Marques de Monistrol Cava Brut NV

Marques de Monistrol Cava Brut NV
Origin: Spain
Blend: Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada (percentages not known)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $9.99

Our review: Medium gold in color, this sparkling wine is lightly fragrant with aromas of tree fruit (peach and apple) with similar floral notes. The palate doesn’t quite adequately balance the fruit flavors with acidity, being slightly too acidic. There is a somewhat chalky character to the finish.

Our rating: This cava is best suited to be served with Asian appetizers like Thai chicken satays or Chinese pork potstickers. It doesn’t work quite as well as an aperitif or sipping wine. It’s interesting, but not memorable. Just Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Its tiny sparkling bubbles and enticing aromas lead to fresh fruit flavors and a silky, dry enduring finish."

Winery website: The Haciendas of Espana World.

KWV Steen 2006

KWV Steen 2006
Origin: Western Cape, South Africa
Blend: Chenin Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $8.99

Our review: Gold in color, this wine exhibits aromas of honey, tropical fruits, and flowers with a little hint of spice. Pleasantly sweet and fruitful on the palate, an acidity quickly develops that carries the flavors into the finish, which is distinctly spicy (think soft vanilla).

Our rating: A nice wine overall, but possibly a bit on the old side. We paired ours with a simple chicken and pasta dish, but think it may work even better with certain Asian cuisines. We rate it Average, maybe slightly better.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A briskly fresh and clear wine. Intense aromas with tropical fruit and floral flavours. Firm acids complements the wine well and adds to the clean style and dry finish."

Winery website: KWV.

Salute Pinot Grigio 2007

Salute Pinot Grigio 2007
Origin: Veneto, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $9.99

Our review: A mixed fruit, herbal bouquet is exhibited by this pale gold wine. Of light- to medium-body on the palate, the slightly sweeter than expected fruit flavors are weighed down by a chalk-like minerality. The finish is rather fruity, somewhat flat, but long-lasting.

Our rating: An Average, if unremarkable, pinot grigio that would pair well with most pasta dishes. At this price point, though, there are better choices.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Castle Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Castle Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Origin: Monterey County, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.8%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $8.99

Our review: Pale gold in color and aromas of grapefruit, melon, and honey with slight vegetal or herbal notes, this wine is incredibly smooth on the palate. The fruit flavors are initially quite prominent before a soft, spicy character (from oak cellaring?) comes through. The finish is quite complex and long-lasting, though a little too much smoky heat develops.

Our rating: We served this wine with a salad course, but think it pairs best with a vegetable risotto or a hearty poultry dish. It is a sophisticated wine that we rate Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "This elegant, medium-bodied wine is crisp and refreshing, with hints of citrus, apple, honey and melon flavors all blending into a smooth, silky, harmonious finish. It makes an ideal accompaniment for seafood, chicken, salads and vegetarian dishes."

Winery website: Castle Rock Winery.

Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva NV

Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva NV
Origin: Spain
Blend: Macabeo (50%), Parallada (35%), Xarel-lo (15%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $7.99

Our review: This sparkling wine is straw in color with aromas of citrus, butter, and herb with slight floral notes and large, long-lasting bubbles. There is surprisingly little fruit flavor on the palate, rather the flavors tend to evolve into the finish which itself is weak and somewhat flat and uninspired.

Our rating: We were disappointed with this wine. As a brut we anticipated it to be dry, which it was, but it was also unexpectedly lacking in flavor. We rate it Below Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Pale straw yellow in colour, elegant and harmonious on the nose, and fresh and well balanced on the palate, where the predominance of Macabeo is evident. Ample flavours and a persistent, fine mousse."

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva - Champagne & Sparkling is available to purchase from Wine.com.

Winery website: Segura Viudas.

Grao Vasco Dao White Wine 2008

Grao Vasco Dao White Wine 2008
Origin: Dao, Portugal
Blend: Bical, Cercial, Malvasia-Fina and Encruzado (percentages not provided)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $6.99

Our review: Greenish gold in color with aromas of citrus and tropical fruit with faint herb notes. Slightly sweet on the palate, the fruit flavors are accompanied by a subtle minerality that adds complexity. The finish, though exceptionally long, is rather flat and undistinguished.

Our rating: What a treat! We very much enjoyed this wine, which we recommend be served with seafood appetizers such as lightly fried calamari. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent, and an exceptional value.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A yellow straw hue and fine aromatic intensity with hints of white pulp and tropical fruit, as well as a mineral component that provides it with its freshness. In the mouth it is initially dry and has a lively acidity, well-balanced with the wine's fine body. Tropical fruits prevail in its suitably intense aroma. It has an elegant and lingering finish."

Winery website: Sogrape Vinhos.

il Cortigiano Prosecco "Vino Spumante" NV

il Cortigiano Prosecco "Vino Spumante" NV
Origin: Italy
Blend: Prosecco (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $9.99

Our review: This lightly sparkling wine is golden straw in color with a fragrance of green and red apples with significant floral notes. Very fizzy, almost foamy, with tiny bubbles, the palate is dry and fruit forward. A slight nutty, almost oak-like, character quickly develops, not unpleasant but somewhat unexpected.

Our rating: This is a simple, but delicious wine. We served it at the high end of the recommended temperature range as it improved its overall complexity. Best as a sipping wine (we enjoyed ours watching the sun set), but would also go well with a light lunch or appetizer platter. Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Bright straw-yellow colour, white foam and a delicate and persistent perlage. The perfume is agreeable, typical and aromatic. The taste is dry, and pleasantly fruity. It is ideal as an aperitif, to serve with fish dishes or as a pleasant break during the day."

Winery website: Casa Sant'Orsola.