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!

Friday, September 20, 2013

Sileni Cellar Collection Sauvignon Blanc


Graeme Avery, a pharmaceutical scientist and former owner of medical publishing company Adis International started Sileni Estates in late 1997, along with financial director Chris Cowper and winemaker Grant Edmonds. They named the winery the Sileni who featured in Roman mythology alongside Bacchus, the God of Wine. 
The vineyards and winery are based near Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, the Marlborough region. The Marlborough region of New Zealand produces around three-quarters of all the country's wine. If you get a chance, check out the Sileni Estates webpage on their innovative winemaking.  

Varietal:  Sauvignon Blanc
Producer/Importer:  Sileni Cellar Collection                      
Region:  Marlborough, New Zealand           
Vintage: 2011
Price: $11.99
Tasting notes:
 Sight (Color/Clarity):
 Smell (bouquet, aroma): Ammonia
Taste (acidity, balance, body): tart citrus start with a dry finish
Winemaker’s notes:The Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc has ripe tropical and gooseberry fruit flavours with a zingy finish and impeccable balance. A great aperitif or seafood wine made for drinking young. Serve lightly chilled.”
Overall rating (1-10): 8.5
Date consumed: November 14, 2012

Friday, September 6, 2013

J Lohr Bay Mist Estates White Riesling 2005 I will take a pass



J Lohr Bay Mist Estates boasts that their 2005 White Riesling as being one of the “finest vintages in a decade”.  I have to disagree, while I don’t have a direct comparison of other vintages from J Lohr, I have to believe there is better than this.  Right off the nose is a strong petro odor that masks all others if there are other aromas.  Many reviews describe apples, apricots, honey dew, citrus flavors.  I couldn’t get past the flavor of ethanol.  Seeing how most reviews disagree with my findings I am inclined to think it was a bad bottle, but I did find another review that agreed with me, so maybe a bad case.  In any case, I am not recommending the 2005 J Lohr Bay Mist Estates White Riesling, but I haven’t ruled out trying another vintage.


Varietal:  White Riesling
Producer/Importer:  J Lohr Bay Mist Estates         
Region:  Central Monterey, California
Vintage: 2005
Price: $8.99
Tasting notes:
 Sight (Color/Clarity): Pale golden straw
 Smell (bouquet, aroma): petro
Taste (acidity, balance, body): ethanol
Winemaker’s notes:The 2005 J. Lohr Estates Bay Mist White Riesling is a very youthful, pale brassy yellow color with enticing fruit aromas of peach, apricot, honeydew melon with a rose and curry spiciness. The 2.30% residual sugar is balanced by the crisp grape acidity and natural spritz from a long cool fermentation, making the 2005 White Riesling a delightfully fruity, refreshing wine capable of complementing the vibrant flavors of Pacific Rim cuisine, Indian curried chicken or as an aperitif”
Overall rating (1-10): blech
Date consumed: November 14, 2012
Comments: See the website for the winery’s fermentation notes www.jlohr.com/sites/default/files/files/wine/trade-pos/wines_estates_05_white_r.pdf

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Split Rock Lighthouse Riesling



Split Rock Lighthouse Riesling is a nice novelty wine featuring a local landmark, but the wine is left to be desired.  The bottle pictures the Split Rock Lighthouse on the shores of Lake Superior.  The wine is a dry with a strong sour lemon aroma and flavor.  It would be a great compliment to a savory baked fish dinner, if you like drier wines.  If you are looking for more the typical Riesling - clean, crisp, and not awful sweet, this may not tickle your fancy.

Varietal:  Riesling
Producer/Importer:  Split Rock Lighthouse           
Region:  Rheinhessen Germany
Vintage: 2011
Price: $11.95
Tasting notes:
 Sight (Color/Clarity): Medium yellow gold
 Smell (bouquet, aroma): Sour lemons
Taste (acidity, balance, body): Dry, tart-sour
Bottle presentation: Picture of the Split Rock Lighthouse on the shores of Lake Superior
Overall rating (1-10): 8
Date consumed: November 14, 2012

Monday, September 2, 2013

Torlasco Moscato D'asti the perfect summer celebration wine

Wowza! While summer has been keeping me too  busy to blog (or even drink much wine), I see my readers have been busy reading and hopefully enjoying a few glasses!  over 4,000 views!  I think the last time I peeked we were sitting around 2000.  I guess I better get back to blogging!

Wines for winding down hot summers day need to be cold and light and sometimes sweet and sometimes crisp.  Something to enjoy while sitting on the porch or deck or boating or beaching or picnicing. Here is a favorite that you are sure to enjoy while your summer winds downm but you may not want to savor this just in the summer.  It would also make a great wine for celebrating anytime of the year.


Torlasco “Madame Rachele” Moscato d’Asti defies all preconceived ideals of what Moscato is.  It is neither syrupy or overly sugary, nor simple. Torlasco Moscato is highly complex and bursting with flavor.  The bubbles and acidy lighten the sugary richness and allows for the fruity flavors of green apple, peaches and apricots to shine along with flavors of the earth from which these grapes were raised. You may even pick up the subtle herbal flavors hidden among the fruit. 

Serve this wine chilled with anything from savory cheeses to fruity desserts or cakes.

Varietal:  Moscato D’Asti
Producer/Importer:  Torlasco          
Region:  Piedmont DOCG, Italy
Vintage: 2010
Price: $8.99
Tasting notes:
 Sight (Color/Clarity): light sunny yellow
 Smell (bouquet, aroma): fresh summery fruits and a smidge of spice
Taste (acidity, balance, body): light on the tongue, Sweet but not over powering, tart acidity like green apples. Nice complexity for a Moscato
Bottle presentation: Black and white label with a drawing of a 1950sish Italian woman.
Winemaker’s notes: “The grapes hand harvested and grown in combination of limestone and sandstone soils from the cool, hilly Asti region. The grapes are crushed, chilled to almost freezing in stainless steel vats, fermented and bottled to capture the resulting carbon dioxide. The result is a low alcohol (5.5% maximum by law) slightly effervescent wine, or what the Italians call vino frizzante.”
Comparisons: Blows every other Moscato out of the competition so far
Overall rating (1-10): 10
Date consumed: November 14, 2012
Comments:  100% Moscato Bianco di Canelli, 5.5% abv