d'Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier/Marsanne 2006

Price: $15.99 @ Gary's Liquors (West Roxbury, MA)

Recommended by: Wine Spectator (90 points)

Comments: Frickin' Almond Husks. That's right. Almond husks. Who the hell knows what almond husks taste like??? I'll tell you who. A pretentious idiot whose opinion about wine you definately do not want to trust. And yet, it's the winemaker that lists among this wine's flavors . . . almond husks. Also (and not surprisingly), the winemaker finds an array of tropical fruits with quince, ginger, and lees. Speaking of which, what the hell does a lee taste like? Denim? But nevermind, we're here to review a wine. And it's a good one, although we're not sure it deserves its place in the top 100 wines of 2007 by Wine Spectator. Although we didn't note almond husk, we did enjoy its pear and grapefruit flavors. The smell is "minerally" apparently, although Rob isn't sure it doesn't have a faint scent of cat pee (but in a good way!). The finish is fairly long and buttery, and a tad bitter, but also in a good way. We would get this one again but we're not sure it's worth the price when some really fantastic Sauvignon Blancs cost less and would pair equally well with similar food (seafood, particularly shellfish).

Rating: 6.75/10

Bloom Gewurztraminer 2006

Price: $7.99 (regularly $9.99) @ Whole Foods (Columbus, OH)
Recommended by: the great price
Comments: OK, we have to brag. This photo was taken from our new iPhone. Why did we have to take it on our iPhone? For some reason, no one has provided a label of this wine, not even the official Bloom website! And that's a crime, because this is an excellent wine! Fantastic, when considering the price. This wine from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region of Germany provides flavors of pineapple, lemon, and a hint of pear. It finishes with some spice that came to the fore when paired (perfectly) with Moroccan swordfish. This inexpensive wine can compete with some of the best Gewurz's that we've enjoyed (and Whole Foods named it a Top 10 wine for holiday entertaining). We would definitely buy this again.
Rating: 7.5/10

Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Price: $11.99 @ Gary's Liquors (West Roxbury, MA)
Recommended by: the description at the store
Comments: This is a great Sauvignon Blanc! Today we ventured down to the Haymarket in Boston and grabbed some amazing fish (tilapia) and fresh asparagus, which turned out to be a great pairing with this wine. This Russian River Valley wine had some of the potent grassiness that we've come to enjoy in Marlborough SB along with flavors of lime and a touch of basil, but it finished with a creamy woodiness that differed from the flinty culmination typical of New Zealand varieties. We really enjoyed this one and look forward to having it again very soon.
Rating: 8/10

Contrada Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Price: $10.99 @ Blanchard's
Recommended by: Rob's palate
Comments: Rob came back from a wine tasting with sushi and wine -- woohoo! He picked up this Napa sauvignon blanc that he had tried at the tasting. It was quite a nice surprise! It has nice grassy and lemon flavors with a smooth, slightly tangy finish. It's not exactly a winter wine, but we love sauvignon blancs with sushi! We would definitely pick this one up again.
Rating: 7.25/10

Snoqualmie Nearly Naked Gewurztraminer 2006

Price: $9.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: We wanted to compare this with Chateau Ste. Michelle's Gewurz.
Comments: We have to brag. We made an EXCELLENT meal tonight. We cooked some Moroccan-spiced swordfish (with yogurt-mint sauce), couscous, and Brussels sprouts. And this wine was a perfect complement to the meal. It's an almost-organic Gewurz (organic grapes but a non-organic process), with a nice orange/grapefruit and spicy taste. The finish is long, a bit steely, and very smooth. We liked it better with the food, but it is also enjoyable on its own. Rob noted that this wine might be slightly "creamier" than and not as spicy as the Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurz, but it is just about as good (CSM now owns Snoqualmie Vineyard). We can understand how Wine Enthusiast gave it a respectable 88 and "Best Buy" designation. We will be buying this wine again soon! Did we tell you about the amazing meal? :)
Rating: 7.75/10

Clean Slate Riesling 2006

Price: $11-12 @ Spagio Cellars, Columbus, OH (we think)
Recommended by: in-store tasting
Comments: Considering the cost, this is a very nice wine. We've learned from our friends at Wine-O-Rama to keep our eyes open for German Rieslings, particularly those from the Rheingau region. This one isn't from that specific region (it's from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, the other major Riesling-producing region), but it is very tasty. We particularly liked how dry it was and how nicely it accompanied the salmon we had for dinner. Flavors of peach dominate the palate along with flowers and mineral notes. We would definitely have this one again, particularly with any fish dish.
Rating: 7.75/10

Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006

Price: 12.98 @ Gary's Liquors
Recommended by: a "best value" wine at Gary's
Comments: Karie was in the mood for a Pinot tonight, so we picked up this relatively inexpensive Monterey County one. We knew nothing about except the sign at Gary's said that it was a "best value" wine. It has a nice cherry flavor, but it doesn't have a ton of depth. It's not one that stands out but will do in a pinch.
Rating: 6/10

2 Brothers Big Tattoo Red 2005

Price: $9.99 @ Gary's Liquors (W. Roxbury, MA)
Recommended by: display at store and charitable cause
Comments: Our wine rack has been empty lately (oh, the horror!), so we stopped by the local wine store tonight to stock up. We probably went overboard, but our wallets' loss is our blog's gain, right?!? Among our purchase is this interesting Cabernet/Syrah blend (50% each). We weren't expected to be blown away, and we really weren't, but it's a great value wine. It is a deep, fruity wine with a heavy cocoa flavor and very dry finish. We wish we would have tried it with food, because it would go very well with meat or pasta dish. Some of the proceeds (50 cents per bottle) are donated to the Hospice of Arlington, Va., and other breast cancer research foundations in the name of the vintners' mother. We look forward to trying this one again.
Rating: 7/10

Chateau Ste. Michelle

We apologize for our extended absence from Bloggerland, but we've been traveling for the past three weeks. However, on our travels, we were lucky enough to find time to visit the wonderful winery Chateau Ste. Michelle (in Woodinville, WA), a longtime favorite wine producer of ours. The visit did NOT disappoint! We started by doing the standard tour, which was fine. Then we got to taste some of their basic wines, which was also fine. But when we started asking specific questions about their higher-end Merlots, things got really fun. Rather than simply talk to us about the different wines, our wonderful tour guide (and new best friend) Joan ran off for a moment, only to return with her hands full of glasses of the various Merlots that CSM makes. And they were goooood. There are some older vintages at the winery that you just can't get anywhere else. And lovely, lovely Joan made sure we got to try them. We walked out with a 1999 Cold Creek Merlot and a 2004 Canoe Ridge Merlot (and a bottle of their Whidbey's Port Chocolate Sauce . . . mmmmmm). Sadly there were no remaining bottles of Whidbey's Loganberry Liquor to be found, which is Karie's mother's favorite beverage ever (she used to live on Whidbey Island), although the nice employees at CSM looked long and hard for it. To all the folks there, and particularly to Joan, thanks for a wonderful visit!

Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Price: $10.99 @ Blanchards (JP)
Recommended by: Sunset Magazine's Steal of the Year ($15 and under)
Comments: I don't know if we agree that this is a "steal of the year," but this wine was very enjoyable. Listed as a Cabernet, Louis M. Martini Sonoma County is actually 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 8% Merlot and some other stuff for the rest. Flavors of cherry, plum, currant, and spicy pepper conclude with a smooth, if short finish. We have had better red wines in this price range (Columbia Crest Merlot, Michael Pozzan Cabernet, Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz), but it was pretty yummy with pizza tonight. Our review might be a bit more upbeat if the Red Sox hadn't sucked tonight.
Rating: 7/10

Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Price: $9.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: Sunset Magazine's Steal of the Year ($15 and under)
Comments: This wine came highly recommended by one of our favorite magazines, and it's one California Sauvignon Blancs that we have not tried. We thought maybe it would be bland, considering it's under $10, but we really enjoyed it. It's a well-balanced wine--not in-your-face with fruit and grass and has a nice acidity. It's bright and crisp-- a bit lemony and grapefruity, with some gooseberry. We had it with homemade tacos, but it would be wonderful with seafood. We would probably get it again if we were in the mood for a SB lighter than a Marlborough.
Rating: 7/10

Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz 2003

Price: $10.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: #64 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2006
Comments: Blah, blah, blah, 91 points by Wine Spectator. Blah, blah, blah, best value, blah, blah HOLY SHIT! This is a frickin' good wine!!! Damn! Big, round, smooth and delicious, the 2003 Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz is one of the best buys we've had. Be careful. The year on this one matters. We tried the 2004 and it was good, but not spectacular. But then, recently, we found a bottle of 2003 hiding amongst the rest at Trader Joe's and brought it home, and wow! Big flavors of cherry and vanilla with pepper linger with a much longer finish than you'd expect for a wine this inexpensive. We're going back tomorrow to see if there are any more hidden bottles of this stuff because it is so damn good!
Rating: 8.5/10

Long Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Price: $3.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: TJ's large display reeled us in
Comments: We didn't expect much from this inexpensive South African wine, but it's quite enjoyable. It's nothin' fancy, and it benefited from some decanting. The tannins were a bit strong at first, but with some time to breathe, it smoothed out a bit. It's not as bold as a Cali Cab, but it's earthy and well-rounded with flavors of cherry and blackberry. It doesn't have much of a finish, but the taste overall is quite nice. We recommend it over Charles Shaw (3 Buck Chuck). For those on a strict budget, pick up a few bottles.
Rating: 6.5/10

Russell Orchards Blueberry Wine

Price: a gift
Recommended by: our neighbors (fellow Buckeyes)
Comments: You never know what you're gonna get with a fruit wine, but we were pleasantly surprised! This wine from Russell Orchards (Ipswich, Mass.) has a really tasty blueberry flavor with a nice cinnamon finish. It's made with wild Maine blueberries, and the orchard's website recommends that you try it with roast beef or leg of lamb. (We had it as a dessert, after our first bottle of wine!) If you're in the Boston area, pay them a visit! (and partake of the amazing Ipswich clams, too!)
Rating: 6.75/10

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Price: $9.99 at Trader Joes
Recommended by: It was a gift! Thanks, neighbors!
Comments: Well, the end of the summer is near, but it's not too late to partake of this happy, summery wine. Oyster Bay exhibits many of the traits that make Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs some of our very favorite wines (Matua, Villa Maria, Nobilo, Drylands). It has a bright, bold nose of citrus and grass, followed by crisp flavors of lime, grass, citrus, and kiwi. It is a bold wine, as New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs tend to be, and was a pretty yummy pairing with our spicy Chinese food tonight.
Rating: 7.25/10

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

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

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

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

Terrazas Reserva Malbec 2005

Price: free--it was a gift!
Recommended by: Chloe's mom
Comments: After watching Chloe, the black lab, this week for some friends, we received this lovely bottle as thanks. This is the first Malbec we've reviewed, and after tasting it, we realized how reticent we have been. They are super-groovy. This one exhibits wonderful flavors of plum, raspberry, and licorice (and hints of vanilla and chocolate). It has a great, long finish that lasts and lasts. The only quasi-negative we can say about this wine is that it has a high alcohol content (14%), which was noticeable in the first sip. Of course, high alcohol wines are not necessarily bad (wink, wink). We're both looking forward to drinking more Malbecs, and this was a great one to start with.
Rating: 7.5/10