Quick Reviews
Eifel Pfeiffer Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spätlese – Germany – 2015
Apricot but with an apple-y tartness, sans the apple. A bit oversweet even for a spatlese, and with a nose that invokes sauvignon blanc rather than riesling. Still very good, just being your sweet tooth.
Pinord Chateldon Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Spain – 2011
Here’s the scenario. You poured your old uncle a nice glass of cab while he was grilling, but he’s easily confused, and accidentally poured pepper over his glass of wine rather than the steaks. Then someone drank it and thought, “this is great, let me make a whole batch of wine like this!” Thus, this Pinord Chateldon. So much pepper, you’re going to swear you have a mentally ill uncle with poor grilling aim. Dry to the point of bitter. Fruit on the nose but nowhere else.
Ventisquero Queulat Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Chile – 2014
Tannins didn’t overpower me as much as other reviewers reported. Not a fat cab by any stretch, but with enough depth to balance out the fruit. Notes of cigar, dark berry. Potent nose does promise a bit more than the glass delivers.
Wagner Vineyards Riesling Ice – New York – 2017
Great ice wine that balances the high sugar with just ever-so-tart apple pie notes. Just fell shy of a full 5 stars due to needing a tad bit more fruit to offset the sweetness.
Domaine Zinck Gewürztraminer – France – 2017
Surprisingly poor Gewurztraminer but still squeaks by to get 3 stars. Too sweet with not enough of the typical Alsatian spice. Wouldn’t be mistaken for a German riesling but way too much sugar. Did these grapes come from somewhere else, and were only bottled in Alsace? Just strange.
Starling Castle Gewürztraminer – Germany – 2017
Middling German Pfaltz Gewurztraminer put to shame by its French neighbors in Alsace. Too close to a riesling to make it a great gwertz, and a gwertz should never be this close to a reez. Some nice fruit here, with floral notes, but nearly zero spice.
Weinhaus Schloss Koblenz St. Christopher Gewürztraminer – Germany – 2016
Gewurztraminer being my favorite white, having only reached three stars is a disappointing surprise. Too much sugar knocks down the usual gwertz spice, leaving this tasting like a cheap blend. Still good, but just not up to par with other German offerings.
Bodegas Santa Ana Caracter Chardonnay Chenin – Argentina
No year noted. The Bodega Santa Ana makes wine that ranges from middling to terrible, so this is on the better end, but still lacking. Mild, with very faint tart apple and floral notes. Drinkable but forgettable.
Ponga Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand – 2017
Passion fruit and crisp apple that brightens this up and makes it slightly unique from other offerings and even other vintages of the same wine. Drinks well by itself, but will be fussy to pair with, so stick with classic fish.
Smith & Hook Cabernet Sauvignon – California – 2016
Middling cab with nearly zero tannins. There’s a point where smooth becomes bland and this approaches that. Nose is expressive with berry and sneaker leather but that doesn’t make it into the glass. Paired with simple lasagne, the wine wilted.