Santa Julia Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

With my daughter's baptism around the corner I headed to the local Costco to pick up a few values for the family.  I had seen this one before, all over the box is printed, "88 Points".  Evidently this was  a favorite with the Wine Enthusiast editors and has been rated #47 in their top 100.  At a price point of appx. $5.50, I figured, what the heck, at that price, you don't have to like it!  Well we opened it up as everyone was mingling on Saturday afternoon and I think it was a hit.  Very fruity on the nose, sweet, almost jammy, it smells great.  Upon tasting, you are rewarded with a slightly sweet, fruity cab that really delights as an everyday wine.  A great crowd pleaser or introductory wine.  Taste 4, Value 5.

Santa Julia wines

Perrin Cotes du Rhone Reserve 2011 (white)

I had read good things about the Perrin reserve wines so when I saw this at Binny's for $7.99 I had to try it.  We popped this one on a hot summer day to drink with Jaeger Schnitzle and were rewarded with a cool, crisp semi-dry wine that really hit the spot.  A wonderful summer sipper that drinks well by itself, but complemented the pork nicely as well.  Very enjoyable we will have this again.  A good wine for the price. Taste 4, value 4 .

Vineyardbrands.com

Schlink Haus Riesling Nahe 2011

With my mom in town to help with the baby and Sunny being able to drink again, our consumption has increased, so get ready for some more reviews.  We picked up this bottle at Binny's for 7.99 on a whim and wow, what a treat.  Sweet, yet crisp and tart with hints of green apple this was like no other riesling I've tasted.  I didn't get to try it with food, but enjoyed a couple glasses after work and found it very refreshing.
Taste 5, value 5.  Enjoy.

www.schlinkhaus.com

Columbia Creat Grand Estates Amitage '08

Welcome back fellow wine lovers I return from my sabbatical after approximately 9 months of forced sobriety for my wine partner.  I'll return to reviewing with a wine that I've had twice in the past few months. We were blessed with a visit from my parents during Easter and a visit by Sunny's folks for the first week and a half of my second daughter's life.  During both visits we picked up a bottle of Amitage from the Wine Discount Center in Naperville.  I th;ink the price was $8, it might have been $9; either way, what a great wine.  Fruity, complex and delicious we adored it both times.  Sunny's father couldn't get enough and probably would have cracked another bottle if we had two.  I rate this a  4 for taste and 5 for value, an absolute recommend.

Wine Spectator rated this wine 89 pts.  This is a blend of 64% Merlot, 19% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4.5% Malbec