Wine Batch Review 1/16/11

8 out of 10 for excellent:

Yalumba, Antique Tawny, Museum Reserve Dessert Wine (Australia) - This half-sized Australian port is a bold fruit forward port, sweet but not sickeningly oversweet as happens sometimes with Australian dessert wines. But honestly for the $25 and Museum reference I expected a 9 or 10 score.

7 out of 10 for above average:

Sterling Vineyards, SVR Reserve, 2007 (Napa Valley, California) - This was a generous gift from a good friend. Nancy and I both loved it and even fought over drinking it slowly so we could both appreciate it several days. Classic cab flavors, elegant and not overdone, with a medium body.

6 out of 10 for upper average:

Jacob's Creek, Moscato, 2010 (Australia) - Despite being a mass produced brand we found this sample pretty impressive. A dry version of moscato, I'd agree with the back label that it has "tropical and subtle pear flavors". Nice product.

5 out of 10 for lower average (and these count down in order of preferance):

Via Mazzini, Vino Spumante, Moscato, VSAQ (Italy) - A slightly cheaper Asti which holds it's own again the pricier brands.

Terregaie, Prosecco (Italy) - A completely average prosecco.

Paso A Paso, Verdejo, 2009 (La Mancha, Spain) - Lovely malachite label design and decent Verdejo.

Cigar Box, Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (Marlborough, New Zealand) - Looks like the same labelers as Layer Cake (which in my opinion declined after it's initial marketing breakthrough). Well, I don't know these two are connected. But I can say this was a very average Sauv Blanc without much of the grass or zing Malrborough is known for.

Red Newt Cellars, Gewurztraminer, 2008 (Finger Lakes, NY) - If I didn't know the label had said Gewurztraminer I would have mistaken it for any other basic white.

Black Swan, Chardonnay, 2009 (Australia) - For a pretty cheap Australian brand this turned out to be OK. Nothing special, but utilitarian. Nancy liked it so I could save some money by stocking this at home.

Blackstone, Winemaker's Select, Pinot Noir, 2009 (California) - A gift from a co-worker. Basic entry level pinot noir. Seemed to be spoiling by the end of the bottle on the 2nd day.

Offley, Tawny Porto (Portugal) - A cheap port brand which has yet to impress me with any of their offerings.