Fox Run Vineyards (8/10)
Riesling, 2002
Finger Lakes, New York
$9.99
A white wine that we both agreed on, very quickly. I had this one chilled in the fridge and pulled it out tonight to open it for a risotto. So we poured a couple of glasses to enjoy with our dinner.
This wine isn't too dry, and isn't too sweet. It isn't as sweet as the Relax Riesling, and we both liked that. Very fruity, excellent flavor. I couldn't drink too much, unfortunately, because I wanted to finish the glass I poured. This one is a keeper and we will buy it again. AND it isn't very expensive and it is local!
Red Electra
California Muscat Wine, 2003
Andrew Quady, Madera California
$12.95
This is one of the wines we tried at the wine tasting during our Christmas shopping trip to Lee (along with the Riesling Kevin commented on earlier). I very much like this one, and would definitely like to pick it up again. It's one I could happily have around and have a small glass of after dinner at night.
It's sweet without being sugary, with a hint of fizz. It was compared by some to a port (and Kevin has now promised to pick up a port for me to try). It is definitely not intended to be anything but a dessert wine, and I think it would pair well with a rich, dark dessert like chocolate.
Relax (Deb:8/10, Kevin:7/10)
Riesling, 2003
Germany
$9.95
We've finally found a white wine we like. Sweet, but not overpowering. Well balanced between the sweet and the dry. Very light, a nice complement to lighter dishes (such as the cornish game hens we served for Christmas Eve).
Sebastiani (7/10)
Merlot, 1999
Sonoma County
Unknown Price (Gift)
My parents brought this merlot with them as the wine for our Christmas dinner. It matched well with the prime rib. There was a complexity to the nice fruity flavor of the wine.
Tyrrell's Old Winery (5.5/10)
Pinot Noir, 1999
Hunter Valley
$12.99
A softer style of red wine with complex "gamey" fruit flavours and a fleshy fruit palate texture.
I found this a fairly non-descript pinot noir. It was certainly drinkable, but not outstanding.
Chateauneuf du Pape (4.5/10)
Estate Bottled Rhone Table Wine, 2000
Domaine de la Solitude
Price Unknown (Gift)
I'll say this -- it's better than most French wines I've had. Then again, I don't particularly like French wine. This is a blend of grenache, syrah, and mourvedre.
Red Truck (6/10)
Red Table Wine, 2002
Cline Cellars, Sonoma, California
$9.99
The description on the bottle is poetic: Remember that old red truck your grandad had on the farm... that's right, the one that sat idle most of the time; but when you needed a dependable running machine, it rumbled to life and made you feel good. Our Red Truck wine is just the same way -- reliable, well crafted, full of life, and great tasting.
I like this one. It is fruity and dry. Deb says the dryness masks the fruitiness and wrinkled her nose at it. It is a mix of Oakley Mourvedre, Sonoma County Syrah, Merlot, and Petite Sirah.
Johnson Estate Ives (Kevin: 3/10) (Deb: 7/10)
Red Table Wine, 2003
Westfield, New York
price unknown
I need to cure Kevin of the habit of taking price tags off the wine bottles, so we know what we spent when we get around to drinking them. All he remembers is that this one wasn't very expensive.
This one is described on the bottle as a "delightful semi-sweet wine with a brilliant garnet red color and a mellow yet very distinctive fruit character that compares very favorably to a Lambrusco."
The color, when poured, was a paler red than most of the reds Kevin drinks. On first sip I could tell that the wine didn't appeal. His first opinion -- "This won't go on the buy list."
It is, indeed, very fruity and too sweet for Kevin. It has a very mellow flavor without a lot of that "wine" bite that most have on the back of my tongue. While he doesn't like it, it appeals to me and most wines don't. I like the light taste and fruitiness.
Kevin classifies this as sweet enough to be called a dessert wine. On looking at it a bit more closely (Kev didn't read the bottle -- I did) it is designed to go with snacks or as a mulled wine. Both of us agree it would be lovely piping hot on my stove and suffused with spices. Mm.
Royal Bitch (6/10)
Merlot, 2002
Aconcagua Valley, Chile
$9.99
Deb bought it for the name, obviously.
Michael says it's an honest merlot of no great complexity (with a great title, Kevin adds). Deb is under the impression if it costs more than $10, it isn't worth the price. If it comes in at less, it's certainly a drinkable merlot.
Red Knot (7/10)
Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003
Fleurian, Australia
$11.99
Deb picked up the wine because of the description -- fruity and full-bodied, with a coffee after-kick. Kevin opened it for the Thanksgiving dinner, and described it was too overpowering for the turkey, but definitely one to buy again. He didn't notice the coffee overtones, but enjoyed the fruity taste.