The Royal Chenin Blanc 2009

The Royal Chenin Blanc 2009
Origin: Swartland, South Africa
Blend: Chenin Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light gold in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (mango, kiwi, a little banana) with notes of citrus and flowers. The fruit flavors are a little tart on the palate, though reasonably well balanced, with a little bitter honey emerging into the finish.

Our rating: This is an interesting wine, though not a complex one. We think it would pair well with a wide variety of cuisines, especially Asian inspired dishes, but we were a little put off by the bitterness of the finish here, giving it a harshness that seemed a bit incongruous with the rest of the wine's profile. Rounding the edges would have helped considerably here. Still, overall we still rate it Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Packed with upfront melon fruit, the nose charms with an abundance of guava and gooseberries as well as the signature hint of honey. The palate follows through with fruit flavors balanced by a crisp acid to ensure a fresh and fruity style of wine."

Winery website: Riebeek Cellars.

Starling Castle Gewurztraminer 2008

Starling Castle Gewurztraminer 2008
Origin: Germany
Blend: Gewurztraminer (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $7.99

Our review: Medium yellow gold in color with aromas of tropical fruit and floral notes with honey. The flavors on the palate are rather sweet and rich -- melon, banana, and blood orange -- with a full finish that adds a touch of spicy bitterness.

Our rating: We don't typically purchase this varietal, but occasionally we try to remember why that is. This particular bottle has some interesting complexity to it, but it almost seems overwhelming. The finish here is also a bit discordant. We rate it just Below Average, but admit, we may not fully appreciate what it brings to the table.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A soft, golden hue with fresh aromas of rose petals and apricots. It is semi sweet with a hint of spice and mild acidity."

Winery website: None found.

Bottega Vinaia Pinot Grigio 2009

Bottega Vinaia Pinot Grigio 2009
Origin: Trentino, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: This wine is straw-colored with gold highlights. The intense aromas are of tree fruit (apples, peaches, pears) with significant floral notes and maybe a touch of citrus (orange). Smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors are well balanced with a moderating acidity. The finish is somewhat one note and a little too dry, almost astringent.

Our rating: This is an elegant wine, with considerable complexity and depth. Very food friendly (there's really nothing that we think wouldn't pair well here), we consumed our bottle with turkey and all the trimmings -- a test run for Thanksgiving! (Truth be told, the bottle was half gone by the time the dinner was served, enjoyed with a small plate of appetizers.) Keep an eye out for this wine, which we rate Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Color: Pale straw gold. Bouquet: Alluring floral perfume of an intensity and persistence rare in a Pinot Grigio. Taste: Fresh, dry and flavorful with a firm structure leading into a lingering finish, it displays character and finesse."

Winery website: None found.

The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc 2009

The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $7.99

Our review: A pale silver-green in color, this wine has aromas of gooseberry and lemongrass with slight vegetal or herbal notes. The citrus flavors take a moment or two to develop on the palate, and are nicely balanced with just the right amount of tartness. Surprisingly, there's also a faint tingling sensation present. There is some minerality in the relatively short finish.

Our rating: Maybe it's our imagination, but it seems recent vintages of New Zealand sauvignon blancs have not been as aggressively citrusy as older ones. This one is quite pleasant, if a bit thin. We'd suggest serving it with most any seafood, or with a light lunch (which is how we enjoyed our bottle). We previously rated The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Above Average, which is about how we rate this vintage; it may be even better. However, the 2005 was priced nearly twice what we paid for the 2009; hence this is a much better value.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Colour: Vibrant with a crisp and subtle green hue. Bouquet: Dried herb and gunflint compliment gooseberry, passionfruit and pungent grassy aromas. Palate: Lime zest and white floral notes are framed by a structured yet supple mid palate. Mouth-watering acidity with the Awatere’s signature mineral background complete the persistent finish."

Winery website: The Crossings.

Winzer Krems Grüner Veltliner 2009

Winzer Krems Grüner Veltliner 2009
Origin: Austria
Blend: Grüner Veltliner (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light straw in color with lightly scented apple and pear aromas. Crisp on the palate with a slight sensation of effervescence. The flavor profile is one of citrus, not too tart with a nice acidic balance. There is little finish.

Our rating: This is a fairly neutral wine that seems readily adaptable to many light dishes of a variety of cuisines. It's not a sipping wine, though. We served our bottle with lunch, which we think is probably most appropriate, and rate it about Average. (There is no mention of this particular wine, which has a surprisingly generic label, on the winery website; we previously rated the Winzer Krems Grüner Veltliner "Ried Sandgrube" 2006 Average as well.)

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Winzer Krems.

Rodney Strong "Charlotte's Home" Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Rodney Strong "Charlotte's Home" Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Northern Sonoma, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.8%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: Greenish straw-colored, this wine has a pleasing herbal citrus aroma with a little grassiness (maybe lemongrass). Initially quite smooth on the palate, the citrus flavors have a slight tropical character to them before increasing in tartness into the finish, which is nice and adds a little minerality but is otherwise unremarkable.

Our rating: We enjoyed this wine, serving our bottle with an Asian-inspired chicken dish. We think it may pair slightly better with seafood, though. 10% of the production was cellared in oak, which seems to have contributed to the wine's smoothness and added some depth. We previously rated the Rodney Strong "Charlotte's Home" Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Average, but we think this is a much better effort, rating it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Light, crisp, and highly aromatic, the warmer climate Alexander Valley fruit gives the wine ripe pear and melon character, while the ocean cooled Russian River fruit offers citrus, mineral, and traditional herbaceous qualities."

Winery website: Rodney Strong Vineyards.

Lagaria Pinot Grigio 2009

Lagaria Pinot Grigio 2009
Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Straw in color, this wine has aromas of ripe tree fruit (apple, pear). The fruit flavors are crisp and clean on the palate, where they are accompanied by a mild minerality. A citrus-like tartness develops into the finish, which is brief and lacks depth.

Our rating: This wine is light enough to be served with most lunches, chicken salad in particular, or with an appetizer platter of shellfish. But it also seems a little thin to us; had it been priced in the $5-$6 range, we would have characterized it as a "picnic wine", but it's far too expensive for that. We previously rated the Lagaria Pinot Grigio 2006 just Average, and we apply a similar Average rating to this vintage.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A brilliant, smooth, medium-bodied, fresh and well balanced wine; extremely eclectic with food."

Winery website: None found.