About WiNEZ

WiNEZ was a monthly event at EZ Street Saloon in South Range, WI. Unfortunately, due to lower turn out the owners had decided to stop hosting the event. The last wine night at EZ was held on November 12, 2014. But that is not to say the die hards won't be getting together for some wine tasting periodically at EZ Street Saloon. I will continue to blog the wines we have tasted pre starting this blog, along with our impromptu meetings, and maybe transform the blog into something more personal. We will see where it goes. I do know the blog will still be about wine!

So for my WiNEZ pals you can count on this blog to serve as an archive of what was consumed and a reference for your spending sprees. For those who are just curious about what the Northwest Wisconsinites are drinking here are some thoughts… but be warned I am by no means a wine expert-I only know what I like. Since I am not an expert I will try to include the winemakers label descriptions as well.

Salute! or as the Finnish would say Kippis!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Good Chardonnay

Is Good Chardonnay really a good Chardonnay? The tasters at EZ Street Saloon seemed to think was worth the drinking. It was easy to drink-not overly fruity or acidic. The label was a little comical-as if someone took their magic marker to make the label.

Varietal: Chardonnay
Producer/Importer: Good Chardonnay
Region: Valdadige Italy
Vintage: 2009
Price:
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): light golden
Smell (bouquet, aroma): fruity
Taste (acidity, balance, body): easy and balanced.
Bottle presentation: like a home label
Label description:
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10):
8
Date consumed: March 9, 2010
Comments:

Bellini di Canella

If you are looking for a great alternative to mimosas for your next brunch try Canella’s Bellini. It is made with two parts of the sparkling wine Prosecco (mmmmm) and one part Italian white peach juice.

Varietal: Bellini di Canella
Producer/Importer: Canella
Region: Italy
Vintage: Price:
$13-14
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): frosty pink
Smell (bouquet, aroma): peaches
Taste (acidity, balance, body): Like a peach mimosa.
Bottle presentation:Champagne feel, simple
Label description:
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10):
8
Date consumed: March 9, 2010
Comments:

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

March 2011-Sweet Reds

March is the month that comes in roaring like a lion and leaves like a sweet lamb... March 9th wines, overall were pretty sweet, and sure to sweeten even the worst of a northern spring snow storm. I'll start off with the reds of the night-Truffle Merlot and Saint Josef Red wine.

Varietal: Merlot
Producer/Importer:
Truffle Merlot-Maverick Wine Group
Region: Monterey California
Vintage:
Price:
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): dark red
Smell (bouquet, aroma): smells of heaven-chocolate! maybe a little cherry merlot too.
Taste (acidity, balance, body): sweet chocolate with the smooth merlot
Bottle presentation: bold
Label description: "Truffle Merlot is a velvety tribute to the most seductive of tastes; the rich decadence of dark chocolate infused with the silky, full-bodied elegance of fine Monterey Merlot"
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10):
9
Date consumed: March 9, 2011
Comments: Merlot infused with chocolate.

Varietal: Red Wine
Producer/Importer: Saint Josef
Region: Rheinhessen
Vintage: 2009
Price:
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): moderately dark red
Smell (bouquet, aroma): Cherries
Taste (acidity, balance, body): sweet and smooth with an acidic finish. Hint of cinnamon spice.
Bottle presentation:
Label description: NA
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10): 6
Date consumed: March 9, 2011
Comments: Domfelder grape variety.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Last of the February whites-KJ Chardonnay and Piesporter Michelsberg white wine

March wine night is just hours away and I am yet to finish the February reviews. Here are the final two wines from February-Kendall Jackson Chardonnay and Piesporter Michelsberg white wine.

Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay is one of my favorite Chardonnays. I find the buttery finish easy on the palate. It isconsistent from bottle to bottle so you always know what to expect. It pairs well with seafood, but I also like it with a butter smothered steak and baked potato.

The Piesporter Michelsberg white wine fell pretty low on my totem pole. After trying to find some information on it, I can see why. Thenon-descript label lends no information to the winery/vineyard or to what type of wine it actually is. Here I find that Piesporter Michelsberg is a subregion of Mosel and often produces low qualitywines. http://www.germanwine.net/knowledge/knowident.htm The wine itself was flat, lacking in the sweet sour hints of flavor. I'd leave it before I take it, but it is not undrinkable.

Varietal: Chardonnay
Producer/Importer: Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve
Region: California
Vintage: 2008
Price:
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): robust golden color
Smell (bouquet, aroma):
Taste (acidity, balance, body):
Smooth buttery finish to a semi dry chardonnay. Vanilla hints.
Bottle presentation: Kendall Jackson’s signature label-Makes me think of the cool fall mornings.
Label description: “This Chardonnay bursts with tropical flavors such as mango, papaya and pineapple with citrus notes that explode in your mouth. These flavors delicately intertwine with aromas of green apple and pear to create depth and balance throughout. A hint of toasted oak rounds out the long lingering finish.” —Randy Ullom, Winemaster
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10):
8
Date consumed: February 9, 2011
Comments: Consistently a good wine. Pairs well with seafood and steak if you like it smothered in butter.


Varietal: White wine
Producer/Importer: Piesporter Michelsberg
Region: Mosel-Germany
Vintage: 2008
Price:
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): light golden
Smell (bouquet, aroma):
Taste (acidity, balance, body):
light-almost flat, sweet & sour but not very flavorful.
Bottle presentation: non-descript
Label description:
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10):
4
Date consumed: February 9, 2011
Comments: Bottle did not indicate the type of wine, nor the winery/vineyard it originates from. A quick search of Piesporter Michelsberg left me to understand that Piesporter Michelsberg is a region which normally produces low quality wines.

Monday, March 7, 2011

February Rieslings: Two Vines and Extrem

I tend to gravitate toward Rieslings. I suppose it is the surprise that comes with such a variable grape. Rieslings range from sweet desert wines when made from late harvest to semi-sweet to dry. Two Rieslings were consumed at the February 9, 2011 tasting-Two Vines from Columbia Valley and Extrem from the Alsace region of France.

The Columbia valley Riesling is a little sweeter of a Riesling, sweeter than that of a typical Mosel-Germany regional wine. I found it to be very laid back in flavor.

The Extrem Riesling on the other hand was a little extreme for my taste (pun intended). It was well to the right on the scale of dryness and exhibited scents of petroleum. Yup petroleum. In my limit knowledge of Rieslings this petrol aroma is a signature to a high quality wine. If you like drier Rieslings check it out and comment what you think.

Kind of wine: Riesling
Producer/Importer: Two Vines
Region: Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2008
Price:
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): light golden
Smell (bouquet, aroma): green apples and citrus
Taste (acidity, balance, body): light and sweet with modest acidity. Sort of laid back on fullness.
Bottle presentation: Simple soft tone vines-earthy feel
Label description:
“This delicate Riesling offers aromas of peach blossoms and green apples.
Flavors of apple, pear and citrus rest against a lean frame and finish with
clean, crisp acidity on the palate.”
Comparisons: A little sweeter than Rieslings from the Mosel region of Germany.
Overall rating (1-10): 6
Date consumed: February 9, 2011
Comments:


Kind of wine: Riesling
Producer/Importer: Pierre Sparr Extrem
Region: France-Alsace
Vintage: 2006
Price: $14.99
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): light golden
Smell (bouquet, aroma): petrol aroma
Taste (acidity, balance, body): Dry almost petrol in taste
Bottle presentation: Simple modern label black with lime green and white text.
Label description:
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10):
1
Date consumed: February 9, 2011
Comments: The petrol notes are often signatures of higher quality wines, but are not pleasing to my palate. Hence my rating of a 1. If you like drier Rieslings it might be worth it to try this one on your own. I'd be interested to hear your comments.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Middle Sister- Sweet & Sassy

So far I have really enjoyed the Middle Sister wines. I first saw their label on Facebook. I usually ignore the right panel of ads, but wine always catches my eye for some reason. Anyway, the company boasted of going to the streets and using social media to develop its wines. So far I think they figured out how to please the masses.

Sweet and Sassy is definitely sweet, but I don't feel a bit sassy drinking it. A little sparkle and a little more acidity would have added more sass, but the wine is still quite delightful. If you like a Moscato without the bubble this should be on your try it list. It has aromas of pears and peaches. It is sweet and light on the tongue with peach after flavors. It would be a sweet end to your day, date, or dinner.

Kind of wine: California Moscato
Producer/Importer: Middle Sister- Sweet and Sassy
Region: California
Vintage:
Price:
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): light golden-
Smell (bouquet, aroma): pear and peach
Taste (acidity, balance, body): Sweet, smooth, peach aftertaste, lightly acidic
Bottle presentation: Sweet and Sassy just like the name.
Label description:"Forward fruit and flora aromas of lychee, lemon zest, tangerine, candied pear, peach. Rich impression entering the mouth with prominent floral notes. Soft mid-palate; good acidity on the finish. The fruit notes of peaches, pears and citrus linger."
Comparisons: Very similar to Barefoot Moscato
Overall rating (1-10): 8
Date consumed: February 9, 2011
Comments: This is the 3rd Middle Sister wine I have tried and liked them all. The others were a red table wine and a Merlot.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

February Reds: Zinfandel and Malbec

February is all about the color red... Here are the red wines of February.


Kind of wine: Zinfandel
Producer/Importer:
CA’Momi
Region: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2007
Price:
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): Deep red
Smell (bouquet, aroma):
Sweet berries and vanilla
Taste (acidity, balance, body): Sweet vanilla and spicy. Full yet smooth.
Bottle presentation: The sunflowers in the foreground give this label a country feel.
Label: "Rich and balanced tannin structure with flavors of blackberry, raspberry, black cherry, vanilla and spicy beach plum, black pepper and clove spice, this layered Zin develops a full mid-palate and a smooth, lingering finish."
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10):
9
Date consumed: February 9, 2011
Comments: According to the winemakers website they "are the first winery in the U.S. to feature the Nova Twist closure for some of our wines. This closure makes the bottle100% recyclable (unlike traditional metal screw caps), has no sharp edges and has approximately 1/3 the carbon foot print of metal screw caps. That’s good for Mother Earth" So drinking wine is good for the environment.


Kind of wine: Malbec
Producer/Importer: Ambiente Mendoza
Region: Argentina
Vintage: 2009
Price:
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): Deep red
Smell (bouquet, aroma): Mocha and berries
Taste (acidity, balance, body): Smooth balance. Mocha and berries.
Bottle presentation: Simple and classic
Label description:"Ambiente Mendoza Malbec has aromas of plums and blackberries with a subtle note of violets that lead into similar flavors accented by hints mocha on the velvety finish"
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10):
9
Date consumed: February 9, 2011
Comments: We all like Malbecs and this one still appeals to our taste buds.

February favorite: Apothic Red

Wine night at EZ Street Saloon in South Range, WI completely makes my month. I look forward to this second Wednesday of the month-well all month long. This February’s tastes did not disappoint me. The favorite of the night was a California red blend, Apothic Red created by Boyd Morrison. This Syrah-Zinfandel-Merlot blend starts out sweet- one can really savor the vanilla and black cherry described by the winemakers label. It finishes strong yet smooth like that of a good Merlot. Unfortunately the bottle was consumed before I could spend more time tasting the other flavors of rhubarb, mocha, chocolate, and brown spice boasted about on the label.

Kind of wine: Syrah-Zinfandel-Merlot blend
Producer/Importer: Apothic Red
Region: California
Vintage: 2009
Price: $9-12
Tasting notes:
Sight (Color/Clarity): Deep dark red
Smell (bouquet, aroma): Full sweet mixed berries
Taste (acidity, balance, body): Full, robust, exciting- sweet to start and smooth to finish.
Bottle presentation: The label is classy elegant and a little goth feel (which is why I remember the name of the brand so well)
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10): 10
Date consumed: February 9, 2011
Comments: Try this one with desert especially chocolate. It is sure to bring out the sweet tones. EZ wine tasters favorite of the night.
13.1% Alcohol.