HELFRICH PINOT GRIS - 2008

100% Pinot Gris. 12.5% alcohol. From Alsace.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale gold color with aromas of apple, pear, peach, seashell and citrus. A hint of frizzante in the glass. Acidity zings with lychee and peach on the palate. Smooth and round.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

Pinot Gris is one of my favorite white varietals. It is an often overlooked white since so many reach first for Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Riesling. Yet, I find that Pinot Gris pairs so effortlessly with food and when it is well made like this one, it can shine on its own. Great minerality and depth of flavor. Be careful not to finish the bottle in one sitting. Retails for around $14.

HELFRICH GEWURZTRAMINER - 2008

From Alsace. 12.5% alcohol. 100% Gewurztraminer.

TASTING NOTES:

Golden color with wonderful aromas of flowers, lychee and citrus. On the palate there's a mix of Juicy Fruit and Dubble Bubble Gum notes. Sweet and tangy with good acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

There's definitely a candy component to the flavor profile but I like it. Juicy and zesty this is a wine that actually tastes better on its own than it does with food, although it does accompany spicy food rather well. Retails for around $14.

TEMPRA TANTRUM TEMPRANILLO/CABERNET - 2009

60% Tempranillo, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.5% alcohol. Grown on the Osborne family estate in Malpica de Tajo, Spain. Micro-oxygenated and ready to drink.

TASTING NOTES:

Rich red color with very bright and vibrant red fruit aromas and brambly flavors. Explosive raspberry, blackberry, and cherry come through upfront with plum and black currant notes lurking underneath. Good length, soft, well-balanced with good acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88+PTS

Rocio Osborne has made an exciting and lush wine that offers some powerful fruit without being artificial or over-the-top. Suggested retail is around $10 a bottle. That's pretty amazing given the quality, intensity, and complexity found in this one. Really impressive and the kind of wine that significantly over-delivers given its price. An added bonus is that the alcohol is very well integrated and is only 13.5% despite the ripeness of the fruit. One of the top value wines of the year that I have had the pleasure of tasting.

CONCANNON WINES

Some new releases from Concannon Vineyards have hit the shelves...

GLEN ELLEN PROPRIETOR'S RESERVE CHARDONNAY - 2009

13% alcohol. $10 for 1.5L

TASTING NOTES:

Oak, vanilla, butterscotch. Smooth, light, with sour apple on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

84 PTS

For an inexpensive white wine, there's no denying that this is tasty and approachable. There's very little fruit and it comes across more like an alcoholic beverage than a wine. An easy drinker crowd pleasing white.

GLEN ELLEN PROPRIETOR'S RESERVE PETITE SIRAH - 2007

13.5% alcohol. $10 for 1.5L.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark color. Light. Flat. Approachable and smooth but watered down blackberry, black currants and black tea on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

81 PTS

Not much to say about this effort. I don't think this wine competes in its category. There are box wines that are superior.

CONCANNON CONSERVANCY MERLOT - 2007

13.5 alcohol. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Livermore Valley. Retails for $15.

TASTING NOTES:

Nice oaky, black cherry nose. Medium-bodied dark cherry notes. Opens up considerably on day two, but cherry cough syrup and alcohol are barking loudly on first pour. Some mocha and oak on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

83 PTS

A serviceable red table wine, but expensive given what this delivers. You can find better Merlot options from numerous countries.

CONCANNON CONSERVANCY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - 2007

13.5% alcohol. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah. Retails for $15.

TASTING NOTES:

Big. Heavy and full-bodied. Black currant, licorice, oak and black cherry. Still some considerable alcohol showing through on both the nose and palate.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

83 PTS

Another OK effort, but at this price you can find some really inspiring wine out there. Hard to recommend.