Row House Cellars - Red Table Wine

Tasted on : March 4, 2011
Purchased for: $9.99


Wine Data:

• Alcohol Content: 12.5%
• Residual Sugar: 0%

Tasting:
Appearance: Dark, dark blood red
Aroma: A subtle bouquet. I can't really identify the aroma notes, but it's very nice.
Taste / Texture: An interesting blend of flavors. Again, I can't pin down the exact notes, but they're nice together. Smooth feeling on the tongue and nice blending of tastes.
Aftertaste: Medium-short finishing time on the tongue. The aftertaste itself is pleasant enough.

Decision: Decision 75/100 Okay for a blended wine. It isn't anything particularly special about this wine. I probably wouldn't buy it again.

Wagner - Reserve White

Tasted on : November 27, 2010
Purchased for: $5.99

Tasting:

Appearance: Clear, pale, pale straw. Nice legs.

Aroma: Playful apple aroma.

Taste / Texture: Nice, fairly bold taste. Smooth, but neither thin nor thick. Apple note is at the forefront and I cannot detect other flavors.

Aftertaste: Pleasant aftertaste despite a relatively short finish.

Decision: Great value wine! Not only is it tasty and pleasant, it is affordable. 85/100

Swedish Hill - Viking White

Tasted on : October 29, 2010
Purchased for: $6.99Wine Data:

• Alcohol Content: 12%
• Residual Sugar: 0.5%

Wine Awards and Ratings:

• Gold medal NY Wine & Food Classic, NY 8/09
• Gold medal LA Int'l, CA 5/09
• Gold medal Indy Int'l, IN 6/09

Tasting:
Appearance: Very clear, light straw-colored. Nice legs.
Aroma: Crisp apple aroma. Subdued such that it does not flit across the room to ensnare the nose.
Taste / Texture: My immediate reaction isn't very favorable. The taste of the wine is akin to a pinot grigio. There is a mineral or other type of note that completely overwhelms the taste.
Aftertaste: The aftertaste is the best part, funnily enough. The taste is nice and the finish is rather short.
Decision: I've had better wines in this price range, so I wouldn't buy this again. 70/100

Swedish Hill Viking Red

Tasted on: Friday, March 5, 2010
Purchased for: $6.99 750ml


Wine Data:

• Alcohol Content: 12%


• Residual Sugar: .05%
  

Wine Awards and Ratings:

• "Best Red Hybrid Blend" NY Wine & Food Classic, NY 8/09


• "Best Red Hybrid Blend" NY Wine & Food Classic, NY 8/08


• Gold Medal & Best of Class San Francisco Chronicle, CA 1/08

Tasting:

Appearance: Deep garnet hue with faint opacity

Aroma: Subtle cherry/berry fruit with a slight wafting of oak. Lightly scented.

Taste / Texture: Soft beginning of berry that gains momentum as it coats the tongue in its velvet cloak. The oak becomes more noticeable when the liquid strikes the back of the palate.

Aftertaste: The wine quickly vaporizes upon swallowing yet leaves a footprint of is pleasant character. The mixture of berries continues to remind.

Decision: This New York Table Wine is an extremely good value for the product that you get. The mixture of French Hybrid and vinifera grapes is practically perfected. One can't expect a better red table wine! I will definitely be buying this again. I'll give it a 90/100 for the great value as well as the flavor that this wine possesses.

Bully Hill - Chardonel

Tasted on: February 17, 2010
Purchased for: $8.99


Wine Data:

• Alcohol Content:11%


• Residual Sugar:unknown - dry
  

Tasting:

Appearance: Lovely straw color. Very clear - no particulates.

Aroma: Crisp, melon bouquet. I can also smell a floral note too. Very nice aroma.

Taste / Texture: Wow. Complex taste on first sip. Very strong beginning. Melon note is the strongest. There is a note that I cannot identify that almost has a minerality to it, but not so bitter or moisture-sucking. Lovely medium body.

Aftertaste: Coats the tongue a bit. The aftertaste is nice and reminiscent of the primary tasting.

Decision: A great everyday wine. I would recommend drinking it in warmer weather with a nice southern-style meal. 85/100

Red Tail Ridge - Dry Riesling

Tasted on: December 23, 2009
Purchased for: Unknown


Wine Data:

• Alcohol Content: 12.5%
  


• Residual Sugar: 0.7%
  

Tasting:

Appearance: Clear, medium-intense straw color

Aroma: Wonderful bouquet. I'm a little stuffed up, so I can't really distinguish the aroma notes. I'm going to rely on the tasting notes for this - lemon and lime aromas are concentrated in this wine.

Taste / Texture: I can taste a minerality and lemon/lime notes. Thin-bodied, but the flavors seem to work with it.

Aftertaste: Nice finish that is neither short nor overstaying. It leaves a pleasant taste and the dryness is cloying against the palette.

Decision: Not the best riesling wine that I've had, but definitely okay. It gets better as I drink more. 85/100

Bully Hill Seyval Blanc

Tasted on: Friday, December 11, 2009
Purchased for: ~$6.99


Wine Data: Non-vintage White Table Wine from the Finger Lakes region, New York

• Alcohol Content: 11%
  


• Residual Sugar: .5%
  

Tasting:

Appearance: Medium straw colored with a very light amber sparkle

Aroma: Cool floral scent mingled with citrus and wood. Extremely light and pleasant bouquet

Taste / Texture: Light-bodied with a tart citrus entry that travels quickly. Extremely dry with lemon, grapefruit and mineral undertones. Right up my alley!

Aftertaste: Lingering citrus finish

Decision: This particular wine is definitely a medium-class, every-day table wine you won't be embarrassed to serve. The taste is pleasant yet lacks a strength of character. If you are in the mood for mellow, this wine fits the bill. 75/100

Swedish Hill - Natural Sparkling Wine

Tasted on: November 13, 2009
Purchased for: ~$20


Wine Data:

• Alcohol Content: 12%
• Residual Sugar: 1.4%
  

Wine Awards and Ratings:

• Gold Medal Int'l Eastern, NY 5/09
• Gold Medal Riverside Int'l, CA 5/09
• Gold Medal & Best of Class Pacific Rim Int'l, CA 4/09
• Gold Medal Pacific Rim Int'l, CA 4/09
• Gold Medal Florida State Fair Int'l, FL 2/09

Tasting:

Appearance: Very clear. slight yellow-green tint. Very active bubbles and head.

Aroma: Very aromatic with strong citrus notes. Not overwhelming and harmonious.

Taste / Texture: Strong citrus flavor (pears? apples?) with a hint of mineral. Mineral seems a bit too strong to make the flavors sing together. Crisp. Doesn't make my tongue tingle, though.

Aftertaste: Lasting and somewhat coating on the tongue.

Decision: Nice champagne, but definitely not the best that I've had (that prize goes to Chateau de Frank). Wouldn't buy it again because the price doesn't seem to correlate with the quality. 75/100

Broadbent - Vinho Verde (NV)

Tasted on: October 23, 2009
Purchased for: $7.99


Wine Data:

• Alcohol Content: 9%
• Residual Sugar: Unknown, but likely below 2.5%
  

Wine Awards and Ratings:

• 86 points - Wine Spectator

Tasting:

Appearance: Very clear. slight green tint.

Aroma: Very aromatic with citrus notes. Simple, yet delightful bouquet.

Taste / Texture: The slight carbonation gives it a tingly mouth feel. The blood orange note is clear. The wine has a medium body. The flavors work harmonious towards a generously flavorful taste.

Aftertaste: Lasting, somewhat coating, and quite pleasant on the tongue.

Decision: Excellent, excellent wine. It would pair great with a salad or white meat summer dish. Also a great wine to drink by itself. As a fan of champagne, I love bubbles and their tingling taste on the tongue. Definitely a keeper. 90/100

Belhurst Winery - Golden Pheasant (NV)

Tasted on: Februrary 20, 2009
Purchased for: about $15

Wine Data:

• Alcohol: 12%
• Residual Sugar: 1.5%

Wine Awards and Grades:

• 2008 Golden Nose Competition - GOLD Medal
• 2008 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition - Silver Medal
• 2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition - Bronze Medal

Tasting:
Appearance: Very clear and pale

Aroma: Wonderful, distinct bouquet. Fruity smell, almost champagne-like.

Taste/Texture: Delightfully tingly, not too sweet. Crisp and lasting. Very nice.

Aftertaste: Not long lasting. Pleasant and not thick.

Decision: Really, really good. Definitely recommended.