Quick Reviews
Moko Black Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand – 2014
(No tasting notes.)
Dona Paulo – Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc – Argentina – 2015
Drank this under optimum conditions, meaning I drank the entire bottle and got totally wasted. A rare admission for a wine reviewer. Overall, not a bad Argy Essbee, lacking the punch of its NZ brethren, but nevertheless enjoyable. Light on the tongue, fresh on the nose, this one hints of the apples and minerals typical of the breed but without biting you like a rabid puppy. Paired well with Chinese dish, but drank equally fine by itself. OK, but not amazing.
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand – 2014
I have tasted better and more complex SBs from NZ than this so I don’t understand all the rave reviews. But this is a good example of the breed, just not an excellent one. Very sharp, almost wincingly tangy, and probably 1/10th too dry. Serve with spicy plate.
Trivento Mixtus Shiraz / Malbec – Argentina – 2015
The wine equivalent of those bad movies that nevertheless pepper their posters with one-word, breathless proclamations from fake reviewers, the label of Mixtus includes descriptive words reflecting everything this wine is NOT: jammy! aromatic! expressive! Apparently, like the nutjob Japanese guy who said you can improve water by writing happy words on the bottle, the winemakers here hoped the words would seep through paper and glass and somehow infuse the wine itself. Surprising no one, this didn’t happen. This wine had so little nose I thought I had caught a cold and my sense of smell had fallen off (I didn’t.) It’s not a bad table wine if your palate isn’t particular, but it just lacks any oomph at all, making the label a hilarious exercise in wishful thinking. A case where two halves (shiraz and malbec) result in less than the whole.
Gunther Schlink Desire Eiswein Dornfelder – Germany – 2012
Stewed prune and honey come together in a fantastic icewine from the Nahe region of Germany. This one stands up to the best of the New World bottles, which often surpass their European ancestors these days. A dessert wine that’s best paired rather than drunk solo, its dark color and syrupy texture nevertheless don’t come off as sugary or candied. Highly recommended.
Yangarra Estate McLaren Vale Shiraz – Australia – 2013
No notes.
Winzer Krems Kellermeister Privat Blauer Zweigelt Trocken – Austria – 2013
Very dry, cherry is the dominant flavor here. Moderate tannin, would pair well with hearty meat dishes but might cower if confronted with spicy plates.
Hogue Late Harvest Riesling – Columbia Valley WA – 2009
Sugar dominates apple here, and a brief finish leaves this lacking oomph.
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese – Verona – 2010
A nose of cherry smoke and oak make this eligible as a fantastic men’s cologne, never mind a wine. Well balanced and potent, this is dry, fruity, and unmistakably Italian. Pair with strong cheese pasta dish for an authentic experience.
Schneekloth Noblesse Rheinhessen Essenheimer Domherr Dornfelder & Portugieser – 2012
This eiswein’s pear nose leads to rich, complex flavors of baked apple and honey. Low alcohol keeps this light and approachable and would pair well with white cake or light pastry.