Tin Roof Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Wine: Tin Roof Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Origin: Santa Rosa, California
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Bottle closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: September 2008
Purchase Price: $8.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Offers layers of bright, juicy, citrus fruit flavors that gain elegance from a refreshing, underlying minerality. It’s an ideal match for lighter seafood dishes, roasted chicken, Caesar salad and mildly spiced Asian cuisines."

ABC Wines review: Aromas of a blend of citrus and some tree fruit (pear) are evident in this varietal wine. The palate is crisp and clean with a light to medium body. The finish has a nice balance between mineral dryness and a mild acidity. This food-friendly wine may be served with a wide variety of cuisines. Our score: Above Average to Excellent. We also rated the Tin Roof Sauvignon Blanc 2005 vintage above average to excellent.

Winery website: Tin Roof Cellars.

Harlow Ridge Pinot Grigio 2005

Wine: Harlow Ridge Pinot Grigio 2005
Origin: Napa Valley, California
Blend: 100% Pinot Grigio
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Bottle closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: August 2008
Purchase Price: $7.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: None found.

ABC Wines review: A light yellow-gold in color, this wine has unusual blend of aromas - peach, almond, honey and spice. The palate is sweeter than one might expect but without much fruit character and with little acidity for balance. The finish is fairly long but lacks depth or complexity. Our score: Had we tasted this wine without the label, we would have never guessed it was a pinot grigio, but instead some obscure varietal. Or maybe it simply hasn't aged well. Regardless, it's not very good. Well Below Average, nearly Inferior.

Winery website: None found. Harlow Ridge is a brand of the Bronco Wine Company.

Indaba Chenin Blanc 2007

Wine: Indaba Chenin Blanc 2007
Origin: Western Cape, South Africa
Blend: 93% Chenin Blanc; 7% Chardonnay
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Bottle closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2008
Purchase Price: $8.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Strikes the perfect balance between mouthwatering fruit and crisp acidity. It's packed with luscious tropical, citrus, and white stone fruit, accented with a touch of honey. An ideal party wine, this pairs well with most everything, from salads and light pasta dishes to mild cheeses, sushi, and seafood."

ABC Wines review: Lightly fragrant, this wine has aromas of tree fruit notably green apple and pear. Moderately dry on the palate, the flavors are surprisingly weak, not diluted, just weak. The finish adds some acidity but is short and otherwise not memorable. Definitely not to be served as an aperitif, this wine needs food to bring out its character. Our score: On the low side of Average (and overpriced at that).

Winery website: Cape Classics.

Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Wine: Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Origin: Coastal Region, South Africa
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Bottle closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2008
Purchase Price: $8.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Lively colours of lemon and lime introduce this deliciously vibrant wine. Grassy and gooseberry aromas and flavours end in a lingering finish. Its crisp good acidity means it acts as a foil to oily dressings. It is the perfect match for goat’s cheeses, asparagus, smoked fish, prawns, Thai noodle salads and stir-fried calamari and even ratatouille."

ABC Wines review: Grapefruit and gooseberry are the primary aromas in this wine which are accompanied by some vegetal (asparagus) and herbal notes. The palate is quite tart and the citrus flavors have a mineral dryness to them. The finish is mildly acidic and has some astringency, but seems somewhat unbalanced. This wine would work well with a lightly breaded and fried white fish fillet. Our score: Average, maybe a bit better.

Winery website: Nederburg.

Special Savings: 1 Cent Shipping at Wine.com!

Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Below is a list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

For five days only, wine.com is offering 1 Cent Shipping on any wine purchase of $99 or more. Simply enter promo code ONECENT at checkout. This promotion ends on September 12th. An ABC wine to consider that's available from wine.com: the Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2007. Earlier this year we rated the Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2007 wine Above Average to Excellent. Wine Spectator rated it 90 points.

Fontana Candida Frascati 2006

Wine: Fontana Candida Frascati 2006
Origin: Rome, Italy
Blend: 50% Malvasia Bianca di Candia, 40% Trebbiano Toscano, 10% Malvasia del Lazio
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Bottle closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: July 2008
Purchase Price: $7.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Bright, pale straw. Aroma: Delicate fragrance of wildflower and fruit, especially hawthorn and Golden Delicious apples; Taste: Refreshing and lively in character with a dry, elegant, soft and fruity taste."

ABC Wines review: This wine has aromas of citrus and tree fruit with discernible floral and spice notes. Of light to medium body on the palate, the fruit flavors are accompanied by a slight bitterness. The finish is mildly acidic and has a nutty, butterscotch-like, aftertaste. Serve this wine with pasta in a mildly flavored cream sauce. Our score: Priced right, but otherwise just Average.

Winery website: Fontana Candida.

Marques de Riscal Rueda Verdejo 2005

Wine: Marques de Riscal Rueda Verdejo 2005
Origin: Rueda, Spain
Blend: 100% Verdejo
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Bottle closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: August 2008
Purchase Price: $8.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Pale straw-yellow colour. The nose reveals pleasant aromas of blossom and herbs, such as fennel, typical of the Verdejo variety. On the palate it has a fresh, supple sensation with a slight final bitterness which gives it complexity and the very characteristic personality of wines of this variety."

ABC Wines review: Aromas of citrus and herbs with a touch of oak and spice carry forward to the palate of this wine which is of medium body. A brisk acidity develops into the lingering finish which itself is pleasantly complex. Serve this wine with roasted chicken or a richly flavored rice dish. Our score: Well Above Average.

Winery website: Marques de Riscal.