Review Thierry & Guy “Fat bastard” Shiraz

Name: Thierry & Guy “Fat bastard” Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz

Region: Minervois area, Pezenas sector, north of Nimes

Country:France

Year: 2011

Price: $10

Winery review: Rich and dense with complex aromas of blackberries, licorice and vanilla. Tannins are ripe and delicate.

My review: A nice Shiraz. Underlying hints of raspberry aromas. Some vanilla, spice and tannic flavor components. A delightful wine.  Paired wonderfully with the cheese.

I tasted this with a basil mozzarella cheese and crackers.

Review Yellow Tail Shiraz

Name: Yellow Tail Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz

Region: South Eastern Australia

Country:Australia

Year: 2012

Price: $12

Winery review: Ripe cherries and strawberries, spice, and vanilla aromas. This bold Shiraz wine is well balances, with earthy tones and lingering fruit on the tongue.

My review: A pleasant Shiraz. Underlying hints of grapefruit. A lot of vanilla and spice flavors. An earthy and somewhat tannic Shiraz. I enjoyed it.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Review Biltmore Estate Pinot Grigio

Name: Biltmore Estate Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: North Carolina

Country: USA

Year: 2011

Price: $12

Winery review: Refreshingly crisp with a spicy citrus finish, this award-winning wine has flavors of lime and ripe pears.

My review: This was a very pleasant tasting white wine. It was more of a dry wine. There were hints of strawberry in the aromas. I thought there were also raspberry flavors with a pear flavor. I would have this wine again.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Review Big House The Birdman Pinot Grigio

Name: Big House The Birdman Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Livermore, California

Country: USA

Year: 2011

Price: $20

Winery review: No wonder this Pinot Grigio sing with a harmonious blend of floral, peach and pear aromas and finishes with a  long, fruity warble. Pretensions fly away when paried with grilled seafood or Asian cuisine.

My review: A nice Pinot Grigio. Hints of floral and raspberry in the aroma. A nice blend of sweet and acidic flavors. Flavors of grapefruit and strawberry. I enjoyed this and would have it again.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Beliveau Estate Winery- Reflection

Name: Beliveau Estate Winery Reflection
Variety: Traminette
Region: SouthWest Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $24

Winery review: This bold and luscious Traminette is made in a semi-sweet style.

My review: This was a sweet and pleasant tasting white wine. There were hints of peach and pomegranate. The sweetness of the peach was picked up in the aroma as well as the taste. I would have this wine again.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Beliveau Estate Winery Summer Rose

Name: Beliveau Estate Winery Summer Rose
Variety: 50% Chambourcin, 50% Leon Millot
Region:SouthWest Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $15

Winery review: This sweet red wine blend is yummy! 

My review: This was a sweet red blend, but overall pleasant. There were many berry aromas. In the taste were strong hints of strawberry and some blueberry.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Beliveau Estate Winery Warm Glow

Name: Beliveau Estate Winery Warm Glow
Variety: Chambourcin
Region:SouthWest Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $16

Winery review: This semi-sweet Chambourcin is smooth like velvet!  BRONZE MEDALIST

My review: This wine had a slight fizz to it. It was a pleasant, refreshing wine.  Sweet flavors were definitely present and noticeable. I found hints of plum and cherry present in the wine as well. Overall, I really enjoyed this wine and would definitely have it again. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Beliveau Estate Winery Acapella

Name: Beliveau Estate Winery Acapella
Variety: Landot Noir
Region:West Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $16

Winery review: A Capella is 100 % Landot Noir, a French-American hybrid known for wonderful fruit-forward arromatics and a rich color. A Capella delivers this with blousy Summer fruits - blueberries, strawberries, and goose berries. Deceptively sweet-smelling, it is a Semi-sweet wine with medium body. While A Capella is a great sipping wine warm or chilled, it pairs well with mushrooms, pork, chicken marsala, blueberry cobbler, sundried tomatoes, feta cheese, and vanilla ice cream.

My review: The aromas of the wine are very sweet with light berry hints. However, the taste is less sweet, with strong flavors of berry.  I picked up on raspberry and strawberry flavors in the wine.  It was a good wine and enjoyable.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Beliveau Estate Winery Sunset Sipper

Name: Beliveau Estate Winery Sunset
Variety: Zinfandel
Region:Bora Vineyard, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $26

Winery review: Sunset Sipper is a fabulous, full body experience Zinfandel. From your head to your toes, there is enjoyment to be had from this wine! Sunset has a full nose with ripe dark berries and fig. The palate is complete, covering the whole mouth and throat with rich flavors, velvety texture, and a smooth finish. Even with 16.1 % alcohol, this wine is well balanced due to the presence of 4% residual sugar. It is a "sweet" wine that drinks as if it were dry! Perfect for beef, strong cheeses, tomato sauces, and sitting by the fireplace or watching the sun set.

My review: A very full red wine. A sweeter zinfandel. Full of flavors, especially heavy berry flavors. Hint of cranberry. I enjoyed this wine and would be interested in trying it again, with food.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Beliveau Estate Winery Destiny, Vidal Blanc

Name: Beliveau Estate Winery Destiny
Variety: Vidal Blanc
Region: North Fork of Roanoke 
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $16

Winery review: This dry, crisp Vidal Blanc is an excellent sipping wine, best served chilled. A two-time Bronze Medal winner, Destiny is perfect on a warm day to quench your thirst and refresh your palate! Also pairs well with poultry, balsamic vinegar, roasted red pepper, goat cheeses, and fruit. Destiny is a very popular picnic white at our Estate on warm Summer afternoons.

My review: An acidic, but slightly sweet wine. It was dry, even with it's hint of sweet.  A very refreshing wine, easy to drink. I would definitely have it again. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.