Wine Reviews @ WineEnabler.com

Valtellina Superiore Prestigio Triacca 2001

Michael — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:19:07 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: earthy
Look for at: wine.com

This Italian wine of the Nebbiolo varietal was simply fantastic and showed a deep, ruby color. In the nose, there were aromas of plum and dark cherry, with hints of leather and tobacco. Like many Italian wines, the tannins and mouthfeel were the star of the show, but they were nicely balanced by pleasing acid and the alcohol. The Valtellina Superiore Prestigio is made with late harvested grapes, and the wine was aged for 15 months in barrique followed by 8 months in bottle before release. ($50)

Faiveley Mercurey Domaine de la Croix Jacquelet 2002

Michael — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:16:56 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: earthy
Look for at: wine.com

A Burgundian Pinot Noir from the Appellation Mercurey Controlée, this wine paired very well with mushroom risotto, which was its intended mate. The Faiveley family has produced Burgundian wines for 180 years. This wine was very smartly structured with ripe cherry aromas. In the mouth, the wine was velvety in body and had a nice, tannic mouthfeel. ($23)

Lynmar Russian River Chardonnay 2005

Michael — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:13:48 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: soft
Look for at: wine.com

This is a nice example of a good, but typical, California Chardonnay with oak and butter and a hint of crème brulee, at 14.2% alcohol. I’m not the biggest fan of oaked Chardonnays, and this one didn’t have too much compared to other Chardonnays from California, but it was still a little on the high side for me. Still, this was a very nice wine if it’s your thing. ($30)

Can Feixes Penedes Blanc Seleccio 2006

Michael — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:09:01 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: sleek
Look for at: wine.com

This Spanish wine was a wonderful value and is a blend of native varietals Pardella and Macabeo, with a small amount of Chardonnay to add depth. In the nose, there were aromas of mineral and citrus. It was light-colored and crisp and very nice alone or with seafood/shellfish. A great bargin. ($13)

Las Brisas 2007

Michael — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:06:13 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: crisp
Look for at: wine.com

With this Spanish wine, one word comes to my mind: grapefruit. At 12.5% alcohol and a blend of 50% Verdejo and 50% Sauvignon Blanc and Viura, there was plenty of citrusy acid, with a bit of mousse on top. For me, there was too much grapefruit to really pair well with any food, but if that’s your thing, this wine is fine for the low price. ($10)

Laurenz Singing Gruner Veltliner 2006

Michael — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:02:07 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: sleek
Look for at: wine.com

It “tastes like air” and “breezy as a maypole” were two phrases used to describe this wine by our group, and we all liked it very much. The Gurner Veltliner was a light straw color, with little to no fruit and mineral and air aromas. In the mouth, this 12.5% alcohol wine had a light body with plenty of acid that was fantastic with Canadian Malpaque and Gulf oysters eaten alone (without cocktail sauce). This is a great buy and highly recommended. ($12)

Loredan Gasparini Prosecco

Michael — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:58:05 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: bubbles
Look for at: wine.com

This very nice Prosecco was a great buy that had aromas of light, white fruit. It was extremely refreshing, and at 11% alcohol, its abundant acid made it the perfect pair for our Canadian Malpaque and Gulf oysters eaten on the half-shell. The plentiful bubbles lightened up the fresh seafood and was killer with the horseradish-laden cocktail sauce. Try it if you see it. ($15)

Toffoli Prosecco di Conegliano

Neil — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:14:00 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: sparkling
Look for at: wine.com

Prosecco is starting to give other sparklers a run for their money, and this wine from Toffoli is an excellent example of why this is happening. Toffoli’s Prosecco is a light and refreshing wine with citrus fruit and plenty of mouth watering acidity. Proseccos are made for drinking, and this Prosecco had us doing just that. ($15)

Elk Cove Winery 2007 Pinot Gris

Neil — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:07:22 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: soft
Look for at: wine.com

This is one of the best white wines that I have tried this year. Starting out with a nose full of lemon mousse, pears, apples, and honey, this Oregon wine does not stop. This is a medium bodied wine with a creamy texture, balanced by just the right amount of acid. I love Pinot Gris, and this offering from Elk Cove is not to be missed. ($19)

Joseph Drouhin 2002 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

Neil — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:01:02 +0000

Our rating:
Wine 101 style: earthy
Look for at: wine.com

Joseph Drouhin is one of my favorite Burgundy makers. Year in year out, he produces good/great wines, and many of his 1er Cru wines can be relatively good values. Drouhin’s 2002 Chambolle-Musigny is an excellent example. Showing plenty of damp earth and red fruit, the wine unfolded for most of the evening. In the mouth, this wine was well-balanced with red fruit, very fine tannin, and just the right amount of acid. I loved this wine, and it was the red wine winner for our pairing party.