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Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $10
Producer: R Wines
Region & Country: Eastwood, Australia
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: Tasting
Place & Date Purchased: World Market, Evanston, IL - 10/26/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/28/2008
*Shrimp pasta in a white cream sause
Appearance: Brilliant, pale gold; light bodied
Nose: Light & clean scent; green apple
Taste: Fruity & light; sweet
Finish: Creamy, yet slightly tart; taste lingers
Overall Impression: This is another fun Halloween wine that you can bring to a party. Although, I wouldn't mind drinking it year round as well. So I guess Pure Evil is not just for Halloween anymore. This Chardonnay had a great flavor. It was okay with the food.
Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $9
Producer: Vampire Vineyards
Region & Country: Creston, California, USA
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: World Market, Evanston, IL - 10/26/2008
Place & Date Tasted: The home of Dr. Lawrence Swain and wife, Mrs. Erika Swain - 10/26/2008
** A little after dinner wine.
Appearance: Garnet, slightly cloudy; lot of legs
Nose: Light; Red cherry and plum
Taste: Black cherry; Erika noted that she tasted a "hint of celery." This could be true, but I think it's also fair to note that Erika had a cold.
Finish: Slightly dry and the taste lingers
Overall Impression: This wine is good for a seasonal thing. For example: If you go to a wild Halloween party with over 15 people, bring this wine. If you are having a dinner party with friends, don't bring this wine. It will not impress very much. It's a good wine, but I have had so much better for the same price.
Overall Rating: 83/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $16
Producer: Francis Coppola - Diamond Collection
Region & Country: Geyserville, California, USA
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: Dominick's Grocery, Chicago, IL - 10/26/2008
Place & Date Tasted: The home of Dr. Lawrence Swain and wife, Mrs. Erika Swain - 10/26/2008
Dinner: Lasagna with pork, beef, onion, carrot and cheese. Delicious!
Appearance: Brilliant, clear, corn silk color
Nose: Clean with the scent of pears; Very light scent
Taste: Sweet, but in a good way; crisp, light
Finish: Very light acidity; the taste slightly lingers
Overall Impression: This wine went well with the dinner, but it was so flavorful that I would actually like to try it by itself. Larry & Erika both said that they would definitely try it again! I have always liked the Francis Coppola's from before and this one is no different. It's right up there with a great, crisp & clean taste.
Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Kraemer Family / Etude Wines
Region & Country: Napa, California, USA
Grape Variety: Red Table Wine - Zinfadel 45%, Petite Sirah 21%, Primitivo 18%, Barbera 9% and Tempranillo 7%
Recommended By: Wine Club
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 10/08/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/24/2008
Dinner: Various cheeses & bad weather :(
Appearance: Brilliant with a gleaming reddish-purple; medium bodied
Nose: Oak, cherry and spices; medium bouquet
Taste: Cherry and spices flavor; it has a good sweetness
Finish: Very acidic and dry. Flavor lingers.
Overall Impression: The wine was good straight out of the bottle, but the aerator brought out its full rich flavors. I liked this wine, but can't say that I loved it. I think it would be good with spicy food. I really did like the sweetness of the cherry flavors.
Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $10
Producer: St. Lucas Winery
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Malbec
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 10/08/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/21/2008
Dinner: Steak w/ portobello mushrooms and salad
Appearance: Brown-raspberry red, low-medium, clear
Nose: Long lasting, berry, bold and powerful
Taste: Berries, chocolate, rich and full flavor
Finish: A little dry but not very acidic; taste lingers a little
Overall Impression: This is a great Malbec. I have had better, but for this price you can't go wrong. It was bold and delicious. I liked it with food, but I'm sure it could stand alone.
Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $16
Producer: Vina Santa Alicia
Region & Country: Maipo Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 10/08/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/16/2008
Appearance: Brilliant pale gold; light bodied
Nose: Fruity - apples and pears; aroma is clean and strong
Taste: Sweet, clean and crisp; a little buttery
Finish: Apple finish, sweet, low acidity, lingers
Overall Impression: KB's Chardonnay is a great medium wine that does not overpower with sweetness or tartness. It's just the right amount on every side. A "just right" white, if you will.
Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $15
Producer: Bodegas Rozam S.L.
Region & Country: LaRoda (Albacette), Spain
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Recommended By: Wine Tasting at WineStyles
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 08/08/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/14/2008
Dinner: Various cheeses
**Note: On the back label of this wine, it notes that to better enjoy this wine, you should chill it to about 68F degrees. The label is temperature sensitive and will outline the figure on the front will have a blue outline when perfect, as shown in the picture. We tried it chilled.
Appearance: Medium, Shiny reddish-purple
Nose: Cherry, other berries, sweet with traces of vanilla
Taste: Oakey, some spices
Finish: Acidic, tart, slightly dry
Overall Impression: In the war of COLD vs. WARM... Warm is definitely the winner here. When you let this wine warm back down, all the flavors come in. I would definitely try this wine both ways to see which one you like, but for me it's warm.
Overall Rating: 85/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars
Is the name long enough for everyone? Just checking in...
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $10
Producer: Domaine de la Petite Cassagne
Region & Country: Rhone, France
Grape Variety: Viognier - White Table Wine
Recommended By: Tasting at LUSH Wine & Spirits
Place & Date Purchased: LUSH Wine & Spirits, Chicago, IL - 09/28/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/08/2008
Dinner: Salmon, steak and hummus
Appearance: Gold, full bodied
Nose: Sweet, pear, citrus, medium scent
Taste: Mildly sweet, crisp, apples
Finish: Lingers slightly, but in a good way; sweet
Overall Impression: This white was delicious! It was just a great white that you definitely want to try and that I would definitely get again. It is not too sweet and not too dry. It's just right.
Overall Rating: 93/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $10
Producer: Louis Dressner Selection
Region & Country: Languedoc, France
Grape Variety: Red Table Wine (Syrah, Carignane & Grenache blend) Recommended By: Erika & Larry Swain - First tasted it over at their house.
Place & Date Purchased: LUSH Wine & Spirits, Chicago, IL - 09/28/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/07/2008
Dinner: Various cheeses and salami
Appearance: Clear, ruby red; medium bodied
Nose: Very little fruit, hot, some spices.
Taste: Hot, pepper. I have actually read people reporting the taste of olives. I think the wine was too hot to taste olives.
Finish: Lingers for a long time; acidic
Overall Impression: The first time I tried with wine with Erika & Larry, I didn't mind the taste. It was good. This might have been a bad bottle though. Overall, it was very hot, even after I had aerated it. There was very little fruit taste. It was just an average wine.
Overall Rating: 82/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars
"You must be my Lucky Star!" Oh, Madonna. This is your wine. You start off hot and then you end all slightly dry.
Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $20
Producer: Lucky Star
Region & Country: Graton, California, USA
Grape Variety: Petite Sirah
Recommended By: Wine Club
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 09/07/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/03/2008
Appearance: Low-Medium bodied; purplish-red; dark & cloudy
Nose: Powerful; hot and fruity
Taste: Smooth, slightly dry and has hints of raspberry
Finish: Slightly dry; fruit lingers
Overall Impression: I tried it as is and it was very hot. It was so much better after aerating. It was fruity, a little light and smooth after that. I believe the finish is the best part of this Lucky Star's flavor.
Overall Rating: 87/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2007
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