We’ve written about TastingRoom.com several times before. Recently the company sent us one of its mixed samplers, designed (as the name may imply) to be consumed with food. Which I did. Thoughts on each follow. (All bottles are sub-$20 retail.)
2011 Lake Chalice Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - Extremely tropical. Lots of acid to back up that fruitiness. Refreshing, but powerful — a bit much for most food, in my opinion. B+
2008 Urraca Mendoza Chardonnay - Pear-heavy, but not too fruity. More buttery than the tasting notes let on, but with grassy notes on the finish. B+
2009 Lucas & Lewellen Santa Barbara County Chenin Blanc - Very aromatic, some tropical notes, but overloaded with perfume and rose petal character. Interesting but the least enchanting of the whites. B-
2010 Il Cuore “The Heart” Mendocino County Barbera - Very extracted, ultra fruity, and not at all like Italian Barbera. More like a Zin or an Aussie Shiraz. C-
2009 Stickybeak California Syrah- Big, bright fruit. Powerful, but balanced with a big enough body to support it. Nice cherry notes, touches of wood and smoke. A-
2009 Penley Estate “Condor” Coonawarra Red Blend - Smoky, with massive cherry notes that, unfortunately, are reminiscent of cough syrup. B-
$30 for six 1.7-oz. mini bottles
Similar Posts:
- Review: The Wines of AC/DC
- Tasting the Shiraz Wines of Australia’s Old Bridge Cellars
- Tasting Report: Wines of Mendocino, June 2011
- Review: 2006 Antinori Agricola Bramasole La Braccesca Syrah Cortona
I received the samplers for a gift. Now I want to order two bottles for $25.00. The promo code is FF94763. the wines I want to order are Dry Creek sauvignon blanc (2010)and Urraca cabernet sauvignon(2008) Jeanie Link,