Archive for the ‘Wine Reviews’ Category
The Wine Witch must be getting into her dotage. This blog is going on 3 years now. I have been drinking and enjoying the Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc all this time and years prior, but never reviewed it. My daughter-in-law brought this to my attention when we were out to dinner the other day. Better late than never, so here is my belated review.
On Saturday, February 27, 2010 Chile was rocked by a devastating earthquake whose death toll as of today has topped 800. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake has destroyed, according to Vivian Sequera and Alan Clendenning of the Associated Press, least 150 million bottles’ worth of wine, and has affected some of Chile’s oldest wine growing regions.
The devastating earthquake in Chile has had an enormous impact on people and businesses. One of Chile most notable industries, wine making, is still assessing the damage. The stats known to date are pretty impressive:
The Wine Witch has been on the road the last two weeks for my day job (which unfortunately has NOTHING to do with wine), so I am a little behind in my postings. Hopefully you have been enjoying the dispatches from our newest contributor, Lisa Scott. Lisa’s perspective is value priced wines that have a eco-friendly slant. Welcome, Lisa!
Posted in Wine Reviews | 
Tags: Champagne, Jacob's Creek, Rosé, Sparkling wines | 
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Finding a great tasting chardonnay is like finding the right pair of shoes to go with the dress for your wedding, or the “right” tie to complement your suit. The experience is equivalent to falling in love for the first time, or having your first kiss. It’s a day you will never forget; and when the day is done, you will always remember how good you felt wearing that tie or that dress because it complemented you–perfectly.
Posted in Wine Reviews |
Tags: Bonterra Chardonnay, California, Chardonnay, Costco Wholesale Corporation, French wines, Mendocino County wine, Organic, Wine |
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Yellow+Blue Malbec
I recently came across a great organic Malbec by Yellow+Blue. Although packaged in a carton—I try to stay away from wines in a box—I was intrigued by its design. The Malbec was quite astonishing considering its packaging and its price (on average $12.00). It was a medium- to full-bodied wine with a complex finish. It also had a nice aroma with a hint of cherry and chocolate. I imagine it would go well with a fine steak or other braised meat.
The company, Yellow+Blue is about environmental sustainability– throughout the growing, winemaking and packaging process. The grapes and the farming process have been certified through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as 100% organic, while the packaging, remember– a cardboard box– was developed to reduce their carbon footprint so they only use 7% of that footprint on packaging. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Wine Reviews |
Tags: $12, Malbec, Organic certification, Organic wine, Wine, Yellow+Blue |
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Before we get too far this one is right on the cusp of our price point. I picked it up for $14.99, but if I look at prices online, I see a range of $12-18. If you can find it for $15 or less, by all means buy it. Much more than that and I am not sure you are getting all you can for the money. If the 2008 Hanna Sauvignon Blanc were $10-12, the Wine Witch would rate it 4 stars+. However, at $15 it violates our bang for the buck rating system. Hence the 3.5 stars.
Posted in Wine Reviews |
Tags: California, Hanna Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc |
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Well Australia certainly loves its critters – Yellow Tail, Little Penguin, Black Swan, etc.. Here is the latest addition to the menagerie – Friday Monkey. My personal theory is that Australians keep the really good stuff at home. Some marketing genius has determined that Americans are suckers for critters, and therefore they have a distribution channel for their second tier wines.
By and large I have enjoyed most Red Truck wines. These are not great wines, but they are very reliable, will not break the bank, and will cause you no embarassment when served. Over the weekend my son shared a bottle of the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon he received as a host gift. He was not too thrilled. I found it a pleasant wine.
First of all note the wide price range. The suggested retail for Rodney Strong Chardonnay is $15. I have never seen it for $15. It is usually deeply discounted and you can often find it for $10 or less. So it is not squeaking in under our price cap.
OK, People. Listen up on this one. Remember the Wine Witch’s rating system is bang for the buck, and d’Arenberg “Stump Jump” has a LOT of bang. This one also received a 90 point rating in Wine Spectator and was named one of their Top 100 Wines of the Year – at $9!
In reviewing this wine the Wine Witch has learned a lesson. Wines, like people, deserve a second chance.
No, you do not need your glasses adjusted. Yes, this is Folonari with a 4 star rating. Yes, the price is $12 for a double bottle. Believe me, nobody is more surprised than the Wine Witch. In the past I always associated Folonari with inferior wines and Soave under any label as tasteless. However, this was a 2009 best value recommendation by Gaiter and Brecher (now formerly of the Wall Street Journal, a very sad thing). I love their attitude towards wine and respect their palate, so I decided to give the Folonari Soave a try.
