Montresor Trebbiano di Lugana 2008

Montresor Trebbiano di Lugana 2008
Origin: Lugana, Italy
Blend: Trebbiano di Lugana (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2009
Purchase Price: $11.99

Our review: Pale gold in color, this wine has aromas of spiced fruit with hints of honey and flowers. Smooth and dry on the palate, the fruit flavors are somewhat muted, and accompanied by a soft mineral character. The finish is slightly nutty and of extended length.

Our rating: An elegant wine, its flavors are refined but rather subdued; it should pair nicely with richly flavored cuisines. We chose an oven roasted chicken and potatoes, which enhanced both the wine and the dish. Priced a bit on the high side, still, if you're unfamiliar with trebbianos this would be a fine one to try. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Straw pale colour with golden reflections; intense, nice nose. Dry on the palate, delicate and elegant with flavors of pear flowers."

Winery website: Cantine Montressor S.P.A..

Casal Garcia Vinho Verde NV

Casal Garcia Vinho Verde NV
Origin: Portugal
Blend: Arinto, Azal Branco, Loureira, Treixadura (percentages unknown)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2009
Purchase Price: $5.99

Our review: Greenish silver in color, this slightly sparkling wine has aromas of citrus and peach with a touch of orange blossom. Crisp and dry on the palate, the flavor is decidedly citrusy with a distinct mineral character. The finish is brief but quite pleasant.

Our rating: This a most delightful wine, one of the best vinho verdes we've tasted recently. Though non-vintage, the serial number label indicates it was bottled this year; these wines are intended to be consumed as soon as possible. We enjoyed our bottle as an aperitif and with appetizers. At $6, it's a good value, and definitely one worth seeking out. We rate it well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "The wine has a citrine color and a clear appearance with a very delicate and slightly fruity aroma. On the palate this is a fresh, smooth and well-balanced wine. Ideal with fish, seafood, Asian food and some white meat."

Winery website: Aveleda. Our Wine. Our Love. Our Life..

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (94%), Riesling (3%), Gewurztraminer (3%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: September 2009
Purchase Price: $11.00

Our review: Straw-green in color, this wine has aromas of citrus (notably lime), gooseberry, and hints of fresh grass. The flavors are quite smooth on the palate, the citrus (here more grapefruit) based acidity is balanced with just a touch of sweetness. The finish is rather tart but not excessively so.

Our rating: We found this wine to be very expressive, showing off many of the more subtle aspects of the varietal. It's not clear how much of the roundness of the wine comes from the blend, but we suspect it softens a bit the harsher edges of the sauvignon blanc grape. We downgraded it slightly as it seemed to lack some depth. Still, it's a very food-friendly wine, easily paired with most poultry or fish dishes, and we rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Displays varietally expressive lemon and citrus fruit aromas augmented by subtle herbal spice and banana tones. In the mouth, the wine is bright and fresh with rich mid-palate flavors of lime, grapefruit, and melon that pick up a spicy peach tone in the long, crisp, mineral-tinged finish."

Winery website: Robert Mondavi Private Selection Wines.

Montes "Limited Selection" Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Montes "Limited Selection" Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: Leyda Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Very fragrant, this pale gold wine has classic varietal aromas of gooseberry and grass with slight notes of pineapple and maybe a hint of sweet asparagus. Very crisp on the palate, the flavors are more citrus-like, and accompanied by a brisk minerality. Though no oak was used to create the wine, the extended finish has an oak-like character, a little woodsy and spicy.

Our rating: Individually there would seem to be a lot to like in this wine, but overall we weren't totally impressed. The finish is the most displeasing aspect; normally a lengthy finish is an asset, but we were hoping the earthiness here would have ended a bit sooner. Or at least have been balanced with a bit of fruitiness. It's a fine pairing wine, working well with most poultry or seafood dishes, and the elegantly designed bottle would look terrific at a formal dinner party. Still, despite the disappointing finish, it scores reasonably well, and rates an Above Average from us. We previously rated the Montes "Classic Series" Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Below Average (for similar reasons).

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Very powerful. To the palate it is refreshingly crisp, sparkling with softness and sumptuous. Great complexity of tropical fruits with citric accents, high acidity and low Ph contribute to the impressive overall freshness and high minerality. An allowing edge, great name, a joyful wine which lingers and has an impressively long finish."

Winery website: Vina Montes.

Volteo Viura + Viognier + Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Volteo Viura + Viognier + Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: Spain
Blend: Viura (50%), Sauvignon Blanc (35%), Viognier (10%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Silver-gold in color, this wine has a very pleasing tropical fruit and citrus blend aroma with just a hint of grass. Nicely balanced on the palate and quite smooth, the fruit flavors are accompanied by a crisp mineral character. The finish is exceptionally long but somewhat one-dimensional, lacking depth.

Our rating: We generally haven't rated viuras very highly, but this blend with sauvignon blanc and viognier is rather interesting. We served our bottle with grilled chicken and french fried potatoes, but we think seafood may be a better choice for pairing. Definitely a wine to consider when looking for something different, we rate it Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Volteo Wines.

il Cortigiana Prosecco "Vino Frizzante" NV

il Cortigiana Prosecco "Vino Frizzante" NV
Origin: Veneto, Italy
Blend: Prosecco (100%)
Alcohol Content: 10.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: August 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of green apple and white pear with some slight sweet, honey-like notes. Only ever so slightly sparkling, there is a lot of fruit flavor on the palate, and semi-dry (not exactly sweet, but a sensation of such). The finish is on the dry side, though, and somewhat flat.

Our rating: This is a nice prosecco, but we actually prefer the il Cortigiano Prosecco Vino Spumante, with its foamy bubbles and drier character. This wine is fine, though, for outdoor brunches or get-togethers with friends and family. We rate it on the high side of Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A bright straw-yellow colour. The typical fruity perfume is pleasant. The taste is dry, agreeable and aromatic."

Winery website: Sant'Orsola.

Line Shack Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Line Shack Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Origin: Monterey County, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.8%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Metallic straw in color and very lightly fragrant with aromas of tropical fruit and citrus. The blended fruit flavors on the palate are similar in nature, though not pronounced, and are accompanied by a clean, slate, mineral character. The finish is extended and of interest.

Our rating: This is a very nice wine, and one that can readily accompany a wide variety of dishes. For a wine with a relatively high alcohol content, it's surprisingly gentle. We served our bottle with cold sliced chicken breast and a fresh summer salad. We rate it well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Dry and stylish, crisp and refreshing yet fuller and more generous than you expect with layers of tangy citrus, pineapple and melon aromas with a clean crisp enjoyably long finish."

Winery website: Line Shack Wine.