Tasting - Chateau Morrisette 2011 Dry Rosé

Name: Chateau Morrisette Dry Rosé

Variety: 100% Chambourcin

Region: Floyd, VA

Country: USA

Year: 2011

Price: $17.99

Reviews: 

"Our newest wine, Château Morrisette Dry Rosé is made by separating juice from the grapes prior to fermentation, resulting in this lovely rose-colored wine. Made from 100% Chambourcin grapes, our Dry Rosé is crisp and juicy, with the character of citrus and strawberries, gently augmented by subtle suggestions of peach and banana evolving from the lingering, aromatic finish. This wine is food friendly, pairing well with ham, roasted poultry, sweet Italian sausage, and most any savory, non-spicy foods. Try it with chocolate-covered strawberries!"

---Winery Notes

My review: 

This wine is a light pink color in a glass. I picked up the subtle aroma of strawberries and peaches on the nose. It had a very clean smell that was lightly fruity. It tasted very light and crisp. It has a very soft flavor that isn't very strong. I tasted a very light fruitiness, but no real distinct flavors. This is a very light wine that would be refreshing on a warm sunny day. I was able to enjoy this wine with lunch at Chateau Morrisette and it was a nice accompaniment to a fresh fruit and cheese plate. Not an overly flavorful wine, but definitely light and refreshing.

Tasting - Musaragno Pinot Grigio

Name: Musaragno Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $10

Reviews: 

"A Venetian favorite!  It is crisp and dry, rich and spicy with hints of peach and honey... perfect with salads, pasta, chicken and fish!  Musaragno is an organic wine estate near Venice, Italy."

--- Winery Notes

My review: 

Pale yellow in color. It has a very light fruity smell. Get an aroma of apples, peaches, and citrus on the nose. This white is very light with a subtle taste of green apples and citrus. It is well balanced and has a crisp finish. I really enjoyed this wine as it was very flavorful but still light and crisp. I tasted this wine with veal scallopine prepared in a light white wine sauce and it went nicely with it. A wine that I would definitely try to get again. 

Tasting - Ravenswood Vintners Blend Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Ravenswood Vintners Blend Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Sonoma County, California

Country: USA

Year: 2009

Price: $10

Reviews: 

"Cab credentials? No need to carry 'em. Our 2009 vintage is as real as it gets, with strong tannins and juicy fruit aromas backed by bold blackberry, black currant, toasted oak, and vanilla flavors. This wine matches up with a big ol' hunk of steak smothered in bearnaise or grilled pork chops. Utensils optional."

--- Winery Notes

My review: 

I had high hopes for this cabernet sauvignon after trying a chardonnay from the same vineyard. This one has a very deep, dark red color. I picked up a very slight hint of blackberries on the nose. There weren't many characteristics that really stood out in this wine. The aroma was very distinctly just "red wine." The flavor was not very complex either. I found this to be overly tannic and very very dry. There was a slight oakiness though. I was disappointed in this purchase because I didn't get much out of it. It very much just smells and tastes like red wine.

Tasting - Ravenswood Vintners Blend Chardonnay

Name: Ravenswood Vintners Blend Chardonnay 

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Sonoma County, California

Country: USA

Year: 2009

Price: $10

Reviews: 

"Tired of sitting in the shadow of our rough and tumble reds, our 2009 vintage is ready for the spotlight. Layer after succulent layer, this wine delivers powerful peach, citrus, vanilla, and toasted oak in-your-face flavors that are impossibly to ignore. Match this wine up with a hunk of wine-braised chicken or a plate piled with pan-roasted scallops"

--- Winery Notes

My review: 

Nice yellow golden color. Notes of apple, peach, and citrus on the nose. Light body with the peach and citrus flavor that was picked up on the nose. It is light and fruity and has a good flavor. There is nice balance between the fruitiness and the acidity. The only downside is it is 13.5% alcohol and has rather hot aftertaste. For $10 however, this is a good chardonnay with lots of fruity flavor. I'm sure it would go quite well with chicken or fish.

Tasting - Angove Nine Vines Moscato

Name: Angove Nine Vines Moscato

Variety: Moscato

Region: South Australia

Country: Australia

Year: 2010

Price: $9

Reviews: 

"Crisp and fresh bursting with grapey flavours this is a light delightfully sweet slightly fizzy wine made to drink soon after bottling. Perfect as an aperitif, or to accompany dessert, this is a wine that speaks of its South Australian origins, perfect with a picnic next to the river or a lazy afternoon on the beach."

--- Vineyard notes

My review: 

This moscato has a deep golden color. Hints of lemon and melon on the nose. Smells very fruity. This wine is very sweet, my initial reaction was that it tasted somewhat like grape juice. After drinking a little more, this wine actually has some nice character with the lemon aspect and is surprisingly light. Not very fizzy like some other moscatos. This would be a nice wine to have after dinner or even if you were just relaxing on a nice day.

Tasting - Estancia Pinot Noir

Name: Estancia Pinor Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Soledad, California

Country: USA

Year: 2007

Price: $39.99, at the Chart House restaurant (around $25 in stores)

Reviews: 

"Garnet red. Aroma is lively, displays characters of raspberry, dry cherry, hints of spice and oak nuances. Medium-bodied, showing lifted fruit aromas, subtle luscious berries and cigar box with a nicely textured palate and a rich, supple finish."

--- Vineyard notes

My review: 

This pinot noir has a nice deep red color. You get a subtle aroma of blackberries, spice, and a little oakiness on the nose. This is a lighter pinot noir without the heavy tannic component found in many wines of this variety. I don't usually like pinot noirs because I find many have a high level of tannins, making them very bitter and dry (with the sensation of sucking all the moisture out of your mouth). This one is much lighter with a subtle, well-balanced flavor of oak at the end.

Tasting - Chateau Morrisette Sweet Mountain Laurel

Name: Chateau Morrisette Sweet Mountain Laurel

Variety: White Blend

Region: Floyd, Virginia

Country: USA

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $10.99

Reviews: 

"A unique and refreshingly sweet dessert style wine made from native American grape varieties. Firm acidity balances the sweetness, producing a crisp finish with aromas of freshly picked grapes. Pour over fresh berries and sponge cake or blend with vanilla ice cream and fruit for a creamy dessert smoothie."

--- Vineyard notes

My review: 

This wine has a light golden color. It has a nice and light, fruity, floral aroma. This is a pretty sweet white wine that tastes fruity with the same floral aspect that is picked up on the nose. The back label says this is a "sweet white table wine" and I was expecting it to be overwhelming sweet. The sweetness is nicely balanced by the acidity, giving it a crisp finish. Although it is not marketed as a dessert wine, this would make a good one.