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From Langhorne Creek in Australia, another red blend. My wife really enjoyed this blend of shiraz and viognier, but I was just okay with it. This wine is packed with fruit and has the hint of sweetness and butteryness of a viognier. It even has some subtle pepper from the shiraz. This would be a […]

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We’ve been noticing how vineyards are assembling interesting blends of whites and reds. Just when you finally settled on a preference for a cabernet franc/shiraz blend over a cab sauvignon/pinot noir, now we see blends of multiple varietals, which in the whites has become really intruiging. Hmm.
The label on this particular bottle has a picture […]

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Yummy! Nice bite, solid red nose, this is a great wine with red, rare steak or even a meaty pizza. I have to admit, I was skeptical with a name like Tempra Tantrum, but one the first swill, I was convinced. Good solid woody, earthy nose and hints of ripe berry, this finishes very smoothly […]

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The grand dame (widow, actually) of Champagne, this is one of our all-time favorites. Excellent with cheeses, spicy dishes and we’ll find any excuse to open a bottle. Exceptional bubble feel, very smooth, almost velvety, with complex blends of lemon, lime, pear, butter and honey. On the finish there’s ever so subtle suggestive notes of […]

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A very nice Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - beautiful ruby color, delicate blackberry, cherry and earthy notes, wonderfuly smooth. Mild tannins on the finish - very tolerable. Overall, I’d say this was an exceptionally smooth, well-rounded pinot. What I have a hard time discriminating is the bouquet - it’s either very simple and nonintrusive, or […]

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This is a delightfully light and crisp New Zealand chardonnay. It starts with notes of pear and lemon, and develops into a nutty buttery almost olive-like finish.
This would probably pair well with some sharp or full-flavored cheeses. If you like your chardonnays to be more fruity and less oaky, this is probably a good choice […]

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Light, fruity syrah with simple bouquet. It has a light taste, ever so slightly spicy, and on the finish I could swear there’s a little mint - spearmint? This is a good afternoon before-the-barbecue red - this could go well with burgers but it’s a bit too light for the main course (or at least, […]

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label: “…packed with ripe black cherry characteristics and a smooth, soft taste…”
This is a Cabernet that tastes very solid and mature - almost more plum than cherry. A little hint of pepper, as though there were a Cab Franc struggling to get out. Very smooth, great mouthfeel. This is a nice wine to enjoy with […]

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Lovely, lightest golden color. No ‘winey’ aftertaste. Overwhelming favorite from the group - complex nose with many fruits. Difficult to compare to bruts, a completely different style of champagne. Up next: comparison to other Ste. Michelles and a head-to-head with Veuve Clicquot, the heavyweight champ. Bubble taste not as refined as the Moët, larger, […]

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Light gold color. On opening, tasted ‘funny’ - slight chemical or artificial odor? Sweetest tasting brut in the bunch, but also had strongest bitter aftertaste. Driest, crispest taste - sweet hints of apple on nose. Generally liked least from tasting group. Bubble taste: not nearly as refined feeling as the Moët. Overall: disappointingly bitter.

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Medium-light golden color - dry lemon taste. Tasters had varying opinions, but generally fair. Slightly bitter aftertaste. Bubble taste (the bubbly version of mouth-feel) was much smoother, finer, refined feel. Overall: solid, well-crafted; a safe favorite.

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Medium golden color, typical syrupy consistency. Smooth, buttery feel with nose of burnt sugar more than caramel, almost like peanut brittle. Almost a bit overwhelming. Perfect match with a good stinky blue cheese.

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“Kind of like Sprite,” but in the light, citrus-y refreshing style. Nose full of chocolate and pear. Wonderfully bubbly and surprisingly light in color.

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Finally got around to trying this wine, and was I pleasantly surprised.

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