Tasting: Stickybeat Chardonnay

Stickybeak Chardonnay
Russian River Valley, California
2010
$12.95
Review Provided by the Vintage Cellar: The nose shows intense characters of pear, spice and almonds. with underlying peach notes. The palate is long and powerful displaying dried pear, toasty, creamy, custard tart and nuances of cashew with lingering stone fruit and a fresh, clean acid finish.
My Review: Stan, the guy pouring wine at the Vintage Cellar on Saturday, gave us a good explanation of where the term "Stickybeak" comes from. Stickybeak may be located in California, but it is Australian-owned. "Stickybeak" is an Australian term for someone who is nosey or a busy-buddy. When you look at the label, you can see above the hole in the fence so that a nosey neighbor can see in to the next neighbor's yard to see what's going on. I could definitely tell this wine had spent some time in oak. Stan told me that it is mostly stored in old oak, but can be stored in new oak as well. I got that sense from the spicy, toasty, almond tastes dancing on my palate.

Tasting: Yalumba Museum Muscat

Yalumba Museum Muscat
Australia
Year Unlisted
$22.95
Review Provided by The Vintage Cellar: The non-vintage Museum Reserve Muscat boasts a medium deep amber hue as well as stunning aromas and huge flavors oozing with glycerin, sweetness, honeyed figs, jammy berries, and notions of tea, molasses, and prunes. This wine does not improve in the bottle, but it will last for many years.
My Review: It's amber hue reminds me of syrup, so much so that I half-expected it to be thick and oozy coming out of the bottle. Alas, it had a usual wine consistency. While it's consistency was that of a wine, it's aroma and taste reminded me of honey and syrup. I feel like I could pour this all over my waffles in the morning. Very delicious.

Tasting: D'Arenberg The Stump Jump Riesling/Marsanne

D'Arenberg The Stump Jump Riesling/Marsanne Sauvignon Blanc
South Australia
Australia
2011
$13.95

• Review provided by The Vintage Cellar: An intoxicating mix of ripe yellow peaches, guava, and hints of honey blossoms on the nose. The tropical stone fruits are also evident on the palate but give up a little territory to some lovely, zesty lemon, lime citrus characters which really add to the freshness of this wine.
• My Review: I didn't really taste this wine as being anything particularly special. It wasn't bad, don't get me wrong, but it didn't pop out at me as something I absolutely had to have. I could definitely taste and smell the honey blossoms as I swirled it for the aroma and tasted it on my tongue. Overall, I wouldn't mind having this wine in my home and drinking it, but it is probably not something I would go out on my own and purchase.