Ecco Domani Chianti, 2004

Another new red, and this time it is a varietal that I've never had before: Chianti. The only impression I've had of a Chianti is from Silence of the Lambs. Well, let's say I am NOT eating any body parts with my glass of wine tonight! lol
(image borrowed from the company site)

From the back label:
Fashioned in Italy, the heart of today's style and design, Ecco Domani Wines are the definitive expression of modern Italian lifestyle. I take inspiration for my wines from my family's traditional winemaking techniques and from contemporary Italian culture. I blend these influences to create Ecco Domani Chianti, a well-balanced wine with aromas of cherry and fresh red fruit. Ecco Domani Chianti is crafted from 100% Sangiovese grapes, sourced from some of the finest vineyards in the celebrated region of Tuscany.
Ciao! ~Fabrizio Gatto, Winemaker, Ecco Domani


Company Links:
Ecco Domani main
Chianti page

Price: not sure. It was one of the bottles I bought awhile back (last year) so I don't recall. No prices were listed on the company web site. But I don't think it was anything expensive, because I'm pretty sure I bought it at the local grocery store, and didn't pay more than $20 at the most. (I never spend more than that on a bottle of wine!)

Smell: fruity and slightly spicy. Not smoky. A little peppery. Dark color in the glass.
Taste: strong flavor, spicy and peppery just like it smells. Also slightly sweet for the fruity part. To me, it's alot like a Merlot. I can't drink it quickly... it's one that I will sip and one small glass will probably last all evening.

I had mine slightly chilled (because TX room temp is too warm) but not fully chilled. As far as the vineyard goes, I liked their Pinot Grigio once, too. It was a long time ago, but I remember I liked it.

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April 29th- nearly 2 weeks later- I find this bottle still in the fridge! Oops! But strangely enough- it almost tastes and feels smoother and better now than it did when it was still 'fresh'. It still smells spicy and peppery, with a slight fruity overtone... but the taste is smoother. I can drink it faster/easier now- because that bite is gone. I actually like it alot more now!

Rex Goliath Pinot Noir

This one was sampled at a friend's house. He had 3 bottles and opened them all for anyone who wanted to try a 'wine tasting'. One was a Fetzer Gewurtztraminer, which I will do a review on later, as I have a bottle of that myself. Another was a Reisling from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (sorry for not using the right punctuations on that one, like dots over the 'u' and stuff like that)- and he said he got me a bottle that he will give me later. So I will do a review on that myself too. The third bottle was the Rex Goliath Pinot Noir. Also on the front label was "Giant 47-pound rooster" but no vintage year.
(photo 'borrowed' from company web site)


From the back label:
Rex Goliath Story- at the turn of the 20th century HRM (His Royal Majesty) Rex Goliath was the treasured attraction of a Texas Circus. People came from far and wide to behold the 47-lb bird, billed as the "World's Largest Rooster". Our label replicates the one of a kind, vintage artwork from the circus banner that hung above Rex's roost and we proudly honor HRM with our premium varietal wines.
Amidst the natural splendor of south-west France, our vineyards enjoy the most optimum growing conditions and the beauty of untamed hillside landscapes. We invite you to raise a toast to Rex with our "free range" Pinot Noir.

According to the label, it was imported by a company in Woodbridge, CA but the wine is made in France. But looking at the web site, it seems to have been made in California (Central Coast)!?? So I'm not sure on that. I would tend to believe that it is actually a California wine (judging by the price) but why would the bottle say it was a product of France? Who knows?!?

Price: I'm not sure how much it costs, since my friend was the one who bought it. It is priced at $8.99 on the company site, and listed as $9 on others. I assume my friend probably spent around the same amount at World Market.

Company Links:
Rex Goliath main (and yikes, it crows at you)
Rex Goliath Pinot Noir
Recipe page

They also have a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

Smell: fruity and barely spicy. Not smoky like the Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir smelled.
Taste: I liked this one for a Pinot Noir much better than the Kendall Jackson. This one was less vinegary, and less smoky. I liked the fruitiness of it, although it was not sweet. Not bad... I'd probably buy it again if I was wanting another taste of a Pinot Noir. Funny that I seem to prefer the less expensive wines to the more expensive ones! But that is a good thing for my checkbook!

Nigori Sake

This was definitely interesting! My friend came over with some "Creme de Sake" and it was a new one! I'd never had this before. I loved the bottle when I saw it in World Market... it was just interesting, the way the creme stuff settled to the bottom, and you had to shake it before serving it. It is Nigori Creme de Sake, and you serve it chilled.

Officially, it is called Takara's Sho Chiku Bai nigori sake, and according to an article I found about it online, it is around $5 for the smaller bottle like the one I have. The one I have is bottled in Berkeley, California, although the original company is in Japan.

Company Links:
Takara main
Types of Sake (found in a Google search)

Smell: almost sweet, but not overly so. Had a bit of an alcoholic odor as well.
Taste: very smooth and sweet start, then the sake aftertaste comes through. I could very much enjoy the sake in huge gulps if it weren't for the sake aftertaste that makes me just sip it instead. I really do like it, although I am usually not a huge fan of sake. This one has a complex flavor that changes from one thing to another, and evolves as you swallow it... and I found that quite entertaining! I would probably buy this again (except I didn't actually do the buying this time) because it really is delicious in its own way.

Bolla Pinot Grigio, 2003

This one I've had in the house for awhile... and I just never got around to opening it.

On the back label it says:
Italian dry white wine
Bolla Pinot Grigio has the fresh fruit and pleasing aromas of peach, melon, pear and lime. Light-bodied and refreshing with a slight aftertaste, this wine nicely compliments seafood, poultry and light red-sauced pasta.
Open up and enjoy Bolla Pinot Grigio, chilled.

Company Links:
Bolla main
Each of their wine varietal pages come with a recipe of something that would go well with each wine. That's kinda neat how they have that.
Pinot Grigio page with recipe for Italian chicken pasta
Another web site's "winery tour"

Price: Not sure. I bought mine so long ago, I don't know the price. And the company web site doesn't have any prices listed. If I remember to look the next time I'm in the store, I will make sure I jot it down.

Smells fresh, clean. Slightly fruity but not sweetly fruity like juice. Tastes slightly fruity too- but not sweet. Almost odd that it seems to smell sweeter than it tastes, and I am almost left wishing it was sweeter, and more like a Reisling. But it does taste and feel very fresh. I can definitely say that for the "Pinots"- I much prefer Pinot Grigio for a white than I do the Noir for a red. Very good wine for a light relaxing white; I would definitely buy this one again.

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Second-day glass of this wine... still doesn't smell very sweet or taste very sweet (I guess my sweet tooth is on fire right now) but I do love this wine! It's very fresh, and very clean. I just have to watch myself because I can drink it too quickly the way it is so smooth... and then find myself having too much. This is one I would "bookmark" to buy again. I saw a bottle of it in the grocery store today and it was about $8. Not even expensive! Woohooo!

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4/14- bottle still in the fridge! Having a glass today and it's slightly vinegary but drinkable. I might not finish that last glass' worth still in the bottle though.