J.Lohr Monterey County 2010 Riesling,
$9.99-$11.99, 90 points, is a watery color gray with copper tints.
The aroma is a light minty citrus and a hint of honey.
The near medium body carries good acidity with a bit of lemon, tangerine, and a hint of pine needles. Check out: pine needle tea? Could save your life if you ever get lost in the forest!
This is not a bone-dry wine, but won't satisfy a sweet tooth either.
Finishes refreshingly with juicy white grape.
J.Lohr Monterey County 2010 Riesling enhances Asian cuisine and the cuisine enhances the wine; makes a perfect partnership!
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Hahn Winery Santa Lucia Highlands 2009 Chardonnay, $9.34-$13.99, 88 points, was golden in color, the aroma a toasty almond, vanilla, and a hint of tomato.
The nose rode on a medium bodied mouth-feel with good acidity and translated well onto the palate with the aroma flavors, and additionally, there were hints of white grape and butter.
The wine finished with the diminished flavors and added a hint of ginger.
Hahn continues to prove that it is an excellent winery in the "everyday" wine category, but not having tasted Hahn's Smith and Hook Cabernets or their Lucienne Pinot Noir wines, I'll have to wait to taste these higher-end wines before judging whether that consistency carries throughout their wines.
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Shannon Ridge Ranch Collection Lake County California 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, $10.99-$18.99, 90 points, was rosewood-red to purple in color with a clear rim.
Aromas revealed cooking spices, strong cedar notes, licorice, and just a hint of alcohol (14.5%).
The medium-plus body carried good acidity, fairly comfortable tannins, and a bounty of fruit: bramble berry (usually reserved for Zinfandels), juicy boysenberry, and not quite ripe mulberry with a hint of licorice.
Finished well on spice and a bit of heat.
This wine displayed a fair balance and complexity found in more expensive Cabernet Sauvignon wines, and at the power-buy price, I highly recommend this wine now and for the next couple of years.
Varietals were 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Syrah, 5% Petite Sirah, and 1% Malbec.
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Villa Maria Private Bin 2011 Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, $11.04-$15.99, 86 points, is quite clear with a gray hue, and has aromas of grapefruit, a hint of cut grass and tomato.
The light body carries good acidity and follows the aroma onto the palate. It is dry with just a hint of sweetness. The finish is fair with just a slight sour note. This New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and refreshing, although it is a touch thin.
The tomatoes in the photograph reflects the recurring flavor I've been getting in a number wines lately.
Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Cellar Selection is a much better choice, though keep in mind that's reflected in the higher price; last purchased for $13.59-$18.99.
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Chateau Vieux Meillac 2005 Grand Vin De Bordeaux, $11.99-$13.99, 87 points, has a garnet-cranberry color with a broad clear rim.
The aroma is reticent, but eventually releases a pleasant cotton-candy and cooking spice fragrance.
The body is medium-plus with good acidity and noticeable tannin.
This wine shifts considerably with air, changing from early crisp to developing slightly sweet, almost flabby characteristics.
Flavors of plum, boysenberry, and a touch of coffee trail into a spicy finish of allspice and nutmeg.
As an everyday table wine, this is a good choice, and for $12 this wine delivers the dinner libation well.
I could find no information on varietals; maybe someone can fill-in the blanks.
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Covey Run 2009 Quail Series Gewürztraminer, $9.99, 87 points, has a light brass hue.
The aroma is a complex array of melon, tomato, and citrus which carry throughout the palate and finish, which also has a slight sour note.
The body is light-plus with good acidity; is just slightly off-dry, and has 12.5% alcohol.
Paired well with a spiced chicken sub, and with fried fish and chips.
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Bogle Vineyards 2011 California Riesling, $9.99-$11.99, 87 points is just a bit sweet (off-dry), and surprised me, because I'm not familiar with Rieslings having 12.5% alcohol and having even this much sweetness, but then again, I'm exploring California Rieslings, which is me making an easy guess that they are quite different from Washington, Australia, or German Rieslings.
The Bogle Riesling is water clear with some gray notes, the aroma is slightly sweet apple and carries through the palate.
The body is light with good acidity, but is a bit 'flat' or bland, and yet we all liked this wine, polishing-off the bottle in just a few minutes. So, I guess that makes this a gulper of a wine; a descriptor I haven't used in a long time.
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