.JPG)
Roscato
Variety: Fruit Wine
Region: Rosso Dolce
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $25 (Bottle)
Winery review: Northern Italy provides a spectacular backdrop for Roscato, a violet-hued red with aromatic notes of cherry, blackberry and red raspberry. A touch of sweetness and bright acidity underlies the appeal of this charming wine.
This wine has a sweet taste and is similar to Moscato. It doesn't leave a bad after-taste at all. I tried it on a whim, only purchased one bottle while I was visiting the South...Wow, I should have purchased more, I can't find it in the North.
My review: I absolutely loved this wine. It tasted completely like a thick fruit juice. The mid palate was full and it went really well with food. I was so impressed by this wine that I bought myself a bottle. I was able to taste this wine with a full dinner and it went perfectly. The aftertaste was surprisingly refreshing also.
Dona Sol
Variety: 100% Wine Zinfandel
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2010
Price: $12
Winery review: Voluptuous blush wine that has hints of strawberry and fresh fruit in its wide range of aromas. As the wine flows into the palate, fresh fruit and sweet cherries are evident. Ends with a smooth sweet finish. Pair with seafood (light & heavy), shellfish, pork, cheese, poultry, and desserts.
Voluptuous blush wine that has hints of strawberry and fresh fruit in its wide range of aromas. As the wine flows into the palate, fresh fruit and sweet cherries are evident. Ends with a smooth sweet finish. Pair with seafood (light & heavy), shellfish, pork, cheese, poultry, and desserts.
My review: I found this wine to be a little too "busy." The wine contained too many flavors in one sip. From the fruitiness to the fact that the wine was not very light, the mix was questionable. I was not able to talk this wine with any food, which may have altered my reaction.
Crane Lake Moscato
Variety: 100% Moscato
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2010
Price: $10
Winery review: 84 pts. Wine Enthusiast: October, 2011
Sweet in honey, lemon and lime and vanilla flavors, with a good zest of acidity that makes it finish clean and vibrant. Good price for an everyday sweetie.
This wine is so tasty with melon, cheese, fruit and good breads. I bought one bottle, chilled it, shared it, enjoyed it and went back and purchased the other 11 bottles. For a Moscato, it has a kicker 12.5%. It was that good, full bodied, smooth, sweet quality that I like in a fruity wine. It is wonderful also for just cold sipping on a hot summer evening.
My review: I found this Moscato to be amazing. It was smooth and come off as a wine that was definitely good to casually sip on. It would go with any food and it had an overall full feel to it. I found the wine to be sweet and thick while not exposing the smell of the alcohol. This review may contain some bias seeing that I can partial to Moscato. I was able to taste this wine with a bit of cheese and bread. I would definitely recommend this wine.
Morro Bay White Oak Estates
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $10
Winery review: A surprising find (well, OK, to be honest, it was provided). Citrusy notes on the nose, with perhaps a bit more lemon that one might expect. Nice flavors of grapefruit and caramel on the palate, with good acid. The most surprising aspect is that someone had a deft hand with the French and American oak. It is there but restrained and kept on a leash. Finishes very clean. Not rich but very satisfying. The best part is that the price seems to come in at around $10. Try with a nice risotto. Highly recommended.
My review: Overall, I found this Chardonnay to have too strong of a citrus feel to it. Upon smelling the chardonnay, I expected something different. It was different in the sense that it was citriusy in smell however it was not to my taste. I found the wine to be too bitter and busy. I was unable to taste this wine with food.
Hardys Chardonnay Nottage Hill
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2007
Price: $10
Winery review: Notty has done it again and takes the honour of leading the way in our Chardonnay list for the third year running. It has honeyed, crème brûlée flavours and a surprising amount of sexy oak for this little money, making it one of the best value wines on the market.
Golden yellow straw color. Baked apple, lemon and sweet cream aromas. A soft, gentle entry leads to a dryish light-to-medium body with apple-pear tart and light lemon curd flavors. Finishes with tart lemon, ashy mineral and peppery spice fade.
My review: When tasting the Hardy's Chardonnay Nottage Hill 2007, I found the wine to be strong and the taste to be a bit too thick for my taste. I feel as if the mid palate of this wine was too intricate to be able to drink with food. I was not able to taste the wine with food, however. I also found the wine to be a bit tart and bitter.
Cinco Joses
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Campo de Borja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $10
Winery review: Drinking this white is like French-kissing a tropical fruit salad. Mango, banana, and papaya duel it out to a finish that leaves you breathless. Well, not really. But it's darn good.
My review: Overall, I enjoyed this chardonnay. I found the wine to have a tangy taste, with presence of fruit/floral scents. I was not able to try this wine with food but would assume that this is a wine better suited to simply sip alone, due to its strong, tangy taste.
Los Alisos
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Santa Barbara, California
Country: United States
Year: 2007
Price: $8
Winery review: Nutty, sweet and light on the nose with toast and mineral top notes over spicy apricot fruit. Lots of fruit on entry with rich pear and pineapple tones backed by light cinnamon and spicy wood notes. This is nicely balanced and quite smooth and creamy with the light vanilla sweetness of the wood helping to center the ripe fruit. 87pts
My review: Overall, I enjoyed this chardonnay. It was different. I enjoyed the smoothness of this wine and thought the lightness of the wine would make it taste good with food. I was not able to try this wine with food.
Montgras Reserva
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Colchagua Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2009
Price: $18
Winery review: Light gold. Shy aromas of nectarine and nutmeg are complicated by a leesy element. Juicy and fine-grained, with a silky texture to the pit fruit and spice flavors. A very nicely balanced but reticent chardonnay with well-integrated acidity and a dry, nervy finish.
Scored a 85 by Wine Spectator.
My review: Overall, I did not enjoy this wine. I found this wine to have a smoky feel to it. The wine was thick in taste and the mid palate presence was overwhelming.I found the wine to have a dry aftertaste also. I was not able to taste this wine with food, but I do not believe that would have altered my views of this wine.
Waterbrook
Variety: 100% Sangiovese (Cold soaked 50 hours before removing from skins)
Region: Columbia Valley
Country: Oregon
Year: 2010
Price: $14
Winery review: Summer will soon be another memory, so in the mean time I am trying to taste as many roses as possible.
Waterbrook Winery's 100% Sangiovese Rose', from the Candy Mountain in the Columbia Valley, was one of those lovely pink wines. Sangiovese is my favorite grape to make a rose'/rosato out of. Rarely flimsy and always heady with fruit and floral nuances. The deep strawberry flavors of this beautiful pink wine didn't surprise me, but flavors of rhubarb sorbet and the elegant finish of ruby red grapefruit did. A very bright and crisp wine that was pure joy to sip while I dined on an artisanal cheese plate with candied hazelnuts and figs.
Aged and fermented in stainless steel tanks, this classic dry rose is the ultimate summer sipping wine and yet still pairs perfectly with picnique foods.
My review: I enjoyed this wine. I found it to be smooth and light and the rose base was something different. The wine was very sweet and seems to do well with food. I was able to taste this wine with bread and cheese. I would definitely try this wine again.
Duck Duck Goose Chardonnay
Variety: Charonnay
Region: South Australia
Country: South Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $14
Winery review: Duck Duck Goose is an Australian “value” Chardonnay. It’s interesting to note this Aussie vintner has managed to remove the classic chardonnay presence of oak. In typical ‘down under’ fashion, the wine maker also applies the adroit use of the screw-off cap. The wine boasts a fruity bouquet with a light-bodied taste that encompasses flavors of citrus, with layers of melon and orange. A hint of Starfruit presents itself on the backside leaving an aftertaste that is lasting and acidic. All and all this Aussie production wine is no trip to Sydney. On the SMS Scale (1-10) I humbly rate this Chardonnay a 5.
My review: I enjoyed this wine. It was different to taste a chardonnay like this that is unoaked. It obtained a sense of lightness and freshness because of this, in my opinion. I enjoyed the light fruit scent with the wine and how the alcohol smell did not over shine the taste. I was unable to taste this wine with food.
Ed Hardy Chardonnay
Variety: Charonnay
Region: France
Country: France
Year: 2008
Price: $13
Winery review: Complex tropical fruit fragrances of pineapple and mango melt harmoniously with a touch of toasted honey. Long lasting, with a refreshing finish.
While I was at a Whole Foods tasting, a friend of mine showed me this rather infamous bottle of wine, and after the bartender said, "Well the bottle is prettier then the wine so that's a start right?" I knew I had to review it. The wine itself is a dark yellow in color indicating that it was probably pretty oaky, but I was not prepared for this heavy-handed, indelicate, glass of hogwash. I think Christian Audigier woke up one day and said, "Well I have this famous label, let's put some crappy product in it and laugh all the way to the bank!" The sad thing is, they probably did. There is barely any fruit flavor to speak of in this wine and was quite honestly, barely drinkable. I am sorry that I bought into this ploy myself, but at least all of you readers can now stay far, far away.
My review: I found the Ed Hardy Chardonnay to have an initial smell that smelled a bit "oaky." Overall, I found the Chardonnay to expose the alcohol smell and taste a bit too much. Additionally, the taste overall did not seem like anything new. On the other hand, it obtained a strong mid palate which added to the little complexity the wine had. I was unable to taste this wine with food.
Palos Verdejo
Variety: 100% Verdejo
Region: Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $8
Winery review: 87 pts. Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: June, 2010
Castellana’s 2009 Palos Verdejo is medium straw-colored with a nose of fennel, spring flowers, citrus, and apple. Crisp and vibrant on the palate, this tasty offering is a good value that will deliver pleasure over the next 12–18 months.
My review: I found the Palos Verdejo to be quite smooth. Additionally, I found the wine to be light and I would expect this to be a wine that couples well with food. I was unable to taste the wine with food however. The initial scent of the wine was also one that was light and smooth with that typical white wine scent.
Faraway Farm
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Stellenbosch
Country: South Africa
Year: 2009
Price: $15
Winery review: In the New World, South Africa is the top destination for reasonably priced, quality Chenin Blanc. Here, the grape represented 34 percent of land under vine up to 1990, but plantings have declined in favor of grapes with greater international appeal. Still, consider the consistently strong bottlings from Ken Forrester and Mulderbosch, both grown in the spectacularly beautiful Stellenbosch region.
My review: I found this Chenin Blanc to be very sweet. It also gave off this light free to the wine and was overall a good wine with food. I was able to taste this wine with a small amount of bread.
Cellar No. 8
Variety: 97% Pinot Grigio
3% Gewurztraminer
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2008
Price: $13
Winery review: Cellar No. 8 Pinot Grigio displays notes of pineapple and jasmine on the nose. Crisp and light, this wine has grapefruit and lime flavors that open to a refreshing finish with balanced acidity. Cellar No. 8 Pinot Grigio is perfect on its own, anytime. Cellar No. 8 wines honor and reflect the rich winemaking tradition at Asti. Whether relaxing in your favorite leather chair or celebrating with friends, Cellar No. 8 is a great discovery which might just become your next
My review: I found this wine to have a fruity smell. Upon tasting the wine, I found it to be ridiculously acidic and it masked all the flavors I found in the initial smell. It also, I think, smelled of the alcohol in the beverage. I was not able to try this wine with food.
Spanish Vines
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: La Mancha, Central Spain, Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $10
Winery review: "Recommended with caution. The sample this note is based on was weighty and smooth, with apple and floral notes and then an almosty buttery palate with baked apple and citrus flavors. Oddly, it’s a soft, ripe wine that’s fading and not showing much Sauvignon Blanc typicity. M.S. (5/1/2011) — 85"
The 2010 Spanish Vines Sauvignon Blanc blends aromas of kiwi, tangerine, and honeydew melon with mouthwatering acidity. An ideal combination of Old World structure and New World fruit. This is a medium bodied wine bears a remarkably focused finish. Drink now.
My review: I found this Sauvignon Blanc to be light. The initial scent this wine gives off is a bit fruity, however the taste, personally, seemed very tasteless. It is a very smooth wine that obtains a slightly bitter aftertaste. I found the wine to also not have much of a mid-palate also. I did not try this wine with any sort of bread or cheese.
Coldstream Hills
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Yarra Valley
Country: Austrailia
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95
Winery review: “Predominantly fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion barrel fermented in older French oak, the wine is blended, bottled and released three to four months after fermentation. The nose shows fragrant gooseberry characters with underlying passion fruit and lychee aromas. Minerally, stalky notes are evident and provide additional complexity. The palate is a fine and elegant style with zesty lemon acidity and length. Varietal characters of passion fruit pulp and gooseberry dominate with hints of lemon peel in the background.”
My review: I found this Sauvignon Blanc to be smooth and sweet. It was a thicker wine in my opinion and had a fruity, sugary aftertaste. Overall, I enjoyed the wine. It was a light wine that went down smoothly and had a full body. I was able to taste this wine with a small amount of bread on the side. I enjoyed this wine so much that I bought a bottle myself.
Villa Maria
Variety: Riesling
Region: New Zealand
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2008
Price: $18
Winery review: Marlborough is justifiably famous for more than its signature Sauvignon Blancs as this Riesling with ripe citrus-lime and spring blossom shows. Villa Maria’s Riesling vineyards are scattered throughout both the Awatere and Wairau Valleys of Marlborough.Try this aromatic Riesling with spicy food.
Everyone knows and loves the Sauvignon Blancs of Marlborough, but the so-called aromatic varieties such as Riesling are going great guns there, too. Dry to off-dry, crisp and refreshing with zingy lime and apple on the palate, this is a great appetite sharpener or partner to salt ‘n’ pepper squid or seafood salad (2007 vintage). Jonathan Ray, The Daily Telegraph, 12 July 2008
My review: During my experience with the Villa Maria Marlborough Riesling, I found the wine to be dry. In my opinion is was lightly sweet yet dry. The wine exhibited no mid-palate and had a very bitty aftertaste. I was able to couple this wine with a small amount of bread. Additionally, I felt like the initial smell of the wine was smooth, however it is key to note the aftertaste bitterness was overbearing and masked the initial flavor.
.JPG)
Roscato
