Sunday, April 29, 2007

Yellowtail Reserve Shiraz 2005

Price: $10.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: we can't remember
Comments: Australia is the source of many of the Shiraz wines we've enjoyed. This one stands out among the rest for the quality and price. It's flavors are dominated by bold blackberry and some cherry, chocolate, and mocha, with a healthy dose of pepper spice as well. The wine has a fairly long taste, but not so much as the Wolf Blass Gold Label (but this is also much less expensive). We should note, however, that we like it more than the Wolf Blass Yellow Label (which costs a few dollars less).
Rating: 7.5/10

Friday, April 27, 2007

Bohemian Highway Merlot 2004

Price: $5.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by:
Robert and Marjorie at
Wine-O-Rama
Comments:
We saw this wine near the checkout lane at Luke's and remembered that Robert and Marjorie had raved about this wine. For $6, it was definitely worth a try (what's another bottle in our already full shopping basket?)! After spending way too much money at Target and Luke's tonight, we opened this bottle as soon as we got home, and toasted another Red Sox victory over the Evil Empire. We were definitely not disappointed (in the wine or the game)! It has very distinct, bold raspberry and cherry flavors and is a bit sweeter than many Merlots. It's also much smoother than we expected. If you see this in your local wine shop, pick this one up!

Rating:
7.25/10

Monday, April 23, 2007

Conclass Rueda 2005

Price: $9.99 @ Gary's Liquors
Recommended by: enticing advertising at Gary's, and we've enjoyed other Spanish whites
Comments: This wine is just another reason to love Spanish wines! It is 70% Verdejo, 20% Viura, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc, and is a lovely pairing with our brie, tomato, avocado, and sprout sandwiches. (It would also go very nicely with seafood.) The citrus (lime and grapefruit), mineral, and acidic flavors blend very well, creating a nice, summery treat. It's probably not as good as Naia or Las Brisas, but we would definitely enjoy this again.
Rating: 7.25/10

Sunday, April 15, 2007

J.W. Morris Gewurztraminer 2005

Price: $3.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: duh, the price!
Comments: Four words. Bang For Your Buck! We're big Gewurz fans, and this is the least expensive one we have found. When we saw it at Trader Joe's we had to give it a shot. And, lo and behold, it's good! Not great, mark you, but what do you expect for the price? We find flavors of apricot and lime dominating the palate with a bit of spice that really came to the fore when we paired this wine with Indian food. It might be a bit too sweet for a Gewurz and tasted more like a Riesling (more spice, please!). We found this wine comparable to Covey Run and better than some of the $10+ Gewurz and Rieslings we've had. So when you're in the mood for a nice white and want to take a step up from 2-Buck-Chuck (without shelling out much more money), this is the wine to reach for.
Rating: 6.5/10

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Viña Aljibes Rosado Rosé 2005

Price: $11.99 @ Wine Gallery
Recommended by:
We tried this wine in the
jukebox.
Comments: We haven't tasted many Rosés, so not much to compare this to. It is a dry wine, made with Syrah and some Granache, with a nice smell of vanilla with tastes of cherry and other red berries. It reminds us of the sparkling Shiraz we really like, but without the bubbly taste, of course. We're a bit indifferent as to whether we will buy this again, but it was a nice evening treat.
Rating: 6.5/10

Monday, April 02, 2007

Enate Gewurztraminer Somontano 2003

Price: $13.99 or $14.99 @ Wine and Cheese Cask (?)
Recommended by: We love Gewurz and never had one from Spain
Comments: Tonight we had . . . wait for it . . . SUSHI! Gewurztraminer is among our favorite wines to have with sushi (perhaps only Sauvignon Blanc is better), and this one did not disappoint. It's a dry wine, with a flowery taste (and maybe a hint of honey) and spicy finish. For the price, however, it would be worth buying an Alsacian Gewurz, and still the best value is Chateau Ste. Michelle. This one was definitely worth trying, though!
Rating:
6.75/10

P.S. Go Buckeyes! Beat the Gators!