Weekly Twitter Wine Mini Reviews Round-Up For August 6, 2011

Uhm, like what is this stuff?
I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine sample tasting notes via twitter (limited to 140 characters). They are meant to be fun, quickly-and-easily-digestible reviews. Below is a wrap-up of the twitter reviews from the past week (click here for the skinny on how to read them), along with links to help you find them so you can try them for yourself. Cheers!

• 10 Schloss Saarstein Serriger Schloss Saarsteiner Riesling Kabinett (Mosel): A touch off-kilter now… but let’s see in 10+ yrs… $27 B+ >>find this wine>>
• 08 Domaine Carneros Estate Pinot Noir (Carneros): This guy is really, really likeable – but man, I think maybe he smokes too much. $30 B >>find this wine>>
• 08 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Blackberry, blueberry, plum, cedar, cinnamon & granite. Are we baking pie in my kitchen? $140 A- >>find this wine>>
• 08 Altvs (Napa Valley): Brooding, black, spicy, and more beautifully complex & multi-dimensional than most Calabi–Yau manifolds. $75 A >>find this wine>>
• 09 Chacewater Syrah (Red Hills): A bit of RS & near 16% abv can’t keep this fruity, balanced big boy down. Sometimes fruit bombs work. $18 B >>find this wine>>
• 10 Jed Steele Shooting Star Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County): What kind of herbal, zesty bargain is this? Expect the price to go up… $12 B >>find this wine>>
• 10 Ceago Vinegarden Del Lago Syrah Rose (Lake County): Strawberry lovers… Unite! Strike at yonder salad with all speed! Attack!!! $16 B >>find this wine>>
• 10 Ceago Vinegarden Muscat Canelli (Lake County): A gift of flowers & sweets for that bowl of spicy Asian noodles you’re eying up. $18 B >>find this wine>>
• 08 Quinta do Vallado Vinho Tinto (Douro): What ground it loses in vibrancy is more than made up for in heaps of dried herbs & red plum $20 B >>find this wine>>
• 08 Michael Shaps Meritage (Virginia): It’s velvety. It’s fruity. But it ain’t quite spicy enough. Give it a chance (& a bit of time). $32 B >>find this wine>>
• 07 Michael Shaps Merlot (Virginia): Black fruit, black olive & spices so hoppin’ they could stand in for a Mexican jumping bean. $32 B+ >>find this wine>>
• 08 Michael Shaps Viognier (Virginia): Peachy, pithy & elegant. Just not sure the fruit is gonna stand up long-term to all that verve. $32 B >>find this wine>>
• 08 Michael Shaps Chardonnay (Virginia): Lemon curd, cream & enough vitality (& structure… and character…) for a long haul. $32 B+ >>find this wine>>
• 09 Williamsburg Winery Acte12 Chardonnay (Virginia): Apples, a fair amount of bite, & not short on complexity; a.k.a., a total bargain $16 B >>find this wine>>
• 10 Blenheim Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Virginia): Ripe/fruity enough to be inviting, minty/herbal enough to keep you at the party. $20 B >>find this wine>>
• 10 Blenheim Vineyards Viognier (Virginia): The peach farm is surrounded by white flowers, & they won’t mind if you bring chips & salsa $19 B >>find this wine>>
• 09 Blenheim Vineyards Blenheim Farm Chardonnay (Virginia): A peachy/zesty charmer w/ nary an ounce of flab (but several oz of balance) $21 B >>find this wine>>