About the Wine: Zinfandel is a rich, slightly sweet red wine that can be too much for even seasoned drinkers. Very good Zinfandels are extremely thick and rich in flavor. Lesser Zinfandels are heavy, dull, and unpleasant. Various efforts have been made to tame this especially temperamental grape. The best known is White Zinfandel, a blush version meant to capture the sweetness but not the thickness and complexity of regular Zinfandel. Zinfandel-based blends have also become increasingly possible. The insanely popular Menage a Trois Red Blend and the insanely awful Middle Sister Rebel Red have both resulted from this fad.
About THIS Wine: Apothic Red is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The nose is straight Zinfandel. Tobacco is prominent, not smoke, but the actual smell of tobacco, followed by hints of coffee. The coffee smell is particular to Zinfandel. The palate is rich, fruity, and very mildly sweet. It is reminiscent of a cola flavor without all the sugar most colas have. The finish is tannic and slightly peppery with the sweetness continuing throughout.
Drinking This Wine: It makes a decent sipping wine. It could be a good wine to have with pasta or pizza for someone who does not care for traditional Italian dry wines. More than anything else, this wine made me want a nice, juicy burger.
Overall Impression: It is a versatile wine that is approachable for new drinkers and interesting to oenophiles. I would say that it is good for the price.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Côtes du Ventoux Rouge Orca II Grenache 2008 (About $19)
About the Wine: Grenache is a red wine sometimes known by its Spanish equivalent "Garnacha." Grenache has very light skin and is low in tannins. Tannins are a component in grape skins that give red wines their color as well as part of their flavor. Tannin can cause heartburn so there is always a market for low tannin wine.
About THIS Wine: The bottle says "Orca" in larg,e black letters with everything else in this post's title obscured. When searching for it at a wine shop it is best to simply ask for "Orca Grenache." The nose is heavy with the smell of roses with hints of clove and black pepper. It is a very pleasing, romantic aroma. The front palate is light with red fruit that rises in intensity in the mid palate along with a mildly spicy flavor. The fruit and spice linger together in a smooth, pleasant finish. The overall taste is very long for such a light wine and is pleasantly complex.
Drinking This Wine: Lightly seasoned poultry dishes, lamb, or hearty stew would all make good pairings for this wine. It is not overly acidic or spicy, so it is also a good sipping wine.
Overall Impression: If I spend more than fifteen dollars on a bottle I expect it to be remarkable. This is an interesting wine to try to rate because the varietal in question is not supposed to be big and intense like a fruity Merlot or a bold Cabernet. Grenache is supposed to be light and subtle but also layered and complex. This wine fits the bill nicely. I would say that it is a good value but only for an experienced drinker with a well developed palate.
About THIS Wine: The bottle says "Orca" in larg,e black letters with everything else in this post's title obscured. When searching for it at a wine shop it is best to simply ask for "Orca Grenache." The nose is heavy with the smell of roses with hints of clove and black pepper. It is a very pleasing, romantic aroma. The front palate is light with red fruit that rises in intensity in the mid palate along with a mildly spicy flavor. The fruit and spice linger together in a smooth, pleasant finish. The overall taste is very long for such a light wine and is pleasantly complex.
Drinking This Wine: Lightly seasoned poultry dishes, lamb, or hearty stew would all make good pairings for this wine. It is not overly acidic or spicy, so it is also a good sipping wine.
Overall Impression: If I spend more than fifteen dollars on a bottle I expect it to be remarkable. This is an interesting wine to try to rate because the varietal in question is not supposed to be big and intense like a fruity Merlot or a bold Cabernet. Grenache is supposed to be light and subtle but also layered and complex. This wine fits the bill nicely. I would say that it is a good value but only for an experienced drinker with a well developed palate.
Oferente Monastrell 2009 (About $10)
About the Wine: Monastrell is grown primarily in Spain. Iberian wines are known for their light bodies and ease of drinking. Spanish Tempranillo was the first red wine I ever really liked. Milder and more accessible than the Merlots and Cabernets I would later come to love, Spanish wines were very accessible to my undeveloped palate. Now that I am a bit more sophisticated I am better able to appreciate the subtleties of these gentler varietals.
About THIS Wine: The nose is wonderfully smoky and earthy with undertones of velvety red fruit. I suspect that if I had spent more time smelling it, I would have picked up other things as well. The layers of smell were lovely. The palate is smooth but not bland. Cherry is prominent with very subtle hints of pepper. The finish is light and does not linger.
Drinking This Wine: This Monastrell is the perfect compliment to beef and rice dishes. It is also a good sipping wine and is good for occasions when seasoned drinkers mingle with neophytes. The seasoned drinker will appreciate the nose while the palate will not overwhelm the neophyte.
Overall Impression: If Oferente were Mondavi or any other well known vineyard then this would be a twenty dollar bottle. It is an absolute steal.
About THIS Wine: The nose is wonderfully smoky and earthy with undertones of velvety red fruit. I suspect that if I had spent more time smelling it, I would have picked up other things as well. The layers of smell were lovely. The palate is smooth but not bland. Cherry is prominent with very subtle hints of pepper. The finish is light and does not linger.
Drinking This Wine: This Monastrell is the perfect compliment to beef and rice dishes. It is also a good sipping wine and is good for occasions when seasoned drinkers mingle with neophytes. The seasoned drinker will appreciate the nose while the palate will not overwhelm the neophyte.
Overall Impression: If Oferente were Mondavi or any other well known vineyard then this would be a twenty dollar bottle. It is an absolute steal.
Sur Bonarda Reserva 2005 (about $15)
About the Wine: Bonarda is a very dark, very dry red wine. It is obscure partly due to the difficulty of growing the grape and partly because is very similar to Dolcetto, a slightly less obscure variety produced mainly in Italy. This is the first Bonarda I have ever had so this review is based on the wine itself rather than any particular expectation of what the varietal is supposed to look, smell, or taste like.
About THIS Wine: This Bonarda is so dark that it is almost opaque. The color in the center is a deep red or light purple with a garnet rim around the edge of the glass. The nose is complex, with hints of smoke, minerals, red fruit, and grape (yes, some wines do smell like grapes. It's baffling.) The palate is one of the driest that I have ever had. Despite the dryness, it is very rich in flavor with hints of currant, black licorice, and something that is almost but not quite the taste of red meat. The finish is dry, savory, and lingering.
Drinking This Wine: This is definitely a food wine for most people. The heavy palate and tannins make it a difficult wine to curl up with in the way that one might with a light Pinot Noir or a fruity Merlot. I would have this wine with heavy red meats such a thick, rare steak or meat in rich sauce.
Overall Impression: A decent wine for a very particular drinker and meal and worth a try for a wine drinker looking to explore. At fifteen dollars I would have to say that it is reasonable, but not exceptional.
About THIS Wine: This Bonarda is so dark that it is almost opaque. The color in the center is a deep red or light purple with a garnet rim around the edge of the glass. The nose is complex, with hints of smoke, minerals, red fruit, and grape (yes, some wines do smell like grapes. It's baffling.) The palate is one of the driest that I have ever had. Despite the dryness, it is very rich in flavor with hints of currant, black licorice, and something that is almost but not quite the taste of red meat. The finish is dry, savory, and lingering.
Drinking This Wine: This is definitely a food wine for most people. The heavy palate and tannins make it a difficult wine to curl up with in the way that one might with a light Pinot Noir or a fruity Merlot. I would have this wine with heavy red meats such a thick, rare steak or meat in rich sauce.
Overall Impression: A decent wine for a very particular drinker and meal and worth a try for a wine drinker looking to explore. At fifteen dollars I would have to say that it is reasonable, but not exceptional.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Barone Fini Valdadige Pinot Grigio 2012 (about $12)
About the Wine: Pinot Grigio is a white wine noted for its dryness, mild flavor, and acidity. It is one of the six Noble varieties, meaning it can be grown in any wine growing region, but Italian Pinot Grigios are especially popular. It is usually drunk with food due to its mouth watering acidity. The nose is distinctive. The smell of Pinot Grigio has been described as "acid", "astringent", and "cat piss."
About THIS Wine: The wine is a light yellow and slightly luminous in the glass. The nose has citrus and potent acidity. The palate is mild citrus with high acidity and the acidity lingers on the palate for a spicy finish that is unlike the spice associated with heavily oaked wines.
Drinking This Wine: This is definitely a food wine. Enjoy chilled with mild fish or vegetarian dishes. I would particularly recommend it with any dish that includes a heavy portion of rice.
Overall Impression: The appearance, nose, palate, and finish of this wine all match the classic description of Pinot Grigio. At $12 a bottle this is an excellent bottle for the price.
About THIS Wine: The wine is a light yellow and slightly luminous in the glass. The nose has citrus and potent acidity. The palate is mild citrus with high acidity and the acidity lingers on the palate for a spicy finish that is unlike the spice associated with heavily oaked wines.
Drinking This Wine: This is definitely a food wine. Enjoy chilled with mild fish or vegetarian dishes. I would particularly recommend it with any dish that includes a heavy portion of rice.
Overall Impression: The appearance, nose, palate, and finish of this wine all match the classic description of Pinot Grigio. At $12 a bottle this is an excellent bottle for the price.
Nederburg Special Late Harvest 2010 (about $11)
About the Wine: As grapes develop on the vine they build up more and more sugar. Some wine grapes are intentionally harvested later in the season for that reason to produce a sweeter wine. The most extreme examples of this are ice wines, which are not harvested until after the first frost. The designation "late harvest" is desirable in almost any sweet wine as it assures natural sweetness.
About THIS Wine: Nederburg offers a blend of Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer. The wine has a gold color and potent nose of honey and apricot with hints of raisins. It is one of the few wines I have ever had that tasted like it smelled. It has an unusually syrupy palate that is reminiscent of a sherry. The finish is lingering and sweet with hints of orange.
Drinking This Wine: The first time I tried to sample it, the wine was not cold. The smell was truly foul. The wine must be well chilled before drinking. It would go well with sweet puddings and other creamy desserts. I would also have it with spicy Thai chicken.
Overall Impression: At $11 a bottle, this wine is an absolute steal.
About THIS Wine: Nederburg offers a blend of Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer. The wine has a gold color and potent nose of honey and apricot with hints of raisins. It is one of the few wines I have ever had that tasted like it smelled. It has an unusually syrupy palate that is reminiscent of a sherry. The finish is lingering and sweet with hints of orange.
Drinking This Wine: The first time I tried to sample it, the wine was not cold. The smell was truly foul. The wine must be well chilled before drinking. It would go well with sweet puddings and other creamy desserts. I would also have it with spicy Thai chicken.
Overall Impression: At $11 a bottle, this wine is an absolute steal.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
MontGras Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2010 (About $11)
About the Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon is the classic heavy red. It is generally good with red meat because it one of the few wines with a taste strong enough to match a well seasoned steak.
About THIS Wine: The terroir of Chile is known to produce exceptionally rich and fruity red wines and MontGras delivers. It has a velvety nose with prominent notes of cherry and raspberry. Those flavors deliver on the palate with additional notes of pepper and plum. The fruit lingers on the palate to provide a remarkably smooth and easy finish.
Drinking This Wine: MontGras drinks like a rich and fruity Merlot and as such makes a very good sipping wine. It would also be a good compliment to lighter red meat dishes, such as grilled beef or stew.
Overall Impression: This is an excellent wine for everyday drinking. My final verdict is that it is remarkably good for the price.
About THIS Wine: The terroir of Chile is known to produce exceptionally rich and fruity red wines and MontGras delivers. It has a velvety nose with prominent notes of cherry and raspberry. Those flavors deliver on the palate with additional notes of pepper and plum. The fruit lingers on the palate to provide a remarkably smooth and easy finish.
Drinking This Wine: MontGras drinks like a rich and fruity Merlot and as such makes a very good sipping wine. It would also be a good compliment to lighter red meat dishes, such as grilled beef or stew.
Overall Impression: This is an excellent wine for everyday drinking. My final verdict is that it is remarkably good for the price.
Stellenryck Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (About $10)
About the Wine: Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white noted for its strong flavors of grapefruit, lemon, and sometimes melon. It is a particularly good summer drink for people who like things that are very fruity but who do not like sweet. Sauv. Blancs tend to be more acid than Chardonnays, making them better with food, and have more character than the often bland Pinot Grigio.
About THIS wine: Stellenryck is from South Africa, a wine growing region with a strange and complicated history. Basically, the end of apartheid and the opening of trade created a boom in the South African wine industry which ended due to persistent quality issues with the wines they produced. In recent years, South African wineries have tried to recover their image with brands like Nederburg, Glen Carlou, and Robertson gaining credibility.
The nose of this wine is crisp with strong smells of lemon and hints of grapefruit. The citrus delivers on the palate in a pleasantly soft way. Most Sauv. Blancs I have tasted were very strong and sharp. This one was more mild and gave an unusual, slightly prickly mouth feel. The acidity was present, but not overly prominent. Stellenryck has an unimpressive finish, but that is to be expected in a relatively soft wine.
Drinking This Wine: Stellenryck could be drunk as a sipping wine. It would also go well with mildly spiced seafood dishes.
Overall Impression: I'm not really blown away by this wine, but at $10 it is a remarkable value.
About THIS wine: Stellenryck is from South Africa, a wine growing region with a strange and complicated history. Basically, the end of apartheid and the opening of trade created a boom in the South African wine industry which ended due to persistent quality issues with the wines they produced. In recent years, South African wineries have tried to recover their image with brands like Nederburg, Glen Carlou, and Robertson gaining credibility.
The nose of this wine is crisp with strong smells of lemon and hints of grapefruit. The citrus delivers on the palate in a pleasantly soft way. Most Sauv. Blancs I have tasted were very strong and sharp. This one was more mild and gave an unusual, slightly prickly mouth feel. The acidity was present, but not overly prominent. Stellenryck has an unimpressive finish, but that is to be expected in a relatively soft wine.
Drinking This Wine: Stellenryck could be drunk as a sipping wine. It would also go well with mildly spiced seafood dishes.
Overall Impression: I'm not really blown away by this wine, but at $10 it is a remarkable value.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Hahn Pinot Noir 2010 (About $13)
About The Wine: I have written before about Pinot Noir, lightest of the three red Noble grapes. This Pinot Noir comes from California's central coast, a designation with no legal meaning and no promise of quality or any particular terroir. Surprisingly, a number of remarkably good value wines carry this designation on their labels. Whether this is because central coast simply cannot charge the same rates as comparable wines from Nappa Valley or because they feel the need to make up for their lack of prestige, I do not know.
About THIS Wine: I have had good experiences with Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon in the past and this made anxious about their Pinot Noir. Too often a winery will make one very good variety and then branch out, sacrificing quality along the way. This wine presented a garnet color, a very good sign for a Pinot Noir. The nose presents strong notes of plum, smoke, and leather with lighter hints of blackberry. The palate is less complex, with mild flavors of jam and red fruit that gives way to a mildly spicy finish. Both the fruit and the spice linger.
Drinking This Wine: This is definitely a food wine. The palate is mild enough that it would not muddle the taste of lighter foods and the wine itself is acidic enough to make the mouth water. I would have it with bread and light meat. A good, meaty sandwich would go perfectly.
Overall Impression: My coworker described this wine as "Heaven in a glass." That's overstating it a bit, but the wine s very good and the price is quite reasonable. I rate this wine as an excellent value.
About THIS Wine: I have had good experiences with Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon in the past and this made anxious about their Pinot Noir. Too often a winery will make one very good variety and then branch out, sacrificing quality along the way. This wine presented a garnet color, a very good sign for a Pinot Noir. The nose presents strong notes of plum, smoke, and leather with lighter hints of blackberry. The palate is less complex, with mild flavors of jam and red fruit that gives way to a mildly spicy finish. Both the fruit and the spice linger.
Drinking This Wine: This is definitely a food wine. The palate is mild enough that it would not muddle the taste of lighter foods and the wine itself is acidic enough to make the mouth water. I would have it with bread and light meat. A good, meaty sandwich would go perfectly.
Overall Impression: My coworker described this wine as "Heaven in a glass." That's overstating it a bit, but the wine s very good and the price is quite reasonable. I rate this wine as an excellent value.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Zebo Moscato (About $10)
Note: I usually list vintages in my post titles. I was not able to find one on this bottle.
About the Wine: Moscato is a white wine that is almost always naturally very sweet and naturally slightly bubbly. It can be grown in California but usually comes from Italy. It is not a Noble wine, meaning that it requires more specific climate conditions to grow well than do the six Noble varieties. Classic Moscatos have strong peach flavor and intense, lingering sweetness, making them a popular wine for those just getting into wine drinking.
About THIS Wine: Zebo is not a classic Moscato. The nose is sweet and a bit tangy with hints of citrus. The palate is sweet, but very zesty with strong orange flavor and hints of pear. The fruit flavors yield to a dull but pleasant sweetness that lingers.
Drinking this Wine: This is the only wine I have ever had that would be particularly good with oranges. You could also make an interesting, incredibly sweet variation of a mimosa with it. It would be best to drink it with mild cheese or crackers handy. Those foods tend to cleanse the palate and the sweetness of Zebo could become unpleasantly cloying very quickly.
Overall Impression: While not classic, it is delicious and unique. At $10 a bottle I would rate it as a steal and I would not be surprised to see the price go up by at least a few dollars a bottle over the next couple of years as the wine gains popularity..
About the Wine: Moscato is a white wine that is almost always naturally very sweet and naturally slightly bubbly. It can be grown in California but usually comes from Italy. It is not a Noble wine, meaning that it requires more specific climate conditions to grow well than do the six Noble varieties. Classic Moscatos have strong peach flavor and intense, lingering sweetness, making them a popular wine for those just getting into wine drinking.
About THIS Wine: Zebo is not a classic Moscato. The nose is sweet and a bit tangy with hints of citrus. The palate is sweet, but very zesty with strong orange flavor and hints of pear. The fruit flavors yield to a dull but pleasant sweetness that lingers.
Drinking this Wine: This is the only wine I have ever had that would be particularly good with oranges. You could also make an interesting, incredibly sweet variation of a mimosa with it. It would be best to drink it with mild cheese or crackers handy. Those foods tend to cleanse the palate and the sweetness of Zebo could become unpleasantly cloying very quickly.
Overall Impression: While not classic, it is delicious and unique. At $10 a bottle I would rate it as a steal and I would not be surprised to see the price go up by at least a few dollars a bottle over the next couple of years as the wine gains popularity..
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sebastiani 2009 Pinot Noir (About $17)
About the Wine: Pinot Noir is the mildest of the three red Noble grapes and it is the only one of the three that is commonly recommended to drink with turkey and other poultry dishes. That said, Pinot Noirs can vary widely in taste. My experience is that the grape has very little flavor of its own and is strongly influenced by terroir. French Pinot Noirs tend to be earthy, layered and fairly mild while Chileans are heavier, drinking more like Merlot or even Cabernet Sauvignon depending on the vineyard.
About THIS Wine: Sebastiani is from Sonoma County California, a region that is not as prestigious as Napa Valley but also not as overpriced. The wine has a light red color that is just about right for a Pinot. I lingered over the nose for some time with this one, trying to identify exactly what is was I smelled. My coworker said he smelled hints of smoke and chocolate. There are no right or wrong answers in identifying wine odors. It is all very individual and subjective. But I did not smell the things my coworker did. I eventually realized that what I smelled was mist. This wine smelled like a foggy morning in the country. The smell is quite pleasant, but not at all what I expected. The palate delivered with heavy flavors of jam, red licorice, and blackberry that gave way into a spicy finish that I would not have expected from this varietal. It is heavier all around than most Pinots and I would not recommend it with white meat. It is a good sipping wine and would also go well with lightly seasoned red meat. Beef sirloin pops to mind as a perfect match for this wine.
Overall Impression: This one is tough. Objectively, it is an excellent wine and well worth the price. It drinks more like a Cabernet Sauvignon than it does like a Pinot. The heavier taste means that it is probably not the best choice for a dedicated Pinot Noir drinker. For someone who likes red wines in general this is a good value.
About THIS Wine: Sebastiani is from Sonoma County California, a region that is not as prestigious as Napa Valley but also not as overpriced. The wine has a light red color that is just about right for a Pinot. I lingered over the nose for some time with this one, trying to identify exactly what is was I smelled. My coworker said he smelled hints of smoke and chocolate. There are no right or wrong answers in identifying wine odors. It is all very individual and subjective. But I did not smell the things my coworker did. I eventually realized that what I smelled was mist. This wine smelled like a foggy morning in the country. The smell is quite pleasant, but not at all what I expected. The palate delivered with heavy flavors of jam, red licorice, and blackberry that gave way into a spicy finish that I would not have expected from this varietal. It is heavier all around than most Pinots and I would not recommend it with white meat. It is a good sipping wine and would also go well with lightly seasoned red meat. Beef sirloin pops to mind as a perfect match for this wine.
Overall Impression: This one is tough. Objectively, it is an excellent wine and well worth the price. It drinks more like a Cabernet Sauvignon than it does like a Pinot. The heavier taste means that it is probably not the best choice for a dedicated Pinot Noir drinker. For someone who likes red wines in general this is a good value.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz 2007 (About $13)
About the Wine: Shiraz is basically the national wine grape of Australia. It is a close relative of Syrah and many people claim that there is no difference between the two grape varietals. (Do not ever make this claim while in Australia). Other experts say that Shiraz and Syrah are close cousins. That debate is more than I will get into in this post. Both varietals are known for the full body and slightly peppery taste of the wines they produce.
About THIS Wine: This wine has one of the deepest red colors I have ever seen. It is almost opaque. It presents a complex nose that includes smoke, leather, and hints of jam and pepper. The palate begins with very subtle jam and red fruit flavor which then gives way to a savory mid palate with a lot of pepper. The peppery mid palate transitions into a spicy oak finish.
Drinking this Wine: Jacob's Creek is a bit acidic (which just means it makes your mouth water). Wines like that are best with food. I would drink it with a meal of well-seasoned beef or sausage or anything else spicy and savory enough to compliment and be complimented by the wine. The wine is good, but it is not terribly complex or interesting and does not present the full body I usually associate with a good sipping wine.
Overall Impression: The wine is not impressive but neither is it disappointing. At $13 I would say that it is fairly priced.
About THIS Wine: This wine has one of the deepest red colors I have ever seen. It is almost opaque. It presents a complex nose that includes smoke, leather, and hints of jam and pepper. The palate begins with very subtle jam and red fruit flavor which then gives way to a savory mid palate with a lot of pepper. The peppery mid palate transitions into a spicy oak finish.
Drinking this Wine: Jacob's Creek is a bit acidic (which just means it makes your mouth water). Wines like that are best with food. I would drink it with a meal of well-seasoned beef or sausage or anything else spicy and savory enough to compliment and be complimented by the wine. The wine is good, but it is not terribly complex or interesting and does not present the full body I usually associate with a good sipping wine.
Overall Impression: The wine is not impressive but neither is it disappointing. At $13 I would say that it is fairly priced.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (About $11)
About the Wine: This is a Central Coast California Cabernet. Napa Valley is the premiere wine growing region in California but Sonoma County and the Central Coast have been increasingly competitive in recent years. Cabernet Sauvignon is the fullest and heaviest of the three red Noble Varieties and is the go to wine as a compliment to meals that include red meat.
About THIS Wine: Line 39 offers a pleasantly complex nose of smoke, leather, red fruit, and jam. The palate starts with mild red fruit and progresses to a licorice taste which blends into a spicy oak finish. The palate is mild, complex, and lingering.
Drinking this Wine: This is one of the better Cabernets I've seen for everyday drinking. The taste and the price are both right and the wine is good as a sipping wine or as food. The palate is mild for a cab, so I would advise against having it with very heavy red meats. It would make a nice companion to grilled beef dishes or lamb. Line 39 is pleasant all around for the casual drinker.
Overall Impression: This is an excellent wine for the price. I would rate Line 39 as a remarkable find.
About THIS Wine: Line 39 offers a pleasantly complex nose of smoke, leather, red fruit, and jam. The palate starts with mild red fruit and progresses to a licorice taste which blends into a spicy oak finish. The palate is mild, complex, and lingering.
Drinking this Wine: This is one of the better Cabernets I've seen for everyday drinking. The taste and the price are both right and the wine is good as a sipping wine or as food. The palate is mild for a cab, so I would advise against having it with very heavy red meats. It would make a nice companion to grilled beef dishes or lamb. Line 39 is pleasant all around for the casual drinker.
Overall Impression: This is an excellent wine for the price. I would rate Line 39 as a remarkable find.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay 2010 (About $17)
About the Wine: Chardonnay is one of the three noble white varieties. It is not as sweet or tangy as Riesling and not as acidic as Pinot Grigio, making it the most accessible for many people. Though it is grown in vineyards all over the world, the best known regions for Chardonnay are France and California. The French are known for making light, crisp Chardonnays with mineral notes on the palate. California Chardonnay is often associated with the practice of oak barrel aging, which imparts butter, cream, and vanilla notes to the wine. A common request in the wine shop where I work is ". . . a Chardonnay that's not too oaky."
About THIS Wine: This Chardonnay is from California but it is done in the French style. The nose offers a rich scents of pear and lighter hints of citrus. Seriously, I sniffed this wine longer than I needed to just because it was so nice to smell. The palate was very crisp with no acidity to speak of. The palate was lighter than the nose, but still quite pleasant. The taste faded quickly into an unremarkable finish.
Drinking this Wine: This could be a pleasant wine to bring along on a picnic. It is best enjoyed chilled and is appropriate for warm weather. It would be a good compliment to lemon chicken, white fish, or vegetarian dishes, especially vegetarian with a lot of fruit. It is also good as a light sipping wine.
Overall Impression: It is a very nice wine, but for $17 I expect something that delivers a lot on the palate, is very complex, or lingers pleasantly. This wine does none of those things. My final analysis is that it is good, but overpriced.
About THIS Wine: This Chardonnay is from California but it is done in the French style. The nose offers a rich scents of pear and lighter hints of citrus. Seriously, I sniffed this wine longer than I needed to just because it was so nice to smell. The palate was very crisp with no acidity to speak of. The palate was lighter than the nose, but still quite pleasant. The taste faded quickly into an unremarkable finish.
Drinking this Wine: This could be a pleasant wine to bring along on a picnic. It is best enjoyed chilled and is appropriate for warm weather. It would be a good compliment to lemon chicken, white fish, or vegetarian dishes, especially vegetarian with a lot of fruit. It is also good as a light sipping wine.
Overall Impression: It is a very nice wine, but for $17 I expect something that delivers a lot on the palate, is very complex, or lingers pleasantly. This wine does none of those things. My final analysis is that it is good, but overpriced.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Bridlewood Red Blend 2009
About the Wine: Today we will explore Bridlewood Blend 175, 2009 vintage. It is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. Blended wines have a long and illustrious history. Traditional European blends include such familiar names as Bordeaux and Cotes-du-Rhone, the blends being named for the regions where they originated. Those blends are strictly regulated to maintain the taste associated with the place. New World blends are not regulated and the results range from brilliant to disastrous.
About THIS Wine: Jammy red fruits, smoke, and leather are prominent on the nose of this wine. In reds, that usually means the wine will be dry, fruity, and complex. The palate delivers lingering tastes of plum and red berries. It is layered, giving an experience of multiple tastes as it lingers so that the fruit on the palate tempers the spicy finish.
Drinking this Wine: This is a very good sipping wine and, out of appreciation for the complexity of the flavors, I would actually prefer it without food. That said, it would pair well with with sweeter meat dishes such as bratwurst or another sweet sausage.
Overall Impression: This wine drinks like a much more expensive bottle. Though it is at the higher end of my price range I would still say that it is an excellent value and a very good wine..
About THIS Wine: Jammy red fruits, smoke, and leather are prominent on the nose of this wine. In reds, that usually means the wine will be dry, fruity, and complex. The palate delivers lingering tastes of plum and red berries. It is layered, giving an experience of multiple tastes as it lingers so that the fruit on the palate tempers the spicy finish.
Drinking this Wine: This is a very good sipping wine and, out of appreciation for the complexity of the flavors, I would actually prefer it without food. That said, it would pair well with with sweeter meat dishes such as bratwurst or another sweet sausage.
Overall Impression: This wine drinks like a much more expensive bottle. Though it is at the higher end of my price range I would still say that it is an excellent value and a very good wine..
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Urban Riesling 2010 (about $10)
About the Wine: Riesling is a white Noble variety, grown just about everywhere wine can be grown. Traditional German Rieslings are a bit sweet but are also very tangy. They can be difficult for those not used to them because ranges from prominent to mouth-puckering. American Rieslings and those grown for the American market tend to be very sweet with less tang. Urban is an underbrand of St. Urbans-Hof, a well known and respected German Riesling. Underbrands are usually made from grapes from the same vineyard but of lower quality than their overbrands. Depending on the vineyard, this can be a good way to find undervalued wines. The underbrand may lack certain characteristics of the overbrand, but it is usually made with the same process and will have some of the same properties. Because the lower quality grapes come from the same vineyard, they are also likely to retain the terroir, a French term sometimes translated as "Taste of a place." This can be significant for those who are fans of wines from certain regions. I personally enjoy Chilean wines and the terroir is as much a part of that experience for me as the unique characteristics of any wine from there. For all of these reasons underbrands are often better than their mass produced counterparts in similar price ranges.
About THIS Wine: Urban has a very potent citrus smell and based on that I expected it to have a corresponding taste. While there were definitely citrus notes, I found the wine mild and sweet with a very light finish. I would classify the sweetness as "medium", not the cloying sweetness of most Moscatos, but sweeter than a Chenin Blanc. Neither the sweetness nor the citrus lingered on the palate and the wine has no complexity to speak of.
Drinking This Wine: Rieslings are best served chilled, but not ice cold. The sweetness Urban 2010 makes it more of a dessert than something appropriate for a main course. The citrus and lemon flavors make it a good companion for key lime pie, lemon meringue, and similar sweet fruit deserts. It is important to note than drinking wines with the right food pairing will often enhance both the wine and the food. I suspect that drinking Urban with lemon meringue would enhance both the citrus and the sweetness of the wine, making it a more rounded experience.
Overall Impression: This a good wine for casual drinking and a good value. It is not something I would recommend as a gift or for a special occasion. It is a good wine for the price.
About THIS Wine: Urban has a very potent citrus smell and based on that I expected it to have a corresponding taste. While there were definitely citrus notes, I found the wine mild and sweet with a very light finish. I would classify the sweetness as "medium", not the cloying sweetness of most Moscatos, but sweeter than a Chenin Blanc. Neither the sweetness nor the citrus lingered on the palate and the wine has no complexity to speak of.
Drinking This Wine: Rieslings are best served chilled, but not ice cold. The sweetness Urban 2010 makes it more of a dessert than something appropriate for a main course. The citrus and lemon flavors make it a good companion for key lime pie, lemon meringue, and similar sweet fruit deserts. It is important to note than drinking wines with the right food pairing will often enhance both the wine and the food. I suspect that drinking Urban with lemon meringue would enhance both the citrus and the sweetness of the wine, making it a more rounded experience.
Overall Impression: This a good wine for casual drinking and a good value. It is not something I would recommend as a gift or for a special occasion. It is a good wine for the price.
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