Monday, April 26, 2010
Wine fest this weekend
This is a heads-up to any Chicagoland people who may read this. The Wine on the Fox festival in Oswego, Illinois will happen this coming Saturday, May 1. E attended the festival last year and had a great time, and this year we'll both be there along with several of our friends. 19 Illinois wineries will be on hand offering tastings and selling their wines. The park where the festival is held is great as well; it's right on the river, there are playgrounds for the kids, bands performing, and plenty of shade from the big trees. You really couldn't ask for a more lovely place to try new wines with friends.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Long time no post (part two)
And here are more wines, though not all will have notes. Sorry!
Melon Delight
Village Vintner Winery
Carpentersville, IL
Delicious and sweet. Honeydew melon, watermelon, and kiwi bring out all the best taste of melon with none of the badness. Highly recommended, will be great chilled during summer months. Even melon haters should love this; we both despise melon flavoring and most melons in general, and we can't wait to try it again.
2005 Cabernet Blush (premium dessert wine)
Lynfred Winery
Roselle, IL
Very sweet, almost syrupy. This had a woody flavor to it as well that was not unpleasant but surprising and helped balance the sweetness. Overall, a decent dessert wine.
2006 Syrah
né-go-ciant
St. Helena, CA (Terroir Napa Valley)
If you've been reading this, you know we like syrahs. Overall, they're spicy, woody, and have a distinctive bite. This syrah as a fair to good example of what a syrah should be, encompassing all of those traits. Bonus points for being reasonably priced as well.
2007 Rawson's Retreat (shiraz cabernet)
Penfolds
SE Australia
Unfortunately we don't have much memory of this one, other than knowing we enjoyed it. Penfolds almost always delivers, and we know this one fell into the "thumbs-up" category.
2007 Riesling
Substance
Walla Walla, WA
A dry riesling, but still fruit-forward and somewhat smoky with a definite bite. We enjoyed it, but do not think this is a sweet riesling. Bonus points for great labels, and extra bonus points for an awesome website.
Cherry Ginseng Wine
Traverse Bay Winery
Traverse City, MI
We took this to a party, and while other guests enjoyed it a lot, it didn't ring bells for us. Almost port-ish in quality. Good to know others enjoyed it, though.
Village Vintner Winery
Carpentersville, IL
Delicious and sweet. Honeydew melon, watermelon, and kiwi bring out all the best taste of melon with none of the badness. Highly recommended, will be great chilled during summer months. Even melon haters should love this; we both despise melon flavoring and most melons in general, and we can't wait to try it again.
Lynfred Winery
Roselle, IL
Very sweet, almost syrupy. This had a woody flavor to it as well that was not unpleasant but surprising and helped balance the sweetness. Overall, a decent dessert wine.
né-go-ciant
St. Helena, CA (Terroir Napa Valley)
If you've been reading this, you know we like syrahs. Overall, they're spicy, woody, and have a distinctive bite. This syrah as a fair to good example of what a syrah should be, encompassing all of those traits. Bonus points for being reasonably priced as well.
Penfolds
SE Australia
Unfortunately we don't have much memory of this one, other than knowing we enjoyed it. Penfolds almost always delivers, and we know this one fell into the "thumbs-up" category.
Substance
Walla Walla, WA
A dry riesling, but still fruit-forward and somewhat smoky with a definite bite. We enjoyed it, but do not think this is a sweet riesling. Bonus points for great labels, and extra bonus points for an awesome website.
Traverse Bay Winery
Traverse City, MI
We took this to a party, and while other guests enjoyed it a lot, it didn't ring bells for us. Almost port-ish in quality. Good to know others enjoyed it, though.
Long time no post (part one)
It's been a long time since we updated, so we don't have notes on every wine we've tried. But we do have info on where the wine comes from, if that matters...
Cayuga White (off-dry American table wine)
Fox Creek Vineyards
Olney, IL
Crisp, somewhat spicy, and somehow still sweet. One of E's favorites. Was told this pairs well with many Asian foods, which would certainly be true. Yummy.
Vin de Tabula Rasa (white wine)
Andrew Rich Vintner
Carlton, OR (Columbia Valley)
We bought this one on a whim and enjoyed it. We didn't know what to expect at first, but found it a pleasant pairing with chicken. It's worth buying a bottle if you happen across it at your liquor store.
2008 Red Top (semi-sweet table wine)
Berryville Vineyards
Claremont, IL
We found this one at the Taste Illinois wine festival last summer, and just now got around to trying it. Red Top is juicy and fruity, but with a hint of an unexpected zing. (As a side note, we enjoy that every bottle is hand-numbered by the winery.)
2002 Merlot
Cary Talbot
Santa Rosa, CA
A good dry red, it went well with steak. Kind of woody.
Pinot Grigio
Kate & Cassie
Santa Rosa, CA
No good memories of this one, unfortunately. We know it wasn't bad, though, if that counts for anything... Nice label design, too.
Vintage Zin (American dessert wine)
Fox Valley Winery
Oswego, IL
Really, really sweet red wine, complex in flavor. This is a wine you'll either love or hate. We're split on our decision for this wine.
Spumante (American sparkling wine)
J Roget Champagne Cellars
Canadaigua, NY
An inexpensive spumante which came to us free of charge. Not the sweetest we've tried, but slightly sweet with tight bubbles that lasted for a good amount of time. A good bang for your buck.
2008 Norton (American's first red wine grape)
Illinois Cellars
Carrollton, IL
Bought because Norton was the name of E's family dog, we found this wine to be pleasant and easy to drink. Fruity, juicy, and sweet without overdoing it, this was a good all-around table wine.
Cayuga White (off-dry American table wine)Fox Creek Vineyards
Olney, IL
Crisp, somewhat spicy, and somehow still sweet. One of E's favorites. Was told this pairs well with many Asian foods, which would certainly be true. Yummy.
Andrew Rich Vintner
Carlton, OR (Columbia Valley)
We bought this one on a whim and enjoyed it. We didn't know what to expect at first, but found it a pleasant pairing with chicken. It's worth buying a bottle if you happen across it at your liquor store.
Berryville Vineyards
Claremont, IL
We found this one at the Taste Illinois wine festival last summer, and just now got around to trying it. Red Top is juicy and fruity, but with a hint of an unexpected zing. (As a side note, we enjoy that every bottle is hand-numbered by the winery.)
Cary Talbot
Santa Rosa, CA
A good dry red, it went well with steak. Kind of woody.
Kate & Cassie
Santa Rosa, CA
No good memories of this one, unfortunately. We know it wasn't bad, though, if that counts for anything... Nice label design, too.
Fox Valley Winery
Oswego, IL
Really, really sweet red wine, complex in flavor. This is a wine you'll either love or hate. We're split on our decision for this wine.
J Roget Champagne Cellars
Canadaigua, NY
An inexpensive spumante which came to us free of charge. Not the sweetest we've tried, but slightly sweet with tight bubbles that lasted for a good amount of time. A good bang for your buck.
Illinois Cellars
Carrollton, IL
Bought because Norton was the name of E's family dog, we found this wine to be pleasant and easy to drink. Fruity, juicy, and sweet without overdoing it, this was a good all-around table wine.
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