Posts Tagged ‘California’

hanna Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2008 California $15 wine reviewsBefore 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.

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gruet2 Gruet Blanc de Noirs Brut NV, New Mexico $15 wine reviewsYes, you read the title correctly – NEW MEXICO.  The Wine Witch is going out a bit on a limb here.  This is absolutely the best U.S. sparkling wine at this price point and probably better than most at twice the price.  California be afraid.

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winesnob cover1 Great Reads for the Winos in Your Life wine musingsOf course, the obvious gift for your beloved winos would be wine – DUH.  However, if you have been there and done that or, you are just not confident on what wine to buy, the Wine Witch suggests you consider a book on the subject.

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bishopspeak Bishops Peak Chardonnay 2006 California <$15 wine reviewsThe Wine Witch has not been drinking a lot of California Chardonnay lately.  Used to drink it all the time.  Not sure if I got tired or it or it got tiring, but there came a time I just was not enjoying it as much.  Well anyway, the point here is that if I say a like a California Chardonnay, I must REALLY like it.

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menage20a20trois20red20table20wine 100x300 Menage a Trois Red 2007 California $12 wine reviewsThe producer of this wine is Folie a Deux and these guys have a sense of humor.  This is definitely the Wine Witch’s week for “punny” wines.  The name of this wine roughly translates into a gathering or blending together of three.  As you might expect, we are talking about three different grapes here – Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

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7 zins 182x300 7 Deadly Zins 2006 California $15 wine reviewsYou know how the Wine Witch loves a pun, so I could not resist this one.  Zins, of course, stands for Zinfandel and the reference to 7 is the number of growers that contribued grapes to this effort.  This is an example of a Lodi styled Zinfandel which is usually on the spicier end of this varietal’s spectrum.  The Wine Wtich also loves her spice.

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HahnHarvest8.JPGThe Wine Witch just loves this wine.  It really set a standard of what can be done with California Sauvignon Blanc.  I know, some of you are saying “but this is a Fume Blanc”.  Made from the same grape – traditionally Fume Blanc are a slightly drier style.

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aq napa 300x114 Aquinas Napa Valley Merlot 2005 California $12 wine reviewsPoor Merlot – it really has had its ups and downs. Back in the 90′s it was the go to red wine, once everyone got burned out with Cabernet Sauvignon. California wineries could not cultivate the vines fast enough. In this rush to market, a lot of really flacid, boring Merlot was produced. Perhaps the nadir was the movie, Sideways. The main character was willing to risk a date with a girl way out of his league if going out with her meant he had to drink Merlot.

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rmpspinotnoir 300x253 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir 2006 California $12 wine reviewsBy now I am sure you are used to the Wine Witch whining (I know – cheap shot – couldn’t resist) about the quest to find value priced Pinot Noirs that are satisfying. There are a lot of budget priced PNs out there – they just tend to be thin and dull. Fortunately, at the private tasting of Robert Mondavi Private Selection wines at the recent Harvest in the Square event, I found one I could recommend.

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redwine 798682 150x150 What the Heck is Meritage? wine musingsIf you read my earlier post this week on the Robert Mondavi Private Selection Vinetta, you saw that future vintages are going to be renamed Meritage. OK – that’s nice enough name, but does it mean anything? Actually it does.

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rmps pg Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Grigio 2006 California $11 wine reviewsThis was the first wine I tasted at the Modavi tent during Harvest in the Square in NYC. It was a very pleasant aperitif. My husband and I enjoyed another bottle last night along with chicken in a light cream sauce. Still liked it. There is a lot of very boring Pinot Grigio out there, but this one is livelier than most. The Private Selection Pinot Grigio is jazzed up with the addition of a little Gerwurztraminer and several other varietals.

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6b29bw7 150x150 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Vinetta 2005 California $12 wine reviewsWOW! This is a whole lotta wine for $12 (actually I paid $10.99) – a total 5 rating. If you have been reading this blog, you know the Wine Witch does not dish 5′s out very often. If you like big, in your face reds, but no edges, go out and find this one now.

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92585l Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay 2006 California $12 wine reviewsIf you have been keeping up with this blog, you will know that the Wine Witch is not the biggest fan of Chardonnay. I just have this thing about chewing on tree trunks while trying to enjoy my wine. Nothing wrong with it – just not my thing. So beware, if you enjoy big, buttery, oaky Chardonnays – this one is not for you. However, it is just perfect for me.

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