Thursday, November 8, 2012

Schmitt Söhne Liebfraumilch 2010

Schmitt Söhne Liebfraumilch 2010 (wine review and rating)

Schmitt Söhne Liebfraumilch 2010

Origin: Rhine Region, Germany
Blend: Riesling, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau and Kerner (unknown percentages)
Alcohol Content: 9.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $4.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light straw-gold in color, this wine has aromas of peach and flowers, with notes of orange. Soft on the palate, the fruit flavors — and orange seems to be the primary one here — tend to be on the sweet side but there's a nice moderating acidity that balances the sweetness. The finish is quite clean.

Our rating: We had forgotten that two years ago we reviewed the 2008 vintage of this wine. It wasn't until we were preparing this review that we found our previous one … and obviously we were not altogether impressed back then. However, that's not at all what we think of this bottle, which we found delightfully refreshing. We elected to enjoy it as an aperitif, a simple end-of-afternoon/pre-dinner glass, and found it just about perfect as such. Indeed, we think it would make for an ideal friends and family gathering-style wine, one to serve with appetizers or hors d'oeuvres, a wine that would pair well with almost any food. Overall, we rate it well Above Average and, given its very attractive price, highly recommended.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Schmitt Söhne GmbH.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio 2011

Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio 2011 (wine review and rating)

Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: Sicilia, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2012
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light yellow-gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (notably peaches) with notes of spice. On the palate the wine is soft, almost creamy, with flavors of apple, perry, and citrus zest. The slightly aggressive finish has quite a bit of mineral character to it, though it tapers off nicely.

Our rating: We chose to enjoy our bottle with a meal of chicken tenders, asparagus, and farfalle tossed in a bit of olive oil, with which it paired very well. Unlike Pinot Grigios from northern Italy, which tend to be lighter and can typically be enjoyed alone or as aperitifs, this wine needs food to bring out its best qualities, and is probably best served with relatively simple, lightly seasoned poultry and/or vegetable dishes. (We don't see it pairing as well with seafood or with spicy cuisines.) A good family dinner-style wine, we rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Bright aromas of peach and cream, apple and nougat with a silky dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a crisp, orange, melon, and straw accented finish. Delicious and balanced.

Winery website: None found.

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.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...