Black Tower Rivaner

Black Tower Rivaner has a smooth mellow attitude with a simple flavor that is slightly sweet and a little bit fruity. The aromas give just a hint of flowers and licorice. It is a pleasant wine to drink  glass or two with a meal or on its own. However, its simplicity may leave you wanting something more after awhile.


Varietal:   Rivaner (aka Müller-Thurgau)     

Producer/Importer:  Reh Kendermann Black Tower

Region: Rheinhessen Germany

Vintage: 2008

Price: $6-11

Tasting notes:

Sight (Color/Clarity): pale gold

Smell (bouquet, aroma): flowers and licorice

Taste (acidity, balance, body): medium dry, moderately acidic. lightly fruity.

Bottle presentation: Black bottle. Label has an old world German font. Natural Cork.

Label description: "Black Tower Rivaner is a deliciously smooth wine full of fresh fruit flavours of pineapple and ripe mango. Wonderfully easy to drink, it is equally enjoyable served chilled, on its own, or with a variety of food – any time, any occasion.Works well with spicy chicken tacos or sweet pork and chili stir fry."
Comparisons: Like the Liebfraumilch, but fuller bodied.  Similar to a typical for a Rhein wine. 

Overall rating (1-10):  7.5

Date consumed: May 11, 2011

Comments: Comes in a box too!
Müller-Thurgau is a variety of white grape created in 1882 by Hermann Muller from the Swiss canton of  Thurgau. It is a hybrid of Riesling with Madeleine Royale. Müller-Thurgau is also known as Rivaner (Austria, Germany, and Luxemburg), Riesling-Sylvaner (Switzerland), Johannisberg (Wallis canton in Switzerland) and Rizlingszilváni (Hungary).

Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling

Pacific Rim specializes in Rieslings (90% of wines produced).  The Riesling is the winemakers favorite for its versatility-that is a simple grape can be transformed in a million different expressions.  Pacific Rim's Sweet Riesling is a delightful refreshing Riesling from Columbia Valley.  The grapes used are slightly more ripe than what is used for a drier Riesling.  Steel tanks are used for the fermenting to allow the true Riesling flavors to come forward. The label calls this a medium sweet, but I think it lingers more toward a sweet wine. The result is intensely sweet to start but quickly balances.  As the wine develops in your mouth the flavors of crisp pear dance on the tongue with just the touch of the bubbly.  The wine finishes with the sweetness of pineapples and a little tartness of lemons.   

Varietal:    Riesling    

Producer/Importer:  Pacific Rim

Region: Columbia Valley

Vintage: 2009

Price: $10.00

Tasting notes:

Sight (Color/Clarity): light golden

Smell (bouquet, aroma): Sugary breeze

Taste (acidity, balance, body): Very sweet initially.  The middle has a crisp pear flavor. It finishes with pineapple and lemon.

Bottle presentation: Clear bottle with and oriental flare on the label. Screw cap.

Label description:"The wine is moderately sweet and refreshingly low in alcohol — less than 9% — with flavors of pineapple and peach. Our Sweet Riesling brings perfect balance to all fiery fare — especially Thai, Szechwan and Caribbean cuisine... or simply enjoy as an aperitif. "

Comparisons:

Overall rating (1-10): 8

Date consumed: May 11, 2011

Comments: Low in Alcohol (Alc9%) 

Other label info: Residual Sugar 8.4%  pH: 2.97  TA: 0.78

http://rieslingrules.com/

Ca’ Momi Moscato

I had all the anticipation of a sweet bubbly light refreshing Moscato and was thrown for a loopty loop when I tasted the Ca’ Momi Moscato.  It was light and bubbly, but lacked the sweetness I associate with Moscato.  It was almost more like a dry Riesling than a Moscato. At first I thought it was just me -were my taste buds off?  The EZ Street Saloon audience agreed it was unusually dry and for that reason we rated it lower.  Curiousity of course sent me looking online.  The reviews I found paint a very different picture- all describing it as creamy and silky and vanilla and floral. I think I better try another bottle, perhaps we just got a bad bottle- it happens.

Varietal: Moscato     

Producer/Importer:  Ca’ Momi

Region: California

Vintage: 2008

Price: $10.99

Tasting notes:

Sight (Color/Clarity): light golden

Smell (bouquet, aroma): fruity socks

Taste (acidity, balance, body): surprisingly dry, bubbly

Bottle presentation: California country.

Label description: “This beautifully integrated Muscat has hints of honey, narcissus, rose and melon aromas. The palate is silky, with a warm balanced spirit and a hint of orange blossom on the finish. This wine is like a sunny spring morning at Ca’Momi; luscious and aromatic, full of flowers. It makes you want to smile.”

Comparisons:

Overall rating (1-10): 3.5

Date consumed: May 11, 2011

Comments: 13.5% alc.  Not a typical Moscato- bad bottle perhaps?

Strawberry-Rhubarb

Three Lakes Winery is tucked away in northern Wisconsin near the Nicolet Forest in the town of Three Lakes.  Three Lakes Winery specializes in fruity wines, and is best known for its cranberry wine (a tasting for another time).  The Strawberry-Rhubarb wine was a delight for the up coming summer season.  It is sweet and refreshing with a slight tangy balance. This is a great desert wine.

Varietal:  Strawberry-Rhubarb      

Producer/Importer:  Three Lakes Winery

Region: Three Lakes, Wisconsin

Vintage:

Price: $9.95

Tasting notes:

Sight (Color/Clarity): Light rusty color

Smell (bouquet, aroma): Strawberries and vanilla

Taste (acidity, balance, body): Very sweet, strawberries are dominant with just a touch of the tangy rhubarb.  "Chewing" the wine brings out the spice of ginger and sweetness of vanilla.

Bottle presentation: Label has an illustration of a strawberry plant and rhubarb.

Label description:  Described as a semi-sweet wine with flavors of ginger,cherries and vanilla in addition to the obvious.

Comparisons:

Overall rating (1-10): 7

Date consumed: May 11, 2011

Comments: 11% Alc.  Sweeter than expected for a semi-sweet wine.

Renwood Sierra Foothills Zinfandel

Renwood winery now produces 100,000 cases of wines per year, including several labels of Zinfandel.  The Sierra Foothills Zinfandel is Renwood Winery's red label wine, less than premier from what I can tell.  My overall opinion of the 2007 puts it a little light for Zinfandel's style.  The color was that of a light garnet rather than the deep garnet red I tend to associate with Zinfandel. Even the fruity flavors that are characteristic of Zinfandel were subtle despite the open nose. The acidity was more noticeable than expected while the tannins were on the moderate side.  Although it is a little uninspiring for a Zinfandel, I would be interested in trying some of the other labels coming out of Renwood Winery.

Varietal:      Zinfandel       

Producer/Importer:  Renwood

Region:  Sierra foothills

Vintage: 2007

Price:

Tasting notes:

Sight (Color/Clarity): light garnet red

Smell (bouquet, aroma): strong spicy fruity

Taste (acidity, balance, body): spicy, acidic. light bodied and light on fruity flavor

Bottle presentation: black bottle with cute little birdie on the red and black label

Label description: "Sierra Foothills Zinfandel displays aromas of cherry, plums and nutmeg. The flavors mirror the aromas and give the wine a fresh fruit flavor with a spicy aftertaste. This lighter style of Sierra Foothills Zinfandel is smooth and luscious"

Comparisons:

Overall rating (1-10): 4

Date consumed: May 11, 2011

Comments: A little too lack luster of a Zinfandel for me, but I would be willing to try some of Renwood's other labels of Zinfandel.

Cupcake Malbec

The cool spring still lends itself to drinking red wine here in the northland.  Malbec from Cupcake is sure to warm the damp chills and relax the mind as we impatiently wait for summer to arrive.

Varietal:     Malbec   

Producer/Importer:  Cupcake

Region: Medoza Argentina

Vintage: 2010

Price: $13.99

Tasting notes:

Sight (Color/Clarity): Deep dark ruby red

Smell (bouquet, aroma): Berries and mocha

Taste (acidity, balance, body): A hint of spiced berries and licorice.  Balanced oaky flavor

Bottle presentation: white label with blue printing-a bakery style feel

Label description: "Known throughout the world for fleshy reds, Argentina and its signature grape Malbec don't disappoint. Grown at over 2,400 feet in the shadows of the Andes Mountains, our lush, well-structured wine offers generous plum and raspberry notes. A round, full palate with a touch of creaminess yields into flavors reminiscent of a dark chocolate flourless cupcake accented with fresh berries. Enjoy with aged prime beef with crumbled blue cheese or Cajun eggplant on the grill. Cupcake: Live deliciously. - Adam Richardson, Winemaker. Alc. 13.5% by vol. Product of Argentina. "

Comparisons:

Overall rating (1-10): 7.5

Date consumed: May 11, 2011

Comments:

D’Arrigo Chianti

Chianti is a red wine produced in the Tuscany region of Italy. Originally it was a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca.  Today a Chianti is a blend of of 75-100% Sangiovese. D'Arrigo Chianti was little on the dry side for a Chianti.  It had the taste of a merlot or shiraz, but lacked the full body.  It was still a good wine, although if you are interested in exploring more Chiantis look for the Chianti Classico label.

Varietal:  Sangiovese

Producer/Importer:  Benny d’Arrigo Geonature SRL vineyards

Region: Tuscany Italy

Vintage: 2008

Price:

Tasting notes:

Sight (Color/Clarity): ruby red

Smell (bouquet, aroma): hints of almond aromas

Taste (acidity, balance, body): medium body, light on the tannins, dry, hints of almonds, velvet finish. 

Bottle presentation:

Label description: “Ruby red with garnet reflex, bouquet is deeply vinous with hints of almond.  The taste is dry, slightly tannic and becomes velvety ageing.”

Comparisons: A little on the dry side for a Chianti. 

Overall rating (1-10): 8

Date consumed: April 13, 2011

Comments: