The study of wine is known as Oenology...but I'm too busy drinking to study. So, I choose Winography. I drink it and then I tell you what I drank. Enjoy my drinking...
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
I grew up in the south and I still like to consider myself a "southern girl." Oh yes, American by birth, yet Southern by the grace of God. I now live up north where the people talk funny and wear shoes. Just kidding.
I really would like to say that I'm a simple kind of girl, but my friends usually disagree by telling me how horrible I am and how complicated I can be. That's why they love me, or so I've been told.
Vintage: 2007
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