WINOGRAPHY

VINA ROBLES - WHITE4

2010-03-18T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $15
Producer: Vina Robles
Region & Country: San Miguel, California
Grape Variety: White Wine (Verdelho 41%; Vermentino 26%; Sauvignon Blanc 22%; Viognier 11%)
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 9/10/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 3/18/2010

Appearance: Clear with a tinge of yellow; brilliant clear and shines; full-bodied
Nose: Light, full floral scent, apple & lemon; creamy
Taste: Bold, full-flavor; creamy; fair taste of lemon; creamy tartness
Finish: Lingers sweet with lemon
Overall Impression: Fresh white, but still a little tart. Unfortunately, this wine did not pair well with spicy food. It is definitely creamy though and a great blend, but it tends to be a bit average. Nothing really stuck out that made it better than others I've had.

Overall Rating: 88/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

THE WOLFTRAP - ROSE

2010-03-06T22:00:00.006-06:00

Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $15
Producer: Boekenhoutskloof
Region & Country: Franschhoek, South Africa
Grape Variety: Rosé (Syrah 75%; Cinsault 15%; Grenache Noir 10%)
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 7/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 3/16/2010

Appearance: Watered down cranberry juice; full-bodied
Nose: Non-candy sour apple scent; sweet floral scents
Taste: Sweet with a sour side; acidic citrus; tart
Finish: Sweetness lingers
Overall Impression: First, I have to admit that I'm not a fan of Rosé wines...not even at a wedding. This one was too tart for my liking. It wasn't very flavorful to begin with and I thought it would get better. You know how I feel about "critter wines." If it has an animal on it, it probably will taste different.
Overall Rating: 75/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

BAGLIO DI PIANETTO - FICILIGNO

2010-01-25T22:00:00.002-06:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $18
Producer: Baglio Di Pianetto
Region & Country: Sicily, Italy
Grape Variety: Ficiligno (Viognier 50% / Insolia 50%)
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 7/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/30/2009

Appearance: Very light in color; full-bodied; color similar to the pulp of a lemon
Nose: Smells ashy like champagne; chalk, apple, floral
Taste: Sweeter than the scent; lots of sweet fruit flavor; slightly acidic with a vague champagne taste
Finish: Dry, but the sweetness lingers in a good way
Overall Impression: If you have never liked champagnes that much, but enjoy a white wine, this is for you. The smell, color and some taste is exactly like a champagne, but without the bubbles! It also has a yummy sweetness and not that ashy taste that most champagnes tend to have.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

STEELHEAD - ZINFANDEL

2009-12-20T22:00:00.001-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Quivira Vineyards
Region & Country: Sonoma, California, USA
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Recommended By: Wineclub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 2/2/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 12/20/2009

Appearance: Full-bodied; Glossy, purple-red
Nose: Black and raspberry; oak, tobacco and spices
Taste: Smooth and juicy; raspberry, oak and spices
Finish: Lingers and dry
Overall Impression: I thought after smelling this wine that it was going to be much bolder and spicier. Yes, there was a great bold aroma, but the taste was very smooth. This was a great Zin. I love when wines surprise me!

Overall Rating: 93/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

AIGLE NOIR - RED BLEND

2009-12-03T22:00:00.001-06:00

Vintage: 2003
Price Range: $13
Producer: Remhoogte Estate
Region & Country: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa
Grape Variety: Red Blend (57% Cabernet Sauvignon; 40% Merlot; 3% Pinotage)
Recommended By: Dean Noonan @ WineStyles

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 12/3/2009

Appearance: Dark cherry red; Full-bodied
Nose: Cherry, oak and vanilla
Taste: Spicy cherry, vanilla and oak; layered tastes
Finish: Cherry comes through more; lingers warmly on the throat
Overall Impression: This blend has a familiar flavor, as if I have drank it before. Despite being average, it's still pretty delicious. It has a nice spice and boldness on top of its great fruit flavor.

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

BLACK BERET - GRENACHE SYRAH

2009-11-04T22:00:00.001-06:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $12
Producer: Celliers Jean d'Alibert
Region & Country: Languedoc, France
Grape Variety: Grenache Syrah (85% Grenache; 20% Syrah)
Recommended By: Maggie Noonan @ WineStyles

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 8/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 11/4/2009

Appearance: Deep, dark blood red; Light-medium bodied
Nose: Easy berries and heavy spices; oak, deep cherry and blackberry
Taste: Juicy, bold flavor; smooth going down; taste of cherry and oak
Finish: Vanilla and a little oak; lingers softly
Overall Impression: This was a great, smooth wine! I loved how it had bold flavors with a clean taste and finish. This was also a great stand-alone wine. I would bring for a party or present it for a wine tasting.

Overall Rating: 95/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

VINA ROBLES - RED4

2009-10-21T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $15
Producer: Vina Robles Winery & Vineyards
Region & Country: San Miguel, California, USA
Grape Variety: Red Blend (51% Petite Sirah; 43% Syrah; 4% Tannat; 2% Touriga)
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 9/10/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 10/21/2009

Appearance: Deep, dark purple; full-bodied; dyes the glass
Nose: Plum, lavender, earthy spices
Taste: Deep earth and oak flavor; mocha; bold flavor
Finish: Slightly dry; lemon zest; does not linger long
Overall Impression: This blend had a lovely scent and a wonderful bold flavor! Actually, the aroma and the taste do not match at all, but it's still quite delicious.

Overall Rating: 93/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

VINA GORMAZ - TEMPRANILLO

2009-10-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Ribera Del Duero
Region & Country: Soria, Spain
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 10/8/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/16/2009

Appearance: Dull, garnet red; full-bodied; leaves the sugar residue on the sides of the glass
Nose: Some cherry and berry aromas, but has a "barnyard" stench to it
Taste: Some berries, vanilla and a metal flavor
Finish: Little dry; more metal taste once it settles
Overall Impression: Unfortunately, after tasting the metal in the wine more than the berry flavors, and the smell of the wine after opened, I'm starting to think that this bottle took a turn for the worse. I can taste those delicious vanilla and berry flavors trying to come through, but I think I waited a little too long to drink this wine.

Overall Rating: 83/100
Overall Value: ** / 5 Stars

PROLOGUE - CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2009-10-12T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $28
Producer: Conn Valley Vineyards
Region & Country: St. Helena, California, USA
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/9/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 10/12/2009

Appearance: Deep dark red-purple; full-bodied
Nose: Slightly hot at first; rich berry scent with cherry
Taste: Light, average-plain; berry taste, but slightly watered down; tastes a little like sugar-free grape Kool-Aid
Finish: Lingers slightly, but lightly; light juicy sweetness
Overall Impression: I like to find wines that can stand alone or be paired with food. This wine is definitely a dinner wine. I really wouldn't want it alone. It has a good palate cleanser and a lot of great berry scents, but it still has that mild grape Kool-Aid flavor that really threw me off. It's just average to me.

Overall Rating: 88/100
Overall Value: ** / 5 Stars

ANTU NINQUEN - RED BLEND

2009-10-06T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $25
Producer: Ninquen Mountain Estate Vineyard
Region & Country: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Red Blend (70% Cabernet Sauvignon; 30% Carmenere)
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/5/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 10/6/2009

Appearance: Full-bodied; Deep red or blood red
Nose: Cherry, raspberry, oak, a little licorice; smells very rich
Taste: Bold, yet acidic; has some spice to it; earthy
Finish: Very powerful oak, vanilla and berries; lingers
Overall Impression: I rarely come across a wine where the best part is the finish. Usually, it's impressing from the get-go, but this wine had all the best flavors in its finish. You get reunited with the aromas you caught before. I also loved the boldness of this wine.

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

CONO SUR - VIOGNIER

2009-09-26T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $13
Producer: Cono Sur (Wine Maker - Adolfo Hurtado)
Region & Country: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Viognier
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 8/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 9/26/2009
Dinner: Baked chicken breast w/ vegetables

Appearance: Brilliant, pale yellow-gold; full-bodied
Nose: Pear, apple, a little bit of peach and honey; light on the nose
Taste: Clean, crisp taste; a nice taste of lemon, but cleansing
Finish: Slightly acidic and lingers; somewhat creamy
Overall Impression: Although I had this with a seasoned chicken breast (and it was so paired deliciously), I'm betting this white would be wonderful with some spicy food. The taste is so cleansing, cooling and fresh that it would be a great wash over the spiciness. This is also definitely a summer wine!

Overall Rating: 93/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

WHITE HAVEN - SAUVIGNON BLANC

2009-09-22T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $20
Producer: White Haven Wine Company
Region & Country: Malborough, New Zealand
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Recommended By: Wine Tasting

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/14/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 9/22/2009

Appearance: Pale gold and full-bodied
Nose: Peaches, grapefruit, pears and honey
Taste: Grapefruit and lemon; has a creaminess and sweet crispness
Finish: Creamy with an herb finish; lingers slightly
Overall Impression: This Sauvignon Blanc is probably one of the best I have ever had...for now, of course. It has a great balance of fruit, sweetness and creaminess. The herb finish is also very nice!

Overall Rating: 96/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

DOS LOMOS - CHARDONNAY

2009-09-15T22:00:00.004-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $15
Producer: Bodega Esmeralda
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 9/12/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 9/15/2009
Dinner: Scallop & Vegi Pasta

Appearance: Brilliant yellow-gold; full-bodied
Nose: Rich floral scent; hint of olive juice
Taste: Earthy, feels salty like a dirty martini; at first, there seemed to be no fruit taste, but there seemed to be a little hint of grapefruit
Finish: Hot burn, but hints of creaminess; slightly salty with a hint of fruit
Overall Impression: To be honest, I was a little thrown off by this Chardonnay. I think maybe it's because it tastes more to me like a mixed drink than a white wine. It's a little harsh than what I expected. So, if you are looking for one potent white wine, this one is your match. I must say that the bottle is absolutely interesting and I think that's how they suck you into buying this one.

Overall Rating: 86/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

CLARA C - PROSECCO

2009-09-13T10:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: ~
Price Range: $15
Producer: Clara Carpene
Region & Country: Valdobbiadene, Italy
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 9/12/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 9/13/2009

Appearance: Lots of bubbles; full-bodied and pale gold
Nose: Floral with tropical fruit scents; slight scent of peach and pineapple
Taste: Very light and clean; there are hints of tropical fruits and you can taste the pineapple; good amount of bubbles - not harsh
Finish: Soft perfume on the palate; slightly creamy
Overall Impression: You gotta love a wonderful Prosecco and this was definitely one of them. It was very exotic with the tropical tastes and scents. It was delicious with a great finish.

Overall Rating: 95/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

SEGHESIO - ZINFANDEL

2009-09-05T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $26
Producer: Seghesio Family Vineyard
Region & Country: Healdsburg, California, USA
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Recommended By: Christmas gift from Anne Mansfield

Place & Date Purchased: Christmas Gift, Chicago, IL - 12/24/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 9/5/2009

Appearance: Full-bodied; Dark, blood red
Nose: Mixed berries, faint sweet jam scent and a rose scent
Taste: Rich, bold and full flavored; sweet, but not sugary; matured berries
Finish: So smooth with lots of fruit flavors
Overall Impression: Anne sure impressed with this gift. Sure, it took me nine months till I drank it, but it was well worth the wait. This Zinfandel was awesome! It was a great wine from beginning to end. With this bold flavor, I could almost taste it with steak. But it can definitely hold its own if you want to drink it by itself.

Overall Rating: 97/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

ROSE VALLEY WINERY - SAUVIGNON BLANC

2009-08-25T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $20
Producer: Rose Valley Winery
Region & Country: Graton, California, USA
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 8/3/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 8/25/2009
Dinner: Scallops, various cheeses and french bread

Appearance: Brilliant, pale gold; very clean and light-bodied
Nose: Strong lemon, apple, pear, honey and floral scent
Taste: Sweet honey taste with hints of apple and pear; clean and crisp
Finish: Taste more fruit in finish; lingers slightly, but clean
Overall Impression: This wine was delicious with the scallops. I'm a huge fan! This is got to be the best summer because it's just so fruitful and light. You will love the clean and crisp taste. It just cleans your mouth.

Overall Rating: 96/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

AGUSTINOS - CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2009-08-21T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2000
Price Range: $10
Producer: Agustinos Estate Vineyard
Region & Country: Cachapoal Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: Alpha Food, Liquor & Gifts - Chicago, IL - 5/15/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 8/21/2009

Appearance: Very dark red - almost black; very cloudy; full-bodied
Nose: Berry jam scent, but somewhat hot
Taste: Some berries, somewhat sour and heavy
Finish: Dry and lingers slightly; the finish is the best part
Overall Impression: So I took a chance by purchasing this wine. The bottle many have not been touched for quite some time. Plus, I'm suspicious that there may have been a little cork rot. I just needed to let this one breathe... a lot! Seriously! I wasn't very impressed by it. It was just way too sour and very hot even after I gave it plenty of time to breathe.

Overall Rating: 70/100
Overall Value: * / 5 Stars

CLAYHOUSE VINEYARD - ADOBE WHITE

2009-08-18T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $19
Producer: Clayhouse Vineyard
Region & Country: San Miguel, California, USA
Grape Variety: Adobe White (34% Chenin Blanc, 17% Chardonnay, 16% Roussanne, 11% Viognier)
Recommended By: Wine Tasting

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/31/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 8/18/2009
Dinner: Various cheeses and crackers

Appearance: Light, almost white gold; full-bodied
Nose: Sweet scent like peaches and honey; very floral
Taste: Sweet, smooth and clean; tastes very floral with honey
Finish: Creamy and sweet; the sweetness also lingers
Overall Impression: Awesome! Even though I had it with the cheese and crackers, I know this would be a great stand-alone wine. It's the perfect combination of white grapes. It's the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess.

Overall Rating: 96/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

GRANROJO - TEMPRANILLO

2009-08-13T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $11
Producer: Bodegas Navarro-Lopez
Region & Country: Spain
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/9/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 8/13/2009

Appearance: Black, cherry red; medium-full bodied; opaque
Nose: Jam fruit, cherry, chocolate, slightly hot
Taste: Sweet berries (cherry) with acidic wash; bold but with a light texture
Finish: Dry, but causes tongue to water creating a jammy after-taste
Overall Impression: The acidity isn't so bad once you have a few tastes. The berries and jam begins to show more. I thought that this was a little sugary though. Also, you might want to drink it within 24 hours. I corked it well and after a couple days went to have a glass... Yuck. You could smell the vinegar. So, drink fast, Kids.

Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

DOMAINE DE GOURNIER - VIOGNIER

2009-08-09T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $13
Producer: Domain De Gournier
Region & Country: Saint Anastasie, France
Grape Variety: Viognier
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 8/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: First wine at the new apartment! - 8/9/2009

Appearance: Very bright, yet brilliant, golden yellow; medium-bodied
Nose: Sweet, tart green apples with a crispness
Taste: Crisp and sweet green apples with a creamy texture
Finish: Slightly creamy with a lingering tartness - not a bad tartness
Overall Impression: I think this Viognier would be better with food, like simple cheeses and bread, but it was still delicious. I would actually like to try it with some scallops or in a white sauce, or sitting on the back porch during the afternoon with some snacks. I think this would be the perfect snack white.

Overall Rating: 93/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

STAGS' LEAP - VIOGNIER

2009-07-30T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $25
Producer: Stags' Leap Winery
Region & Country: Napa, California, USA
Grape Variety: Viognier
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 7/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/30/2009

Appearance: Very light in color; full-bodied; color similar to the pulp of a lemon
Nose: Smells ashy like champagne; chalk, apple, floral
Taste: Sweeter than the scent; lots of sweet fruit flavor; slightly acidic with a vague champagne taste
Finish: Dry, but the sweetness lingers in a good way
Overall Impression: If you have never liked champagnes that much, but enjoy a white wine, this is for you. The smell, color and some taste is exactly like a champagne, but without the bubbles! It also has a yummy sweetness and not that ashy taste that most champagnes tend to have.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

COLDSTREAM HILLS - PINOT NOIR

2009-07-25T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $20
Producer: Coldstream Hills Winery
Region & Country: Coldstream, Australia
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Recommended By: WineClub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 3/2/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/25/2009

Appearance: Deep, glossy purple; light-bodied
Nose: Over-ripened berries and some spices; there is an unpleasant smell of something, but I can't quite put my finger on it
Taste: Sweet, almost sour fruit; starts of tasting juicy
Finish: Dries up and acidic; the sweetness lingers with a hint of ash
Overall Impression: This was definitely not the best Pinot Noir I've had, but I would say it's pretty average. Christie couldn't say anything when she tasted it because she informed me that she was going to gag. I wasn't that dramatic about it. I think the sourness of the fruit seems to throw off the taste.

Overall Rating: 85/100
Overall Value: ** / 5 Stars

BITCH - GRENACH

2009-07-24T22:00:00.003-05:00

Oh my! Excuse my language!

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $20
Producer: R Wines
Region & Country: Eastwood, Australia
Grape Variety: Grenache
Recommended By: Easter Gift from Erika Swain

*Nothing says "Happy Easter" than presenting someone with a bottle

Place & Date Purchased: The Swain's, Chicago, IL - 4/12/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/24/2009

Appearance: Glossy, slightly translucent and yet cloudy; full-bodied
Nose: Strawberry jam and cherries; strong fruit scent
Taste: Sweet berry taste that has a juicy smoothness at first and then also has a spicy kick to it
Finish: Dry, lingers and slightly acidic
Overall Impression: When I was presented this wine, I seriously didn't know what to expect. After tasting it, I loved it. After discussing with Erika that I loved it, she was surprised. She said that when she had it, it tasted like "wine and cigarettes" to her. So, I'm wondering if the following is the reason:
A) Our taste buds are completely different
B) She was probably smoking cigarettes while drinking it
C) She had a bad bottle

It could be a number of things. Here's another thing I'm pondering. If it was so bad, why was she giving it to me? Erika, you got some 'splaining to do. But I thought that this was a fantastic Grenache! I loved the boldness and the finish. I loved how it smelled like jam, but it didn't taste like it. And for the price, you can't go wrong.

Overall Rating: 96/100
Overall Value: ***** / 5 Stars

WITHINGTON - CHARDONNAY

2009-07-23T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $13
Producer: Withington Vineyards
Region & Country: Western Cape, South Africa
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: Dean w/ Winestyles

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/23/2009

Appearance: Brilliant, light and pale gold; full-bodied
Nose: Artificial lemon (like lemonade), perfume and oak
Taste: Lemon, yet some lime; a little creamy; earth and oak; light on the tongue
Finish: Lingers; you can taste a powerful amount of alcohol - a warm burn
Overall Impression: This was a different type of Chardonnay. I found it more average than others, but definitely not in a bad way. This wine definitely had more citrus than creaminess, but overall had a great taste.

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

BULLY HILL - SEYVAL BLANC

2009-07-19T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: N/A
Price Range: $9
Producer: Bully Hill Vineyards
Region & Country: Hammondsport, NY, USA
Grape Variety: Seyval Blanc
Recommended By: A gift from Erika & Larry Swain

Place & Date Purchased: The Swain's Home, Chicago, IL - 11/24/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/19/2009
Dinner: Ropa Vija Sandwich (extremely spicy...I thought I was going to die.)

Appearance: Bright, pale yellow; light-bodied
Nose: Light & sweet; apple, pears and honey
Taste: Sweet, creamy and light honey taste; fair green apple
Finish: Lingers slightly with a good sweetness
Overall Impression: Yum Yum very good! When you look at the bottle, it describes it as a dry wine. I really didn't think it was as dry as the "meter" on the bottle said. I do believe this would be a better stand-alone wine. Once I finished that sandwich and got the burn out of my mouth, the wine was so much better. I love that the texture is creamy and smooth! It was a wonderful simple wine.

Overall Rating: 95/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

SIMONSIG - BRUT ROSE

2009-07-13T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $22
Producer: Simonsig
Region & Country: Koelenhof, South Africa
Grape Variety: Brut Rose (Pinotage, 90%; Pinot Noir, 10%)
Recommended By: Wineclub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 12/8/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/13/2009

Appearance: Dark pink; very bubbly
Nose: Slight fruit with a little grapefruit scent
Taste: Sweet with tangy bubbles; slightly acidic
Finish: Sweet and smooth aftertaste
Overall Impression: This was a great sparkling wine. It didn't have an overpowering sweetness or that ashy taste that some others get. This was more of a dessert bubbly.

Overall Rating: 87/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

BLACKSTONE - CHARDONNAY

2009-07-05T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $12
Producer: Blackstone Winery
Region & Country: Napa Valley, California, USA
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: Dominick's Grocery, Chicago, IL - 4/25/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/5/2009

Appearance: Pale gold; clean and brilliant; full-bodied
Nose: Green apples and sweet perfume; some herbs
Taste: Sweet and crisp, greet apples; hint of pear; perfume and floral
Finish: Lingers with a creaminess and a good slight tartness
Overall Impression: I think this is the nice summer wine that you can bring to a party on a beach. It's very casual and not pricey. It just haves a summer flavor to it with the flowers and fruit. The crisp taste and sweet goodness makes it a very nice Chardonnay.

Overall Rating: 87/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

MOSBY - DOLCETTO

2009-07-01T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $23
Producer: Mosby Winery
Region & Country: Buellton, California
Grape Variety: Dolcetto
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/31/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/1/2009

Appearance: Deep, cherry red; full-bodied
Nose: Vibrant, smells juicy, cherry, candy apple sweet
Taste: Juicy cherry; huge burst of fruit, but with a lite texture
Finish: Lingers smoothly with sweetness on the tongue
Overall Impression: This Dolcetto definitely goes right up there with some of the other great Cabs & Malbecs I have tried. The explosion of fruit boldness is something I love most about reds, but it is so lite. It is not heavy, so it seems like the perfect summer, stand alone wine. It actually has a delicious, mouth-watering flavor.

Overall Rating: 97/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

GASCON - MALBEC

2009-06-30T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $12
Producer: Don Miguel Gascon
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Malbec
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/30/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/30/2009

Appearance: Deep, dark purple; opaque and medium-bodied
Nose: Black berries, white pepper, spices, little cinnamon & mocha, cherry
Taste: Bold taste of black berry & cherry; slightly dry
Finish: Lasting taste of bitter mocha
Overall Impression: The aroma of this Malbec is much more enticing than its taste, yet it still has a great, juicy bold flavor of fruit.

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

LES JAMELLES - CHARDONNAY

2009-06-25T22:00:00.002-05:00

Greetings. I don't know about you, but when someone dies that is usually a big star, I usually want to have a toast to their memories. Today, Farrah Fawcett & Michael Jackson both passed away. I wish when I was toasting them that I had picked out a better wine...

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $12
Producer: Les Jamelles Winery
Region & Country: Marseillette, France
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/9/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/25/2009

Appearance: Light, but bright yellow; clean and medium-bodied
Nose: Bananas, over-ripened melons, tart perfume scent
Taste: Slight banana, almost like the banana flavored Runts candy; average - nothing really stands out
Finish: Warm, lingers; aftertaste is ashy and not so good
Overall Impression: Not impressed at all. :( There was this overpowering banana in everything. It's a little overwhelming, but I guess perfect if you are a huge fan of bananas.

Overall Rating: 76/100
Overall Value: ** / 5 Stars

BLACK SLATE - RIESLING

2009-06-19T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $20
Producer: F.W. Langguth
Region & Country: Mosel, Germany
Grape Variety: Riesling
Recommended By: WineClub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 4/5/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/19/2009

Appearance: Extremely light, almost clear; light-bodied
Nose: Light scent; soft floral & herbs; slight cream aroma
Taste: Sweet, but not overpowering; candy lemon & peach; creamy on the tongue; clean and crisp apples
Finish: Sweet, smooth aftertaste; lingers sweet
Overall Impression: Great Riesling! It's so smooth and doesn't make your mouth pucker like some other Rieslings do. The crispness and clean taste is what makes this one so good. This would be the perfect summer sweet wine.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

MAGGIE'S ATTIC - CHARDONNAY

2009-06-09T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $20
Producer: Vina Santa Alicia
Region & Country: Maipo Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 6/8/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/9/2009

Appearance: Medium-bodied; pale yellow; brilliant and clean
Nose: Apples, melon, soft floral and smoked oak
Taste: Sweet, green apples; crisp, creamy and slightly acidic
Finish: Lingers slightly, but still clean; tart to smooth finish
Overall Impression: Maggie's Attic seems to start off tart but then finishes in a smooth, silky way. We had pasta and it was great with a while sauce. After dinner, it still tasted good. This wine can definitely stand alone. I know it's not very good with dessert though.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

DE BORTOLI - CHARDONNAY

2009-06-04T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $10
Producer: De Bortoli Wines
Region & Country: Bilbul, South Eastern Australia
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/9/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/4/2009

Appearance: Brilliant, clean straw to gold color; Full-bodied
Nose: Grass, herbs, soft honeydew, creamy scent
Taste: Full flavor, clean sweetness, slight cream
Finish: Lingers, warm on the throat, sweet aftertaste
Overall Impression: The sweetness of this Chardonnay overpowers the creaminess, but that isn't so bad! It was a wonderful white! I know that I've had better, but this one held its own. It definitely has a great full-flavor.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

FINCA LA LINDA - BONARDA

2009-06-02T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Luigi Bosca
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Bonarda
Recommended By: WineStyles

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 3/2/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/2/2009

Appearance: Deep, dark purple; full-bodied
Nose: Slightly hot with hints of cherry and roses
Taste: Juicy cherry taste with hints of rose and violets
Finish: Slightly dry and lingers; strange aftertaste
Overall Impression: This Bonarda has a bold fruit and flower taste. The finish is strange though. I think it may be due to the floral taste or maybe the skins of the grapes were tart.

Overall Rating: 87/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

BAGLIO DI PIANETTO - RAMIONE

2009-05-30T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2004
Price Range: $18
Producer: Baglio Di Pianetto
Region & Country: Sicily, Italy
Grape Variety: Ramione (Merlot, 50%; Nero D'Avola, 50%)
Recommended By: WineClub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/4/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 5/30/2009

Appearance: Deep purple, very opaque; full-bodied
Nose: Berries, spices and floral scent
Taste: Soft on the tongue with berries, but after it has a bold, slightly dry kick
Finish: Lingers slightly, smooth; the berry taste returns in the very end
Overall Impression: This wine was so well-developed and balanced. It had a great, mature taste. This was a great blend of grapes and went well with spiced steak. I would get this wine again and again!

Overall Rating: 93100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

BLACK SLATE - PINOT NOIR

2009-05-28T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $20
Producer: F.W. Langguth
Region & Country: Pfalz, Germany
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir (Pinot Noir, 90%; Regent, 10%)
Recommended By: WineClub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 4/5/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 5/28/2009

Appearance: Rose red; transparent, yet brilliant gloss
Nose: Cherry, watermelon candy and floral scent
Taste: Juicy; tons of fruit flavor
Finish: Linger slightly; sweet after tones, yet not sugary
Overall Impression: For a Pinot Noir, it's delicious. Usually some Pinot Noirs, to me, have an ashy flavor to it. Not this one! It also was not dry whatsoever. This was all around good and I would get it again in a heart beat!

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

LA CHATELAINE - RED RHONE WINE

2009-05-12T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $20
Producer: Le Chatelaine
Region & Country: Cotes du Rhone, France
Grape Variety: Red Rhone Wine - Grenach 50%, Syrah 25% & Cinsault 25%
Recommended By: WineClub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 11/2/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 5/12/2009

Appearance: Deep purple; Medium-bodied
Nose: Soft floral, almost a perfume scent
Taste: Lite fruit with a very mellow taste; good acidity
Finish: Slight perfume taste and lingers warm on the throat
Overall Impression: I enjoyed this one a lot. It didn't seem to even have to try to be good and I think it's because it was so mellow. This was definitely a good mix of reds. I didn't aerate it, but I didn't think it needed to be. This is just a great, easy going wine. It is perfect for any occasion.

Overall Rating: 91/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

HAYES VALLEY - CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2009-05-05T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Clos La Chance Winery
Region & Country: San Martin, CA
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: WineClub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 12/8/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 5/5/2009

**HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO**

Appearance: Raspberry red and full-bodied
Nose: Fruity, earthly and sweet scents
Taste: Light, fruity & sweet; Very juicy taste
Finish: Fruitiness lingers; not acidic
Overall Impression: This Cabernet Sauvignon seems to just wet the mouth perfectly. It's so juicy and fruity, but the best part is that it's not acidic at all. It's just lush, delicious and sweet. I think this would make a great summer cab.

Overall Rating: 97/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

NOTORIUS - GRILLO

2009-04-22T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $15
Producer: Duca di Castelmonte
Region & Country: Sicily-Marsala, Italy
Grape Variety: Grillo
Recommended By: Wine Tasting

Place & Date Purchased: WholeFoods, Evanston, IL - 1/31/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 4/22/2009

Appearance: Golden yellow; Full-bodied
Nose: Herb scent with grass
Taste: Herb and lemon, but has a perfumey type of taste
Finish: Creamy
Overall Impression: I don't really have much to say about this wine, because the only thing good about it was the finish. I don't know what it is. It tasted so much better at the wine tasting and that's why I bought it. It just wasn't as pleasant this time around. It certainly didn't live up to its name, but it would be a great name for a perfume. Maybe that's why it tasted that way...

Overall Rating: 85/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

39° THIRTY NINE DEGREES - CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2009-04-21T22:00:00.004-05:00

Vintage: 2004
Price Range: $17
Producer: Cecchetti Wine Company
Region & Country: Graton, California
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 2/7/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 4/21/2009
Dinner: Giordano's Stuffed Pizza

Appearance: Deep red, but slightly brown; medium bodied
Nose: Copper/Mineral scent, like a penny; a little hot
Taste: Copper and ash; almost like blood; tastes hot also, even after airing
Finish: Lingers with an ash taste and acidic; it just leaves a horrible after taste
Overall Impression: Not impressed at all. It's been a while since I have had a Cabernet that was just not good. There may be a fruit or berry taste, but I could never tell you which one. It was just overall metallic and not very good. This seriously should have been a "Critter" wine.

Overall Rating: 70/100
Overall Value: *.5 / 5 Stars

COLORES DEL SOL - MALBEC

2009-04-20T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $12-20
Producer: Bodega's Colores Del Sol
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Malbec
Recommended By: WineClub

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/5/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 4/20/2009
Dinner: Grilled Chicken Salad

Appearance: Deep, brilliant cherry red; medium-bodied
Nose: Sweet and fruity; blackberry with a hint of vanilla
Taste: Oakey and chocolaty; fruity blackberry with a bold kick
Finish: Lingers and then smoothes
Overall Impression: I have found another awesome Malbec that I would love to have again! I bet it would be better with red meat and even as a good stand alone wine. It was delicious with a great bold and fruity taste! I wouldn't use an aerator on this wine though. It makes it too tart.

Overall Rating: 95/100
Overall Value: ****.5 / 5 Stars

LA POSTA - MALBEC

2009-04-13T22:00:00.004-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $15 (Gift)
Producer: Angel Paulucci/La Posta Vineyard
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Malbec
Recommended By: Birthday Gift from Amanda Bell

Place & Date Purchased: Chicago, IL - 2/24/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 4/13/2009
Dinner: Apart Inc. 4-Cheese + Pepperoni Pizza

Appearance: Deep dark purple; full-bodied
Nose: Blackberry and raspberry scent
Taste: Light sweetness with berries; bold kick
Finish: Smooth with a warm finish
Overall Impression: I have a feeling that this would be a great summer Malbec. This Malbec had delicious variations with the berries, the smoothness and the boldness.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

REDTREE - CHARDONNAY

2009-04-07T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $15
Producer: Cecchetti Wine Company
Region & Country: Graton, California
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 2/7/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 4/7/2009

Appearance: Brilliant; Medium-bodied; pale, almost clear
Nose: Clean & floral with a hint of honey and apple
Taste: Crisp, clean, lite, buttery with green apple taste
Finish: Lemony lingers, but not acidic
Overall Impression: This is a great, sweet Chardonnay that isn't too overpowering. I love the crispness and fruit taste!

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

JEIO BISOL BRUT - PROSECCO

2009-04-05T22:00:00.004-05:00

Vintage: N/A
Price Range: $16
Producer: Bisol
Region & Country: Valdobbiadene, Italy
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: In Fine Spirits, Chicago, IL - 4/5/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 4/5/2009

Appearance: Very bubbly & brilliant; straw yellow
Nose: Fruity and floral scent; lite, yet has that bubbly sharpness
Taste: Green apple and pear; crisp and clean
Finish: Cherries and sweetness, but not too acidic
Overall Impression: Delicious! I don't think you can go wrong with some Proseccos. I would definitely get this one again. This is the perfect wine to bring to a Sunday Brunch with friends. Also, it has a great value, so you can't go wrong with that. It has the perfect combination of fruit, flowers and sweetness.

Overall Rating: 95/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

TOASTED HEAD - CHARDONNAY

2009-03-31T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $15
Producer: Toasted Head Winery
Region & Country: Woodbridge, California, USA
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: Dominick's Grocery, Chicago, IL - 1/10/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 3/31/2009

Appearance: Brilliant; pale gold & full body
Nose: Soft floral and herb scent & grass
Taste: Undertone of lemon; smooth, soft and sweet; crisp flavor
Finish: Smooth and buttery; not very acidic
Overall Impression: Another great Chardonnay! I really have never had any problems with Toasted Head. They make great wines. This wine is great with food, but I find it can stand alone with no problem. I think this would be a perfect summer wine. It was crisp and delicious.

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

MERLOT OVER AND PLAY DEAD - MERLOT

2009-03-24T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $15
Producer: Mutt Lynch Winery
Region & Country: Healdsburg, California
Grape Variety: Merlot
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 2/2/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 3/24/2009
Dinner: Spiced chicken breast and stuffed past in a vodka sauce

Appearance: Medium bodied; Garnet red
Nose: Blackberry and jam scent
Taste: A little hot, even after airing; spicy and jammy
Finish: Acidic, tart and lingers
Overall Impression: "Woof bark bark ruff woof," which translates to "I've had a better Merlot for about the same price or better." It was much better after allowing to breathe, but still there was something about it that was lacking. I don't think it was actually worth the price... woof!

Overall Rating: 85/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

LINE 39 - SAUVIGNON BLANC

2009-03-18T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $17
Producer: Cecchetti Wine Company
Region & Country: Graton, California
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 2/7/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 3/18/2009

Appearance: Light gold; brilliant-clear
Nose: Clean, fruity scent; soft floral and creamy
Taste: Sweet and herb; slightly tart
Finish: Slightly dry and lingers
Overall Impression: I had a bit of a strawberry when drinking this and it was great. It's a decent Sauvignon Blanc. It's a clean white, but the price is way too steep. I have had better for a much better price.

Overall Rating: 86/100
Overall Value: **/ 5 Stars

MARYHILL - GEWURTRAMINER

2009-03-05T22:00:00.001-06:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $12
Producer: Maryhill Winery
Region & Country: Goldendale, Washington, USA
Grape Variety: Gewurtraminer
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: In Fine Spirits, Chicago, IL - 3/5/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 3/5/2009

Appearance: Brilliantly clean & almost colorless; medium-bodied
Nose: Apples, sweet and clean
Taste: Green apples, buttery with a good tart flavor
Finish: Lingers smoothly; buttery and creamy
Overall Impression: This would be the perfect dessert wine. It has a great smoothness so it's no over-bearing and not sour at all.

Overall Rating: 96/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

DEXHEIMER DOKTOR - SPATLESE

2009-03-02T22:00:00.002-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $11
Producer: Josef Drathen
Region & Country: Rheinhessen, Germany
Grape Variety: Spatlese
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 12/5/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 3/2/2009

Appearance: Yellowish-green; brilliant and full-bodied
Nose: Clean and sweet scent; herbs and a hint of green apple
Taste: Syrup-esk taste; plain with some pear
Finish: Lingers thick on the tongue, but not harsh
Overall Impression: First of all, you get enticed by this beautiful blue bottle. When you pour the wine, it glows and it's a gorgeous color. It looks clean and crisp. The scent is just as wonderful. It lures you in with a clean herb and fruit aroma. Then you taste it and it's nothing like what you expected. It's thick and like syrup. The taste is the complete opposite of the scent.

Overall Rating: 80/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

NEW AGE - ROSE WINE

2009-02-17T22:00:00.002-06:00

Vintage: ????
Price Range: $12
Producer: Valentin Bianchi
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Rose Wine
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 02/07/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 02/17/2009

Appearance: Brilliant rose red; medium-bodied; light bubbles
Nose: Light & fruity with citrus undertones
Taste: Lots of sweet; sugary taste; strawberries
Finish: Lingers slightly with citrus
Overall Impression: This Rose would make a great dessert wine. I think it would be perfect with a slice of plain cheesecake.

Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

FRANCIS COPPOLA - CLARET

2009-02-16T22:00:00.002-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $17
Producer: Francis Coppola - Diamond Collection
Region & Country: Geyserville, California, USA
Grape Variety: Claret
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: Dominick's Grocery, Chicago, IL - 02/16/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 02/16/2009

Appearance: Brilliant garnet red; full-bodied
Nose: Spices, raspberry jam & orange marmalade
Taste: Bold berry and spices
Finish: Slightly acidic & dry
Overall Impression: I have a tendency to compare certain wines when it comes to having one of the same series. For F.C. wine's, I definitely like their Cabernet Sauvignon more, but the Claret wasn't bad. I think this particular wine is extremely over-priced.

Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

ZOLO - BONARDA

2009-02-14T22:00:00.006-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy 100th Winography.
My friend, Josh Handley, threw in a couple of bucks to get me this wine as the 100th. I think it was only appropriate to drink it on Valentine's Day. Thanks, Josh. Now that I'm actually at a hundred wines and I've spent over a thousand dollars, maybe I should cut back. Yeah, right.

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $17 (Gift)
Producer: Vino Del Sol
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Bonarda
Recommended By: The gentleman working in the store.

Place & Date Purchased: In Fine Spirits, Chicago, IL - 02/13/2009 - Gift from Josh Handley.
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 02/14/2009
Dinner: Steak fajitas

Appearance: Deep dark purple, almost black; full-bodied
Nose: Blackberries & raspberries; There is a slight jam scent; slight vanilla and nutmeg
Taste: Blackberries and spices
Finish: Cherries and sweetness, but not too acidic
Overall Impression: Josh, we picked a good one! This paired well with the spicy steak fajitas. I'm sure it would pair well with any red meat. The first sip is bold, but the finish is completely mellow. It's the exact way I like a wine to be. The blackberries were full and had the right amount of sweetness in the end. I think this would be the perfect wine to bring for a dinner party. I would definitely get it again!

Overall Rating: 97/100
Overall Value: ****.5 / 5 Stars

MAXWELL CREEK - SAUVIGNON BLANC

2009-02-04T22:00:00.005-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $11
Producer: Maxwell Creek Winery
Region & Country: Rutherford, CA
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 01/06/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 02/04/2009

Appearance: Very light, almost clear; brilliant, full-bodied
Nose: Peaches, pears and a hint of grass
Taste: Earthy, sweet tasting and fruity
Finish: Slightly acidic and dry
Overall Impression: This wine had a great flavor that wasn't so overly powerful. It's a perfect example of a Sauvignon Blanc.

Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

TOSCOLO - CHIANTI

2009-02-04T22:00:00.004-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $10
Producer: Neil Empson Selections
Region & Country: Milan, Italy
Grape Variety: Chianti
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 12/05/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 02/04/2009
Dinner: I'm not proud, but I will admit that I had Taco Bell. Nachos, Burrito, Quesadilla, etc.

Appearance: Deep cherry red; full-bodied
Nose: Earthy tones, berries with a sweet scent
Taste: Little bitter, acidic and a little lemony
Finish: Slightly dry with tart aftertaste
Overall Impression: There's only so much of a dry and acidic wine I can take. It wasn't so bad, but after a couple of glasses I felt as if I had been eating a sweet tart. I'm sure this Chianti would be excellent in a red wine vinaigrette or maybe for cooking. ** One day later, it tastes better than last night, but still has that dry after taste.

Overall Rating: 84/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

SEA RIDGE - CHENIN BLANC

2009-01-31T22:00:00.003-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: Gift ($6)
Producer: Sea Ridge Coastal Winery
Region & Country: Napa, California
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc
Recommended By: Brought to the New Years Eve Party that wasn't on New Years Eve by Grace Pederson, but it was actually recommended by Sakeena Henderson.

Place & Date Purchased: Rockin' New Year's Eve Party, Chiacgo, IL - 01/10/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 01/31/2009
Dinner: Baked Salmon & Pesto Pasta

Appearance: Light gold; Brilliant and full-bodied
Nose: Faint sweet, soft, clean and slightly fruity
Taste: Very sweet and rich; buttery w/ citrus
Finish: Smooth; lingers slightly
Overall Impression: Midway through this wine, I decided to look up the price just to get an idea of my "overall value" rating. There were several different prices, but to purchase one bottle it was $6. I was surprised. For a sweet wine, it's very delicious. It has a great sweetness to it. With the butter taste of it too, it's the perfect balance.

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: ***** / 5 Stars

KILLER BEE - CARMENERE

2009-01-21T22:00:00.003-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $15
Producer: Vina Santa Alicia
Region & Country: Maipo Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Carmenere
Recommended By: Maggie Noonan

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 10/04/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 01/21/2009
Dinner: Steak, salad & various cheeses

Appearance: Raspberry red; full-bodied
Nose: Slightly hot, with berry and spice bouquet
Taste: Berries, spices and slightly sweet
Finish: Lingers, but smooth
Overall Impression: As you are well aware, I do enjoy Killer Bee a lot, but I enjoyed other grapes more. The Carmenere was different, but in a good way. It definitely holds its own.

Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

BLACKSTONE - MERLOT

2009-01-20T22:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Inauguration Day, Everybody! Did you catch Obama's speech today? I didn't because I'm a real American with a job and that's why we have YouTube.

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $12
Producer: Blackstone Winery
Region & Country: Napa Valley, California, USA
Grape Variety: Merlot
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: Dominick's Grocery, Chicago, IL - 01/20/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 01/20/2009
Dinner: Spaghetti

Appearance: Black cherry red; Medium-bodied
Nose: Without airing, it's hot; with airing, still hot but not as bad. The hotness overpowers the berry scent just trying to come through.
Taste: Watered down flavor; very little berry taste
Finish: Citrus, but not very acidic
Overall Impression: Not that impressed. There was no real flavor that stuck out and made me like this Merlot. It was just an average wine. To be honest, it was on sale, but I would definitely never pay full price for this wine. Too bad it wasn't as good as our new president's speech.

Overall Rating: 75/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

LAS LOCAS - GRENACHE SYRAH

2009-01-14T22:00:00.001-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $14
Producer: Campo de Borja Vineyard
Region & Country: Fuedejalon, Spain
Grape Variety: Grenache 85% / Syrah 15%
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 01/14/2009
Dinner: Various cheeses and meat

Appearance: Purplish-red; full bodied
Nose: More flower scent but has hints of berries
Taste: Very dry; dryness overpowers the fruit
Finish: Extremely dry; Lingers for a while
Overall Impression: Wow, I haven't had a wine that was so dry before aerating and even after. It was very bitter to the point where there wasn't much of a fruit taste. It pretty much made my tongue retreat to the back of my throat.

Overall Rating: 76/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

FINCA LA LINDA - CHARDONNAY SEMILLON

2009-01-06T22:00:00.003-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Luigi Bosca
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Chardonnay Semillon
Recommended By: WineStyles

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 12/14/2007
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 01/06/2009

Appearance: Brilliant gold and very bubbly
Nose: Apple sweet scent, but still has the hint of chalk
Taste: Sweet and fruity. Not very acidic.
Finish: Fades away. It's does not linger at all, very clean
Overall Impression: For an extra brut, it was not very acidic and has a good fruity taste. I'm not a huge fan of champagne, but this was delicious.

Overall Rating: 91/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

HORIZON DE LYNCH - CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2008-12-25T22:00:00.003-06:00

Greetings and Holiday Wishes!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday. I certainly did. Now that the New Year is approaching, you should definitely be ringing it in with bottles of bubbly. Here's what entertained my Christmas day.

Vintage: 2004
Price Range: $10
Producer: Henri Moreau
Region & Country: Bordeaux, France
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon from Medoc
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 10/08/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 12/25/2008 - Merry Christmas! Ho Ho Ho!!!

Appearance: Full-bodied, deep red garnet
Nose: Lingering scent of plum; sweet scent
Taste: Smooth, sweet and clean; this has the taste of raspberry
Finish: Sweet and slightly acidic
Overall Impression: This cab is sweet but in a good way. I did feel like I needed to eat something salty with it to counter the sweetness. It definitely is delicious and very juicy. I liked it and for the price, it's even better!

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

BOLLICINI - PROSECCO

2008-12-07T22:00:00.003-06:00

Vintage: N/A
Price Range: $12
Producer: WP SRL Crocetta
Region & Country: Montello, Italy
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: World Market, Evanston, IL - 12/07/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 12/07/2008

Appearance: Light, medium bubbles and very pale gold
Nose: Fruity, yet somewhat chalky; scent of apples
Taste: Light, but dry; Sweetness is subtle
Finish: Sweetness stays; acidic - bubbles linger
Overall Impression: I think this Prosecco was reasonably priced. Actually, it was bought for about $9, so I think I got an excellent deal for the taste. I would bring this to your New Year's Eve party and get popular quick! The best part is that it's not overly sweet, not too dry. It's just right.

Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

ST. LUCAS - TORRONTES

2008-12-05T22:00:00.005-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $12
Producer: St. Lucas Winery
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Torrontes
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 12/05/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 12/05/2008

Appearance: Medium-full bodied; slightly bubbly; pale straw
Nose: Pineapple and glazed peaches; sweet scent
Taste: There is a bit of a bite at first with a good acidity and then it gets creamy
Finish: Floral and lingers
Overall Impression: This Torrontes has great flavors. This would be the perfect summer wine! I could also see using it in cooking. It's sweet and good. I can't wait to try this one out next summer.

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

ALBERTO FURQUE - MALBEC

2008-12-03T22:00:00.003-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $15
Producer: Mendoza Estate
Region & Country: La Consulta, Argentina
Grape Variety: Malbec
Recommended By: N/A - First visit to the store.

Place & Date Purchased: In Fine Spirits, Chicago, IL - 09/18/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 12/03/2008
Dinner: Indian food - Chicken Marsala and boy, was it good!

Appearance: Dark garnet red; Full bodied
Nose: Mixed berries; little spice scent also
Taste: Bold, fruity, clean and juicy
Finish: Citrus sweet; lingers
Overall Impression: This was another great Malbec, and if you haven't noticed by now, I love Malbecs. It balanced well with the food, but it can surely survive without the food. It had a wonderful, full fruit flavor!

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

BRONZY INCA - CHARDONNAY

2008-11-26T22:00:00.006-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Clos La Chance Winery
Region & Country: San Martin, California, USA
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 11/02/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 11/26/2008

Appearance: Brilliant; straw gold; full-bodied
Nose: Sweet, green apple; slight hint of cut grass
Taste: Sweet, clean, buttery and slightly acidic
Finish: Sweet, lingers slightly and slightly bitter
Overall Impression: For a Chardonnay, I've definitely had better and for a better price. It was extremely sweet to the point where it started to be a little too tart for me. I felt it was just average. It was also a little sugary and did not taste natural at all.

Overall Rating: 79/100
Overall Value: **.75 / 5 Stars

AXIS - PINOT NOIR

2008-11-26T22:00:00.002-06:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Axis Vintners
Region & Country: Sonoma, California, USA
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 09/07/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 11/26/2008
Dinner: Steak and vegetables. May I point out that it was the best steak I have had in about a year.

Appearance: Brilliant; shiny pale red, light bodied and transparent
Nose: Strawberry, raspberry and nutmeg
Taste: Nothing like the smell; spicy and bold; lingers a little
Finish: The fruit taste comes after the spices leave
Overall Impression: Delicious! This went perfect with the food also. This Pinot Noir was light but had a great, bold fruity taste.

Overall Rating: 93/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

TRICK - RED TABLE WINE

2008-11-11T22:00:00.003-06:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $8
Producer: Chateau Diana Winery
Region & Country: Healdsburg, California, USA
Grape Variety: Red Table Wine
Recommended By: Tasting

Place & Date Purchased: World Market, Evanston, IL - 10/26/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 11/11/2008

Appearance: Medium-bodied; opaque, deep red
Nose: Powerful, sweet scent, some spices and berries
Taste: Juicy, sweet, blackberry taste
Finish: Smooth with slight acidity
Overall Impression: You want to know what the trick of this wine is? It's so much better aerated! Actually, this wine was surprisingly good for the price and for being a seasonal wine. I would definitely bring it to my next Halloween Party.

Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: ****.5 / 5 Stars

GNARLED VINE - CHARDONNAY

2008-11-09T22:00:00.003-06:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $12
Producer: Oak Ridge Winery
Region & Country: Lodi, California, USA
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: Wine Tasting

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 10/11/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 11/09/2008
Dinner: Pepperoni pizza from this fancy place called Pizza Hut

Appearance: Brilliant, full bodied; Pale gold
Nose: Greet apple; soft scent
Taste: Light, sweet, apple - crisp and clean
Finish: Creamy, not acidic, doesn't linger long
Overall Impression: This Chardonnay was very nice. It was light and flavorful. It would probably be great with light food. Gnarled Vine is a great clean and crisp wine.

Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

ESTANCIA - MERLOT

2008-11-07T22:00:00.002-06:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $15
Producer: Estancia Estates
Region & Country: Sonoma, California, USA
Grape Variety: Merlot
Recommended By: Andre LaSalle

Place & Date Purchased: Dominick's Grocery, Chicago, IL - 10/26/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 11/07/2008
Dinner: Various cheeses

Appearance: Brilliant ruby red; Light bodied
Nose: Spicy scent; deep cherry; powerful
Taste: Bold, slightly spicy, a little sweet, cherry
Finish: Doesn't linger much; very low acidity
Overall Impression: This Merlot has a lot of flavor. I think it's much better without food or paired with a better food than just cheese. It's a great casual type of wine and delicious.

Overall Rating: 91/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

PURE EVIL - CHARDONNAY

2008-10-28T22:00:00.004-05:00

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

VAMPIRE - CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2008-10-26T22:00:00.010-05:00

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

FRANCIS COPPOLA - CHARDONNAY

2008-10-26T22:00:00.007-05:00

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

FORTITUDE. - RED TABLE WINE

2008-10-24T22:00:00.005-05:00

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

ST. LUCAS - MALBEC

2008-10-21T22:00:00.004-05:00

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

KILLER BEE - CHARDONNAY

2008-10-16T22:00:00.004-05:00

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

VOLTEO - TEMPRANILLO

2008-10-14T22:00:00.003-05:00

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

DOMAINE DE LA PETITE CASSAGNE

2008-10-08T22:00:00.001-05:00

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

LES HERETIQUES - RED TABLE WINE

2008-10-07T22:00:00.003-05:00

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

LUCKY STAR - PETITE SIRAH

2008-10-03T22:00:00.002-05:00

"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

MARYHILL - WINEMAKER'S RED

2008-09-30T22:00:00.000-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $17
Producer: Maryhill Winery
Region & Country: Goldendale, Washington, USA
Grape Variety: Red Combination: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc
Recommended By: Maggie Noonan of WineStyles, Evanston

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 09/17/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 09/30/2008
Dinner: Variety of cheeses and salami

Appearance: Cloudy, ruby red
Nose: Clean & powerful, spices and vanilla
Taste: VANILLA and sweet
Finish: Sweet with medium acidity
Overall Impression: If you like vanilla in anything, this is your wine. The taste was sweet and strong with vanilla, but it also had a great finish to it. I liked that it was sweet yet spicy at the same time. Great wine!

Overall Rating: 92/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

CAMATTA CREEK - CHARDONNAY

2008-09-23T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $10
Producer: Foster's Wine Estates
Region & Country: St. Helena & Napa, California, US
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 09/09/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 09/23/2008

Appearance: Straw yellowish gold
Nose: Clean, buttery, sweet, fruity zest
Taste: Buttery and fruity with a little bit of spice
Finish: Acidic and tart, but then turns buttery
Overall Impression: All in all, this chardonnay had a buttery flavor to it. I like that in a white. It leaves a warm feeling in your tummy. It was a great wine.

Overall Rating: 87/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars

VINO DE EYZAGUIRRE - CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2008-09-22T22:00:00.003-05:00

Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $10
Producer: Top Wine Chile
Region & Country: D.O. Colchagua Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 09/09/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 09/22/2008
Dinner: Italian sausage stuffed portobella mushrooms and pasta

Appearance: Deep ruby red
Nose: Hot scent, slightly fruity with a little pepper
Taste: Lightly fruity, cherry taste
Finish: Lingers, acidic and dry
Overall Impression: You can't go wrong when your bottle comes in a sack, right? It's right there on the bottle. This is a good dinner wine, even though it did not go very well with the dinner made. I'm sure it would have been better with something lighter. I do think that this is the kind of wine that would do better with food than alone.

Overall Rating: 88/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

NOW & ZEN - WASABI WHITE

2008-09-17T22:00:00.001-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $11
Producer: Underdog Wine Merchants
Region & Country: Alsace, France
Grape Variety: Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 09/09/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 09/17/2008
Dinner: Nachos. No, nothing fancy.

Appearance: Very light gold.
Nose: Sweet and fruity
Taste: Light, buttery and sweet. But not too sweet to where it's over-powering.
Finish: Lingers and coats; slightly thick taste
Overall Impression: It doesn't taste as fruity as it smells and that's something I like in whites. That first sip just throws me for a loop because I expect it to be so much sweeter. Wasabi White has a pleasant, sweet taste. It is also not too tart which is something else I like. I hate it when I'm making that pucker face.

Overall Rating: 91/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

KILLER BEE - CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2008-09-11T22:00:00.002-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $16
Producer: Vina Santa Alicia
Region & Country: Maipo Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Malbec
Recommended By: N/A

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 09/09/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 09/11/2008
Dinner: Barbecue chicken wrap

Appearance: Thick, blood red; very opaque
Nose: Vibrant chocolate with fruity tones
Taste: Complex flavor and very bold
Finish: Lingers with spice and slightly dry
Overall Impression: I loved this wine. There were so many flavors in just one sip. It had very complex tastes and such boldness. This is definitely one to pick up. KB's Malbec was good, but this cab is awesome!

Overall Rating: 97/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars

HOOK & LADDER - GEWURTZRAMINER

2008-09-09T22:00:00.007-05:00

Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $20
Producer: Hook & Ladder Vineyards
Region & Country: Santa Rosa, California, USA
Grape Variety: Gewurtzraminer
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 07/07/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 09/09/2008

Appearance: Very light yellow; almost clear
Nose: Apples; Very light and soft scent
Taste: Tart, then sweet; Has a good apple flavor
Finish: Long lasting. Coats the tongue
Overall Impression: This wine is good with cheese and fruit to clean the palate. It was a very tasty white, but I've had the same for a much better price.

Overall Rating: 91/100
Overall Value: **.5 / 5 Stars

DOMAINE DE GOURNIER - GRENACHE NOIR

2008-09-04T22:00:00.004-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $13
Producer: Domain De Gournier
Region & Country: Rhone, France
Grape Variety: Grenache Noir
Recommended By: Wine Tasting at WineStyles

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 08/08/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 09/04/2008
Dinner: Chicken marinara with portobella mushrooms and tortellini & penne pasta

Appearance: Cranberry red
Nose: Slightly hot; no particular fruit scent
Taste: It is a little spicy, a little acidic, but bold in flavor
Finish: A little dry; citrus and tart
Overall Impression: This grenache noir had a good flavor. I really loved the spices of it. I think it would have been better with just cheese.

Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars

GUARDIAN PEAK - MERLOT

2008-09-02T22:00:00.004-05:00

Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Engelbrecht Els Vineyard
Region & Country: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Grape Variety: Merlot
Recommended By: Wine Club

Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 08/04/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 09/02/2008
Dinner: Home-made mac & cheese with baked chicken

Appearance: Deep red with brown tones
Nose: Soft floral and fruit scent
Taste: Tart, then fruity; slightly acidic
Finish: Warm, slightly dry and acidic
Overall Impression: This Merlot was good with food. I think it would taste better with less spicy food, since I Cajuned up that chicken. It definitely tasted better with the mac & cheese. I think it would be great with cheese in general. I would definitely try it again, but by itself.

Overall Rating: 88/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars