Wine Reviews

Over the 4th of July holiday our committee of wine tasting and drinking experts and amateurs had an opportunity to review three new to the market wines, and one apple brandy. The samples were tasted on two consecutive days, against two different meals with varied flavor profiles.
In the order that the flight progressed:

South Wedge Winery 2008 Reserve Reisling (bottled 09): Left to rest on the lees, this fruit forward white opens with a hint of effervensce, with very fine bubbles and only a hint of cloudiness. The opening sweetness is balanced by a lightly acidic finish. Drinks well with fruits or alone. Day 2, the wine was clear and bubbleless, and came across a little two sweet for some palates. "This is really good." "These people should make more wine." "Sort of champagne-like."

South Wedge Winery Pinotage (bottled 08): Day 1, cherries open into red berry and vanilla. Muted tannins, perhaps a little over-oaked, yet somehow not smooth enough to drink alone. Day 2, after some time to breath this opened up into a superior wine, with more clarity of the aformentioned fruit and a smoother finish on the palate. We recommended decanting to enjoy the potential of this red. "Holds up well against pasta with red sauce." "Echos of fine Italian Reds." "These people should make more wine."

4 Chimneys Organic "Eye of the Bee": Light, with tart native grape flavors offset by the mead component. Better as an apertif than with food pairings. Misunderstood and underappreciated on Day 1, it saw more action as a sunset sipper on day 2. "This tastes like honey." "Its too sweet but I still like it."

2008 Grey Dog Spirits Heirloom Apple Brandy: (Not tasted by the full panel, as some palates haven't learned to appreciate eau de vie.) Unabashedly apple on the tongue, perhaps benefiting from the unadultered flavor of these heirloom apples (too old and obscure of a strain for Cornell to ID). A prompt nose of crisp apple and unspiced cider floats over the deep caramel color. Untempered alcohol at the finish limits the accessibilty of this spirit to the non-brandy drinker. Overall, a strong showing from a new entry to the field, but 2-3 years in oak would provided some needed finishing smoothness. "Good flavor, but harsh finish." "I bet this will be really good with a little aging."