Wine Reviews @ WineEnabler.com

Luigi Righetti 2005 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Campolieti Ripasso

Michael — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:29:42 +0000

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

I got this wine to go with the spaghetti I made tonight, and I was reminded how much I love a Ripasso. This one was good, not great, and with my tomato dish, the strong acid and dense red fruit was a nice companion. The earthy nose was better than the sharp mouth, but more complex tannins and a slightly softer taste would have pushed this wine a few notches higher for me. But for $13, it wasn’t a bad buy, and I’d get it again – unless there was another Ripasso for the same price I hadn’t yet tried. ($13)

Koster-Wolf Weingut 2007 Riesling Trocken

Michael — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:18:30 +0000

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

At $11 a liter — yes, yes, yes! This Riesling is a great value wine during these hard times, and it is a good table wine. At 12% alcohol, this is an acidic, not sweet, Riesling that would pair well with seafood, shellfish, or light meats. With citrus notes that are not too overpowering, I’m drinking it with turkey burgers tonight, but I would also enjoy it without food on the front porch. ($11)

Flat Creek Estate 2007 Muscato Blanco

Neil — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:17:46 +0000

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

Made from the Muscat Blanc grape, the 2007 Muscato Blanco is an outstanding offering of this varietal. With an overpowering nose of flowers, peaches, and apricots, I could sniff this wine all day. In the mouth, this is a lively wine with fruit and flowers competing for your attention in this light bodied, delightful summer wine. ($16)

Flat Creek Estate 2006 Shiraz

Neil — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:14:59 +0000

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

Even though the Nabers have adopted the Aussie spelling for their wine, the 2006 Shiraz is not quite as bold or over the top as the name might suggest. The 2006 from Flat Creek is a blend of 75% Shiraz and 25% Tempranillo, and the Tempranillo contributes aromas and flavors of plums and leather to the cherry notes brought by the Shiraz. The wine also displays toasted barrel aromas, such as mocha and coffee, on top of this medium-full bodied wine. ($22)

Flat Creek Estate 2006 Super Texan

Neil — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:11:06 +0000

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

With a name developed as a play on the copyrighted Italian wine moniker, Super Tuscan, Flat Creek Estate’s own Super Texan is a Sangiovese based blend that offers real varietal character. Opening with cherry, smoke, leather, and a little black olive, this wine is all Sangiovese. In the mouth the wine sticks to its Sangiovese backbone with dark, dried fruit, leather, and very fine grained tannin. This wine is definitely food friendly and would be welcome accompaniment for grilled meat or tomato based pasta dishes. ($20)

Joe Blow 2005 California White

Michael — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:06:10 +0000

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

Having recently tried the Joe Blow 2005 California Red wine, I can say that I like Joe Blow Wine Cellars — they make nice blends. The Joe Blow 2005 White is comprised of Chardonnay, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Chardonnay and Viognier provide a nice medium to medium-full body and hold the touch of oak well, while the Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc provide some nice acid and bring it back into a sleek wine style. With a bit of an exotic floral nose, the acid in the mouth make this wine enjoyable with or without food. ($12)

Sea Smoke 2006 Ten Pinot Noir

Neil — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:54:49 +0000

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

Of the three Pinots that Sea Smoke makes, I have always preferred Ten. The 2006 has a great nose of cherries and blackberries, with notes of toasted oak. This is a full bodied wine with lots of muscular fruit on top of silky tannins with a little dust thrown in. I think the 2006 Ten is a great cocktail and contemplation wine, if you have the money. ($75)

Sea Smoke 2006 Southing Pinot Noir

Neil — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:51:09 +0000

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

Located in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA in Santa Barbara County, California, Sea Smoke Vineyards specializes in making monster Pinot Noirs. By using ripe grapes, cold water soaks, extended maceration — the whole nine yards so to speak — they typically succeed. I have enjoyed Sea Smoke Southing in the past, and the 2006 is not bad wine… it is just not great. With a nose of spicy ripe fruit (not over ripe) and sage, the wine promises a little more than it delivers. In the mouth, the wine shows red and black berries and dusty tannins, but it lacks some of the body necessary to carry its 14+% alcohol. I still keep an eye out for Sea Smoke wines, but their price to value ratio is getting rather large. ($60)

Mas de Bazan 2007 Rosado

Neil — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:38:59 +0000

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

This rosé from Valencia came home with me for two reasons. First, the wine is made from Bobal, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bobal is yet another grape in my quest for membership in De Long’s Wine Century Club. Second, the wine was recommended by my good friend Michael (not the Michael of this website) at Central Market. I can now add a third reason, it is a good rosé. With a pleasant nose of watermelon and plums and a mouth full of light red fruit and watermelon, this is a summer wine. It paired well with grilled quail. ($11)

Koster-Wolf Weingut 2007 Huxelrebe Kabinett

Neil — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:39:46 +0000

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

This is the first wine that I have tasted that was made from the Huxelrebe grape, but the Koster-Wolf family has been at it since 1684 and the 11th generation is currently in charge. The 2007 Huxelrebe Kabinett opens with a nose of spice and herbs with some green apple (the nose reminds me of Gewurztraminer). This is a light bodied wine with only 9.5% alcohol, but it still packs plenty of spice, green apple, and acid in every swallow. This wine would go well with pork cooked with Calvados. ($15)