Renzo Masi Chianti Riserva

On the bottle: The Riserva us produced only in very good vintages, from a selection of the best grapes.
It is composed of 95% Sangiovese and 5% colorino. This wine is released after a minimum of 30 months of aging.

750mL, 13.5% Alc. by vol, HEB, $11.99

I have bought 2 bottle of this wine now, and I am finally getting around to reviewing it. One bottle got downed at the New Years party, and I barely even got to try it! I finally bought another bottle for review. Like most Chianti, this is very easy to drink, and goes perfectly with tomato sauce. I love a good earthy, dry Chianti and this one did not disappoint. Because it's a Riserva it must be aged at least 2 years in wood and 3 months in bottle before being sold. This aging really adds to the complexity of flavor. This one reminds me of plum and dark chocolate. It is very dark and will dye your mouth dark purple, so be careful! I will be buying more of this for sure.

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.

Cavit Pinot Grigio 2010

On the bottle: Cavit Pinot Grigio originates in northern Italy's picturesque delle Venezie region, source of the world's finest Pinot Grigio. To this ideal terroir, Cavit brings a half-century of winemaking experise and an endless passion for quality and innovation. Elegant, crisp and light, with delicate nuances of fruit Cavit Pinot Grigio is remarkably versatile. Excellent served well-chilled.

750mL, 12% Alc. by vol, left at my house after new years, internet says $10

My first tastes of this are apples and pears. Crisp and acidic, this wine would be great on a hot summer day, or with spicy food. I didn't feel like waiting until summer, so this wine felt a bit out of place on chilly nights, but it was still delicious and not too sweet for me. This wine does seem a bit watery in comparison to the heavy reds I've been drinking lately, but I would buy this again for an outdoor party, in the summer, if I'm short on cash and don't need to impress anyone.

Loosen Up Dornfelder

On the bottle: What do you get when you put the world-famous winemaker, Ernst Loosen, together with skate and surfboard artists, the Froelich Brothers? You'll have to buy the bottle to find our, but here's a hint: a fruity and provocative red wine that is perfect for a night in, a night out, a meal with friends (or after they leave), a spicy pasta or just to Loosen UP.

750mL, 10.5% Alc. by vol, HEB, I lost the receipt but I think it was around $8

My first thought on trying this wine was: blackberries! It was sweet and acidic, but with a mustiness at the end that reminds me of the seeds at the end of blackberries. This wine was sweeter than I was going to be since the grape was originally cultivated to give more body to weak reds in Germany. Most reviews I have read about Dornfelder wines say they are more hearty than Pinot Noir, but this one seemed a bit more sweet and easy to drink. In the end I really enjoyed this wine and now I wanna get the Riesling by the same winemaker. The price was great, the bottle was cute, and it was tasty. I hope to buy this wine again soon!

Prima Perla Prosecco

On the bottle: Italian - sparkling white wine - extra dry

750mL, 11.5% Alc. by vol, left at my house after the New Years party

My first thought when drinking this wine was pears! You get an acidic citrus zing and then the taste of pears. Prosecco is made differently than Champagne in that the secondary fermentation (which makes it bubbly) takes place in large tanks before bottling. Champagne gets it's secondary fermentation in the bottles. Because of this, Prosecco is less bubbly than Champagne. I did some research online and this particular Prosecco is available for about $8.50 online. I really enjoyed this wine. I think it would pare well with lemony chicken or white fish. I would definitely get this wine again for a party, and now I am very curious to try other Proseccos.

Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvree "champagne"

On the bottle: Black tie optional. Barefoot required! Barefoot Brut Cuvee California Champagne sparkles with crisp apple flavors, complemented by a clean finish. Our Brut Cuvee Champagne is perfect with fresh fruit, sharp cheese and buttery lobster. Get Barfoot and have a great time!

750mL, 11.5% Alc. by vol, left at my house after the New Years party

I don't normally drink sparkling wines because they aren't my thing, but since we ended up with 3 unopened bottles after the party it looks like I'll get to have a few and do some reviewing. This one was surprisingly crisp and refreshing. It reminded me of granny smith apples. I did some searching online and it seems that you can get this one for about $10. At that price I would most definitely buy this wine again if I ever needed sparkling wine.

Allendorf Rheingau Spätburgunder

On the bottle: "Rheingau Spätburgunder troken 2010"

Rheingau is the region the wine is from, the Rhine district, troken means dry, and Spätburgunder is the varietal, which is the same as Pinot Noir.

250mL, 12.5% Alc. by vol, free from some hotel in Germany

I got this wine from my boyfriend after he returned from a New Years trip to Germany. It was a free gift in his hotel room. At first I felt that it had very little flavor. I had put it in the refrigerator briefly, so I let it warm and breath a bit in the glass. As I drank the last of it I noticed a bit more acidity and an almost smokiness to it. Pinot Noirs do tend to be light or medium bodied, so this could just be a characteristic of this wine. As a freebie wine goes this one was nothing to complain about. I doubt I'll ever see this wine to purchase, but it was a nice drink. I had a few slices of Pink Lady apple with this and that was a great pairing.

David Stone Pinot Noir

On the bottle: David Stone Vineyards focuses on crafting exceptional wines from premium quality grapes grown in some of the most prestigious regions of California. The wines are best known for their quality and authentic varietal character.

This Pinot Noir is crafted to be medium-bodied with ripe cherry aromas, a hint of brown spice and soft tannins. Black cherry and red plum flavors are prominent in this balanced and distinctive wine.

Enjoy this exceptional wine with your favorite creamy pasta, spicy chicken, or grilled salmon.

750mL, 12.5% Alc. by vol., under $10

This wine was left at my house after the New Years party. I don't know where it came from, but a quick Google search led me to posts about this being a wine "under $10". It has very little smell to it, but I am drinking it almost a week after it was opened. It's slightly sweet, but not too sweet, with very little sticky mouth. I like this overall and it makes me want to try more Pinot Noir despite the fact that they have less body than Cabernet. I don't think I'd drink this with anything spicy, but I could see it going well with creamy pasta or a grilled salmon as long as it wasn't too salty or garlicy. I'd drink this again, and maybe buy it if I ever see it in the store

Columbia Crest Two Vines Gewürtztraminer 2006

*NEWS*
After my New Years party I had several partially finished wines to finish off so tonight will be several reviews!

On the bottle: Columbia Crest Gewürtztraminer enjoys a long, cool fermentation to produce a clean, crisp wine with bright acidity and exotic spice highlighted by citrus aromas and flavors.

750mL, 11.5% Alc. by vol., Albertsons, $8.99

I bought this wine because I really enjoyed a Gewürtztraminer I had from Messina Hof. This one was a bit of a let down, though. It tasted very yeasty and that coupled with the spice notes made it unpleasant for me to drink. This could be an off batch, but I'm not sure. I wouldn't buy this wine again,even though it has a low price because I know I can get Messina Hof Gewürtztraminer for a low price and it's much better. I did not bother to pair this with cheeses.

Mobius 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

On the bottle:














750mL, 14.6% Alc. by vol., HEB, $15.98

I bought this wine tonight since I was finishing my review of the Mobius Chardonnay and I really like the idea of drinking all the varietals from one vineyard. I love the dark notes from red wine like this one, it reminds me of blackberries. There is also a spicy finish, but no sticky mouth. I drank this wine with the same two cheeses from the chardonnay. This wine complimented with salty, butteriness of the Saint Andre so well, and it worked with the CheesyGirl Buff too! I could also see this wine working with sharp cheddars, gruyere, aged goudas and more. I think this wine should be paired with foods that are flavorful and not too bland; spicy, salty, and / acidic dishes. I would recommend this wine to friends having a wine and cheese party.

Cheese:

Mobius 2009 Chardonnay

On the bottle:




750mL, 13.8% Alc. by vol., HEB, $17.98

I bought this wine back in August because of the name. It's a good chardonnay, a bit sweet, but with a good acidic zing at the end. I enjoyed it and paired with with CheesyGirl Buff (goat cheese) and Saint Andre (triple cream brie). I think I liked it better with the goat cheese because there was too much contrast with saltiness of the brie. I enjoyed the wine plenty, but I don't think I'd want to pay this much for it again, but that's because I'm a cheapo.

Cheese:

Mer Soleil 2010 Silver

Tasting Notes: Mineral driven nose with citrus shining through. Cement tank fermentation and aging bring out aromas remindful of the first rain of the season or a wet rock. Soft and round entry with an acid backbone informs you these grapes are grown in a cooler climate. Mid palate reveals ripe fruits such as lemons, gooseberry, and grapefruit. Finishes dry while the acid comes and goes in a balanced fashion. Laser sharp minerality carries through from start to finish on both palate and aroma.

750mL, 14.8% Alc. by vol., HEB, $20.99

I bought this wine because it has an interesting ceramic bottle. I normally try to stay under $20, but this was a present to myself for starting a new job. I loved the acidic nature of this wine, it was bright and crisp. I enjoy unoaked chardonnays in general and this one didn't disappoint. I do wish it was cheaper, but I would by it again for a nice occasion or if it goes on sale.

*NEW SECTION!*
Because of my new job at at HEB as a cheese specialist I will start including cheese pairings with my wines. I'll talk about what I ate with it, or what I think might be good with it, but my pairings will by no means be comprehensive.

With this wine I enjoyed some Sage Derby cheese. Derby is a cheddar-like cheese that gets it's green marbling from sage leaves which are mixed in with the curd. Because this cheese worked, I would think most other cheddars would work too. I got Sage Derby at HEB for $11.95/lb.

Hess Select 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

On the bottle: Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced exclusively from family-owned and sustainably-farmed vineyards in the Northern California appellations: Mendocino, Lake and Napa Counties. Our winemaker selected grapes from areas that specialize in Cabernet Sauvignon to create a wine with notable richness, intensity and varietal character. Mendocino County contributes spice and mid-palate, Lake County adds the classic red fruit profile of Bing cherry, while Napa maintains our signature style of a structured wine with black fruit and cassis flavors.

42% Mendocino County - 40% Lake County - 18% Napa County

750mL, 13.5% Alc. by vol., Albertsons, $14.99

I bought this wine because I love Cabernet and I remembered reading a good review about it from this blog. I really enjoyed this wine. I used a little bit in the tomato sauce I used for spaghetti and meatballs tonight, and drank a glass with dinner. The flavors compliment the acidy tomato and hold up well with the beef in the meatballs. There is a spicy finish, which I like, and very little sticky mouth. I would buy this again if it ever goes on sale, my ideal price would be $12 for a bottle.

2003 Le Bourgogne de Louis Latour

Tasting notes from the website: This wine has a clean lemony shimmer and a delicate yet elegantly fruity bouquet rises from the glass with hints of oak. Complimenting the balanced acidity there are nicely detailed flavours of tropical fruits and peaches coming through to give us a wine which could be drunk now but a year or two in bottle would work also. Tasted 23/02/05

750mL, 13% Alc. by vol., Specs, $13.88

I bought this wine because I was at the Specs warehouse store in midtown Houston and thought I could get a really good deal on a white burgundy. Well....

THIS WINE WAS GROSS!!!!

It may have been an off batch and not something common to the brand, but I don't think I'll be buying this again. The cork seemed like it was rotting, I had to put it back in the bottle the other way, because the "wet" side was disintegrating. The wine was too harsh on my pallet and a little sour. I'll stick to the Louis Jadot in the future.

Probability 2007 Napa Valley Red Wine

Tasting notes from HEB: Looking for a deep red wine with flavors of rich ripe fruit and a dry finish? The odds you'll be satisfied with Probability are pretty good. Probability is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. Grapes are handpicked and aged in both French and American oak before bottling and has flavors of ripe red and black fruits such as black currant, raspberries and cherries.

750mL, 14.5% Alc. by vol., HEB, $16.98

I bought this wine mostly because it had a nerdy label. I had previously passed it up and bought the Educated Guess instead because the HEB wine guy said it was the better out of the two. He was right. There is nothing particularly bad about this wine, but for the cost I was expecting it to be better. I even had alot of trouble finding information on this wine online, HEB's website was the only place a Google search could find it, and the company that bottles it doesn't list it on their website. This wine does give a bit of the sticky mouth, but it's still relatively smooth. The flavor is good, but the smell is a bit harsh on the back of your throat. I don't think I would pay for this wine again unless it goes way down in price, but I would drink it again if someone else bought it.

Purple Cowboy Trail Boss 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

On the bottle: Once upon a time in wine country there was a group of young winemakers. They worked hard all week and tasted so much wine their teeth turned purple. On weekends, these same men loved to rodeo. They became known as the "Band of the Purple Cowboys". So the legend goes.

750mL, 13.0% Alc. by vol., HEB, $11.99

I bought this wine because I like Cabernet and the story on the back of the bottle was funny. This wine was good, not amazing, but a solid Cabernet. The flavor was a little bitter, but when drank with dinner that was not a problem. It did start to stain my lips and tongue after less than one glass of wine. I'd buy this wine again if I was going to drink it with a friend who likes red wine and western stuff.