Courtney Benham Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Courtney Benham Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Napa Valley, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (90%), Chardonnay (10%)
Alcohol Content: 13.9%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: An exceptionally pale straw in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (papaya, melon, pineapple) with slight lemongrass notes. Smooth, almost silky, on the palate, the fruit flavors are paired with a mild minerality. The lengthy finish has some smoky heat to it.

Our rating: This is an elegant dinner wine, or a fine wine to serve at Thanksgiving. We enjoyed our bottle with roasted chicken, potatoes, and onions, an excellent choice. We previously rated the Courtney Benham Sauvignon Blanc 2007 excellent; this particular vintage rates just a tad lower at Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Inviting tropical aromas of honeydew melon and grapefruit with light grassy overtones. Rich flavors of melon, tangy grapefruit and pineapple continue in this wine. This smooth, full wine has an ample palate with lingering bright flavors of refreshing fruit."

Winery website: Martin Ray Winery.

Albet i Noya Xarel-lo 2008

Albet i Noya Xarel-lo 2008
Origin: Penedes, Spain
Blend: Xarel-lo (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: A pale golden straw in color, this wine has fresh tropical fruit aromas (pineapple, banana) with notes of orange blossom. Very fruitful on the palate, there is a nice balancing acidity to the fruit flavors. The finish is relatively brief, though has an interesting complexity to it.

Our rating: This is a lovely wine, one that is easy to enjoy as is, watching the sun set or while relaxing with a good book. If served with a meal, we suggest a light lunch or possibly an afternoon tea. We rate this wine, made with organic grapes, Above Average, nearly Excellent.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Albet i Noya.

Soria Prosecco Vino Spumante Extra Dry NV

Soria Prosecco Vino Spumante Extra Dry NV
Origin: Italy
Blend: Prosecco (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: May 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Silver straw in color with a brief burst of bubbles, this lightly sparkling wine has aromas of green apple and stone fruit (apricot) with faint citrus notes and maybe a hint of floral. The flavor profile leans towards apple but there's definitely some sweet fruit present. A light minerality develops into the moderately long finish, which has an almost nutty character to it.

Our rating: We enjoy proseccos, particularly for sipping late in the afternoon. This is a nice example for such a purpose, but seems more appropriate for pairing, either with a light lunch or maybe an appetizer platter. A little food helps round it out. We rate it on the high side of Above Average, an identical rating we gave to a bottle of prosecco we tasted last year, the E. Soria Prosecco Spumante Extra Dry NV. However, we're not at all sure what we're reviewing here and what we rated a year ago are one and the same. The differences include the name ("E. Soria" versus just plain "Soria"), a completely different bottle and label (blue label versus clear label with red banner), and a slightly different price ($10.99 versus $9.99).

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

A-Mano Pinot Grigio 2009

A-Mano Pinot Grigio 2009
Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: A very pale greenish yellow in color, this wine has citrus aromas coupled with green apple and a touch of kiwi. Very tart on the palate, the fruit flavors are masked a bit by considerable acidity and some minerality. There isn't much of a finish.

Our rating: This is a very aggressive example of this varietal, much more intense than we were expecting and not all that enjoyable. It's most definitely not a sipping wine, but food does tend to balance its acidity somewhat. We were disappointed overall, and rate it Below Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Si Soave 2008

Si Soave 2008
Origin: Soave, Italy
Blend: Garganega (90%), Trebbiano (10%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Greenish gold in color, this wine has a significant floral aroma with tree fruit (peach) notes. The flavor profile on the palate is reminiscent of jasmine and similar floral or fruit-flavored teas. The finish is lengthy and rather complex.

Our rating: We enjoyed this wine, which is presented in an unusual curved bottle. We think it is best served with a light lunch or as an aperitif. We mis-paired it with a chicken and pasta dish; it was just OK but we could readily see its potential with lighter dishes. For what we rate to be an Average wine, we think it priced a little on the high side.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Intense and slightly aromatic bouquet [with a] delicate flavour."

Winery website: Si Soave Italia.

Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blank 2009

Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blank 2009
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2010
Purchase Price: $11.99

Our review: An exceptionally pale green with silver highlights in color, this wine has fresh aromas of lime zest, lemongrass, and gooseberry. The characteristic flavor on the palate is not dissimilar, reminiscent of slightly undersweetened limeade, tart but refreshing. The finish adds some minerality.

Our rating: This wine gives the impression it should be consumed on a hot summer day, maybe while waiting for a chicken breast or a tuna steak to be grilled on the barbecue. We served our bottle with a roasted chicken, not an ideal choice, but possibly because we were thinking we should have grilled it outdoors instead! We previously rated last year's vintage, the Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Above Average, and this year's garners a similar score.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: Lake County / Mendocino County, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (~100%); may include a touch of Muscat and Chardonnay
Alcohol Content: 13.1%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: Aromas of gooseberry and lemongrass, together with very slight vegetal notes (asparagus) are exhibited by this light lemon yellow colored wine. Silky smooth on the palate, almost creamy, the fruit flavors are at first slighted muted before evolving into a mildly tart, but well balanced, flavor profile on the palate. The finish is quite long.

Our rating: This is a fine example of this varietal. Increasingly (and thankfully), California wineries are abandoning oak cellaring of sauvignon blancs, allowing the characteristic flavors of the grape come through. This would make for a nice choice with many cuisines, but we think simply prepared poultry or fish dishes are probably best. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent. (Note: this wine is made with organic grapes.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Intense aromas of grapefruit, citrus, kiwi and fresh cut grass greet the nose. As you drink, the crisp acidity gives the wine a fresh vibrant feel with flavors of grapefruit, lime zest and grass that closes with flavors of melon and a nice tart fi nish."

Winery website: Bonterra Vineyards.