Arona Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Arona Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: December 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Greenish-silver in color, this wine has aromas of lime with sweet tropical fruit and herbal notes. Quite fruity on the palate, the flavors are of pineapple and citrus, slightly sweet but with a nicely balanced acidity. The finish is relatively brief, but clean.

Our rating: This wine is less aggressive than many of this varietal from New Zealand, yet retains much of its distinctive character. It's quite pleasant, and likely to pair well with most poultry or seafood dishes. We served our bottle with roasted chicken and rice, a good choice. Overall, it rates Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Softer, instantly approachable and with more ripe fruit flavors to balance the traditional intensity of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The grapefruit nose opens to a full and fruity mouthful of passion fruit and pineapple."

Winery website: Barker's Marque Vineyards.

Kris Pinot Grigio 2008

Kris Pinot Grigio 2008
Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: December 2009
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: This light yellow-gold wine exhibits a fresh, pleasant bouquet of citrus and stone fruit with notes of apricot and melon. The palate starts very fruity, but quickly develops a mild acidity that is accompanied by an earthy, nut-like character. The finish is relatively long and brings out some additional mineral notes.

Our rating: This is a nice lunch wine. We served our bottle with grilled fish sandwiches and found it paired well. It should also work with grilled chicken. Not overly complex, but pleasing nonetheless. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Pale yellow in color with brilliant greenish reflections, enticing aromas of acacia flowers, citrus, tangerine, and hints of apricots and almonds. Kris is lean and refreshing on the palate with hints of blossom and honey."

Winery website: Kris Wine.

Alamos Torrontes 2008

Alamos Torrontes 2008
Origin: Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: December 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Aromas of white peach and flowers are exhibited by this pale golden wine. A bit of heat accompanies the fruit flavors with herbal character on the palate, which has considerable depth. The finish is lengthy and pleasant with a brisk acidity.

Our rating: We served this wine with appetizers and it was versatile enough to pair well with most. Though reportedly unaoked, there is a complexity present that is often associated with aged wines. We rather enjoyed this wine, and rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker (from the label): "Lively notes of citrus and peach fruit interwoven with delicate layers of jasmine blossom and fresh herbs. Light and fresh on the palate with excellent balance and finishing with bright, crisp adicity."

Winery website: Bodega Catena Zapata.

Canaletto Prosecco Spumante Brut NV

Canaletto Prosecco Spumante Brut
Origin: Veneto, Italy
Blend: Prosecco (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: December 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Green apple aromas with distinct herbal notes are exhibited by this lightly sparkling wine. Initially very slightly sweet on the palate, a toasty flavor profile develops giving the wine a "champagne"-like character. There is also some minerality present. The finish is surprisingly long, unexpected for this varietal.

Our rating: Just in time for the New Year celebrations, this delightful prosecco will make a satisfactory, and much less expensive, alternative to more traditional bubblies. Serve very chilled and enjoy! We rate this wine Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Pale straw yellow with greenish shades. Fruity, with a rich scent of fruit, especially of unripe apples, lemons and grapefruits. It has a pronounced aroma of wisteria in bloom and acacia flowers. It has a pleasantly acid, fresh flavour. Full-bodied, it has a pleasant and harmonious taste characteristic."

Winery website: Canaletto Wines.

Sobon Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Sobon Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (94%), Semillon (6%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Light golden straw in color, this wine exhibits aromas of tropical fruit, honey, and spice. The fruit flavors on the palate have a smoky character, not unpleasant but distinctive. The finish has considerable length and is rather complex.

Our rating: This is a fairly typical California version of this varietal, a bit heavy on the oak, which tends to dominate the overall experience. Allowing the wine to breathe a bit seems to help diminish some of the oakiness. Serve with roasted chicken or grilled fish. This isn't a terrific effort, but isn't bad either; about Average. We rated the last year's vintage, the Sobon Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007 average as well.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Crisp and fruity, a perfect match for seafood and fowl dishes. The aromas are a captivating blend of floral and spicy tones with a hint of tropical fruit and toasted coconut."

Winery website: Sobon Family Wines.

Oak Leaf Sauvignon Blanc NV

Oak Leaf Sauvignon Blanc NV
Origin: California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: June 2009
Purchase Price: $2.97

Our review: Greenish gold, this wine has aromas of grapefruit and lemongrass with a note of spice. The palate is a little bitter with not much fruit flavor, but does have a some vegetal (asparagus) character. The finish is brief and rather flat.

Our rating: Based purely on taste, we would rate this wine Below Average. But if one considers price, it really is not all that bad. Sometimes it may seem like an extravagance to break out a bottle just to accompany a simple sandwich, or even popcorn. An inexpensive wine, especially one that's eminently drinkable, is a perfect choice. We're not entirely sure we'd serve this wine to guests, but it's OK for an evening at home, snacking and just watching television.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Oak Leaf Vineyards. Oak Leaf wines can only be purchased from Wal-Mart.

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