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.