Columbia Winery Gewurtztraminer Columbia Valley 2005

Columbia Winery in Washington

This bottle seemed like a steal at BevMo for $7.99, with a lot of good reviews and 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, to back it.
Pouring it in the glass it has a pale straw color. The very first time smelling it I got a clean soap aroma on the nose, but after that it subdued, and I got apple, pear, white floral and a touch of elder berry. Tasting, it is fresh and lively on the palate with great balanced between acidity and the mellow sweetness. Apple, citrus and floral notes ends in a long, brilliant finish. This is a bottle I want more of.
$6.95 at http://www.wine-searcher.com/.

Wine Spectator Great Wine Values, Part II

Tonight I have tasted and reviewed two more wines from the list of Wine Spectator's Great Wine Values in October's issue. See Part I with the first two wines reviewed at 11/15/06.
I started of with the 2005 Chateau Ste. Michelle-Dr. Loosen Riesling Colombia Valley, Eroica. It is the seventh vintage of this wine and they are getting better and better with narrowing it down and finding their style. It received 90 points from Wine Spectator and 92 from Wine Enthusiast. Sweet, white floral on the nose lead you to believe that it might be to sweet, but once in your mouth it is lively and crisp with ripe apple notes and transforms quickly to a sweeter peachy tone with a long finish. Very tasty! $19.99 at BevMo.
I had planned to taste an Australian Shiraz after this but upon opening the bottle I discovered that it had bled through the cork. I am not afraid to return these bottles as it might have affected the wine, and so I will.
Instead I moved on to the 2004 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza from Argentina. Nicola Catena, an Italian immigrant, planted the first vines in 1902. The third generation is now running the winery, striving to put Argentina on the map as one of the premium wine producing countries. And they are on their way. The nose reveals red cherry and berries, and black berries and dark fruit on the palate with a long finish. Wine Spectator rewarded this beauty with 90 points and I agree. $19.99 at BevMo.

Tomorrow: the Australian Shiraz...