Extremely pale color, lots of streams of small vigorous bubbles.
Smells of Pepperidge Farm Toasting White, toasted, and apple, fresh flowers, grapefruit.
Flavor of Pepperidge Farm remembering apple and pear, honey texture in the finish.
Dandy-fine bottle for $28.80 / 375ml. Some days Chardonnay that sparkles seems best.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Oremus 2005 Late Harvest Tokaji
From a winery now operated by Vega Sicilia, David Copp's Hungary: Its Fine Wines and Winemakers says the blend used is Furmint, the Furmint-Bouvier cross Zeta, Harslevelu, and yellow muscat, and at least 60% of the grapes are botryris-infected.
Rich amber color.
Honey-sweet smell, peach and mild oak.
Honey and preserved apricot, candy-apple.
Very good dessert for $22.00/375ml, sugar well-balanced with acid. I remember communist-era tokaji aszu, this is similar but very much superior.
Rich amber color.
Honey-sweet smell, peach and mild oak.
Honey and preserved apricot, candy-apple.
Very good dessert for $22.00/375ml, sugar well-balanced with acid. I remember communist-era tokaji aszu, this is similar but very much superior.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sepp Moser 2006 Gebling Kremstal Riesling
Very pale straw color with a small degree of petillance.
Melon, peach, and apple smells.
Grapefruit flavor, peach, mineral.
No white appeals to me more than Riesling. I first learned this grape with an example from Firestone that'd sat too long on the shelves of a local wine-shop, but I've since enjoyed a number of dry, off-dry, and sweet wines from the US, Germany, Australia, and Austria. This is a good bottle of dry wine for $25.99. I'm thinking about opening a bottle of a 1984 Leiwener Klostergarten Eiswein from Erzeugerabfullung Josefinengrund. It's the sweet opposite of this dry wine, but: Drool, drool. I haven't much left!
Melon, peach, and apple smells.
Grapefruit flavor, peach, mineral.
No white appeals to me more than Riesling. I first learned this grape with an example from Firestone that'd sat too long on the shelves of a local wine-shop, but I've since enjoyed a number of dry, off-dry, and sweet wines from the US, Germany, Australia, and Austria. This is a good bottle of dry wine for $25.99. I'm thinking about opening a bottle of a 1984 Leiwener Klostergarten Eiswein from Erzeugerabfullung Josefinengrund. It's the sweet opposite of this dry wine, but: Drool, drool. I haven't much left!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Gundlach Bundschu 2005 Rhinefarm Vineyard Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir
Medium-dark cherry soda color.
Raspberry smell, leather, oak, fresh-turned earth.
Fruity raspberry flavor, black cherry, balanced oak, as fruity at the end as it is at the beginning.
Very good bottle for $30.99, an impressively graceful medium-bodied wine.
Raspberry smell, leather, oak, fresh-turned earth.
Fruity raspberry flavor, black cherry, balanced oak, as fruity at the end as it is at the beginning.
Very good bottle for $30.99, an impressively graceful medium-bodied wine.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Bodega Norton 2007 Mendoza Torrontes
The color of laundry bleach.
Full smell of young melon, tangerine rind, rain-wetted stones.
Tart dry fruity flavor, crisp green apple, lemon, melon, sprightly.
Excellent bottle for $10.50, Torrontes hasn't yet earned the respect it's due, it still can be an amazing value!
Full smell of young melon, tangerine rind, rain-wetted stones.
Tart dry fruity flavor, crisp green apple, lemon, melon, sprightly.
Excellent bottle for $10.50, Torrontes hasn't yet earned the respect it's due, it still can be an amazing value!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Colome 2005 Valle Calchaqui Salta Estate Malbec
Includes 8% Tannat, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Opaque, dark red/purple at the edges.
Blackberry and plum smells, oak, darkness.
Even the taste is dark, plum, prune, blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, oak is there but buried deep under layers of fruit. A trace of roast beef.
Delightful bottle for $26.99, intense and concentrated. And dark.
Opaque, dark red/purple at the edges.
Blackberry and plum smells, oak, darkness.
Even the taste is dark, plum, prune, blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, oak is there but buried deep under layers of fruit. A trace of roast beef.
Delightful bottle for $26.99, intense and concentrated. And dark.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Ruinart non-vintage Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Moderate golden color, long-lasting streams of small bubbles.
Buttery apple smell, perhaps it's just the power of suggestion, but this all-Chardonnay Champagne smells just like a still Chardonnay does.
As with the smell, the flavor unhesitantly proclaims this as Chardonnay.
Good bottle for$31.60 / 375ml, if the Champagne name wasn't itself a valuable marketing tool, I'd suggest "Sparkling Chardonnay".
Buttery apple smell, perhaps it's just the power of suggestion, but this all-Chardonnay Champagne smells just like a still Chardonnay does.
As with the smell, the flavor unhesitantly proclaims this as Chardonnay.
Good bottle for$31.60 / 375ml, if the Champagne name wasn't itself a valuable marketing tool, I'd suggest "Sparkling Chardonnay".
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Chandon non-vintage California Brut Classic
Pale straw color, somewhat sluggish streams of medium-sized bubbles.
Grapefruit smell with home-made bread rising.
Tart grapefruit flavor, granny smith apple, fruit seems to hide any oak/toast.
Good bottle for $12.70 / 375ml, enough less expensive than a better wine to make up for it, I think. I'm imagining this as the sparkler for friends at a large wedding reception, while family gets real Champagne.
Grapefruit smell with home-made bread rising.
Tart grapefruit flavor, granny smith apple, fruit seems to hide any oak/toast.
Good bottle for $12.70 / 375ml, enough less expensive than a better wine to make up for it, I think. I'm imagining this as the sparkler for friends at a large wedding reception, while family gets real Champagne.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Egly-Ouriet non-vintage Brut Tradition Grand Cru Champagne
Pale golden color, long-lasting streams of pin-point bubbles.
Melon and citrus smells.
Pear flavor, oaky toasty character in the background.
Good bottle for $67.50. It occurs to me that in 2002 Richard Juhlin published '4000 Champagnes' and in his 2008 'Champagne Guide' he claims to have enjoyed 6500. Perhaps it's time I consolidated what I've learned I most enjoy rather than keep trying to find one better bottle. But not right away, maybe later.
Melon and citrus smells.
Pear flavor, oaky toasty character in the background.
Good bottle for $67.50. It occurs to me that in 2002 Richard Juhlin published '4000 Champagnes' and in his 2008 'Champagne Guide' he claims to have enjoyed 6500. Perhaps it's time I consolidated what I've learned I most enjoy rather than keep trying to find one better bottle. But not right away, maybe later.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Ruinart non-vintage Brut Rose Champagne
Salmon-pink color, long-lasting tiny bubbles.
Ripe mango smell, berry, apples, and toast.
Tart berry flavor, ends a bit tart and thin.
Inadequate bottle for $44.88 / 375ml, and pricey(!) I probably won't buy more of this. I wish I liked it better, I greatly admire the bright cheery color of Rose Champagne, but this isn't the one.
Ripe mango smell, berry, apples, and toast.
Tart berry flavor, ends a bit tart and thin.
Inadequate bottle for $44.88 / 375ml, and pricey(!) I probably won't buy more of this. I wish I liked it better, I greatly admire the bright cheery color of Rose Champagne, but this isn't the one.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Banfi 2007 Brachetto d'Acqui Rosa Regale
Medium red color, far darker than Rose, but not so dark as Sparkling Shiraz. Puntless bottle belies the vigorous small bubbles and the resounding pop of the cork.
Raspberry smell, hint of Muscat.
Fresh-fruit-sweet berry flavor, like something you'd put on pancakes.
Intriguing bottle for $12.70 / 375ml, not something I'd want very often, but a pleasing novelty.
Raspberry smell, hint of Muscat.
Fresh-fruit-sweet berry flavor, like something you'd put on pancakes.
Intriguing bottle for $12.70 / 375ml, not something I'd want very often, but a pleasing novelty.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Guado al Melo 2006 Bacco in Toscana Bom Ba Ba Ba
Very dark purple color.
Plum smell with leather and oak.
Tart plum and cherry flavors, mild oak, slightly chalky finish.
Very good bottle for $19.99, a food-friendly match for pasta & tomato sauce.
Plum smell with leather and oak.
Tart plum and cherry flavors, mild oak, slightly chalky finish.
Very good bottle for $19.99, a food-friendly match for pasta & tomato sauce.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Clos du Mont-Olivet 2007 Cotes du Rhone Varene
Near-opaque purple color, red highlights.
Earthy stone-fruit smell, hint of uncooked Canadian bacon.
Purple plum flavor, tart black cherry, peach at the finish.
Good bottle for $26.99, 2007 is often said to be an overwhelming year for Southern Rhones, this is a full-bodied wine with plenty of promise.
Earthy stone-fruit smell, hint of uncooked Canadian bacon.
Purple plum flavor, tart black cherry, peach at the finish.
Good bottle for $26.99, 2007 is often said to be an overwhelming year for Southern Rhones, this is a full-bodied wine with plenty of promise.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Chateau Garreau 2005 Premieres Cotes de Blaye
Dark purple/red color.
Full smell of blackberry, leather, oak.
Flavors of blackberry, cherry, coffee.
Very good bottle for $17.99, a serviceable Bordeaux for under $20!
Full smell of blackberry, leather, oak.
Flavors of blackberry, cherry, coffee.
Very good bottle for $17.99, a serviceable Bordeaux for under $20!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Jean-Maurice Raffault 2007 Chinon Les Geluches
Dark red color.
Smell of oak, plum, cherry.
Plum and cherry taste, currant.
Good bottle for $14.05. Medium-weight. certainly lighter than a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Smell of oak, plum, cherry.
Plum and cherry taste, currant.
Good bottle for $14.05. Medium-weight. certainly lighter than a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Alta Vista 2006 Mendoza Malbec Premium
Opaque, dark reddish-purple at the edges.
Plum, prune, black cherry smells, roast beef, oak in the background.
Warm plum flavor, blackcurrant, blueberry, peach, mildly oaked, quite tannic at the end.
Good bottle for $14.99, big balanced full-flavored fun.
Plum, prune, black cherry smells, roast beef, oak in the background.
Warm plum flavor, blackcurrant, blueberry, peach, mildly oaked, quite tannic at the end.
Good bottle for $14.99, big balanced full-flavored fun.