Nobilis Vinho Verde

So, this is a young wine from the Northern region of Portugal. It is light in color and body and has a little bit of sparkle. On this seriously hot day it's very refreshing. It almost tastes as if you could serve this wine over ice (bypass the squeeze of lemon or lime though as it seems to bear this flavor already). For those of you who like the earthiness of a full bodied wine or the smooth, citrusy flavors of sauvignon you may not like this. Of course if you like champagne or have a wide appreciation for different flavors of wines than you just may. There is no real way to tell unless you try it and for 7.99 why not give it a sample.

This is the second time I bought this wine and today I went out of my way to do so.

It probably should be rated in a category of it's own, however I will stick to my standard rating system and give it the following:

5 for color, 3 for nose (because it really doesn't have much), 4 for taste and 5 for finish. With a total score of 17 this wine may be the only one I drink until the weather gets cooler. But then I wouldn't be blogging much, would I? I guess I'll just have to through a different bottle or two in the mix.

Until next bottle, cheers.

2008 White Haven Sauvignon Blanc

Another wine from Marlborough County and another "recommended wine" (and more costly from what I am told.) I do not know why my husband insists on going beyond the 9.99 point when I have repeatedly told him that it is never necessary.

It is very hot today and the weekend is supposed to reach the 100's. I am not looking forward to it. I miss spring.

Well, back to this bottle of wine. I think the color looks to be a little dark. Oh wait, maybe I should turn on the light. OK, a bit lighter now. The aroma is of dark berries and peach with a hint of lemon. It has a strong smell to it but not unpleasant at all. The taste is quite unusual. I'm not sure what it is I taste. Definitely citrus and um...what is that other taste...cherries, I think. It's strong. ("Like things that make you go hmmmm") The finish is pretty crisp and tangy. This might be one that I will have to come back to. So far, I can't decide if I like it or love it. Give me some time to get a few under my belt. I will post the results in the next blog so tune in.

Until next bottle, cheers.

2009 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc

Friday evening and just sitting down at the "Fabulous Red Ball Bar" (our garage bar) for my first sip of wine. The garage door is up and a nice warm breeze is blowing in, thunder is off in the distance and the air is still fresh with the smell of rain. Thank goodness the rain has brought relief from the heat.

Hubby bought this wine specifically so I could blog about it so I am. It was also recommended by a family member.

I taste oranges and tropical fruit. It's crisp, citrusy and light. It has a nice clean nose with a zesty finish.

It definitely isn't a heavy wine but it is citrusy. For those of you that don't like that taste you might find it too tangy. I, however, like it and will rate this wine pretty high.

I give it a 5 for color, a nose of 4, 4 for taste and 3 for finish. Total score = 16. For $9.99 though I'm sure you can find a comparable wine to this $16.00 dollar bottle.

Until next bottle, cheers!

2008 Kim Crawford Chardonnay, unoaked

My husband brought me two bouquets of colored roses and a bottle of Kim Crawford’s un-oaked Chardonnay this afternoon. I think he likes me.

I have been wondering what Kim Crawford tasted like so I was anxious to try it.

The color was a little dark, like some other chardonnay’s I’ve had in the past. As you know, I am always leery of wines that are darker. Still, you never know until you try.

The aroma was kind of pungent. It smells sort of like butter and plums. An unusual smell but interesting. The taste was definitely butterscotch and had a hint citrus. The finish was a bit heavier than I like.

The wine is ok, maybe not the best, but not too bad. I like it because it’s different. I probably would not purchase it again but I might choose it from a wine list depending on what I was having for dinner. I think it would go well with seafood.

This wine cost twice as much as I usually spend and that goes to show that more expensive is not always better. Thanks for the thought, honey, but you can go back to the “cheap stuff”.

I give this wine a 3 for color, a 3 of nose, a 3 for taste and a 3 for finish. Total score = 12. Not a great score, but I’ll finish the bottle.

Until next bottle, cheers!

Grüner Veltliner - Wachau, Austria

Even better than finding a new wine that I like is finding a new grape variety that I have never heard of. It’s just so exciting!

In visiting downtown Wilmington over the weekend to spend Daddy’s Day with my father, the 3 of us (Mom, Dad and myself) stopped at a local upscale bar and asked what Sauvignon Blanc they had. The bartender informed us that they were out of Sauvignon Blanc but before we could run for the door he mentioned that we might enjoy the flavor of a similar tasting grape called Grüner Veltliner. Well, “bring it on”, we said!

I thought it was excellent and kept asking the good looking bar tender to repeat the pronunciation (as he could pronounce it with a German accent). I, of course, cannot so ordering it out may take some practice.

The wine we tasted was called Hopler (a 2008) and I couldn’t wait to get home and see if I could find it at my local wine store. I gave the napkin I had written it down on to my husband. (He loves to shop for new wines for me. Such a good man.) Alas, he could not find Hopler but he found 3 different bottles, each of a different vineyard, at Total Wine. The one I am tasting now is from Wachau County, hence the name. Wachau, as I’ve discovered, produces the more elegant examples of this variety.

This wine has a light pale coloring, a fresh fruity, pepper-spice aroma, a light grassy taste with hints of peach and orange and a smooth finish. This medium bodied wine is so good.

It scores a 5 for color, a 5 for nose, a 4 for taste and a 4 for finish. Total score, 18. You must try this wine or at least the Grüner Veltliner.

Until next bottle, cheers!

2008 Cannery Row Cellars Chardonnay

What a weekend! It was 200 degrees here in the South. My parents came to visit to help finalize the deck plans. Like crazy fools we worked in the yard staking out the deck and spa, pruning trees, pulling up decking, installing a new back door and fixing the french doors. I actually worked with my Dad installing the door. I pulled out framing scraped, nailed and installed locks. I impressed myself.

Again, we never did make it on the boat.

We tried a few new wines over the weekend but I don't remember what they were.

Today I received a new shipment, which was a surprise from my husband. Usually the UPS guy delivers the wine right at 5 but today he was early so it had some time to chill before "Happy Hour". Strangely enough the package included Chardonnay (found out later it was part of the special deal). I will either like it or use it for cooking.

The wine is from Cannery Row Cellars in Morgan Hill California. I looked it up and Morgan Hills is East of Santa Cruz.

But, let's start the sampling. It has a pale color and a light fruity smell. I can smell the oak barrel and it reminds me of the many wine tours I have been on. I always loved that smell. But here comes the real test, the taste. Hmmm….a toasty oak flavor with a touch of vanilla and plum. Not too bad. Could I actually have found a Chardonnay that I like?

I have to give this wine a 4 for color, a nose of 5, a 3 for taste and a 3 for finish. All together, this wine rates a 15. Not bad for a chard. Try it.

Until next bottle, cheers!

2008 White Truck Chardonnay

OK, so I was born and raised in Pennsylvania but now I live in the south and I am proud to own a white Ford Ranger pickup truck. Of course it seems silly to buy a wine because of the label but then again, you cannot discover what you do not experiment with.

This wine has a decent color. I have found that color doesn’t mean a lot unless it is very dark. The aroma is simple. It smells of an apple orchard. I can almost envision walking through the trees and picking a ripe mackintosh. The taste is fruity, obviously, of apple and tropical fruit with a hint of citrus.

This is a good wine. It is actually a California wine from Napa. Surprise! And this is no lie, it is vinted and bottled by "Red Truck".

I give this wine a 3 for color, a 4 for the nose, a 4 for taste and a 3 for finish. Total score is 14. Let’s remember, this is my taste. I would love to hear from my followers how they like this wine. Remember, it isn’t about price, or winning award, it is about what you like. That is what wine tasting is all about. What is your pleasure?

Until next bottle, cheers!