In September we received four wine samples from California to write about for the coming holidays. Included in the samples were Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. The wines are in O’Neill Vintners portfolio that includes four national wine brands:  Allegro, Camelot, Pepi and Tin Roof Cellars. Mark Rasmussen, an experienced winemaker, is the head winemaker at O’Neill’s. Mark began making wine in the late 1970s.

We discovered these four wine samples from O’Neill Vintners to be pleasant and to pair well with food. The wines are a good value for the money and would be good for casual enjoyment.

Allegro Riesling 2012

The Allegro Riesling 2012 has an unpretentious price that offers delightful nuances. We discovered this light yellow wine to have an aroma of peach and floral. The taste offered a tingle on the tongue and reminded one of peaches and orange blossoms. The finish was relatively short. For $12 per bottle wine lovers can enjoy this Allegro Riesling on a sunny afternoon on the deck or paired with a variety of foods including cheese, Asian dishes and fruit. We found that the fruitiness of the wine was more evident at the beginning than on the finish.

The Riesling grapes were harvested in September 2012 and sourced from Monterey vineyards. The wine was produced in stainless steel.

Camelot Pinot Grigio NV

Pleasantly surprising with many notes including citrus, melon and peach. This is an affordable wine that also has a lot to offer.  The wine had a straw color with a light green hue. This non-vintage Pinot Grigio is a good value at only $7 per bottle.

Tin Roof Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Of the four wines, we found the Sauvignon Blanc at $10 per bottle most enjoyable. The taste had more complex notes and included hints of citrus and pineapple. Suggested pairings included light seafood dishes, roast chicken, Caesar salad and mild spiced Asian foods.

Tin Roof Merlot 2010

This Tin Roof Merlot offered aromas of red raspberries and oak. In addition the taste had notes of oak, red raspberries, coffee, leather and a hint of vanilla. The finish had more oak influences than fruit.

To produce this wine a little Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petite Sirah was added to the Merlot. The wine was aged in French and American oak.

Cheers, Kathy