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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $12 / Half Bottle
Producer: Aureuen Grenouilleau
Region & Country: France
Grape Variety: Bordeaux
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: Leon de Bruxelles, Paris, France - 08/21/2008
Place & Date Tasted: On the famous Chaps-Elysee, down the street from the Arc de Triomph - 08/21/2008
Lunch: The restaurant pretty much serves Mussels, so take a guess at what I ate that afternoon?
Appearance: Light to medium red
Nose: Light, citrus aroma
Taste: Spicy; mildly sweet
Finish: Warm after-taste
Overall Impression: I thought this wine was great, especially with my mussels which were delicious. Perfect combination. I also thought that the warm after-taste was pleasant.
Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2003
Price Range: $22
Producer: Chateau Saint Christoly
Region & Country: Saint Christoly de Medoc, France
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: Eiffel 38, Paris, France - 08/20/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Right across the street was the Eiffel Tower - 08/21/2008
Dinner: Duck patte, steak and pieces of Ray's blue cheese crumbles
Special Note: I had crazy dreams where I was dizzy and seeing all kinds of colors. When I woke up the next morning, I was so dizzy. Every time I would turn in bed, the room would spin. I think the blue cheese may have been psychedelic blue cheese.
Appearance: Burgundy
Nose: Light, but not much of a fruit scent
Taste: Sweet, but also slightly bitter
Finish: Dry with very bitter aftertaste.
Overall Impression: I have had so much better. Being that this was my first wine to drink in France, I expected a little bit more. It was an experience.
Overall Rating: 80/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2007
Price Range: ???
Producer: Chateau La Baume
Region & Country: Costieres de Nimes, Languedoc-Roussilon, FranceGrape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Recommended By: The Flight Attendant on Air France...actually, that's the only wine they offered on the flight. But it was free, so I wasn't about to complain.
Place & Date Purchased: Not purchased - 08/13/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Somewhere over Canada, flying to Paris - 08/13/2008
Appearance: Deep purple
Nose: It didn't have a scent when poured; it was very light
Taste: Slightly fruity, but not strong. It has more of a hot taste to it.
Finish: Warm after-taste that slightly lingers
Overall Impression: The bottle was cold when they served it. I think I would have enjoyed it more at room temperature. The taste was fair and plain. I know I've had better.
Overall Rating: 80/100
Overall Value: ????? / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $20
Producer: Nathalie Blanc-Mares
Region & Country: Nimes, France
Grape Variety: Cabernet - Syrah
Recommended By: Wine Club
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 07/07/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 08/09/2008
Dinner: Seafood Medley - salmon, shrimp and scallops
Appearance: Very dark red; almost black
Nose: Floral and chocolate scent
Taste: Dry; Very little fruit taste with aerator
Finish: Same as the taste. I find it is better when not aired.
Overall Impression: The taste is definitely fuller without airing it. I still don't think it is worth the price though. I also didn't think it was that fruity either.
Overall Rating: 75/100
Overall Value: ** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Cotes du Rhone
Region & Country: Domain Brusset, France
Grape Variety: Red Wine (60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Carignan and 10% Mourvedre)
Recommended By: Wine Club
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 03/15/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 04/06/2008
Appearance: Very deep purple
Nose: Smells a little hot, yet fruity
Taste: It is very juicy, fruity and light
Finish: Very smooth and light
Overall Impression: This wine was nice. I have a prediction that it would taste good with spicy foods or red meat.
Overall Rating: 84/100
Overall Value: ***/ 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $14
Producer: Jean-Luc & Marie-Lise Dorthe
Region & Country: Rhone, France
Grape Variety: Viognier
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 11/10/2007
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 11/17/2007
Appearance: Pale gold
Nose: Light, apple scent
Taste: Apples & pears with a perfume taste
Finish: Smooth that sits on your tongue
Overall Impression: It was light, but not very crisp; it wasn't too sweet either. Discovered that it's very bad once it becomes flat.
Overall Rating: 87/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2005
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