Thursday, May 31, 2012

Smart Cookie Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Smart Cookie Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (wine review and rating)

Smart Cookie Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine has typical varietal aromas of gooseberry, green pepper and citrus zest with just a hint of orange blossoms. Very smooth on the palate, the citrus flavors are very well balanced, slightly tart with a touch of vegetal sweetness. Some grassiness is present in the persistent finish.

Our rating: We often serve Sauvignon Blancs with seafood, in particular grilled or broiled whitefish filets, but we have to confess this bottle didn't make it to the table. It is absolutely delicious and we enjoyed it while preparing dinner, somewhat surprising ourselves that when it came time to sit down there was none left. That was our loss, as we believe it would have paired beautifully with the meal. Clearly it works just fine on its own, and we think it would pair well with most light dishes. Striking all the right notes in all the right ways, we rate it Excellent, one of the best of this varietal we've had in a long time.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Bright and zesty with aromas of freshly baked lemon cookies. Citrus and tropical fruit flavors fill your palate and finishes refreshingly long.

Winery website: None found.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Cielo "1908" Pinot Grigio 2011

Cielo 1908 Pinot Grigio 2011 (wine review and rating)

Cielo "1908" Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light straw in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (peach, apple) with a very slight note of earthiness. Of moderate body on the palate, the flavors are similar to the characteristics of the nose with a good acidic balance. That earthy, now almost nut-like, note becomes slightly more prominent in the finish.

Our rating: We've taken to replacing our standard pasta with whole grain pasta, which has a somewhat more hearty character and flavor to it. And this wine paired very nicely with our most recent dish, which included chicken as the protein. We believe it is probably best enjoyed with a meal, and not necessarily a light one, where it can easily hold its own. We previously rated the 2008 Cielo Pinot Grigio Average, but we think this vintage markedly better, at least Above Average and maybe a little higher. (A follow up note: We always write our reviews before reading what the winemaker has to say. And we have to admit, after reading that they use the term "bread crust" to describe the bouquet, what we called "earthiness" is actually probably more of a yeasty character. We'll have to add "bread crust" to our list of potential adjectives for future use!)

Taste profile from the winemaker: Colour: Straw yellow with green reflections. Bouquet: Bread crust and green apple. Taste: Fresh and drinkable.

Winery website: Cielo e Terra.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Vera Vinho Verde 2010

Vera Vinho Verde 2010 (wine review and rating)

Vera Vinho Verde 2010

Origin: Portugal
Blend: Arinto (60%), Azal (30%), Loureiro (10%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A greenish-yellow in color, this very slightly sparkling wine has aromas of green apple and citrus with faint notes of peaches or apricots. The fruit flavors are somewhat muted at first, but develop quickly on the palate, a little tart in character with significant minerality. There isn't much of a finish.

Our rating: We like "green wines" for their versatility, the ability to stand alone as a aperitif or to serve with a wide variety of simply prepared foods. This is a good one, probably best enjoyed with appetizers or a brunch buffet, where it is likely to pair well with almost anything present. The rather strong mineral element may not be to everyone's liking, but we think it works within the context of this wine, rating it Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Bibi Graetz Bianco di Casamatta 2009

Bibi Graetz Bianco di Casamatta 2009 (wine review and rating)

Bibi Graetz Bianco di Casamatta 2009

Origin: Toscana, Italy
Blend: Vermentino (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $3.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium- to dark-gold in color, this wine has aromas of apple and cider with strong notes of honey. The flavors on the palate are similar to the nose, with a significant cider-like character accompanied by some earthy bitterness. The finish is rather smooth, more so than would otherwise be expected.

Our rating: A note first about the price paid. This wine was specially priced when we purchased it, $5 off its regular $8.99 price. We appreciated the complexity exhibited by this wine, but simply didn't enjoy it. Most definitely a food-required wine, we served ours with roasted chicken and potatoes, not a bad choice considering. Still, we didn't care for the overall bitterness of this wine, which we simply could not get past. Vermentinos are meant to be consumed young, so maybe this example was simply well past its prime, but we rate it Below Average to Inferior and not recommended, even at the price we paid.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

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