Before I get to my reviews for the week, let me explain how this is going to work. I am not a wine snob; while I have attended a class on wines, I do not believe in using words like "leggy" or describing a "bouquet." I love wine. Wine is a very social drink because it means you have to have company in order to do a bottle justice; I don't believe in re-corking. Also, I like the fact that you could drink a different bottle of wine every day for the rest of your life and never do the same one twice.
Unfortunately, there are some wines that kind of suck. I will be reviewing wines that I and a randomly-selected rotating group of tasters try and hopefully we can help you find some good ones and avoid those that aren't worth your time and money.
1. Ch?teau La Cardonne Médoc 1999 Cru Bourgeois
This is a red wine from the Bordeaux region. I found it to be high in tannins (the stuff that makes your mouth pucker) and rather peppery. My tasters agree that the wine is heavy and dry. This is not a wine you drink when you want a glass with a snack or by itself. I recommend it if you are making mushroom risotto or a rack of lamb. $20 at Provisions.
2. Little Penguin Shiraz
This wine was a gift to one of my tasters. I was not looking forward to it, especially since I have tried its merlot, which was not all that impressive. I was most happy, however, to find that the Little Penguin label makes a very nice shiraz. I'm sure you all know that this is an Australian wine that has become very fashionable in the last few years. This is a good wine to drink by itself; we found it to be smooth with a mellow spiciness. It also paired well with seafood pasta. I would definitely recommend buying this. $8 at Hannaford.
3. Rancho Zabato 2003 Reserve Pinot Gris
This is a Sonoma Valley white wine. Its label promises the taste of honeysuckle and pear. The honey taste is unmistakable but not too cloying because of the wine's crispness. My tasters said the wine made them think of Vivaldi's "Spring" among other music. It went very well with our Annie's Macaroni and Cheese. The consensus was that this was a light fruity wine that was sweet but not overly so. About $10 at Hannaford.