Cielo Pinot Grigio 2008

Cielo Pinot Grigio 2008
Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2009
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light golden straw in color, this wine has dominant citrus aromas with distinct spicy, almost smoky notes. Light- to medium-bodied on the palate, there isn't much fruit flavor here; there is a hint of spicy sweetness though. The finish is of moderate length, but otherwise unremarkable.

Our rating: This is an interesting wine, with lots of subtleties, but not one of much depth. We served our bottle with a mildly seasoned chicken and rice dish, possibly not the best pairing; grilled seafood, or maybe even barbecued chicken, is probably a better match. Priced a little on the high side for what it is, we rate it just Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Light straw, this wine exhibits fresh grassy, vegetal aromas with significant citrus notes. Initially slightly tart on the palate, slightly sweet tropical fruit flavors emerge to provide good balance. A minerality develops into the finish, which is long and crisp.

Our rating: This is a fine example of this varietal from New Zealand, and attractively priced. Serve with appetizers or a crisp salad topped with grilled chicken. Allowing the wine to remain open a few minutes before serving improves its overall complexity. Our rating: Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A pale straw colour, this classically styled wine shows lifted melon, citrus and fresh tropical notes on the nose. These flavours follow through to the richly structured palate which has a long crisp finish."

Winery website: Vavasour Wines.

Gazela Vinho Verde NV

Gazela Vinho Verde NV
Origin: Portugal
Blend: The predominant variety is Loureiro, with Pedernã, Trajadura and Azal being used in smaller amounts
Alcohol Content: 9.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2009
Purchase Price: $5.99

Our review: Silver straw in color with a very light effervescence, this wine has a bouquet of tree fruit (notably pear) and apple blossom. Initially slightly bitter and tart on the palate, the fruit flavors are quickly balanced by a touch of sweetness. There isn't much of a finish (nor is one really expected).

Our rating: We really enjoy vinho verdes, low in alcohol and perfect for sipping on a lazy afternoon (or really, for that matter, at any time). This one is a typical example, not exceptional, but unusually complex. We rate it on the high side of Average (and at $6, a terrific value). Most vinho verdes are non-vintage, and are best when consumed as soon as possible after bottling, so look for the most recent date you can find on the bottle (usually on the export label). This rated bottle has a 2009 date.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A very light yellow citrine colour, with a slight fizz that enhances its bouquet, flavours and freshness. Aromatic and engaging, its citrine and tropical fruit notes have a lively and stimulating acidity, very well balanced by a slight touch of sugar."

Winery website: Sogrape Vinhos.

CK Mondavi Pinot Grigio 2008

CK Mondavi Pinot Grigio 2008
Origin: California
Blend: Pinot Grigio (76%), Sauvignon Blanc (12%), Chenin Blanc (6%), Viognier (3.5%), Muscat (2.5%)
Alcohol Content: 12.9%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2009
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine has a bouquet of sweet apples (e.g. golden delicious) and apple blossom. There's not a lot of depth on the palate, but the fruit flavors are nicely balanced with a moderately brisk acidity. The finish is slightly chalky.

Our rating: This is an example of an inexpensive wine done well. Very versatile, it's a good party wine where there might be a wide variety of foods. The slightly unpleasant finish is much less noticeable when the wine is consumed with a meal. We rate it overall about Average, but at $7 it's a very good value.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A medium-bodied wine filled with aromas of wildflowers, peaches and pears. Fresh, tropical flavors combined with a touch of spice lead to a delightfully crisp finish."

Winery website: CK Mondavi.

Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: Western Cape, South Africa
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Straw in color, this wine has light aromas of citrus and orange blossom with slight notes of lemongrass. The smooth fruit flavors are balanced with some minerality on the palate. The finish is quite pleasing, and of moderate length.

Our rating: We very much enjoyed this bottle of wine. It's a softer, gentler version of some of the more aggressive sauvignon blancs typical of New Zealand or Chile. Very food friendly, it probably pairs best with seafood. We previously rated the Porcupine Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2007 on the high side of Average, but we think this vintage is even better, rating well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker (from the bottle label): "Gooseberry and tropical fruit flavours, fresh and dry with lengthy citrus finish"

Winery website: Boekenhoutskloof Winery.

Yellow Tail Sauvignon Blanc NV

Yellow Tail Sauvignon Blanc NV
Origin: Australia (86%), New Zealand (14%)
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: September 2009
Purchase Price: $5.99

Our review: A blend of sweet bell pepper, citrus (maybe lemongrass), and floral aromas are exhibited by this pale yellow wine. Light-bodied, the palate tends towards the slightly sweet, though an acidity is present that balances the fruit flavors. There is little finish.

Our rating: Though Yellow Tail is known for its wide variety of inexpensive wines from Australia, this is the first time we've seen a Sauvignon Blanc. And as of the date of this review, there's no mention of the varietal on the company website. Overall, it rates on the low side of Average, but at $6 it's a great deal. A good choice for lunch, or to take along on a picnic.

Taste profile from the winemaker (from the bottle label): "Flavors: Fresh tropical fruits, passionfruit and lime. Enjoy: With good friends and your favorite seafood dish."

Winery website: [yellow tail].

Cantine Riondo Prosecco Spago Nero NV

Cantine Riondo Prosecco Spago Nero NV
Origin: Veneto, Italy
Blend: Prosecco (100%)
Alcohol Content: 10.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: October 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Pale straw in color, this wine has gentle aromas of citrus and citrus blossom. Lightly sparking, the palate is an interesting combination of ever so slightly sweet and ever so slightly tart citrus flavors. The nicely balanced, though brief, finish has some mineral character.

Our rating: We first reviewed this prosecco about a year ago. A non-vintage wine, we wanted to see if it was still as pleasing today as we found it then. And it is. In fact, our score sheet indicates we actually liked it slightly more. Proseccos can be enjoyed at any time of the day, but we mostly prefer our bottle as we watch the sun set, or with a light brunch. While not the best prosecco we've tried, it's certainly our favorite. Go figure. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "This sparkling wine is produced in full respect of ancient traditions, using Prosecco grapes grown on the Veneto hills. It is characterised by a fine, light perlage and a fresh and aromatic perfume. It is perfect both as an aperitif and as an accompaniment to light dishes."

Winery website: Cantine Riondo.