25 August 2011 2010 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Dry Riesling

2010 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Dry Riesling

August 25, 2011 By

I had the pleasure of sampling several Jacob’s Creek Reserve wines at a recent tasting and the 2010 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Dry Riesling was among them.

I’m a huge fan of Rieslings, especially dry ones, so was excited to try this Australian Riesling.  In the glass, the wine is pale with a hint of green.  On the nose, it’s light and fresh with green apple and lime  On the palate, this Barossa Valley wine it’s a bit more Sauvignon Blanc than I’m used to for a Riesling, but really enjoyable.  The lime from the bouquet carries over and is paired with Meyer lemons and crisp acidity on the long finish.

Around $17.

Filed Under: White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
23 August 2011 2009 Jagdschloss Spatburgunder Brut Rose

2009 Jagdschloss Spatburgunder Brut Rose

August 23, 2011 By

I sampled this sparkling German Pinot Noir from Rheingau last week and fell in love with it.

It’s beautiful light pink in the glass with tons of tiny bubbles.

On the nose, there are aromas of ripe strawberries with a little Fiji apple.

On the palate, I get a mouthful of creamy bubbles.  What a super mouthfeel.  Light strawberry flavors with enough richness to be great as an aperitif but also as a contrast to rich food or even cheeses.

This rosé is perfect for summer, but I know I’ll enjoy it as an every day celebration wine well past fall foliage.

Around $15.

Filed Under: Rose, Blush Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
19 August 2011 1999 Trimbach Gewürztraminer

1999 Trimbach Gewürztraminer

August 19, 2011 By

I paired this wine from Alsace, France with lobster over the weekend and thought it was a good match.

In the glass, this wine is deep golden hinting at a heaviness and richness.  On the nose, there’s honeyed sweetness but in the mouth, it’s anything but sweet.  The 1999 Trimbach Gewürztraminer isn’t light-bodied by any means, but it’s not as bold on the palate as the nose indicated it might be.  There are floral notes and juicy honeydew flavors with a crisp, dry finish.

This wine is okay for me and I like that it’s available everywhere, but I think there are Austrian, German and Finger Lakes examples of this varietal done in a better way for the same price point.

Wine Spectator: 87 points.

Around $15.

Filed Under: White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
18 August 2011 2009 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila Haut

2009 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila Haut

August 18, 2011 By

I served this Cote du Roussillon wine at a dinner party last week and a friend commented that this was the best wine she’d had in recent memory.

In the glass, it’s inky black and super pretty.  On the nose, this Grenache / Carignan / Syrah blend is bright with lots of spicy, ripe cherries.  In the mouth the juicy cherry continues.  This wine is rich and opulent with notes of coffee, dark chocolate and plum.

Wine Spectator:  87 points.

Around $12.

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
15 August 2011 2009 Weingut Brundlmayer Kamptaler Terrassen Riesling

2009 Weingut Brundlmayer Kamptaler Terrassen Riesling

August 15, 2011 By

I paired this Austrian wine with lobster this past weekend and loved how the clean, mineral flavor cut right through the rich crustacean.

The nose on this Riesling is lemony and with floral and nectarine notes.  In the mouth, it’s fresh and crisp with a zippy, dry and mineral finish.

I loved the 2009 Weingut Brundlmayer Kamptaler Terrassen Riesling with lobster, but it would be great with most seafood, grilled fish and spicy Asian dishes.

Around $25.

Filed Under: White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
13 August 2011 2010 Brancott Marlborough Pinot Noir

2010 Brancott Marlborough Pinot Noir

August 13, 2011 By

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.

Filed Under: New Zealand, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
12 August 2011 2010 Brancott Pinot Grigio

2010 Brancott Pinot Grigio

August 12, 2011 By

Had the pleasure of sampling this Pinot Grigio from Marlborough, New Zealand with Jim Robertson from Brancott Estate.  Jim believes that a wine should do two things: wow you and by yummy.  I’m not usually a big fan of Pinot Grigio, but this little number wowed me and tasty yummy.

This New Zealand wine is pale yellow in the glass misleading what’s to come in its taste.  On the nose, this wine offers aromas of juicy pear, wet stones with some grassy notes.  In the mouth, the 2010 Brancott Pinot Grigio shows bright minerality with a finish that caused me to pucker up from the bright acidity.  A zippy, refreshing wine that could be great as an aperitif.

Serve this summer white just lightly chilled at your next get-together.

Around $12.

Filed Under: White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
11 August 2011 2010 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc

2010 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc

August 11, 2011 By

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.

Filed Under: New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
26 July 2011 2008 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 815

2008 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 815

July 26, 2011 By

Enjoyed this wine with grilled steaks dusted with sea salt and it was super.  It was perhaps even better than the cult California cab I picked as our lead wine, which was more than double its price.

In the glass, the 2008 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 815 is dark purple and very handsome.  In the mouth, it’s juicy ripe berries, vanilla and dark chocolate.  The finish is sweet and long with some tannins that made me crave another sip.

Around $17.

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
25 July 2011 2006 Stag’s Leap Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2006 Stag’s Leap Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

July 25, 2011 By

I uncorked this California Cabernet Sauvignon on vacation in Maine as we grilled some thick, juicy, peppery rib eye steaks.  This is what you should pair this wine with.

The wine is dark ruby in the glass and initially pretty tart on the nose making me wish I had brought a decanter on my beach vacation.  In the glass, this wine offers allspice and dark fruit.  In the mouth, the 2006 Stag’s Leap Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and full-bodied with vanilla and butterscotch notes. Really long finish with lingering spice.

Really nice wine that could have used a little decanting.

Around $40.

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »