultry, quite the opposite of what we're suggesting here! Nevertheless, we rated the 2008 vintage as Above Average, about the same as we rate this year's bottle.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Chateau du Tariquet.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (wine review and rating)

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale gold with silver highlights, this wine has aromas of grapefruit, gooseberry, and grass with notes of green vegetables and herbs. The citrus flavor on the palate is crisp but not tart, followed by a slight but brisk minerality that develops into the finish. The finish itself is a little flat and ever so slightly bitter.

Our rating: This is a refined wine with good structure and balance. Very typical of this varietal from New Zealand, it is moderately aggressive but doesn't cross any boundaries. We served our bottle with simply prepared white fish, a nice choice. We were slightly disappointed in the finish, which some might consider "racy" but reminded us of citrus zest used in excess. We previously rated the Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Excellent and the present vintage is close but doesn't quite deserve the same rating; we rate it Above Average, Nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: The wine possesses a light straw colour and tropical aromas of guava, melon and citrus. The palate exhibits the same fine flavours followed by a crisp, dry, flinty finish.

Winery website: Clifford Bay: New Zealand Wine.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Terranoble Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Terranoble Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (wine review and rating)

Terranoble Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A pale greenish-yellow in color, this wine has very strong aromas of freshly cut tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, banana) with slight citrus notes. The citrus makes more of an appearance on the palate, which is crisp and fairly tart though a little thin on flavor. The finish adds some citrus zest and is moderately long.

Our rating: Chile continues to distinguish itself by crafting Sauvignon Blancs in a very approachable manner, and different from its cousins in France, New Zealand, and the US. This example is typical of the region, maybe not one of its better efforts, but very drinkable and readily paired with a wide variety of cuisines. We would suggest seafood as a first choice with which to serve this wine, but it is by no means limited to this. We rate it a bit better than Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: An attractive pale yellow color with greenish tones, it has intense aromas of tropical fruits, especially pineapple. Is a very fresh wine, dry and equilibrated. It has a good structure and a nice natural acidity which has a long permanence in mouth.

Winery website: None found.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Telmo Rodríguez Basa Blanco Rueda 2009

Telmo Rodríguez Basa Blanco Rueda 2009 (wine review and rating)

Telmo Rodríguez Basa Blanco Rueda 2009

Origin: Rueda, Spain
Blend: Verdejo (85%), Viura (10%), Sauvignon Blanc (5%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light lemon yellow in color with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of green apple accompanied by slight grassy notes. A crisp apple character is also present on the palate, but quickly and somewhat surprisingly softens. There is a good acid balance into the finish, which adds a touch of minerality and is relatively short but very clean.

Our rating: We served our bottle with a mildly spicy chicken and rice dish, with which it paired quite nicely. We think most simply prepared meals with poultry or pork would be enhanced with this wine; we don't see seafood as a good match. We're guessing the small amounts of Viura and Sauvignon Blanc added some depth and interest to this wine that wouldn't otherwise be there. We really enjoyed it, and rate it Above Average, Nearly Excellent … and at just $8, a very good value.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez.

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