Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
The Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir is pale in the glass but medium-bodied and bright with juicy berries and cherries on the palate. There’s a silky mouthfeel to this wine and there are notes of fir, pumpkin pie spice and cracked pepper. Classic Burgundy in style and delicious at this price point.
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Finger Lakes, NY
Around $20
Vibrant purple in the glass (like it already). There’s a little smoke on the intense ripe fruit nose (like it even more). On the palate, it’s a mouthful of cherries with a medium body that offers a long sweet finish (love it).
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Burgundy, France
Around $25
I had the pleasure of sampling several Jacob’s Creek Reserve wines at a recent tasting and the 2009 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir was among them.
I’m a huge fan of Pinot Noirs and enjoy Australian Pinots so was looking forward to trying this one.
In the glass, the wine is ruby and appears to be of medium weight.
On the nose, it’s typical Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir – bright cherry, ripe strawberry with notes of oak. A bouquet that’s right up my alley.
On the palate, this Australian Pinot Noir is lively with ripe berries, touches of clove and nutmeg with oaky notes. Light tannins are displayed on the long finish.
An affordable addition to one’s cellar.
Around $13.
Loving a big mouthful of ripe cherries with velvety feel and a smooth finish, I’m naturally a huge fan of Pinot Noir. The 2010 Brancott Marlborough Pinot Noir is not that kind of Pinot. What it is, is a bright, light-bodied Pinot Noir showing pleasantly tart raspberries with a slightly smoky finish. Do I enjoy this type of Pinot Noir from New Zealand? Yes – with a roasted chicken sitting on my deck on a warm summer night!
This Marlborough New Zealand wine is a dark strawberry color in the glass with tons of brightness and fragrant rose aromas.
A Pinot Noir for summer.
Around $10.
This Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand displays what is typical of the region for this varietal – burst of bright fruit with a tangy finish.
I first sampled this Brancott Estate wine when it was really cold and some of its aromas and flavors were masked. As it warmed up a bit, the nose was bright pink grapefruit. For those wine drinkers who can’t easily identify aromas displayed by certain wines, the grapefruit is prominent and easy to pinpoint on this Sauvignon Blanc. The citrus notes continue in the mouth with lemon and lime flavors that finish with zippy acidity.
Great summer white at a very affordable price point.
Around $12.
This Pinot Noir from Marlborough, New Zealand’s most acclaimed winemaking region, is a dark garnet color in the glass and offers a slightly spicy, stone fruits and ripe cherries nose. In the mouth, I get tons of juicy, ripe dark raspberries and currents.
I served this affordable and approachable wine at my 4th of July party and it paired well with many of the dishes I was serving from blue cheese-topped sirloin burgers to sharp cheddar macaroni and cheese.
From around $14.
Paired this New Zealand white wine with some seared scallops and a shrimp salad and it was fabulous. This Sauvignon Blanc is bright, young and fresh and perfect for any summer parties.
The nose on this pale green wine is citrusy – Meyer lemons and pink grapefruit. On the palate, this isn’t your typical ultra-light Sauvignon Blanc but a bit more substantial wine with tart flavors of honeydew melons, key limes and other tropical fruits. The finish is zesty, mouth-watering and medium in length with bright acidity.
Around $10.
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
This affordable New Zealand wine is bigger and bolder than I anticipated. On the nose, it’s ripe, caramelized ruby grapefruit. The palate offers fresh-cut grass, Meyer lemon, juicy peach and passion fruit with spicy notes on the finish. Nice Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at a great price point.
90 Points Wine Spectator.
Around $11.
Made of three varietals, Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo, this Rioja is dark cherry ruby with a pale ring in the glass that reminds me of some of my favorite California Pinot Noirs. On the nose are aromas of wet wood, stone fruits and vanilla. On the palate, this lighter-bodied Spanish wine offers cherries, some rosy notes and a creamy, velvety mouthfeel with a slightly spicy, smooth, long finish.
Had this wine with a platter of cured meats and it was super. Would be great with grilled meats such as pork or chicken and with heartier fish like swordfish.
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
Pairings: Grilled meats, lasagna bolognese
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo
Region: Rioja, Spain
Price: $10
The 2009 Santiago Ruiz is a blend of 70% albarino, 20% loureiro and 10% treixadura. This wine is straw yellow in the glass and offers a vibrant floral nose full ripe peach and lemons. It is a well-balanced wine with many layers of intensity that could serve as an aperitif and also pair well with heavier shellfish. This wine has a long and strong mineral finish.
Santiago Ruiz is known to many as the “Father of Albarino” and the 2009 is a great example of Albarino that’s affordable enough to be a go-to every day wine.
Around $20.
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