2011 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc

Taste: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Price: $13

Classic sauvignon blanc - sugared pink grapefruit on the nose and palate.  Had with herbed roasted chicken and enjoyed greatly!
winemaker's notes:

This intense Sauvignon Blanc is alive with a myriad of flavors dominated by gooseberry, passionfruit, fresh citrus, melon and nettle-influenced herbaceous aromas. The wine has an enticing palate with a juicy flavor profile, purity and concentration, finishing crisp and clean with an interwoven thread of acidity.

2011 A to Z Sangiovese Rose

Taste: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Price: $10

No where on the label does this Rose give a nod to Sangiovese, but it is definitely a Rose to try!  Vibrant aromas of strawberry, watermelon, red currant, wet stone and violets developing into deeper aromas of ripe red raspberry, magnolia, Rainier cherry and blueberry. Not sure I got all that but I agree that on the palate, the wine has a bright, juicy mouthfeel and ripe fruit flavors with floral notes, finally finishing crisp and leaving one wanting another sip.  It was delightful with sausage, pepper and tomato pasta and I can't wait to add another bottle to my collection!



2010 Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Taste: 3/5

Value: 4/5

Price: $14

Labeled a "winemakers wine", made by growers and friends - a handcrafted wine made just for themselves.  A Bordeaux style blend, offering ripe black currant, deep dark fruit nuances, accented by spice and smoke, marched with a long soft finish.  Bold and expressive but unassuming, and approachable.  Reminded me of a $14 cab when I was looking for a $14 cab that tastes like a $40 cab.  I would, however, give it another try as I'm a tad undecided on this one.

2010 Ferrari-Carano Bella Luce

Taste: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Price: $13

Enjoyed this with friends as an apperitif it was refreshing without being too crisp (i.e. had a very light, but not cloying sweetness).

Ferrari-Carano’s unique, proprietary, white wine blend - Bella Luce, which means “beautiful light” in Italian - is the sister wine to our SIENA and Pinot Grigio. The goal of Bella Luce was to create a fragrant and light white wine blend from varietals that would complement one another in aromas, flavors and texture. Bella Luce accomplishes this with delicious layers of peach, vanilla and floral aromas, and wisps of orange blossom, pear and lime.  Distinctive and round on the palate, Bella Luce’s flavors of cream, vanilla, citrus, and apple shine through.  A blend of Chardonnay, Muscat Canelli, Semillon, Muscat Giallo, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling.

Will definitely buy again and would love to try with pasta in an olive oil/garlic sauce.

2008 Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah

Taste 3/5
Value: 4/5
Price: $10

The Concannon Conservancy Chardonnay was delightful when I had it at a wine tasting in Atlanta - not to be confused with the lower end non-Conservancy bottling, which I did when I first bought it.  The Conservancy label is reminiscent of Frank Family Chardonnay with a nice lemon curd core.  Anyway, enjoying Petite Syrah, and seeing the Conservancy label on sale for $10 I thought I'd give it a try.  Most every other blog I read on this wine really liked it, but I must say I'm partial to Bogle's style a tad more.  This had aromas of sweat socks and alcohol and was harsh on the palate and had quite an afterburn.  I will wait and publish this post tomorrow after it's had a chance to breathe.  Maybe day two will be better...

Not so much - would not buy again, sorry!

2009 Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Sauvignon

Taste: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Price: <$10

This was a stock the bar gift for my 40th birthday earlier this year and had never heard of or seen the label before then.  With no preexisting expectations, I was pleasantly surprised.  Well balanced and true to the varietal, but don't hold past two days once opened.  By day three it didn't hold up well.  Worth a try for the price.  82% cab, 18% merlot.

From the winemaker (Paul Clifton): Cycles-Gladiator Cabernet Sauvignon has lovely aromas of raspberry, mint, and mocha. Flavors of dark fruits layered on more dark fruits wrapped in a cloak of dusty tannins. Lush and mouthfilling from start to finish, there is enough acid to support the whole structure but doesn?t finish sharp. The wine drops off at just the right place. It will go great with BBQ short ribs, and with bigger, spicy, tomato-based pasta and meat dishes.