Name: The White Knight Viognier
Variety: Viognier
Region: Clarksburg, California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $13 (retail)
Winery review: Our Viognier is more than just a wine, it represents a growing alliance against the tyranny of Chardonnay. From the loam and clay soils of the California Delta to the grapes themselves, this wine is truly exceptional. Never follow the conventional path of wine, develop your own love and tastes. Be the Chess player, not the Chess piece.
My review: This Viognier reminded me a lot of Sauvignon Blanc on the nose with floral, fruity, and grassy aromatics with even a hint of lemon peel. The taste, however, was fairly different from from Sauvignon Blanc: a bit heavier body, a little bit more acidity, but no ammonia. This wine was definitely more interesting than a Chardonnay and I really liked it a lot. I think this Viognier would go well with sea food in a light cream sauce.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Santa Luz Cabernet Sauvignon Alba
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Valle Central
Country: Chile
Year: 2012
Price: $9 (retail)
Best Buy Liquors review: Bursting with juicy blackcurrant, cherry, and cassis flavors supported by well-rounded, velvety tannins. Ready to drink now, it is the perfect accompaniment to a variety of dishes, including roast pork, grilled steak, tomato-based pasta dishes, or strong cheeses.
My review: This Cabernet wasn't the best I've had, but it wasn't the worst either. Strong hints of oak, blackberry, vanilla, caramel, and dark fruits on the nose. The aromas really open up when it is swirled. It tasted very dry and tannic which is usually expected from Cabernet, but it didn't have as much acidity as I'm used to. Strong themes of oak, blackberry, blackcurrant, and other dark fruits on the taste. It was full-bodied, though not as "heavy" as some Cabs I've had. A unique aspect of this wine is that select portions of the batch were aged for one month in oak while other portions never had time with the wood. I am sure that I got to taste the oak-aged portion, at least that's how it tasted in my opinion. I would say that Italian tomato dishes (spaghetti, stuffed shells, Ricotta cheese, etc.) as well as dense meats (beef, pork, etc.) would probably go best with this Cabernet.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Santa Luz Chardonnay Alba
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Valle Central
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $9 (retail)
Martin-Scott Wines review: A medium-bodied wine offering lemon and pineapple aromas laced with notes of honey. Tropical fruit flavors merge with vibrant acidity on the finish.
My review: Floral, really opens up aromatically, hints of sour fruit on the nose. Very light oak and wood flavors (most of the fermentation was done in stainless steel and a small fraction of the mix was oak-aged for a month), a small acidic bite and fairly dry on the taste. The smoothness of malolactic fermentation is also present. Overall, it's just Chardonnay; nothing really jumped out at me that made it special from others.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Santa Luz Sauvignon Blanc Alba
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Valle Central
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $9 (retail)
Winery review: Our Santa Luz Sauvignon Blanc has pure fruit and a crisp palate with notes of herb and lemon curd culminating in a lively finish. It is great by its own or paired with oyster, salads and smoked salmon.
My review: Aromatic, fruity, and grassy on the nose. It tastes somewhat dry with floral and lemon peel themes and it is light in body. There are also hints of ammonia. It has a nice balance of low acidity and dryness. I think this wine would go well with salads and seafood (grilled shrimp, tilapia, etc.). A bit of aged white cheddar cheese also goes well with it.
I had this wine with white cheddar cheese.
Name: Thorne Clarke First Light Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Year: N.V.
Price: $15 (retail)
Vintage Cellar review: Ripe lychee, tropical fruits and musk on the nose as you near the glass. Lovely grape and stone fruits and on the palate is highlighted with the subtle sweetness and spritz that makes this such a fun drink. Low in alcohol and nicely balanced acidity ensure you will want more than one glass of this easy drinking wine.
My review: This Moscato is fruity and aromatic with a perfume-scented theme on the nose. It's tastes sweet with a light body and a small amount of carbonation while maintaining a good structure. The carbonation can also be slightly sensed on the nose. I would drink this as a casual sparkling wine and I'm not sure what food it would go well with; maybe grilled or pan-seared chicken with a light cream sauce, but definitely nothing spicy because of the carbonation.
I had this wine without food.
Name: CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Viognier
Region: Paso Robles, California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $16 (retail)
Vintage Cellar review: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Viognier this certified organic winery produces outstanding quality at reasonable prices offering classic Cabernet flavors of fresh herb, olive, cedar and cassis. Focused and intense, with a charming rustic side and broad tannins that firm up on the finish.
My review: This Cabernet is pleasantly wooded and very aromatic with strong blackberry and blackcurrant themes on the nose. It is very dry, tannic, acidic, and heavy in body as would be expected of a Cabernet Sauvignon. The body is well-structured and focused on the balance of acidity and tannins. It lingers around for a bit with a nice mouth-drying finish.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Georges Duboeuf Beajolais Nouveau
Variety: Beajolais Nouveau
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $15 (retail)
Wine Spectator review: An aromatic red, with floral and white peach notes accenting the black raspberry and plum flavors. This is open-knit and fresh, offering light tannins on the finish.
My review: I was expecting this wine to be pretty sweet and fruity/candy-flavored on the nose, but, surprisingly, it turned out to be very dry on the taste. The nose is extremely aromatic and the wine really opens itself up with a strong theme of licorice. The taste is also tannic and mouth-drying, there is a bit of acidity, and it has well-structured body.
I had this wine without food.
