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Winery: Hans von Wilhelm
Brand/Type: Spätlese Riesling
Vintage: 2004
Country: Germany
Region: Mosel - Saar - Rüwer (Piesporter Michelsberg)
Alcohol content: 8.5%
Closure: Natural Cork
Appearance: Pale dishwater blonde
Aroma/Bouquet: Green Apple
Very nice, bold and fruity, sweet-tart flavors of green apple. Not the most complex but far from simple. This is a very affordable German import that is typical of most Spätlese Rieslings. [...]

Winery: Hogue
Brand/Type: Chenin Blanc
Vintage: 2002
Country: USA
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Alcohol content: 13.2%
Closure: Synthetic
Appearance: Light golden straw
Aroma/Bouquet: Honeydew
Fruity but not sweet, this is a dry to off-dry wine. It has a sharp and crisp finish. This is a nice “safe” wine you can serve and not have to worry about guests that don’t like sweet or [...]

Winery: Badger Mountain
Brand/Type: Riesling, Organic, NSA (No Sulfites Added)
Vintage: 2005
Country: USA
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Alcohol content: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Appearance: Light straw
Aroma/Bouquet: Melon, apricot, and tangerine
This Kabinett style Riesling is one of the best west coast Rieslings around. It’s dry to slightly off-dry (2004 was off-dry) and nicely complex. It delivers a sweet-tart melon/green apple taste then [...]

Winery: Bonny Doon
Brand/Type: Riesling
Vintage: 2004
Country: USA
Region: California (not really - see text)
Alcohol content: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Appearance: Extremely Pale Dishwater Blonde
Aroma/Bouquet: Melon and tangerine
First things first; Bonny Doon is a California winery. However this vintage is made from grapes (according to the bottle) harvested from eastern Washington and the Middle Mosel. So it’s a mix of American [...]

Winery: Chateau Grand Traverse
Brand/Type: Semi-Dry Riesling
Vintage: 2005
Country: USA
Region: Grand Traverse Peninsula, Michigan
Alcohol content: 12%
Closure: Natural Cork
Appearance: Pale blonde
Aroma/Bouquet: Lemony citrus and melon
This is an excellent Riesling that compares well against any German Kabinett. The label says “Semi-Dry” but off dry is more accurate (at least for this bottle).
Very smooth on the palate, it is even [...]

Winery: Chateau Grand Traverse
Brand/Type: Johannisberg Riesling
Vintage: 2004
Country: USA
Region: Grand Traverse Peninsula, Michigan
Alcohol content: 10.5%
Closure: Natural Cork
Appearance: Light blonde
Aroma/Bouquet: Apricot and melon
Off dry, lightly sweet, somewhere between a Kabinett and a Spatlese. Very nice fruitiness with a tart finish. A nice mineral edge.
Another excellent Michigan Riesling. Similar to many German offerings but with a higher alcohol [...]

Winery: Blackstone
Brand/Type: Merlot
Vintage: 2001
Country: USA
Region: California
Alcohol content: 13%
Closure: Synthetic cork
Appearance: Dark, inky, ruby red
Aroma/Bouquet: Pungent blackberries, noticable alcohol odor
Noticeable wood and spice flavors. Smooth, dry with a crisp spicy finish. Has a slight vinegar aftertaste.
Blackstone is a fairly popular/common brand name. Not sure why they feel it important to note that this is a “California” [...]

Winery: Franz Reh & Son
Brand/Type: Pinot Grigio
Vintage: 2002
Country: Germany
Region: Pfalz
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Closure: Synthetic Cork
Appearance: Pale gold
Aroma/Bouquet: Lemon, pine
Dry, slight bit of oak, strong sharp finish with a hint of pear at the end.
An affordable wine that is very respectable. This is a fairly simple wine without much complexity but you can do far worse with [...]

Winery: Bonny Doon
Brand/Type: Madiran
Vintage: 2003
Country: USA
Region: California
Alcohol content: 13.5
Closure: Synthethic Cork
Appearance: Dark Ruby/Garnet
Aroma/Bouquet: Blackberries, mmm, nice, rich, ripe blackberries!
Complex, heavy on the tongue, sharp finish.
Just in time for Halloween! Don’t let the Ralph Steadman label scare you! This is a robust and complex wine that begs to be savored slowly. If you let it out [...]

Winery: Fetzer
Brand/Type: Valley Oaks Merlot
Vintage: 2003
Country: USA
Region: California
Alcohol content: 13.1%
Closure: Natural Cork
Appearance: Dark Ruby
Aroma/Bouquet: Deep, rich, blackberries and currants.
This is a very nice Merlot. Ample flavors, complex body, softly smooth and satisfying. Slight cherry and spice, a hint of oak. Not “too” dry.
Of special note; Fetzer grows all of their grapes organically.
Fetzer is one of [...]