ABC Wine Ratings and Reviews

Schmitt Söhne Liebfraumilch 2010

2012-11-08T17:00:00.000-05:00

Schmitt Söhne Liebfraumilch 2010

Origin: Rhine Region, Germany
Blend: Riesling, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau and Kerner (unknown percentages)
Alcohol Content: 9.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $4.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light straw-gold in color, this wine has aromas of peach and flowers, with notes of orange. Soft on the palate, the fruit flavors — and orange seems to be the primary one here — tend to be on the sweet side but there's a nice moderating acidity that balances the sweetness. The finish is quite clean.

Our rating: We had forgotten that two years ago we reviewed the 2008 vintage of this wine. It wasn't until we were preparing this review that we found our previous one … and obviously we were not altogether impressed back then. However, that's not at all what we think of this bottle, which we found delightfully refreshing. We elected to enjoy it as an aperitif, a simple end-of-afternoon/pre-dinner glass, and found it just about perfect as such. Indeed, we think it would make for an ideal friends and family gathering-style wine, one to serve with appetizers or hors d'oeuvres, a wine that would pair well with almost any food. Overall, we rate it well Above Average and, given its very attractive price, highly recommended.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Schmitt Söhne GmbH.

Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio 2011

2012-11-01T17:30:00.000-04:00

Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: Sicilia, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2012
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light yellow-gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (notably peaches) with notes of spice. On the palate the wine is soft, almost creamy, with flavors of apple, perry, and citrus zest. The slightly aggressive finish has quite a bit of mineral character to it, though it tapers off nicely.

Our rating: We chose to enjoy our bottle with a meal of chicken tenders, asparagus, and farfalle tossed in a bit of olive oil, with which it paired very well. Unlike Pinot Grigios from northern Italy, which tend to be lighter and can typically be enjoyed alone or as aperitifs, this wine needs food to bring out its best qualities, and is probably best served with relatively simple, lightly seasoned poultry and/or vegetable dishes. (We don't see it pairing as well with seafood or with spicy cuisines.) A good family dinner-style wine, we rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Bright aromas of peach and cream, apple and nougat with a silky dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a crisp, orange, melon, and straw accented finish. Delicious and balanced.

Winery website: None found.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Jean-Claude Debeaune "Special Selection" Sauvignon Blanc 2011

2012-10-18T17:00:00.000-04:00

Jean-Claude Debeaune "Special Selection" Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Origin: Pays d'Oc, France
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light yellow with significant tints of green, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit — mango, banana, pineapple — with just a hint of spice (vanilla). Rather crisp on the palate, the flavor profile is similar to that of the nose, with maybe some green apple blended in. The finish is slightly astringent with a bit of an earthy character.

Our rating: This is an interesting example of this varietal. We enjoyed our bottle with grilled fish fillets, with which it paired nicely, though possibly not as well as some of the more citrusy examples from New Zealand or Chile. We think Asian cuisines might be a better pairing overall. The finish was a bit disharmonious, lowering it score a bit, but still we rate it Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Saladini Pilastri Falerio dei Colli Ascolani 2011

2012-10-11T16:57:00.000-04:00

Saladini Pilastri Falerio dei Colli Ascolani 2011

Origin: Italy
Blend: Chardonnay (50%), a blend of Pecorino, Sauvignon Blanc, Fiano, Pinot Biano, and Falanghina (50%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: September 2012
Suggested Retail Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light golden yellow in color with green highlights, this wine has aromas of apples and other tree fruit (notably pears) with just a hint of citrus zest. Crisp on the palate, the flavor profile is a cross between a Granny Smith and a Gala apple, some tartness balanced with a touch of sweetness. An earthy, almost smoky character develops into the moderately long finish.

Our rating: We're bending one of our rules here, reviewing a wine that has as its dominant grape Chardonnay. We typically limit its presence in wine we review to 30% or less, but we were unfamiliar with this Italian blend and agreed to accept a sample for review. We assumed — incorrectly — that it would consist primarily of more typical Italian grapes. (As an aside, we do drink Chardonnay on occasion, and would never refuse a glass if offered, but prefer ABC-style wines.)

We guessed right and enjoyed our bottle with roasted chicken. This is not a delicate wine by any means, and can hold its own against a more substantial meal. We suspect it would pair well with most roasted meats, in particular turkey or pork, though we don't see it as a seafood wine at all. We liked the depth exhibited here, but knocked off a couple of points for the rather heavy and somewhat intrusive finish. Overall, we consider this family dinner-style wine to be Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Saladini Pilastri. This wine is made with organic grapes. Though this wine is mentioned on the winery's website, the sample we reviewed is very different from that described on the website (as of the date of this review). We're guessing that this is one of those blended wines that receives a different composition every year, depending on the quality of the available grapes.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Bellini Frascati 2011

2012-10-04T16:30:00.000-04:00

Bellini Frascati 2011

Origin: Italy
Blend: Malvasia Bianca di Candia (50%), Trebbiano Toscano (40%), Malvasia del Lazio (10%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale greenish yellow in color, this wine has aromas of green apple, citrus zest, and a hint of spice. Nicely balanced on the palate, the fruit flavors are crisp and just slightly tart, and lean very much towards apple in character. The lengthy finish adds a soft touch minerality.

Our rating: This is a very nice wine, light and refreshing. The blend may be slightly different than that indicated above as we took it from a previous vintage, but it strikes a lot of right notes. We chose to serve our bottle with grilled chicken and vegetables, and found it paired very well. We think lighter dishes probably are best here: salads, vegetarian meals, simply prepared chicken or fish. Overall, we score it well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: A crisp, fresh white with vibrant acidity, brimming with notes of melon, apple and quince. Easy to enjoy, this crowd-pleasing Italian blend will enhance shellfish, light pasta dishes and fresh salads.

Winery website: Cantine Fratelli Bellini. This wine is not mentioned on the winery website.

Hermes Roditis 2011

2012-09-27T16:46:00.000-04:00

Hermes Roditis 2011

Origin: Patras, Greece
Blend: Roditis (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Exceptionally pale straw in color, this wine is very lightly scented, with aromas of tree fruit (apple and pear) and possibly a hint of spice. The palate seems very thin at first, with almost no flavor whatsoever … and it really doesn't develop much afterwards, reminiscent at its peak of weak cider or perry. A slight smokiness appears in the finish, nothing too dramatic, but definitely present.

Our rating: We're not quite sure what to make of this wine. We served our bottle with a simply prepared chicken dish, which was fine but the wine did little to add to the meal nor did the meal enhance the wine in any way. We'd be hard pressed to say what we think would pair well here. The wine is light and dry and really rather timid. We didn't not like it, we simply didn't find it memorable in any way. We score it on the very low side of Average, but we're wondering if that's being generous.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Soft and fresh with subtle flavor and hints of creamy finish. A gentle wine with attractive body.

Winery website: None found.

Forever Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009

2012-09-20T16:42:00.000-04:00

Forever Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Origin: Monterey, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Straw in color with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of lemon and citrus zest, with fainter notes of grass and tree fruit, notably pears. The initial sensation on the palate is one of sweetness but that is rapidly replaced with a rounded citrus character, not quite tart but not sweet either. There isn't much of a finish.

Our rating: This is an unusual example of a California Sauvignon Blanc. It has received no oak yet it has a softness that gives it depth. It is really quite flavorful, but the flavors vanish almost as quickly as they develop. We enjoyed our bottle with simply prepared chicken, which in terms of protein we think is the right choice here, though we're guessing it would have been better had it been an Asian-inspired meal. We can also see serving it at a brunch, where a variety of foods might be available. The bottom line is, it's quite versatile, more so than with many others from this region. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Beautifully balanced with flavors of lemon, citrus and pear. Aromas of lemon meringue and grapefruit carry through to the palate for a juicy finish. Pairs perfectly with fruits, cheeses, seafood and poultry.

Winery website: Forever Vineyards.

Voga Italia Pinot Grigio 2011

2012-09-13T16:37:00.000-04:00

Voga Italia Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: Trentino and Veneto, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale greenish-gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (notably apples) with very soft hints of flowers, maybe even vanilla. The fruit flavors on the palate are similar to that of the nose, and with a bit more body than one might expect. The finish is relatively brief, and has a bit of apple zest to it.

Our rating: This wine comes in a cylindrical shaped bottle, the cork hidden behind a cap that is screwed off. The marketing clearly suggests the wine is modern but in some ways it quite traditional. Initially we were expecting a light, summer-type wine but we were surprised at the depth of character here. It can easily be consumed on its own, but we'd suggest pairing it with something light, sandwiches or salads, or an appetizer platter. It is very food friendly and should go well with most any dish. We rate it Above Average, maybe a tad higher.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Full and rich, with fresh ripe apple and pear aromas, and delicious juicy flavors.

Winery website: Voga Italia.

Porta Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2010

2012-09-06T16:33:00.000-04:00

Porta Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Bio Bio Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Lemon yellow in color with straw highlights, this wine has aromas of citrus (grapefruit), tropical fruit (mango), and lemongrass with faint notes of orange blossom. The fruit flavors are very smooth and nicely blended on the palate, dissipating slowly and leaving a relatively soft, slate-like minerality in their place, which is accompanied by a hint of citrus zest.

Our rating: This is a very nice wine that evokes images of a candelit dinner, with whitefish and asparagus grilled with a bit of olive oil and served on elegant china. OK, so we're getting a little carried away with our imagery here, but this we did enjoy this wine with the referenced meal, if minus the candles and china. We've come to be partial to Chilean Sauvignon Blancs, and this one is a very good example of such. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent, the same rating we applied to the 2009 vintage.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Brilliant light greenish-gold in color with a zesty bouquet of lime and gooseberries. The palate is full of appetizing and lively fruit flavors, and the finish is clean and refreshing.

Winery website: Porta Winery • Chile.

New Age White Wine NV

2012-08-30T16:27:00.000-04:00

New Age White Wine NV

Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontés (90%), Sauvignon Blanc (10%)
Alcohol Content: 9.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale stray gold in color, this wine has aromas of apples, caramel, and candied fruit. Slightly fizzy and rather sweet on the palate, the fruit flavors tend towards apple and pear, having an almost juice-like character to them. There is no finish.

Our rating: We don't always get it, but we're usually prepared for one element to strike us as unusual in a bottle of wine. But this one hit us with two: fizzy and sweet, neither of which we associate at all with Torrontés, the primary grape in this wine. As such, we would consider this far more of a party-style wine than a food one … though we can see serving it at a Sunday brunch. We didn't dislike it but then again we were totally unprepared for it as well. We score it about Average. (Note: We noticed afterwards that the wine as being marketed more as a cocktail, called the "Tincho", served over ice with a wedge of lime.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: A light yellow-green colored wine, with fruity and floral aromas of great intensity. Balanced acidity leads to soft, semi-sweet and slightly effervescent flavors and mouth feel.

Winery website: Quintessential Wines: New Age.

flipflop Sauvignon Blanc NV

2012-08-23T16:15:00.002-04:00

flipflop Sauvignon Blanc NV

Origin: Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $5.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light lemon yellow in color, this wine has aromas of freshly squeezed lemons and lemon zest with faint notes of tropical fruit. The palate is similar, reminiscent of lemonade, with crisp tartness a good acidic balance. The finish is clean, though relatively brief.

Our rating: The "flipflop" concept to this brand suggests this is a casual wine and we agree: it does have a light, summer, fun character to it. Versatile enough to accompany almost any cuisine, we'd suggest pairing it with something cooked outdoors, such as grilled chicken or shrimp, and vegetable kabobs. Or maybe something a bit more adventurous, like kielbasa. It's a simple, straight-forward wine, nothing too fancy but, then again, it's not intended to be. We rate it Above Average … and certainly one of the better examples of this varietal at this price point.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Light-bodied, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc with exuberant grapefruit and key lime notes, and a zesty, refreshing finish.

Winery website: flipflop: to each, their own.

AlVerdi Pinot Grigio 2010

2012-08-09T16:23:00.002-04:00

AlVerdi Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: Terre degli Osci, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light golden yellow in color, this wine has very pleasant aromas of apples and pears coupled with notes of sweet pineapple and a hint of banana. Very smooth on the palate with soft edges, the fruit flavors tend more towards tropical in character; there is a sensation of sweetness, though it is actually rather dry. It finishes by simply allowing the flavors of the palate to slowly diminish.

Our rating: This is an elegantly crafted and quite delicious wine, and not at all like most of this varietal from Italy. There is a lot of structure here, all the components of which work well together. We had planned on serving our bottle with chicken and risotto; only a small amount actually made it to the table as we consumed most it during the meal preparations. We disagreed a bit on what the minor flaws were, but did agree that this is just shy of an Excellent wine. And an absolutely incredible value at just $7.

Taste profile from the winemaker: A fresh, floral nose with notes of acacia flowers. On the palate it is dry and well-balanced with lively fruit flavors.

Winery website: None found.

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011

2012-08-02T17:26:00.000-04:00

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: June 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale silver-straw in color with green highlights, this wine has strong aromas of citrus (grapefruit, lime), lemongrass, and orange zest. The acidity from the citrus fruit flavors is nicely balanced on the palate, crisp but not tart. The grassiness initially present evolves into a more mineral character on the finish, which is lengthy.

Our rating: This wine is very typical of a New Zealand crafting of this varietal, though better than most. The harsh edges that could have been dominant are nicely softened here, resulting in a well structured wine. We paired our bottle with freshly grilled whitefish, something we usually do with Sauvignon Blancs, and found it a very nice match, though we think it could be served with most any seafood or dishes that have a significant vegetable element to them. We previously rated the 2009 vintage Excellent and the 2010 vintage Above Average to Excellent; we think the present wine is just between the two, but scores slightly closer to the latter.

Taste profile from the winemaker: The wine possesses a light straw colour and tropical aromas of citrus and white peach. The palate exhibits the same fine flavours followed by a crisp, dry, flinty finish.

Winery website: Clifford Bay: New Zealand Wine.

Castellana Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2011

2012-07-19T16:47:00.001-04:00

Castellana Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2011

Origin: d'Abruzzo, Italy
Blend: Trebbiano (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: June 2012
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium gold in color, this wine has aromas of apple, pear, honey and spices, with softer notes of almonds. The palate is similar to the nose, though the earthy, woodsy character seems more dominant here. The finish is persistent and has a slightly chalky minerality to it.

Our rating: This is most definitely a wine to serve with food and probably one that should be opened early and consumed later; we don't think it works all that well on its own. It's reasonably food friendly, though, probably best paired with roasted poultry or barbecue pork dishes. We can't say we're enthusiastic about this wine, but we didn't mind it either. A nice change of pace, but all in all, we score it just Average. We've reviewed this wine twice in the past, apparently enjoying those bottles more than we did this one: We rated the 2007 vintage and the 2008 vintage both Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Concannon "Selected Vineyards" Sauvignon Blanc 2011

2012-07-12T17:05:00.003-04:00

Concannon "Selected Vineyards" Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Origin: Central Coast, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (98%), Riesling (2%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: June 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Straw in color with silver highlights, this wine has aromas of lemongrass and sweet bell pepper with citrus zest and vegetal (asparagus) notes. Light-bodied on the palate with a very slight creamy texture, the flavors are similar to the nose, with a somewhat more pronounced tart citrus character. The finish is very clean, adds some minerality, and is of moderate length.

Our rating: There are several interesting aspects to this wine. It's tart yet not quite crisp. There is considerable depth to the flavors yet they seem light, almost airy. These aren't negative qualities by any means; the complexity exhibited here is rather difficult to describe in simple terms. And yet it's not quite harmonious, though it's hard to pin down exactly why. We think this wine would pair well with most seafood dishes; we would lean more towards fish fillets or steaks than shellfish. We previously rated the Concannon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Average; we rate the present wine a bit better, Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: This wine has a brilliant straw hue with notes of gooseberry. The palate is slightly tropical with a good depth of fruit. Cool stainless steel fermentation keeps the flavors bright and lively, and the medium body is slightly rounded in feel, leading to a crisp finish.

Winery website: Concannon Vineyards.

Recaş Pinot Grigio 2011

2012-07-05T16:51:00.000-04:00

Recaş Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: Romania
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: June 2012
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A pale greenish straw in color, this wine has aromas of apples with faint notes of cider. Very crisp with a pleasant tartness, the apple cider-like flavor has a hint of smokiness to it. The merest suggestion of sweetness presents itself into the finish, but is gone in a flash. The finish itself is lengthy but lacks discernable flavor, and seems muddled overall.

Our rating: This is an interesting wine, but not one we'd probably buy again. We think it fairly versatile, and would suggest pairing it with chicken — which is what we did — or even pork. Still, the finish really bothered us, and made us forget about the strengths that preceded it. Overall, we score the wine Below Average, but those who enjoy a smoky, earthy finish to their wines may enjoy this one more than we did.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Cramele Recaş. We could not locate this wine on the company's website, though we are guessing based on the label that it is part of its "Castle Rock" brand, which is also not listed there.

Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio 2011

2012-06-14T17:36:00.000-04:00

Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: Friuli, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Purchase Price: $6.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Lightly scented with aromas of tree fruit (apples, pears), this exceptionally pale, straw-colored wine is very smooth on the palate, with flavors of apple — a nice blend of golden delicious and tart green — cider and a bit of citrus zest. A moderately aggressive minerality develops into the finish, but doesn't overwhelm.

Our rating: While there isn't much depth to this wine, we appreciate it for its versatility, from being a simple sipping wine to one that could be paired with almost any cuisine. We enjoyed our bottle with a pasta dish — actually Swedish meatballs — and it worked out just fine. Available exclusively from Costco, we typically pick up several bottles to have on hand for those situations when we're being particularly indecisive about what to serve; this is a safe "go to" wine in that regard. We rate it Above Average and at just $7 a very good value.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Ecco Domani Italia Moscato 2011

2012-06-07T16:18:00.000-04:00

Ecco Domani Italia Moscato 2011

Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Moscato (100%)
Alcohol Content: 8.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A barely noticeable effervescence appears upon pouring this pale gold wine with silver highlights. It exhibits aromas of sweet tropical fruit with distinctive notes of freshly cut oranges. Silky smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors — juicy pear is what first came to mind — are sweet but not aggressively so. Indeed, the initial sweetness is tempered almost immediately by a balancing acidity. The finish adds some soft minerality but is otherwise rather brief.

Our rating: This stylish wine is delicious on its own, which is how we enjoyed our bottle, sitting on the balcony watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. We struggled a bit trying deciding how to pair it, eventually settling on serving it on our weekly "appetizer" night, a meal consisting of nothing but, well, appetizers. (We often do that in restaurants as well, ordering 3-4 appetizers instead of two meals between us.) We believe it would have paired nicely with our eclectic mix of foods … had it lasted that long. Which it didn't. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent, and a fine choice while spending a simple, quiet night at home. (We're also going to keep this in mind for our next social gathering. Its versatility and low alcohol content also makes it the perfect party wine. The attractive cobalt blue bottle doesn't hurt, either!)

Taste profile from the winemaker: Lovely aromas of peach, apricot and mandarin orange entice the nose, while the slightly off-dry palate has bright acidity to make this wine so refreshing.

Winery website: Ecco Domani.

This bottle of wine was received as a sample for review. No promise was given or implied that it would be the subject of an endorsement or review, either positive or negative.

Smart Cookie Sauvignon Blanc 2010

2012-05-31T16:52:00.000-04:00

Smart Cookie Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine has typical varietal aromas of gooseberry, green pepper and citrus zest with just a hint of orange blossoms. Very smooth on the palate, the citrus flavors are very well balanced, slightly tart with a touch of vegetal sweetness. Some grassiness is present in the persistent finish.

Our rating: We often serve Sauvignon Blancs with seafood, in particular grilled or broiled whitefish filets, but we have to confess this bottle didn't make it to the table. It is absolutely delicious and we enjoyed it while preparing dinner, somewhat surprising ourselves that when it came time to sit down there was none left. That was our loss, as we believe it would have paired beautifully with the meal. Clearly it works just fine on its own, and we think it would pair well with most light dishes. Striking all the right notes in all the right ways, we rate it Excellent, one of the best of this varietal we've had in a long time.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Bright and zesty with aromas of freshly baked lemon cookies. Citrus and tropical fruit flavors fill your palate and finishes refreshingly long.

Winery website: None found.

Cielo "1908" Pinot Grigio 2011

2012-05-24T17:44:00.000-04:00

Cielo "1908" Pinot Grigio 2011

Origin: delle Venezie, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light straw in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (peach, apple) with a very slight note of earthiness. Of moderate body on the palate, the flavors are similar to the characteristics of the nose with a good acidic balance. That earthy, now almost nut-like, note becomes slightly more prominent in the finish.

Our rating: We've taken to replacing our standard pasta with whole grain pasta, which has a somewhat more hearty character and flavor to it. And this wine paired very nicely with our most recent dish, which included chicken as the protein. We believe it is probably best enjoyed with a meal, and not necessarily a light one, where it can easily hold its own. We previously rated the 2008 Cielo Pinot Grigio Average, but we think this vintage markedly better, at least Above Average and maybe a little higher. (A follow up note: We always write our reviews before reading what the winemaker has to say. And we have to admit, after reading that they use the term "bread crust" to describe the bouquet, what we called "earthiness" is actually probably more of a yeasty character. We'll have to add "bread crust" to our list of potential adjectives for future use!)

Taste profile from the winemaker: Colour: Straw yellow with green reflections. Bouquet: Bread crust and green apple. Taste: Fresh and drinkable.

Winery website: Cielo e Terra.

Vera Vinho Verde 2010

2012-05-10T16:49:00.000-04:00

Vera Vinho Verde 2010

Origin: Portugal
Blend: Arinto (60%), Azal (30%), Loureiro (10%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A greenish-yellow in color, this very slightly sparkling wine has aromas of green apple and citrus with faint notes of peaches or apricots. The fruit flavors are somewhat muted at first, but develop quickly on the palate, a little tart in character with significant minerality. There isn't much of a finish.

Our rating: We like "green wines" for their versatility, the ability to stand alone as a aperitif or to serve with a wide variety of simply prepared foods. This is a good one, probably best enjoyed with appetizers or a brunch buffet, where it is likely to pair well with almost anything present. The rather strong mineral element may not be to everyone's liking, but we think it works within the context of this wine, rating it Above Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Bibi Graetz Bianco di Casamatta 2009

2012-05-03T16:32:00.000-04:00

Bibi Graetz Bianco di Casamatta 2009

Origin: Toscana, Italy
Blend: Vermentino (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $3.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium- to dark-gold in color, this wine has aromas of apple and cider with strong notes of honey. The flavors on the palate are similar to the nose, with a significant cider-like character accompanied by some earthy bitterness. The finish is rather smooth, more so than would otherwise be expected.

Our rating: A note first about the price paid. This wine was specially priced when we purchased it, $5 off its regular $8.99 price. We appreciated the complexity exhibited by this wine, but simply didn't enjoy it. Most definitely a food-required wine, we served ours with roasted chicken and potatoes, not a bad choice considering. Still, we didn't care for the overall bitterness of this wine, which we simply could not get past. Vermentinos are meant to be consumed young, so maybe this example was simply well past its prime, but we rate it Below Average to Inferior and not recommended, even at the price we paid.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Paso a Paso Verdejo 2010

2012-04-26T17:35:00.000-04:00

Paso a Paso Verdejo 2010

Origin: La Mancha, Spain
Blend: Verdejo (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light lemon yellow in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (peaches, apples) with light, almost sweet tropical fruit notes. The flavors on the palate are similar, tree fruit accompanied by a bit of earthiness, herbs and nuts. The finish is persistent though a little astringent.

Our rating: We served our bottle with a mildly spicy chicken and rice dish — not quite Spanish but close — with which it paired nicely. We think poultry is probably the best choice here, but pork dishes would also work well. It doesn't seem like much of a seafood wine to us. The earthiness of the wine troubled us a bit, but not so much that we didn't enjoy our bottle. Still, we score it on the high side of Average. We rated last year's vintage, Paso a Paso Verdejo 2009, which was produced from grapes grown in a different region of Spain, much higher … but we can't say whether or not this change is responsible for our lower score this year.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Doña Paula "Los Cardos" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

2012-04-19T17:32:00.000-04:00

Doña Paula "Los Cardos" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Grassy, citrusy aromas are exhibited by this straw-gold wine; there is also an unexpected hint of flowers present. The citrus flavors on the palate are crisp and quickly develop a significant tartness. The finish adds a touch of slate minerality as it retains much of the wine's tart character.

Our rating: We probably mispaired this wine, serving it with grilled chicken when we probably should have chosen grilled halibut. It is quite tart, almost one note tart, when a little balance is called for. Food seems to help soften it a bit, but not much. We previously rated the Doña Paula Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Above Average, but we didn't enjoy this vintage as much, rating it just Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Pale yellow color. Very intense aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit, lime, and white peach. In the mouth, this is a fresh, balanced, highly vivacious and persistent wine.

Winery website: Doña Paula Argentina.

Acrobat Pinot Gris 2010

2012-04-12T17:19:00.000-04:00

Acrobat Pinot Gris 2010

Origin: Oregon
Blend: Pinot Gris (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Light golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of peaches, apricots, and other tree fruits with significant tropical fruit notes. Very fruity on the palate, the flavors tend towards a blend of citrus and tropical. The finish has a very slight chalk-light minerality.

Our rating: This wine has a summer feel to it, one to be enjoyed as is on the deck. It would also pair well with barbecued grilled meats, which coincidentally is how we enjoyed our bottle, with spicy BBQ chicken. Though there is a nice blend of fruit flavors, there isn't much more in terms of complexity to this wine. We rate it about Average overall, but also think it's a bit overpriced for what it is, basically a fun summertime wine.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Color: Pale straw with golden highlights. Nose: Fresh pear, citrus, honeydew melon. Flavors: Mandarin orange, lemon, kiwi, pear, spice. Mouthfeel: Round entry with nice balance between acidity and residual sugar, clean refreshing finish.

Winery website: King's Estate, Oregon Wines.