Chateau Haut Peyruguet White Bordeaux 2008

Chateau Haut Peyruguet White Bordeaux 2008
Origin: Bordeaux, France
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (50%), Semillon (25%), Muscadelle (25%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: This wine is medium gold in color, with aromas of tropical fruit (pineapple and banana) with citrus floral notes. There's an initial burst of fruit flavors on the palate after which a mild, balancing acidity develops. The rather incongruous finish is a little too astringent.

Our rating: We think this Bordeaux blanc would make for a good dinner wine, pairing well with roasted poultry or grilled fish filets. We actually enjoyed our bottle with stir-fried chicken and rice. Despite a slightly disappointing finish, we rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "(from the bottle label): Light straw color. Intense, complex nose of green limes, black currents, and box-tree, with a hint of musk. Very fruity and well-balanced palate, with flavors of black currants, and a dry, clean, fresh finish."

Winery website: None found. The bottle depicted is slightly different than the one reviewed.

Cupcake Riesling 2009

Cupcake Riesling 2009
Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington
Blend: Riesling (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: March 2010
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

Our review: Light golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of freshly cut tropical fruit with a very slight blend of herbal and floral notes. The fruit flavors are expressive on the palate, initially with some sweetness that is quickly balanced with a mild acidity. The finish adds some mineral character.

Our rating: This is a very nice example of a dry riesling. True, there's a touch of sweetness at the start, but that just enhances the overall experience. Consider this wine for any Asian cuisine, or enjoy it alone as a sipping wine. We served our bottle with (of all meals) pizza, but it worked out quite well. We rate it well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Bold, with the luscious aromas and flavors of grapefruit, pineapple and nectarine."

Winery website: Cupcake Vineyard.

Villa Maria "Private Bin" Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Villa Maria "Private Bin" Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2010
Purchase Price: $13.99

Our review: Silver green in color with aromas of gooseberry and tropical fruit (kiwi and lychee come to mind) with herbal citrus notes, this wine is smooth and fruitful on the palate. A good balance of acidity develops into the lengthy finish, which has a touch of minerality.

Our rating: This is a delicious take on this New Zealand varietal with a lot of subtle depth and complexity. Pair with appetizers or serve with a luncheon al fresco, or simply enjoy as a sipping wine while reading. We rate it Excellent. We previously rated the Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Excellent as well.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Bursting with a fruit-salad-bowl of flavours including ripe gooseberry, passionfruit, fresh citrus lime and exotic herbaceous aromas. The wine has an exciting palate with layers of juicy flavours, intensity and fullness, finishing with a refreshing crisp, clean and racy acidity."

Winery website: Villa Maria Estate.

Dibon Cava Brut Reserve NV

Dibon Cava Brut Reserve NV
Origin: Spain
Blend: Xarel-lo, Parellada, and Macabeo (unknown percentages)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: January 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light gold with an abundance of bubbles, this wine has aromas of golden delicious apples and pears with pleasant floral notes. Crisp and light-bodied on the palate, the slightly sweet dried fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality on the palate. The finish is toasty but exceedingly brief.

Our rating: This is a very nice, if not overly complex, cava that would be an attractively priced alternative to champagne. Ideal as an aperitif or simply to enjoy sipping at sunset, it can also be paired with a light brunch or fresh mixed green salad (which is how we enjoyed our bottle). We rate it Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Grand Cru Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Grand Cru Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Origin: Sonoma County, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: January 2010
Purchase Price: $3.99

Our review: Yellow gold in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit and honey with significant spice notes. Somewhat (and unexpectedly) sweet on the palate, the fruit flavors aren't very expressive and are unbalanced. The finish, though quite lengthy, is flat and a bit chalky.

Our rating: We're attracted to sub-$5 wines, always on the lookout for one that might be considered an everyday wine, one to serve with a quick meal. This isn't it. It's not dreadful by any means, but it's not an altogether pleasant experience either. The most significant problem may be that its best days (if, indeed, they ever existed) may have long since passed; though we rarely choose ABC wines that are more than a couple of years old, we mistakenly purchased this thinking it was non-vintage (as most bargain wines are). We rate it Inferior.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Chateau Le Thil Comte Clary White Bordeaux 2006

Chateau Le Thil Comte Clary White Bordeaux 2006
Origin: Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France
Blend: Unknown, but most probably a 50:50 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: February 2010
Purchase Price: $21.99

Our review: Golden in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit and honey, with significant herbal notes. Medium bodied on the palate, the fruit flavors have a nicely balanced acidity and are layered on a base of light smoky wood. There's a hint of butter present. A touch of minerality is introduced into the lengthy finish.

Our rating: This is an elegant Bordeaux blanc, one that would pair well with most richly flavored poultry dishes and be much appreciated at the dinner table. We served ours with a game hen and herb roasted potatoes, a very nice choice. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Chateau Le Thil Comte Clary. The bottle depicted is slightly different from the one reviewed.

Tamari Reserva Torrontes 2008

Tamari Reserva Torrontes 2008
Origin: Fatima Valley, La Rioja, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: February 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: Light gold in color, this wine has expressive aromas of tropical fruit with some spice and floral notes. Nicely fruitful on the palate, there is a bit of heat (slightly unbalanced acidity) that develops into the finish, which itself is quite spicy with a hint of nuts.

Our rating: Not a wine to be served as an apertif, it is, however, reasonably food friendly. We actually enjoyed our bottle with pork, an unusual choice maybe, but not a bad one. Still, poultry is probably the best pairing for this rather robust wine. Priced a bit on the high side for what it is, we rate it just Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Color: Intense yellow with greenish hues. Aroma: Delicate and refined aromas of white grapefruit, white flowers such as jasmine, roses and orange blossom, and some fruit notes like custard apple and apricot. Taste: Excellent alcohol-acidity-sugar ratio; well balanced. It's a very flavorful wine."

Winery website: Terlato Wines International.