As the heat continues to increase, I find myself drinking more and more white wine, which is why I turned to the Anakena Sauvignon Blanc. This Chilean white was a welcome addition to my selection of wines, and I really can't recommend it enough. For the $8 I paid for this wine, it makes it perfect for drinking by itself on the porch or for pairing with a spicy meal to help cut the heat.
With great citrus flavors and a light, crisp finish, this is the perfect sauvignon blanc for anybody looking to either get into the varietal, or for somebody looking for an everyday sauvignon blanc to enjoy with any kind of meal or by itself. Whether you're a fan of white wines or not, you really should give this wine a try, especially for the price. I give this wine 4.75 stars out of 5.
Find a bottle of Anakena Sauvignon Blanc at WineZap.com
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Anakena Sauvignon Blanc
Monday, June 16, 2008
Clos du Bois Riesling
This weekend I partook of numerous wines, but right now I want to talk about the Clos du Bois Riesling that I drank with some friends for dinner on Thursday night. First of all, while the name might be misleading (it's French for "enclosure in the wood"), this is actually a wine from California. I picked this wine up at my local store for $13, as my fiance' and I were having friends over for dinner and our taste in wine differs greatly from theirs.
The Clos du Bois Riesling had plenty of citrus flavors, but leaned more towards the sweet side of the Riesling varietal (which was part of the reason I had purchased it for our guests). While it wasn't sickly sweet like some German Rieslings can be, it certainly wasn't crisp and dry. I paired this dinner with grilled chicken covered in BBQ sauce, and while it wasn't bad, I think I might have enjoyed it more had I paired it with something spicy, like Asian cuisine. All in all it wasn't a bad wine, but unless you're more into the sweeter Rieslings, I'd say you might want to avoid this wine unless you plan to pair it with something spicy. I give this wine 2.5 stars out of 5.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Campo Viejo Rioja
Today I review what is quickly becoming one of my favored types of wine: rioja. This Spanish varietal does a great job of combining the tannins that I love from cabernet sauvignons and adds great vanilla and plum flavors.
The Campo Viejo Rioja that I enjoyed was purchased for $9.99 at my local store, but can be found for not much more than $13 in other stores when I searched online. I paired this wine with a pasta dish featuring a spicy red sauce with sausage and onions in it that was a great compliment to the taste of the wine.
As I said, I've really been getting into rioja's lately, and while this is certainly not the best I've had to date, it is certainly a great buy for the price, and one that I'm sure to purchase again when I'm in the mood for a rioja and would rather spend $10 intead of $20. While this isn't the best example of the rioja, it's still a great wine for those interested in trying this particular varietal. I give the Campo Viejo Rioja 3 stars out of 5 for it's great vanilla flavors and smooth plumb finish.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Yellow Tail Shiraz
This is easily one of my favorite wines for just sitting around and enjoying a glass of wine. The Yellow Tail Shiraz does an excellent job of being a middling wine. While the low tannins won't really appeal to the true wine lover, the same lack of tannins and the nice berry flavors are great for those that are just getting in to wine, and are wonderful for parties, relaxing, or when you and your friends are having a movie night.
Ranging in price from about $9 to $13, there really are few bottles of shiraz that will satisfy your desire for a medium-bodied red wine for this price point. While the Yellow Tail shiraz certainly won't change your world view, if you're in the market for a middle of the road shiraz that you can keep on hand without breaking the bank, this is a good one to go with. I give the Yellow Tail shiraz 2.75 stars out of 5 - it's not great, but you won't regret buying it.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Mirassou Chardonnay
Having already tried and reviewed the Mirassou Pinot Noir, I thought it would be a good idea to try one of Mirassou's white wines. This, it turns out, was a mistake. I really wanted to like the Mirassou Chardonnay, I tried to like it, the nose was good, the initial taste was crisp and refreshing....and then I swallowed and got a rough finish. A rough finish on a dry red can be somewhat acceptable, not great, but acceptable, however, a rough finish, the kind that hits you right on the back of the tongue and almost makes you do the bitter beer face, on a white wine is not acceptable.
Thinking the wine just needed food I paired it with a pasta dish I had made (wheat pasta, grilled chicken, and sun-dried tomato alfredo), only to find that the meal did nothing to help me enjoy the wine any more. While I spent less than $10 on this wine, I still feel as though I wasted my money for the simple fact that I didn't enjoy the wine.
If you're in the market for a chardonnay with hints of oak and you can get past the rough finish, then this might be your wine, but if you're anything like me and you like your steel aged chardonnay's to be crisp and clean, than you should really avoid the Mirassou Chardonnay. I give this wine 1 star out of 5. It's just not worth the eight bucks you'll spend on it.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Vino Curioso 2006 Franc the Tank
Today I review what is, in my opinion, one of the more interesting vineyards to recently open. Vino Curioso. The highlight of this new vineyard is certainly their cabernet franc, which they refer to as Franc the Tank (a great refrence to Old School).
The first thing I noticed about this wine was the peppery flavor. The spice from that first sip was surprising and yet quite enjoyable, especially when coupled with the low tannins and smooth finish, something that Virginia cabernet francs are not known for. The smooth finish and low tannins allowed me to actually enjoy the pepperiness, which went well with some chips and salsa.
The wine aside, Vino Curioso is doing an excellent job of producing a series of wines that are both high quality and that are being marketed in a way to draw in a younger crowd that is either unfamiliar with wine as a whole, or at the very least with good wine. Having seen Vino Curioso at a wine festival, the majority of the patrons at their booth were between the ages of 22 and 30, a crowd that is yet to be tapped by the majority of vineyards. Vino Curioso is well on their way to establishing themselves as a quality vineyard with a wide base. I give the Vino Curioso Franc the Tank 4 stars out of 5, a definite buy for the cabernet franc lover.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Wine Articles
I've started another blog to compliment this one where I'll post wine related articles that I've written. You can find it at: http://winearticles.blogspot.com . Look forward to seeing you there.
Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz
Moving to Australia, today I review the Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz from South East Australia. I've become a big fan of wines from Australia, and especially this region, and the Rosemount Diamond Label is no exception. A wine that I've enjoyed in numerous restaraunts (for much more than you can find it at retail for), I was more than happy to purchase this shiraz for $12 (though I've seen it as low as $10 and as high as $15). With a nose featuring hints of spice and intense black fruits, the complex flavors of this red wine will stay with you, but in a good way.
A velvety, soft finish compliments the spices that make this wine so enjoyable. What I've found so enjoyable about shirazes, especially those that come from this region, is their versatility, and the Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz is no exception. Whether you're looking to drink this by itself or with a nice meal, if you haven't tried this wine before, now is the time to go and pick up a bottle. I easily recommend this wine and give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Monday, June 2, 2008
2006 Target Wine Cube Sauvignon Blanc
This is the second boxed wine that I've reviewed on this blog, and I have to say, I'm much more impressed with this one that I was with the Fisheye Shiraz. Target has taken the idea of the boxed wine and completely reimagined it. Not only have they redesigned the box, they've created a series of accessories including a stand that raises the cube high enough to easily place a glass beneath it for serving, but a cover that both insulates the wine and hides the "box" appearance beneath a stylish black covering with openings for the spout and the type of wine listed on the box.
The Sauvignon Blanc offered by Target is a good selection for anybody looking to either move away from the sweeter whites with something safe, or throw a party. In fact, the first thing that came to mind when I saw the Wine Cube setup was how convenient it would be for a party. While the wine itself is nothing to write home about, neither is it something I would be ashamed to offer at a huge outdoor picnic or informal cocktail party. It's easy and convenient and the subtle citrus flavors should be enjoyable to most white wine drinkers.
I'm not saying that this wine is anything even approaching amazing, but for around $15 for 3 liters of wine (that's roughly 3 bottles), you really can't go wrong with this wine when looking to entertain a number of people or just to have a basic "house" white on hand for your own enjoyment when you don't want to open up the good stuff. I give this wine 3.5 stars out of 5 for presentation alone.
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