Eiswein, Nachtgold Other stuff on the label: 2004 Germany, Rheinhessen We bought this wine on impulse at our local World Market. Ice wine is the toast of the vintner world this year and I was intrigued. I knew that ice wines are made from grapes that remain on the vine until the freeze but had
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Monkey Bay Chardonnay Other words on the label: New Zealand Vintage 2004 East Coast I was excited the moment I read the back of the label and learned that “the legendary monkey, once believed to inhabit this secluded spot, has truly been brought to life through this exciting range of wines.” Wow, I thought. If
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Horizon 2004 Carolina Comfort Other words on the label: Sweet Blanc, White Table Wine That’s an awful lot of names for a simple white wine. This is sweet enough to use as a dessert wine. It tastes of caramelized sugar with a tinge of casaba melon. There is peach in the nose but none in
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Twin Fin Other words on the label: 2004 Pinot Grigio, California Taste: Overall, the taste is a bit watery thin with a sharp undertone. There’s definitely a presence of slightly browned green apples. You can taste it in the texture of a sip as well. I also taste underlying grapefruit, not to too tart, with
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Menage a Trois Other words on the label: Folie a Deuse, California Red Table Wine 2004 Inexplicably, there are only two gleeful nymphs prancing about on the label of this blend of zinfandel, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon. The nose is full of pepper with what seems to be only a hint of rose at first,
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Two Tone Farm 2004 Merlot Other words on the label: California Tangy. Nutmeg. Thick and unripened apricots with a bit of eucalyptus tang. It numbs my tongue but I keep drinking anyhow.

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Shiraz Other words on the label: Vintage 2004 Pleasantly earthy and lightly peppery as well. It doesn’t taste like a watermelon but for some reason, I can’t get the image of a thick, juicy slice out of my mind. There’s a floral element as well, like a few drops of liquid lavender
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Villa Concina-Italia Other words on the label: Montepulciano D’Abruzza 2004, Central Italy   This is a medium-bodied wine that goes down smoothly. It is dangerous to drink because it’s light on flavor, making it easy to ingest quickly. The wine is leathery with a hint of plum but the texture is similar to dissolved paper
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Lindemans Other stuff on the label: Bin 55 Shiraz Cabernet, Southeastern Australia 2004 This red blend starts out with a woodsy smell of teak. It tastes like a chocolate covered plum with the acidity of a jolly rancher. Not bad, but not interesting.

Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Carmeniere 2004 Chile A black current tang quickly gives way to a pronounced presence of scorched sugar. It’s warm milk comfortable—you don’t want to stop the flavors with the threat of a new sip. There is a medium level of spice that concentrates when it gets a swish in
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