Peninsula Cellars 2010 Dry Riesling: Review

Peninsula Cellars

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Old Mission Peninsula

12.5% abv

$15.00 a bottle

Appearance: yellow crystal

Aroma: soon as I opened the bottle I knew I was going to like it.  First off I did not smell straight out lemon.  I am soooo tired of lemon.  A lot of the beers I had this summer and spring had a lemon note, some stronger than others, and then when I would have a white wine guess what note was prominent you got it lemon.  So, I had to read this bottle first before opening and I did not see the word lemon.  It did had lime but, no lemon.  Back to the aroma: tropical fruit all right; mango, white peach, Fuji apple, pineapple acidity,

Flavors: apple, green apple, summer stone fruit, touch of tangerine and a dose of lime. 

Mouthfeel: crisp notes, there seems to be an ever so slight watery edge that hits the tip of the tongue but, right after that ‘tip’ it is nothing but dry baby. 

To the Point: between the aroma and the flavors this is a real treat.  This would be good with white fish.  I love shark, tuna, and swordfish and I think this would be good with the pineapple, mango, and ginger sauce I make to put on my swordfish.  

Concha Y Toro Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009: Review

Serie Riberas

Conchaytoro.com

Product of Chile

I picked this bottle up at a restaurant on their half off a bottle Wednesday special.  I think it cost me $16.00.  I have not had Concha Y Toro in a long long time. 

Appearance: nice garnet body with a ruby edge.

Nose: dark berries and rich black soil earthy tone

Flavors: the dark berry style reminds me of blackberry and dark currants; a 60% dark chocolate like feel – a little creamy and semi-sweet;

Mouthfeel: nice acidity, tannins seem under control for this three year old, firm body, just on the edge of feeling jammy with each sip,

To the Point: to me – a typical Concha Y Toro Cab not complex (not a bad thing) but, damn tasty for the money.  The berry flavor is just right and it feels like it has some good body weight to it to make it feel like you are drinking a good wine.  And you are. 

I am enjoying this wine tonight (Thurday) with a La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro No. 4 Limited Edition.  Size: 5.25 x 54.  Guess what?  It truly is a Limited Edition.  So many cigars have on their labels ‘Limited Edition’ and they have been around for 5 or 50 years – they are on the shelf every day of the year.  I read somewhere that they ship out about 500 boxes, of each size, in December and July. 

This is one tasty cigar in my book.  Rich coffee bean; soil, Portobello mushroom, and wood earthy tones; toasty sweet grains; with a good dash of white peppercorn. There is a note swirling around that I just can’t put my finger on it – is it an herbal note or a floral note.  This is flavorful and smooth. 

This cigar paired extremely well with this Cabernet.  Both have an excellent body that complemented each other.  The dark berry flavors of the wine mingled well with the earthy tones of this cigar.  This was a very good medium-full bodied experience.