Cupcake Mosel Riesling 2009

Cupcake Mosel Riesling 2009
Origin: Mosel, Germany
Blend: Riesling (100%)
Alcohol Content: 10.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2010
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00

Our review: Pale golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit with slight spicy, vanilla notes. Smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors (ripe melon, orange) are initially sweet before being quickly balanced with a moderating acidity. There is little finish.

Our rating: This is a pleasant riesling, a tad sweeter than we were expecting of this German varietal but not excessively so. We served our bottle with an afternoon tea, a nice choice. A Sunday brunch would also be a good pairing. Earlier this year we rated the Cupcake Washington Riesling 2009 Above Average; comparable to this bottle but for different reasons. Serving the bottles together, comparing the two, would likely make for an interesting discussion.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Hints of ripe honeydew, lemon chiffon and a broad palate with a touch of zing before finishing with a strength. It is reminiscent of a lemon cream cupcake."

Winery website: Cupcake Vineyards.

Ruffino Orvieto Classico 2008

Ruffino Orvieto Classico 2008
Origin: Orvieto, Italy
Blend: Grechetto (40%), Procanico (20%), other white varietals (Verdello, Canaiolo Bianco, 40%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Greenish yellow in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (apple, pear) with significant floral notes. Velvety smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors have a good acidic balance. Some minerality and a touch of spice, maybe nuts, appears in the lengthy finish.

Our rating: This wine will make any meal more enjoyable. We paired our bottle with pan seared chicken breasts and vegetables, a fine choice. We rated the Ruffino Orvieto Classico 2007 just Average (it contained a significantly different percentage of blended grapes), but this one is much better: we rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Colour: Brillant straw yellow. Aroma: The bouquet is very fruity and flowery with fresh notes of meadow flowers, citrus fruits, golden apple and fig. Tasting profile: The taste is refreshing and smooth thanks to the balance between structure, acidity and fruity notes. The aftertaste is long and fragrant, with hits of fresh almond."

Winery website: Ruffino.

Cono Sur Viognier 2008

Cono Sur Viognier 2008
Origin: Chile
Blend: Viognier (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: This wine is medium gold in color with aromas of tropical fruit (notably melon and pineapple) and some very distinct and intriguing floral and spice notes. There is an initial sensation of heat on the palate, but this quickly dissipates into a well-balanced flavor/acidity profile. The finish is lengthy and rather complex.

Our rating: This is a very fine wine, especially at this price point. Bold but not assertive, it would pair well with most hearty meals. We served our bottle with stuffed chicken breasts and roasted potatoes, a good choice. Based on just three relatively inexpensive bottles from this label (we previously rated the Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Above Average and the Cono Sur Riesling 2007 on the high side of Average), we think this is a winery to look for. This is the best of the lot, however, and we rate this particular wine Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Dressed in the beautiful medium golden colour characteristic of this variety. Sweet fruity notes of apricots, citrics and peaches combine with pleasant oak aromas. Fresh and lively in mouth, this Viognier with concentrated stone fruits, is fresh tasty, full and savoury. A wine of great character, density and structure, with a good acidity level and great persistence."

Winery website: Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery.

Norton Torrontes 2008

Norton Torrontes 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $7.99

Our review: Medium gold in color, this wine is very floral, much more so than of fruit (a hint of peach or apricot); there's also a touch of honey in the nose. Quite smooth on the palate, the flavor has more spice character than fruit. The finish is very long and continues to develop.

Our rating: This is a deeply complex wine, one not easily broken into constituent parts. We enjoyed it, but we mis-paired it, serving it with stir-fried chicken and rice; we think pairing it with roasted poultry would be much better (though we did like it with the rice). An unusual wine and one that will probably have your guests asking more about. It's a little too "oaky" for our taste, still we rate it well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Greenish yellow in color with tinges of golden. Very perfumed prevailing fruity and flowery aromas, such as white peach, roses and jasmine. Pleasant on the palate and well balanced."

Winery website: Bodega Norton.

Petirrojo Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Petirrojo Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Golden straw in color with citrus aromas coupled with spicy honey notes, this wine is rather dry on the palate with slightly tart citric flavors predominant. There is considerable minerality that develops into the finish, which also intensifies the dryness somewhat.

Our rating: This isn't really a very flavorful wine and it seems flat overall, without much character. It isn't bad by any means, just lacking. We served our bottle at lunch with turkey sandwiches and a mixed green salad; a nice if not inspired choice. We rate it on the low side of Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Yellow color with light green hints. To the nose, presents a grapefruit and white peach aroma and notes of freshly cut herbs. Fresh to the mouth, with great volume, with fruity persistency and vegetal notes. Ideal with an appetizer in summer time and to accompany fish and seafood."

Winery website: Viñas Bisquertt.

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Conte Priola Pinot Grigio 2009

Conte Priola Pinot Grigio 2009
Origin: Veneto, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: May 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Light lemon gold in color, this wine is wonderfully fragrant, with tree fruit (apple, pear) aromas couple with floral notes. The palate is quite fruity and very nicely balanced; the acidity builds a bit into the finish, which is long and flavorful and very slightly nutty.

Our rating: There's not a lot of complexity to this wine, but it is quite delicious. We served our bottle with a chicken and rice, but we think it is versatile enough to pair with most poultry, fish, or even pork dishes. We previously rated the Conte Priola Pinot Grigio 2007 just Average, but we think this vintage is much better, rating it on the high side of Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.