Sighesio Sonoma Zinfandel 2009

On the bottle: Begun in 1895 by our great grandfather, Edoardo Seghesio, Seghesio Family Vineyard is a collection of sustainably farmed estate vineyards in Sonoma County, hand-tended by our family for four generations.

750mL, 15% Alc. by vol, HEB, $15.98

I bought this wine at the suggestion of my friend Mark who works in the beer and wine department at the Montrose Market HEB. I was very impressed by the full flavor of this wine. It has deep berry color and flavor, and a bright acidity that makes it go down easily. There's an almost dustiness this wine that compliments the blackberry flavor. I thought it was also cute that the phone number of the vineyard is printed on the cork. I would buy this wine again to go with spicy red sauce pastas or pizza. I'm going to look out for more wines from this company in the future.

Estancia 2010 Pinot Noir

On the bottle: Our Pinnacles Ranches are near Monterey's Pacific coast where cool fog sweeps in each evening, giving way to warm, sunny days perfect for ripening world-class Pinot Noir. We employ artisan winemaking practices such as gentle pressing and small barrel aging to craft wines of exceptional character. Estancia Pinot Noir displays luscious berry flavors, spice and a rich, supple finish.

750mL, 13.5% Alc. by vol, HEB, $11

I swiped some of this wine from my roommate and her boyfriend's Valentine's Day dinner. This was a great wine, much better at room temperature than chilled. The flavor was like blackberries, but not too sweet. There was a little bit of bitterness, but nothing too off-putting. It paired well with the not so spicy fried rice I made for dinner. While this wine was good I didn't find it very spectacular, and I don't think I'd buy it.

Haak Vineyard Pink Pelican

On the bottle: This wine is a lighthearted, pink homage to the Brown Pelican, a native of the Gulf Coast. The Pelican had been listed on the endangered list since 1970, but can be seen in abundance along the Texas Gulf Coast. Swirl a glass of Pink Pelican and let the coastal airs swirl around you. Like the Pelican, Pink Pelican is also on the "endangered" list, with a limited production available.

750mL, 10% Alc. by vol, Haak Vineyard, $6.95

Today I took a tour of the Haak Vineyard in Santa Fe, TX and I picked up a few bottles at great prices. Pink Pelican is normally about $15, but this batch had a bottling error so it was discounted. This is a very good semi-sweet table wine, especially for a warm day chilling around a pool. I don't normally drink wines that are too sweet, but this one was great. I can also see this making a great sangria. I would recommend this to other people and I certainly see myself purchasing it again.

Bitch 2009 Grenache

On the bottle:
Bitch, bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
bitch bitch bitch and bitch some more.

750mL, 14% Alc. by vol, HEB, $9.98

I bought this wine because of the name, and because it has a pink label. While this wasn't the best Grenache that I've ever had it was delicious and it paired very well with the caprese pizza I had with it. It had the distinct spicy berry flavor of a grenache, but I felt like the flavor was a bit less robust than some of the other grenache wines I've had in the past. Overall I liked this wine at this price, and I would buy it again just for the lulz.

Jean-Luc Colombo 2009 Les Abeilles

On the bottle: Hailed as the winemaking wizard of the Rhone, Jean-Luc Colombo has achieved a high-profile reputation for innovative wines that are bursting with personality. Les Abeilles, or "the bees" in French, is a virtuoso white wine blend of traditional southern Rhone white grapes. Supple, harmonious and full-bodied, with floral and fruity aromas, Compliments a wide array of hor d'oeuvres and salads, as well as fish dishes, white meats and Asian-influenced dishes.

40% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc, 20% Viognier, 10% Roussanne

750mL, 13% Alc. by vol, left at my house after new years, internet says about $10

This wine was interesting. It's different than most of the whites I've tasted. It has a sweetness the reminds me of honey, but at the same time there's a citrus acid bite. The acid lingers on the palate a bit, but not in a bad way. There was also a slight metallic taste to this wine as it warms up. For the $10 price, I would definitely buy this wine again and I am curious about trying other Jean-Luc Colombo wines in the future.