Dona Paula Sauvignon Blanc 2010 wine review by (PB)

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Ripe tropical fruit with S. Blanc grassy edge and vanilla.

Palate--Tart ripe pineapple edge front palate with mouth watering acid. Finishes with fleeting citrus.

This Argentinian white is classic grassy S. Blanc better with food than by itself due to it's racy acidity. Will cut through the greasiest or fattiest food you can throw at it. While it runs around $10 I grabbed a bottle on close out for less than $5. At $10 it is a decent Sauvignon blanc; at under $5, it's a great find so raise a glass!--A Review from The Wine Cask Blog. Creative Commons: Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 applies

Wild Rock Cupid's Arrow Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009 Wine Review (NW)

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Tasting notes:

Fragrant strawberry and a touch of ruby red grapefruit on the nose

Light to medium bodied on the palate

Bright, clean finish of raspberry and spice

Summary:

Central Otago is the region that's defining New Zealand Pinot Noir.  Some of my favorite wines from this beautiful place are now $50 or more, so I'm constantly looking for lower priced offerings that deliver the characteristics that have put this region on the wine map. 

Wild Rock has a winner with their Cupid's Arrow Pinot Noir.  It has a fragrant nose and is relatively light and clean on the finish, showing some spicy fruit and good acidity.  Overally, not a real complex wine but certainly enjoyable and easy to drink.  Interestingly, I finished the last glass from this bottle a day later and it was a bit more complex and nuanced which is unusual for most wines.

According to the wine merchant where I found this, the retail price is around $18.  I got a great sale price of $9 and went back for more. I recommend this wine as a good value expression of the Central Otago Pinot Noir that has won a lot of fans.  Raise a glass!

--A Review from The Wine Cask Blog. Creative Commons: Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 applies

Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon "Grand Estates" 2009 wine review by (PB)

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Garnet hue with nice rich aromas of cocoa laced blackberry fruit.

Palate-- Nice chocolatey blackberries with acidic structure in the popular fruit forward style. A bit thinner than their H3 "Horse Heaven Hills" it is still pleasant to drink and a fair representation of inexpensive Cab made with the oversight of the expertise of the folks at Columbia Crest.

Always reliable and a solid value, I paid $8 for this on sale but normally sells around $12 depending what part of the country you're in. Had it with "Raclette grill" of tenderloin, asparagus, shrooms, and Italian squash mixed in with numerous interruptions of trick-or-treaters at the door. Raise a glass as usual from the folks at CC!--A Review from The Wine Cask Blog. Creative Commons: Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 applies

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier 2011 wine review by (PB)

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Straw hue with bouquet of pears, banana, and green apple fragrances that is wonderful.

Palate--Spritzy mouth with fruity, off dry, Fuji apple fruit. Finishes with big lingering pear and green apple. This is a seriously tasty blend of the two grapes even as Pine Ridge emerges as a real contender in the vast world of wine.

The lovely acidity and flavors in balance makes this a great aperitif or a good food wine. I will be pairing this with pork cutlets and sauerkraut.

At $9 raise a glass of this tasty. juicy fragrant wine!--A Review from The Wine Cask Blog. Creative Commons: Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 applies

Brutocao Merlot "Bliss Vineyard" 2008 wine review by (PB)

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Garnet hue with bouquet of woody cherry fruit with a rustic edge to it all.

Palate-- awkward front that borders on a flaw, a touch of bread, very restrained fruit, the same awkward mid-palate and finish. I'll let this breathe but this is off to a disappointing start!

2 hours later, the bouquet is really quite nice with all the elements above with a bit more finesse, more importantly, the awkwardness of the palate is barely noticeable now.

This wine cost $11 marked down from $22. At $11 it's enjoyable but if I had paid $22 for this, I would have not been happy. Raise a glass.--A Review from The Wine Cask Blog. Creative Commons: Attribution - ShareAlike 2.5 applies

Chateau Bianca Gewurztraminer 2006

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Price: $13.99 @ liquor store in Porter Square
Recommended by: just a domestic Gewurz we have not tried
Comments: We were not impressed by this. It doesn't even really taste like a Gewurz. There is no real exotic spice flavor that you would expect; instead it's a bouquet of flowers. A strong bouquet. There are also subtle flavors of pineapple, lime, and honey, but it's mostly a bouquet. Not terrible, but not our favorite, and we won't likely be picking this one up again soon.
Rating: 5.5/10

Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Stellenbosch 2007

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Price: $9.99 @ Gary's Liquors (W. Roxbury, MA)
Recommended by: Boston Globe
Comments: This wine was listed in the Boston Globe as one of the best wines you can find for under $10. We agree! It is similar to Gruner Veltliner on the nose but exhibits flavors of both Gewurztraminer (spice) and Sauvignon Blanc (fruit) on the palate. Flavors of lime are most present, tempered with a buttery smoothness and a nice spicy finish. We had it with sushi (surprise!) and it was a fantastic pairing. It went particularly well with the sweetness of the unagi (eel). We'll be looking forward to this one again soon.
Rating: 7.5/10