Tasting Notes: 2011 "Les Ursulines" Nuit-Saing-Georges

Appearance: Pours a deep ruby red.  Pretty dark, but when it swirls, does let some light through.  Quick moving legs.

Aroma:  I get a little bit of alcohol heat, along with a nice balance of tart and sweet black cherry aromas, and a hint of raspberry as well.

Mouthfeel:  Light to medium body, a soft tannic presence which would definitely not stand out if this were not a pinot, but does give just a touch of astringency at the end that I wasn't expecting.

Flavors:  I do get some of the earthiness and minerality I expect from a red Burgundy, but I also get a lot more fruit than I would expect.  Fruit flavors confirm the nose, with ripe cherry and a hint of raspberry.  The alcohol I picked up on the nose was not present on the palate.

Overall:  I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this wine.  It is a lot more like an American pinot, although a little less bold, than I had thought it would be.  Fruity, but still subtle and easy drinking.  A good balance of earthy flavors with some gentle but definitely noticeable fruit flavors. A flavorful, but still very easy-drinking wine.  For a Burgundy under $20 it is a pretty good value.  Something I would probably drink again, but not rush out to buy another bottle of.

Tasting Notes: Retsina Olympias

Before I begin this, let me give the disclaimer that this is my first taste of Retsina, so other than a vague, book-gained idea, I really have no clue what Retsina is "supposed" to taste like, and no point of comparison.  So while all tasting notes and reviews are objective, and really just my opinion, this one really is pulled straight from my posterior.  That said, here goes:

Appearance: Pours a bright yellow, completely translucent, and a little more yellow, less green or white, than any other wine I'm used to.

Aroma:  Pine, lemon, a little bit of honey.  The pine is not so much like a gin or Christmas tree pine, but more the smell of fresh cut pine wood, or of pine sap, a little more earthy than Christmasy.

Mouthfeel: Very light bodied, rolls right off the tongue and through the mouth.

Flavors: Very much like the smells, but with less lemon.  Definitely get the woody version of pine, and a little bit of sappy flavors.  I still get honey, but it's hard to describe, since it is not sweet at all.  The same flavors, and kind of tingling sensation, but light bodied and not sweet.  Flavors have a pretty clean finish, although there's some slight lingering pine and woodsy notes to it.

Overall:  Unique, new, and different would be the three words I could come up with.  Not really sure a) whether I like it, b) if I could learn to like it, or c) if it would go better with food than on its own.  I'm guessing the answers to b) and c) are yes.  Probably, like most wines, and most new food and drink experiences, it's an acquired taste.  And the dry but honey-like flavor, along with the woodiness, make me think that with a good Greek dish, this wine's flavors would really pop.  As of yet, I'm still undecided.

Tasting Notes: 2012 Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Appearance: Pours a light, straw yellow color.  No legs.
Aroma: Grapefruit, a touch of lemon, and a slightly herbaceous aroma.
Mouthfeel: Light, smooth, rolls right across the palate.
Flavors: Bright, fresh, tropical fruit on the front.  A touch of grapefruit toward the end, but nothing overwhelming.  Smoother, more lingering finish than most sauvignon blancs, leaving a fresh, bright, tropical fruit (melon, pineapple, a little grapefruit) lingering.  A little bit of an herbaceous taste, but definitely more fruit forward.

Overall: I was really pleasantly surprised by this one.  It is pretty balanced.  Dry but still fruity.  A touch of herbaceous aroma and flavor which gives it some structure, but very strong fruit notes as well.  There are definitely some grapefruit notes, but they don't overpower the ripe melon, pineapple, or herbaceous flavors, which I appreciated.  Will definitely drink this one again.

Tasting Notes: 2011 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc

Appearance: Light, bright, almost white.  No legs when swirled.

Aroma: Bright, fresh, grapefruit, lemon, a hint of grass.

Mouthfeel: Very light, rolls right over the palate, very drinkable and refreshing.

Flavor:  Complex and varied.  I get everything from a canteloupe or honeydew melon flavor, to grapefruit, to fresh lemon and lime.  A slight herbal, grassy note.  Crisp, but leaves a refreshing citrus note which lingers for a bit.

Overall: Pretty good New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  Refreshing, light, drinkable, without being one-note or boring.  Great for a hot day, and could probably pair well with a variety of food, but is also drinkable on its own.  Not stellar but for the price, a pretty good buy.

Tasting Notes: 2011 Star Lane Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

This wine is a Sauvignon Blanc out of the U.S.'s newest (unless I missed something) AVA, the Happy Canyon AVA in Santa Barbara County.

Appearance: Bright, bold, yellow, color.  No legs when swirled in glass.

Aroma: Very strong lemon and grapefruit.  Even when the bottle was opened, before pouring, it gives off a very fresh citrus smell. 

Mouthfeel: Light and smooth, a little bit of tart astringency leaves the mouth dried out at the end.

Flavor: Very, very, grapefruit forward.  Get a hint of tropical fruit in the middle of the palate, and the finish is back to graprefruit, and lingers for quite some time.  I can't really pick up much past the almost astringent grapefruit flavor.

Overall: I'm not a grapefruit fan, so Sauvignon Blancs are kind of hit or miss with me.  This wine has a pleasent aroma, beautiful color, and a very drinkable, refreshing body.  If I didn't have such a strong dislike of grapefruit, this seems like it would be a great, refreshing, drinkable white on a  hot summer day.  Probably not one that I will personally go out of my way to drink again, though.

Tasting Notes: 2011 DaVinci Pinot Grigio

Appearance: Light, clear, straw-yellow.  No legs.

Aroma: Bright floral, lemon, mineral notes on the bouquet.

Mouthfeel: Light, rolls right through the mouth.

Flavors:  Crisp, dry, smooth.  Slight green apple or pear notes, without being overly tart.  A tiny bit of a grapefruit acidity.  Bright floral finish, which doesn't cut off right away, but doesn't linger either.

Overall:  I really liked this one.  Manages to be light, crisp, dry, and refreshing, without being boring.  Lots of different flavors here, but still pretty clean flavor-wise.  Usually I need food to really make a pinot grigio grab my attention, but this one stood out on its own.  Would be great with food, but also great to drink outside on a hot summer day.

Tasting Notes: Barefoot Pinot Grigio

Appearance: Very light, white-ish, a touch of green.  Poured almost effervescent, with bubbles rising as it poured.  No legs when swirled.

Aroma: Mild, but a touch of lemon and grapefruit.

Mouthfeel: Light, rolls right off the tongue, but not as light as some pinot grigios.

Flavor: A little more fruit than I was expecting from a pinot grigio.  A bit of lemon, also a little bit of peach, not as much minearlity as I was expecting, and actually slightly sweet.  Finishes with a slight alcohol flavor, and a little bit creamy.  Not a sharp, crisp finish, but also doesn't linger.

Overall: Interesting wine.  Not as awful as I was expecting for something under $6.  In fact, I actually kind of liked it.  Definitely not true to the pinot grigio varietal though.  Although lighter than a chardonnay, it was not as light or drinkable as most pinot grigios.  Instead of the rich, mineral notes, it had a lot of fruit, and was actually slightly sweet.  Personally, I love pinot grigio with food, but usually find it a little too light and kind of boring on its own.  This wine would probably not pair well with typical pinot grigio pairings, but is actually kind of enjoyable on its own.  Definitely not the greatest wine, but for a $6 bottle from Barefoot, not the worst either.

Tasting Notes: 2010 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux

Appearance: Deep, purplish red.  Almost completely opaque.  No legs whatsoever

Aroma: Mostly tart cherry, but not an overwhelmingly strong aroma.

Body/mouth feel: Medium to light bodied, not too heavy, especially compared to what I expected from an unoaked, fairly young French red.

Flavor: Tart cherry, a little vanilla, and a very faint trace of chocolate.  Kind of reminds me of Cherry Garcia ice cream.  Starts out with cherry, then gets a little more complex, rolls into the tartness, and then has a little bit of a bitter, tannic bite.  Not too bitter or astringent, but enough in the finish to cut off the rest of the flavors and leave you thirsting for another sip.

Overall impressions: Probably not the most complex, refined, or elegant Bordeaux out there.  But also comes in at well under $20/bottle.  Very light, and easy on the tannins (it is a Merlot dominant blend), but still get some of the bolder, darker flavors of the Cab and Cab Franc showing.  Nothing out of this world, but a reasonable wine to drink on its own or with a casual dinner, especially for the price.