Individual Wine Reviews--Part 2

Individual Wine Reviews--Part 2 The following is a compilation of 43 of our individual wine reviews from the message board. This Part includes wines from Canada, Chile, France, Greece and Italy. Please note that this article is continually updated and expanded with new reviews. Canada Neige Apple Ice Wine (Rich) This is an intriguing dessert wine, and is available at the Wine Shop in Reading for $25 a bottle. It is sweet, and has a strong apple flavor. It is best drunk with apple desserts where it excels. It might go well too with other fruit based desserts.Neige's website is [http://www.appleicewine.com/](http://www.appleicewine.com/) Jost Vineyards, Cote de Bras d'Or, Nova Scotia, Marble Mountain (Rich) This red blend ($12 Canadian) is a non-vintage wine. I do not know what varietals were used in this wine. It is low in alcohol, only 11%. This was a very fruity wine, simple and to the point. It probably could be served chilled and probably is a good summer drink. It would also be a good wine for those who dislike dry wines as the fruitiness makes it seem sweet. To me, I would only Drink it on occasion and it is not really something I probably would buy again. But, the right person will probably enjoy the sweet fruitiness embodied in this wine. Chile 2002 Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon (Chris) Bleh, bitter, sharp, one dimensional. $11.99, no Drink/no Buy for me. No where near as good as the one John brought a few weeks ago. 2003 Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon (Chris) I'm enjoying some of this wine right now while I watch the Red Sox wipe up the Yankee's! Light tannin's on the nose with a bit of a berry head on it. Smooth drinking with a whammy of flavor in the middle and a dry finish. I'm enjoying this, not sure if we've officially reviewed it before, but it's pretty good. At $23 a bottle I'd probably not buy it again though, I think we've had some better cab's in this range. So, drink, not buy for me, although I'm really enjoying it. 2003 Montes Syrah Alpha (Rich) For dinner last evening, Opah with a teriyaki/garlic sauce, I had this wine, which retails for about $17. This was a very good wine, a light Syrah that went well with the fish. It had good fruit but also a decent amount of spice, a good balance. The finish was of medium length and it did possess some complexity though not an abundance. It is a bit pricey for what you get but is definitely a good drink. I would Drink but I might hesitate to buy again at that price. 2004 Garuma Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Rich) This wine ($17) is from Leyda, the newest appellation in Chile, and is also all organic. It is a crisp wine with a strong grapefruit taste. A decent wine but nothing to really differentiate it from many other Sauvignon Blancs. 2005 Viognier Secreto, Colchagua Valley (Rich) A fruity wine, a lot of citrus upfront, but with a harsh finish. No drink, no buy. 2002 Leyda Carmenere, Colchagua Valley (Rich) This was a smooth wine ($17), with solid fruit without being overly ripe. It had some nice complexity and would be a recommended Drink and Buy. 2000 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon (Rich) A very Old World style wine ($32) with nice fruit, a long finish and a nice balance of tannins. France 2001 La Cuvee Mythique, Red Blend (Rich) An intriguing blend of about six or seven different grapes. A very different but appealing taste. It is well worth trying. About $15. 2001 J. Vidal Fleurys Cote du Rhone (Rich) At the Eleven restaurant, my final glass of the evening was this one. This was a decent wine, with lots of spice, though it was not a stand out wine. It lacked the complexity of the other two wines, and was more just an easy drinking wine. It was $9 a glass and later researched showed it sells for about $12 a bottle. It would be a Drink for me but probably not a Buy. It just did not give enough value for the money. 2002 Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve, Alsace (Steve) I picked up this wine at "The Wine Shop" in Reading shortly before Thanksgiving. We bought this wine after sampling it during one of the weekly Saturday afternoon wine tastings that the shop hosts. Contrary to my usual stinginess, we bought two bottles of this white, at 20 large a pop. Obviously, we enjoyed the wine during the tasting. Over two months later, I still consider this wine one of the best white wines I've ever had. Many tend to use descriptors like "summer day", "suitable for a picnic", or "good with a turkey sandwich" when discussing whites, however this Pinot Gris is definitely much more than any of those sunny day descriptions. I really don't enjoy wine that's too sweet all that much, and this successfully avoids that trap. I found it to be extremely well balanced, somewhat tangy with hints of pear, and with a very dry finish. Definitely a drink and buy. Enjoy. 2003 Chateau Coupe Roses Minervois Cuvee Vignals, Languedoc (Rich) At the Eleven restaurant, I also had a glass of this wine. This Rhone style wine was more austere than the cabernet. It was also more tannic though it lingered longer on the finish as well. There was also more spice and less berry than the cabernet. It was definitely a more traditional French wine. It sold for $9 a glass and later research showed a bottle sells for about $15. Wine Spectator also rates this a 91. I definitely enjoyed the wine, and for the bottle prize, it is a good value, especially if you are seeking a more subtle Old World wine. 2003 Domaine Tempier Bandol (Rich) Last evening I had a bottle of this with my dinner of tenderloin tails, stuffed with prosciutto and fontina cheese, and lamb chops. The Bandol is a red blend, though primarily using Mourvedre. It was a fine wine, smooth, complex, exotic and with a long finish. It paired well with the meats. It runs about $35. The Bandol region of France is a tiny area known for Mourvedre. Domaine Tempier is one of the premier wineries in that region. I first had a bottle of this at No.9 Park, a superb restaurant in Boston. 2003 Guigal Gigondas (Rich) This French Rhone wine ($50 at a restaurant) is equal parts Mourvedre, Syrah and Grenache. It is an excellent wine, smooth and with a long finish. It accompanies most foods well. 2003 Pont d'Avignon Cotes du Rhone (Rich) With dinner this evening, we had a bottle of this wine which is about two-thirds Syrah and one-third Grenache and retails for about $15. This was a drinkable wine but nothing special. It also seemed less Old World style and more New World, meaning it had far more fruit up front, and was far less subtle and alluring. It is a friendly wine, that should appeal to many, yet it lacks true substance and complexity. A Drink but not Buy. 2004 Le Jaja (Rich) A Grenache/Syrah blend. Very easy drinking and delicious inexpensive wine, around $9. A touch of spice but also very smooth. 2004 Josephine Dubois, Chablis 1er Cru (Rich) A big white that fills your mouth like heavy cream, with oak and vanilla. For those who enjoy a big chardonnay, you might enjoy this but I did not. And I believe this wine was closer to the $20 range. Not a drink or buy for me. 2005 Domaine de la Chanade, "Les Rials" (Rich) This was an inexpensive white, about $9, but was surprisingly good. It was light, crisp and fruity but not too sweet. It would definitely be an enjoyable summer wine, properly chilled. For the money, it is a definite Drink & Buy. Ribit White, Arrogant Frog, Languedoc (Rich) This white wine is a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier and is crisp without being overly oaked. It has some nice citrus flavors and would be a very good summer wine. Drink and Buy. 2004 Henri Bourgeois, Petit Bourgeois, Loire Valley (Rich) At only 12% alcohol, this was the lightest of the group but had more acidity on the tongue. It was a more subtle wine, and would benefit from some light fare. But, at only $9, it is a good value wine for the summer. Drink/Buy. 2004 Brintet Bourgogne (Rich) This was a light and flavorful pinot, a typical Burgundian style. It would make a nice summer drink, even if it were a bit chilled. It is $14 and is a good value. Drink/Buy. 2003 Le Syrah Villerambert Julian, Coteux du Languedoc (Rich) This was a typical Old World Syrah ($12), so a bit drier than many, with smoky undertones and smoothness bolstered by light tannins. At the price, this is a good value and a Drink and Buy for me. NV Jean-Louis Blanc de Blanc Brut (Rich) A sparkling wine that for $10 was a great value. It was neither too dry or too sweet, and lacked any bitterness. A very satisfying taste, even for those who generally dislike most Champagnes. 2003 J.L. Chave Saint Jospeh 'Offerus', Rhone Valley (Rich) A 100% Syrah ($30) which is smooth, spicy and subtle. Excellent Old World style wine. Greece St. Nicholas Commandaria Dessert Wine (Rich) A very nice dessert wine ($19) with a more subtle, rather than cloying, sweetness. Nice fruit undertones. Drink and Buy. 2000 Lidakis 'Archanes' (Rich) A low production (300 cases), biodynamic wine ($18). This is a dry wine with a very unique flavor. It is a blend of Kotsifali and Mandilaria grapes. An excellent value for such a low production wine. Italy 2002 Ecco Domini Merlot (Steve) This evening I opened a bottle of 2002 Ecco Domini Merlot that my wife and I received from "friends" some time ago. I'm not sure if this taste typifies f*ing merlot, but it's got to come real close. I don't think I'm being snobbish here, this wine had virtually no taste. There was pretty much nothing interesting about it. It tasted like a slightly stronger version of grape juice, slightly sweet with no spice, no oak,..no nuthin'. If it were beer, it would be Budweiser. Not only in taste, but preference. Let's put it this way. You roll into a club, right? You've got 40 large in your pocket and the cover's 25. If your main objective is to get blitzed and you've got 15 large left, hit the dollar Bud bottle special. You can drink it quick and it'll definitly get the job done. Hey, you might even have 5 large left to by a cheesesteak when all's said and done. Wiz wit', of course. To sum up: I would drink it in the closest with the light off, on a lonely friday evening (barely). No buy. 2003 Oriel Taralula, Toscana (Rich) Taralula is named for Tara, the ancient goddess of eternal light and unconditional love who governs the Earth and the moon. Winemaker: Giuseppe Maria SestiVineyards Winemaking: Limestone and galestro soils on Montalcino's favored southern hills. Careful pruning and minimal intervention winemaking tied to the phases of the moon. Aged for 20 months in French oak (100% new). Grapes: 100% Sangiovese. Picked: September 15, 2003. Tasting Notes: Aroma--Black cherry and chocolate with earthy overtones. Taste--Plum and spice with hints of tobacco and herbs. Soft tannins and a lingering finish. Drink by Date: Now through 2010. (My thoughts: This is the typical spicy Italian wine, that which goes so well with Italian food. But, it rises above the usual Chianti's and Sangiovese in being more complex and with a longer finish. It is a superior wine, that would complement any table. But, again at $35, it is more a special occasion wine than a usual table wine.) 2004 Il Borgo Montepulciano D'Abruzzo (Rich) This was one of my new buys from Best Cellars and sells for about $9. I had tasted this at the shop and enjoyed it. It was said to be a good wine for having with pizza. And they were right. It has fruit up the front, cherrys and some darker berries as well, but gets more spicy on the finish. The finish is not too short though not very long either. Though at $9 you do not expect a real long finish. It does have a smooth taste and a pleasant nose. It goes very well with food, especially Italian food. This is a wine I would recommend as a very good value. 2004 Sensi Chianti (Rich) I had a 2004 Sensi Chianti while out at dinner over the weekend. It costs $20 at the restaurant and it seems to retail for about $15 so the markup was very low for a restaurant, making it a decent value. The Chianti was tasty, alot of cherry flavors, light, and smooth. It lacks complexity but then you don't really expect much from a young Chianti. It went very well with my Italian food and everyone at the table who drank it enjoyed it. Sensi's website is [http://www.sensivini.com/](http://www.sensivini.com/) Ruffino Aziana Chianti Classico, Tuscany (Chris) We went to Bertucci's last night and I asked the waitress if I could try this wine before comitting to a whole glass and she brought me a sample! Anyway, I don't normally like Chianti's, but I figured I'd try something different, I'm glad I did. It went well with garlic-oil soaked rolls, salad, and even my 'silano' pizza. It was light with a silky smooth finish, no overpowering eucalyptus or anything. I don't know how well this wine would have stood alone. Inferno "Al Carmine" Caven, Lombardy (Rich) This standout red wine ($26-28) is made from the Nebbiolo grape, the same varietal used for the expensive Barolos. It was a dark, rich and fruity wine. Well balanced with hints of pepper and leather. A definite Drink and Buy, and a good substitute for the more expensive Barolos. Camauro Cagnina Di Romagna (Chris)No date on it, it was recommended to me by store owner as a good Italian wine. The description on the back says: "Grapey, jammy smooth as silk and unciously sweet, we're betting you'll find its lively red-berry flavours impossible not to love." I don't like it at all. It's sickly sweet, almost like a desert wine, but red. It caught me off-guard, like the opposite of eating some baker's chocolate. I suppose if you like intensly sweet wines you may like this, but I give it a 'no drink, no buy' rating. I went as far as dumping my glass out, bleh. 2005 Fattoria La Rivolta, Taburno Falanghina (Rich) This wine ($19) is made from Falanghina, an indigenous Italian grape that I had never tasted before. There was a strong citrus flavor with a crispness rather than sweetness. There were some unique undertones though which separates this from other whites like a Sauvignon Blanc. If you are a white wine fan, this is definitely something different to check out. 2001 Oltrepo Pavese, Bonarda (Rich) I crossed the sea from Argentina to try an Italian Bonarda ($13) and it is said that there is a significant difference between Bonardas from Italy and Argentina. After trying this one, they might be right. This Bonarda had a very funky, earthy taste that was not pleasant. I had previously had a bit of earthiness from the Argentine Bonardas, but nothing to this extreme. And the extreme put me off. It was also quite mouth puckering. It also had a short finish and little complexity. Although the overpowering earthiness may have just clouded my palate. I will try other Italian Bonardas, but this one is definitely not a Drink or Buy. 2005 La Caplana Gavi di Gavi (Rich) A white wine ($14) made from a blend of indigenous grapes. A very good wine that was fruity, not too dry and without any bitterness. Interesting flavors unlike many other whites. I am not a big fan of whites but thought this was well worth the price. 2004 Il Conte Marinus Sangiovese/Montepulciano blend (Rich) This was one of my favorite wines ($15) of the tasting. It was full-bodied, smoky, and spicy with a long finish. A great wine with pasta or beef. 2004 Prendo Pinot Noir (Rich) This Italian wine ($16) is very different from other Pinot Noirs, being a cross-breed between French and California styles. It was fruity without being overly jammy. It was not as subtle as a Burgundy but not as in you face as a California. An interesting change of pace. 2005 Fondo Antico Grillo 'Parlante', Sicily (Rich) This white wine ($13) was crisp, fruity and a pleasant drink. 2004 Cantina Numa 'Tolenus' (Rich) Another excellent value wine ($10). A meaty and hearty wine, best with food. 2001 Marina Cvetic Montepulciano, Abruzzo (Rich) A complex wine ($27) with a very long finish. A smooth drinking wine that would go very well with Italian food. 2005 Feudo Maccari 'Renoto', Sicily Another very good value wine ($12). A complex and spicy Italian wine.