Thursday, July 19, 2007

Jewell Towne Traminette NV

Price: $15.00
Recommended by:
curiosity and our appreciation for Gewurztraminers

Comments:
Who woulda thunk it? We wouldn't. I mean we did, but that's not the point. A good Gewurztraminer from a New Hampshire winery? Unlikely. And yet, we enjoyed this bottle very much, particularly with the seafood stew we had for dinner. While visiting three wineries in New Hampshire (Jewell Towne, Flag Hill, and Zorvino) we decided to pick up this bottle since it was made with one of our favorite grapes. Happily, this wine demonstrates juicy flavors of lemon, lime, and green apple along with a bit of spice. The finish isn't as smooth as it might be, but we were impressed by this wine and would certainly get it again. Viva New Hampshire -- Live Free or ... Drink Wine! (By the way, if you are in the New England area and want to try some good wine, check out Jewell Towne in South Hampton, NH. The folks there are very friendly, and they had the best wines by far of the three wineries. However, Flag Hill in Lee, NH, has a yummy Maple Syrup Liqueur, and their vodka made from apples is worth a try. Also, check out the Boston Globe's article on New England wineries.)

Rating:
6.5/10

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling 2006

Price: $10.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: We've loved everything we've tasted from this winery.
Comments:
We just got back from a wonderful week-long vacation in Colorado, and after a long, tiring day of traveling we enjoyed some sushi and this great find from our friends at Chateau Ste. Michelle. We are fans of dry Rieslings (especially Kabinetts), and this one is wonderful. We tasted lime and peach -- a crisp and refreshing summer wine. We found it very similar to CSM's Gewurztraminer, which is probably our favorite domestic Gewurz. The two wines differ in that the Gewurz has a bit more spice to it, and the dry riesling has a bit more citrus taste. However, they both rock!
Rating:
7.75/10

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Big Red Monster Red Wine

Price: $9,99 @ Gary's Liquors (W. Roxbury, MA)
Recommended by: the cheesy B-movie label and price
Comments: We fell for the advertising and had no idea what we were getting with this non-vintage mystery bottle. Actually, we were surprised. This wine (a syrah, zinfandel, and petite sirah blend) will remind you that you don't need to spend a lot of $$ to get a decent wine. After decanting it for about 30 minutes (which the label recommends), it has a nice, fruity flavor (black cherry and plum) with some spice and a longish finish. And at 14.8% alcohol, it packs a punch. It's not an over-the-top wine, but if you are looking for a good wine to bring to a casual party, this would be a good one. It's also a nice pizza or burger wine.
Rating: 7/10

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Dry Creek Fume Blanc 2005

Price: $11.99 @ Luke's Liquors (Rockland, MA)
Recommended by:
considered a "Best Value" wine by Luke's

Comments:
This is our first Sonoma sauvignon blanc, but it's a good 'un. It has a very nice citrusy (grapefruit and lemon) and grassy flavor. It isn't as in-yer-face as Villa Maria, but it can compete with the Marlborough sauvignon blancs (our usual favorites) and has a smoother finish than many of them. We'd certainly get this one again, particularly on a night like tonight when we're having summer sammiches made with brie, avocado, tomato, and sprouts.

Rating:
7.5/10