Another Mosel (Germany) Riesling Spätlese

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Bollig-Lehnert Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese 2009 8 % alcohol about $20.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. “Description : There’s a certain poetry to many of the German vineyard names. For example, Goldtröpfchen means ‘little drop of gold’. Tasting Note : Elegant, showing a restrained sense of power. Aromas of savory spice and fennel, with flavors of apple, green peach and Asian pear. Mineral notes linger on the crisp finish. Drink now. Score – 91. (Bruce Sanderson at the Wine Spectator web site, Web Only, 2011).” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine offered a fine combination of sweetness and acidity. I sensed both lemon and lime. It was powerful. The initial meal was quiche time. In response to the homemade eggplant and cottage cheese quiche with sesame seeds on the top the libation’s acidity stepped up. It was long. The homemade mushroom, cottage cheese, and tomato quiche with sesame seeds on the top rendered the drink’s acidity very powerful. I tasted lime and some honey. The side dish of eggplants, onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms rendered our German friend quite balanced and floral as well. I had to remind myself not to overdo it and drink too much. For dessert I indulged in a vanilla ice cream bar with a rich chocolate coating. The liquid was weakened but not devastated.

This review of a  Mosel (Germany) Riesling Spätlese continues
on my web site at http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_articles/My_own_German_wine_articles/another_mosel_riesling_spaetlese.phphttp://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_articles/My_own_German_wine_articles/another_mosel_riesling_spaetlese.php

Another Canadian Riesling-Vidal Blend

Another Canadian Riesling-Vidal Blend

Can you get a decent Canadian Blend at this price?...

Just a few short weeks ago I broke my more or less promise twice by trying a Canadian Riesling-Vidal blend. The promise had nothing to do with Canada; in fact, this wine carries the Canadian appellation. It was a question of blends and even more so the Vidal grape which itself is sort of a blend, a hybrid combining not so fine grapes in an attempt to deal with the Canadian winter. Vidal makes some excellent ice wine. But if its grapes aren’t frozen… The producer’s web site says nothing about their vineyards and precious little else. Flourish belongs to Constellation Brands, which claims to be the premium wine producer in the world. It was founded in 1945 with 8 employees. Perhaps their turning point came in 1954 with Wild Irish Rose. The companion wine is a German Riesling Spätlese at twice the price.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Flourish Riesling-Vidal VQA 2011 6 % alcohol about $10.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : pale straw with green tints; floral, apricot and honey aroma; light body; off-dry flavours of melon and peach with balanced acidity. Serving Suggestion : serve with chicken curry.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine offered pleasant acidity and good length but its fruit was unripe. The initial meal was quiche time. The homemade eggplant and cottage cheese quiche with sesame seeds on the top sweetened the libation. The homemade mushroom, cottage cheese, and tomato quiche with sesame seeds on the top sharpened the drink’s acidity and there was lots of lime. The side dish of eggplants, onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms rendered our Canadian friend sweet with a little fruit. Dessert was a vanilla ice cream bar with a rich chocolate coating. The liquid was reduced to only a wisp of lime.

This review of a  Canadian Riesling-Vidal Blend continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_acrv.phphttp://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_acrv.php

A Classic Israeli Chardonnay

A Classic Israeli Chardonnay

Can we get a fine Israeli Chardonnay at this price? ...

Barkan Classic Chardonnay

The Barkan winery traces its history back to 1899. It is now Israel’s second largest winery and owns the country’s largest vineyard. They produce four lines of wine; today’s offering is next to the bottom. They are developing a sizable vineyard in the Negev Desert. And the wine business being like so many others, the main ownership is now in the hands of a soft drink company. The companion wine is an Italian Chardonnay coming in at half the price
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Barkan Classic Chardonnay 2006 (not a typo) 12.5 % alcohol about $15.

In the absence of marketing materials let’s start by quoting the back label “Barkan Classic Chardonnay is produced from grape’s grown at the winery’s vineyards in the center of Israel. The vines yield small crops and ripen early. Hand picked in small containers, the grapes are rushed to the winery to ensure maximum quality. The wine ferments slowly at cool temperatures and yields a wine with a rich nose of blueberries, guava and pears. It is well structured, balanced and lingers in the mouth. Ideal with poultry and hard cheese.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was smoky and almost chewy offering light acidity. The initial meal focused on a barbecued chicken breast with a paprika dusted skin on which I squeezed a generous amount of fresh lime. The Chardonnay responded with intensified smokiness and good acidity. It was round. Steamed quinoa gave me a tinge of citrus in the smoke. A barbecued chicken wing augmented Chardy’s acidity and sweetness while its smokiness remained. The side dish of steamed broccoli made the libation’s acidity dominant, and in fact threw it slightly out of whack.

This review of a Classic Israeli Chardonnay continues on my web site at

http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Near_weekly_15_dollar_wine_reviews/Y2013/classic_israeli_chardonnay.php

A Veneto, Italy Chardonnay

A Veneto, Italy Chardonnay

Can you get a decent Italian Chardonnay at this price?...

I recently tasted this producer’s similarly priced Merlot and wondered aloud how they could make such an inexpensive wine in such an expensive environment. Ditto for their Chardonnay. I don’t think that the wine is a loss leader for their Amarone, a special wine made only in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, which at almost $40 won’t be found in this column. Cesari was founded in 1935 and owns extensive vineyards on the shores of Lake Garda in Verona. This Shakespearean city is brimming with Medieval and Roman architecture including Italy’s third largest arena, still used for public events. The companion wine is an Israeli Chardonnay coming in at twice the price.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Cesari Chardonnay Delle Venezie 2011 12 % alcohol about $7.50.

In the absence of marketing materials let’s start by quoting the back label “This wine has been carefully vinified from Chardonnay grapes selected from around the Veneto region. It’s (sic) clear straw colour, fruity bouquet, full and well great accompaniment for many fish dishes.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was pleasantly sweet but short. The initial meal focused on a barbecued chicken breast with a paprika dusted skin on which I squeezed a generous amount of fresh lime. The Chardonnay responded with its own lime and pleasant acidity. It was somewhat metallic. Steamed quinoa increased the liquid’s acidity and it kept giving me an agreeable metallic taste. But a barbecued chicken wing rendered Chardy’s acidity lightly sour. The side dish of steamed broccoli made the libation smoky with a touch of the ethereal.

This review of a Veneto, Italy Chardonnay continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_vich.phphttp://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_vich.php

A Tasmanian Pinot Noir

Wine Reviewed
Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir, Tasmania, Australia, 13.1 % alcohol about $15.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials.. “Tasting Note : 2011 has made for a spicy and structured Devil’s Corner, with restrained pink pepper, rhubarb, brambles and grippy tannins accentuated by taut acidity. It’s savoury and structural, yet accurate and appealing, with good persistence and medium-term potential. Drink; 2012-2015. Score – 90. (Tyson Stelzer at his website. Undated). And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was very rich, offering light acidity and some sweetness. The initial meal centered on slow-cooked beef ribs. I had the feeling that everything stepped up. The libation was mouth filling and yet light. I noted chocolate. In response to simultaneously cooked potatoes the Pinot Noir’s acidity and sweetness increased. There was some darkness. Carrots lengthened the drink. I slathered a healthy dose of Yemeni green jalapeno pepper sauce on the meat and the wine became peppery. Fresh raspberries for dessert rendered our Tasmanian friend long and once again I tasted chocolate.

This review of A Tasmanian Pinot Noir continues on my web site
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Near_weekly_15_dollar_wine_reviews/Y2013/tasmanian_pinot_noir.php

Another Languedoc, France Pinot Noir

Another Languedoc, France Pinot Noir

Can you get a decent French Pinot Noir at this price?...

Of course we have done lots and lots of Pinot Noirs, not surprisingly many of which come from France. This is not our first from that up and coming region of Languedoc, one of the few French wine areas that habitually labels the bottle with the variety. George Duboeuf is a major French wine producer, quite well known for its Beaujolais Nouveau. Wait for November and maybe we will review another one of these pearls if you get my drift. Unfortunately their web site doesn’t talk about their vineyards or this particular wine. This bottle carries the unprestigious Pays d’Oc Indication Géographique Protégée appellation. The companion wine is another Pinot Noir, one coming from Australia’s southernmost wine region, the island of Tasmania at half again the price.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Hob Nob Pinot Noir, George Duboeuf 2011 12.5 % alcohol about $10.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials.. “Tasting Note : bright ruby colour with pink rim; cherry and raspberry aromas; dry, medium body; juicy ripe berry flavour with medium finish. Serving Suggestion : serve with poached salmon.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was sweet, offering earthy, light tannins and acidity. The initial meal centered on slow-cooked beef ribs. The libation’s acidity perked up but its sweetness was still out of line. Simultaneously cooked potatoes did not offer much of a change. Carrots tamed the drink’s acidity; not that it had been untamed. I spread a healthy dose of Yemeni green jalapeno pepper sauce on the meat and the wine took on the condiment’s power. Fresh raspberries for dessert rendered our Languedoc friend steely.

This review of a Languedoc, France Pinot Noir continues on my website at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_alfp.phphttp://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_alfp.php