Courtney Benham - Cabernet Franc

Price: $18.99
Region: California (Sonoma)
Year: 2006

I meant to write this review last weekend, but with a bunch of vacation days thrown into the mix, I'm just a little off my routine. Anyway, this wine review is going to be a slight departure from the norm since this was one we enjoyed during our annual Christmas lunch with my in-laws. I usually buy something in the $40 - $50 range for Christmas lunch, but had just been wanting to try this wine for a while, so decided to go a little lower on the scale. At just under $20, this is more then I spend on a weekly wine, but still not all that expensive. We had this particular wine with a wonderful cheese and fruit tray. the cheeses consisted of Huntsman (cheddar & blue cheese), a dill Havarti, and Brie.

I will be the first to admit I do not know how a Cabernet Franc is different from the more common Sauvignon, but I did have a bottle once when I was in Napa, and thought it was very good. This is partially the reason I've been wanting to try this particular wine. I have passed by it a coupel of times in my local wine store, but just never picked it up. Anyway, when I first pured a glass, it definitely looked like a deep dark red Sauvignon. No difference here (to my eye anyway). When I took a sniff, I was surprised at how strong the aroma was. Not bad by any means, but strong nonetheless. Now, the important part. When I took my first sip, I was hit with a very upfront taste that also hung around for a bit. There was definitely a noticeable difference between what I would expect out of a Cabernet Sauvignon, but it was very pleasant, and I would say unique. It was good to try something different for a change, and generally was fairly impressed with this wine. My only hesitation is that at almost $20, there are much more economical choices that are at least on par with this wine. That being said, if you just want to try something different, you won't be disappointed.

Today will be another holiday wine choice, as not only it is New Year's Eve, but also my 37th birthday! Here is wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!

Rating: 3.25 Corks (Slightly pricey, but different)

Per Me Sola - Sangoivese

Price: $6.99
Region: Toscana
Year: 2007

Well, as you'll notice, this is the first wine I've reviewed so far where I just couldn't find a picture online. It usually just isn't that difficult, but after 15 minutes or so, I gave up. Here is the new default photo in case that ever happens again. Anyway, this was a record fast trip to the wine store. I knew we were ordering some of our favorite pizza (called Mediterranean Salad), and I needed a wine to go along. Just seemed like a good time to head down the Italian wine isle. As I did, I got to the section where the Sangiovese wine was located, and came across a big yellow sign that simply said "PIZZA". I'm never one to ignore an obvious sign. My only hesitation is that $6.99 is getting close to the range where I tend to stay away from, but I gave it a try anyway.

The wine definitely had a nice deep color to it. I didn't get the impression it was going to be weak and timid. Additionally, it had a nice aroma as well. Nothing astounding, but pleasant nonetheless. But, as always, it comes down to taste. For some reason, I didn't have a glass with an appetizer this week, just waited to have a glass when I sat down to eat. Sangiovese is not a wine I drink on a regular basis, but have generally enjoyed it when I have. This was was along the same lines as others I have tasted. It had a nice flavor, with good length, but just slightly acidic for my taste. I will say, for $7, it is definitely a good pizaa wine, but are probably others out there that may just just a bit better.

Rating: 2.75 Corks (Not too shabby)

Chateau De Segries - Cotes Du Rhone

Price: $10.99
Region: France
Year: 2006

I only grabbed one bottle of wine this weekend, and it wasn't one of my usual bottles, so I'll have to finish my top 5 default wines next week. This week, I decided to grab something from France. I think the reason I tend to shy away from other regions besides California and Australia is because it isn't always as easy to tell what exactly I am buying. I know that is clearly a sign of my inexperience with French and Italian wines, but it just seems simpler to call a wine by the grape used to make it.

Anyway, I tend to associate Cotes Du Rhone with the Syrah or Grenache grape, which I generally enjoy, so it didn't seem like a very big gamble. My first impression after pouring a glass was that this particular wine was a little lighter in color then I expected. The smell however, was very strong, and very pleasant. I have trouble describing what smell I usually get from a wine, but this wine gave me the sense of a floral undertone. Definitely very nice. I'm still not 100% what grape this wine is made of primarily, but when I took a taste, it was very enjoyable, but slightly acidic. It had very good length, and had a fairly smooth finish. I actually enjoyed teh 2nd galss a tocuh mroe then the first, but overall it is a wine worth giving a try. Of the two, I definitely prefer the Louis Bernard, but this is not one to dismiss outright..
Rating: 3.25 Corks (Something different)

Sebastiani - Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $12.99
Region: California
Year: 2005

So, this week's normal entry was another Cabernet I had not tried yet. Interestingly enough, or at least interesting to me, is that I work for a company that used to run the IT systems for this particular winery a few years back. I can't say that I have ever searched out their wines because of it, but it was just another reason to give it a try. Now, usually when I specifically look for a Cabernet, ti is because there is red meat on the menu. That wasn't the case here as I knew dinner this night was a chicken and sweet potato stew. It just happened to be a cold winter day (it seems winter is a little colder this year already), and I just love a good bold wine on a cold day with a fire going.

Anyway, the first impression definitely didn't disappoint. This was a very deep, dark wine, almost purple in color. It was a good first sign. Next, when I gave the wine a swirl, and a smell, again, I was impressed. It had a nice strong aroma, a little earthy, but very pleasant. That why, when I first poured a glass, and gave it a taste, I was hoping for so much more. Not to say that it was bad at all, but I was really expecting a home run. The initial taste was slightly acidic, but generally decent. The wine had very good length, and the taste stuck around for a bit. I think my disappointment was mostly that the wine just wasn't as smooth, and as bold as I anticipated based on the wonderful color and smell. I think I will give it another try someday, maybe with a beef stew instead of chicken.

Rating: 3 Corks (A little better then average)

Monte Antico - Sangiovese

Price: $10.99
Region: Toscana
Year: 2004

With the next wine that makes my top 5 default wines, I stray a bit from the normal mold of California or Australia. I know based on wines like this, I should more often choose wines from Italy and France, etc., but I just always seem to gravitate to those regions I know better. Anyway, this is probably the first wine that I would classify as something I bought on a regular basis. I'm not even sure why I picked it up other then I read something a few years ago recommending it. Once I gave it a try, it was easy to see why it came highly recommended for the price.

When you first pour a glass, you can notice the deep, dark red coloring. Nothing weak looking here. Equally as noticeable is the pleasant aroma. I don't like using this term, but it just seems to fit here.. Bouquet. Just generally very appealing. In my opinion however, what makes this wine worth coming back to time and time again, is the flavor. It would be hard to call it unique, but it is definitely unique to what I usually drink. I think having a standby Sangiovese is very important to enjoy with the myriad of pasts dinner that seems to show up more often then not. To tell you the truth, this is my favorite wine to have with a plain old cheese pizza. The combination just hits the spot every time. This is the definition of what my default wines are all about. Don't have to think about what to grab when I run into the wine store when I ordered a pizza, I just know I want the same wine that made the dinner so enjyable the last time.

Rating: 3.75 Corks (My default Italian wine)

3 Blind Moose - Merlot

Price: $8.99
Region: California
Year: 2005

Another stop at the wine store next to one of our favorite Italian take out restaurants. The dinner order doesn't usually vary too much, but always looking for another wine to match up . In this case, it was a wine I remember seeing around my father-in-laws house, but don't remember ever giving it a try. After trying it, I can't decide whether to thank him for that, or wished I had tried it so I knew not to waste my money. You can see where this is going.

A dull looking red wine always starts me off on the wrong foot. There is something about being able to see all the way through a glass of red wine that bugs me. Although, I must admit it doesn't always mean a poor tasting wine, but just something that means the smell and flavor are going to have to make up for . Now, when you mix that with a wine you can barely smell, like was the case here, the chances I am going to enjoy this wine are pretty small. So, when I finally took a sip, I was not overly surprised that the only word that came to mind was dull. All the way around, that was the word that best described this wine for me. It was just boring from start to finish. At this point, it really didn't matter what was for dinner, although I very much enjoyed my dinner, the wine definitely didn't enhance the meal.

Rating: 1.75 Corks (The bottom of the barrel so far)

Pine Ridge - Chenin Blanc / Viognier

Price: $12.99
Region: California
Year: 2007

Another two wine review week. First, the 3rd on my list of default wines. Now, if you've picked up anything since I started reviewing a wine each week, it is that I tend to favor red wine. OK, that's the understatement of the blog so far, I must agree. Actually, there are just very few white wines that I enjoy drinking. I know this probably excludes me from being considered anything close to a wine expert, but again, that's the whole point of the blog anyway. I just drink and review wines I like to drink, and for the most part, they happen to be red wines. That being said, this wine is definitely the exception.

I first came upon this wine when my wife and I visited Napa for our 10th wedding anniversary. We signed up for a private tasting at Pine Ridge, which ended up being one of our favorite wineries that we visited that week. After the tasting we purchased a few bottle of wine, and this happened to be one of them. We bought this one because the variety just happens to be my wife's favorite when it comes to white wine. The reason is because it tends to be less dry and more fruity then say a Chardonay. It is hard for me to describe the color of a white wine, but I would say when you pour a glass of this wine, you do notice it has a crisp look about it. When you then start to smell, the fruity smell its you right away. That is a trend that continues right into your first sip. One of my biggest reasons for not liking a lot of white wine is the initial bite that I tend to experience. This wine just simply does not have it. It has a fresh crisp flavor, and a great fruit flavor that reminds me of pears. It is a great wine to have on a summer evening along with some appetizers of crackers and cheese. I usually don't get to have more then a glass or two though, because it is one of the few wines that my wife will have more then a glass of, so I'll usually open up another bottle of red to let her enjoy her favoriate white wine.

Rating: 3.75 Corks (By far my favorite white)