Puerto Viejo Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Puerto Viejo Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Curico Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Very pale green in color with silver highlights with light citrus aromas coupled with some herbal and vegetal notes. Crisp on the palate, the tart citric flavors have an almost steely bite to them. The finish is rather weak and flavorless.

Our rating: This wine with its distinctive wooden label isn't quite as harsh as we may have made it sound, but it is bracing. Serve with a seafood dish, especially one that includes pasta. It rather grew on us as we consumed the bottle, but we suspect many will find the citrusy character a bit too intense. We rate it just Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Pale yellow with green reflections. Plenty of citrus on the nose with a touch of vanilla. Explosive attack on the palate with an acidity which maintains the freshness throughout the finish."

Winery website: Puerto Viejo Wines LLC.

Lunetta Prosecco NV

Lunetta Prosecco NV
Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Prosecco (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: Light gold in color with silver hightlights, this sparkling wine has gentle aromas of red and green apple. Crisp and lively on the palate, the flavor is of a freshly cut apple couple with a very slight herbal character. The finish is toasty but brief.

Our rating: We enjoyed this delightful prosecco, as we often do, with a mid-morning brunch. Versatile enough to accompany the wide variety of dishes typically found on a buffet, it can also be served as a simple aperitif or with a light dessert. One to seek out, we rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Enticing aromas of apple and peach give way to a palate that is refreshing, and harmonious, with crisp fruit flavors and a clean finish."

Winery website: Cavit Collection.

Natura Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Natura Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: Valle Casablanca, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: Citrus aromas coupled with significant notes of fresh herbs and bell peppers are exhibited by this wine. The palate has a similar citrusy profile, but is also unexpectedly spicy. A brisk acidity develops into the finish, which continues to evolve the flavors.

Our rating: This is a rather unusual wine, very much a sauvignon blanc but one with its own distinctive character. Quite honestly, we weren't sure we were going to like it at first, but its depth and complexity turned us around. We served our bottle with roasted pork, possibly not the ideal choice but we think it worked out fine. Consider grilled fish filets or shrimp as a better pairing. Overall, we rate it on the high side of Above Average. Note: this wine is made with organically grown grapes.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Clean, clear, light yellow in color with a complex nose that features aromas of boxwood, herbs blended with citrus fruits such as lime and grapefruit. The boxwood and grapefruit reappear on the palate to highlight its freshness. This is a bright, pleasing wine with nicely balanced acidity and good persistence."

Winery website: Emiliana Organic and Biodynamic Vineyards.

Black Box Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Black Box Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Origin: East Coast, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: 3L Box
Purchase Date: May 2010
Purchase Price: $17.99

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of grapefruit and herbs, and maybe a little gooseberry, with some pleasing citrus (primarily orange) floral notes. The fruit flavors on the palate are not expressive, a bit flat really, and paired with a somewhat aggressive minerality. The finish is brief, too dry, and not altogether memorable.

Our rating: We were rather disappointed with this wine, considering we're fans of this varietal from New Zealand. It's possibly best paired with seafood dishes, though we probably enjoyed it most when served with a simple sandwich and salad lunch. Like many box wines, it's hard not to argue value here at the equivalent of $4.50 a bottle; to be honest, we've had worse, much worse at higher, much higher prices. We score it on the low side of Average (just a point above Below Average). Possibly because we consumed it over the course of a few days with a variety of meals and simply got used to it, it may be a bit better than it scores -- it's certainly worth a try.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A fresh and zesty wine featuring aromas of herbs and tropical fruit. This wine blends crisp acidity and a rich, fruit sweetness on the palate with a clean, dry finish. This refreshing and lively wine pairs well with most foods especially white meat and seafood dishes."

Winery website: Black Box Wines.

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier 2008

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier 2008
Origin: Napa Valley, California
Blend: Chenin Blanc (81%), Viognier (19%)
Alcohol Content: 12.8%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $11.99

Our review: Straw-colored with tints of green, this wine has aromas of a blend of tropical (kiwi, melon) and tree fruits (pear, peach) with floral citrus notes. Of medium-body on the palate, the fruit flavors come alive, ever so slightly sweet at first before quickly being balanced by a mild acidity. The finish is clean and pleasant.

Our rating: We enjoyed this white wine blend. The two varietals work well together to form a well-rounded, complex wine, which can easily be paired with many cuisines; our choice would be Asian-inspired dishes. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Pine Ridge Vineyards.

Alma Mora Pinot Grigio 2008

Alma Mora Pinot Grigio 2008
Origin: San Juan, Argentina
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: Medium yellow-gold in color, this wine has mild aromas of peach and apple with faint floral notes. Very smooth on the palate and more richly flavored than the nose might suggest; there's a good acidic balance. The finish has some mineral character to it, and develops a slight tartness.

Our rating: We are not aware of many Argentinian pinot grigios, but if this wine is typical of those from this country, it's delicious. Easily consumed as is (and we did), it should be very food friendly -- though we think it probably pairs better with meat dishes (chicken, pork) than seafood. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Porta Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Porta Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Bio Bio Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Straw in color, the tropical fruit (kiwi, papaya) aromas of this wine are highlighted with bright citrus and herbal notes. The flavor profile on the palate is similar in character, with a bit of minerality developing into the finish, which is quite long and slightly tart.

Our rating: A month or so we reviewed the Porta Sauvignon Blanc 2009, rating it Above Average. This bottle, from the Porta Reserva line, costs $2 more but we think it may be worth it. There's a nice complexity to this wine that will complement many meals, in particular Asian cuisines. Score-wise, this wine rates Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Bright, olive-green color. Very refreshing, good aromatic intensity with layers of tropical fruit such as passion fruit and mango that mix with citric notes and aromatic herbs in the finish. Good structure, long and juicy finish."

Winery website: Porta Winery.