Wine: 2005 Chateau Graves Du Privera Medoc Cru Artisan

Vineyard: Château Graves Du Privera
Wine: Médoc
Vintage: 2005
Comments: Not a very heavily flavored wine, this has hints of black cherry, strawberry, and blackberry in the bouquet. The strawberry is missing on the tongue, replaced with a slight dryness. Very weak finish, but easy to drink. Opaque and deep reddish purple in color.
Cameron's Rating: 83
Meredith's Rating: 82
Overall: Might buy again for personal consumption, but not a heavily flavorful wine nor a completely easy-drinking wine. Would not seek out as a favorite wine to drink.

Wine: 2005 Due Mari Montepulciano D'Abruzzo

Vineyard: Due Mari
Wine: Montepulciano D'Abruzzo
Vintage: 2004
Comments: Somewhat acidic and dry to the mouth, a somewhat lighter wine. Could not detect heavy flavors in the bouquet. Ruby color, somewhat translucent. Nice easy drinking wine.
Cameron's Rating: 86
Meredith's Rating: 85
Overall: Would buy again - nice easy drinking wine.

Beer: St. Arnold Texas Wheat

Used with permission
St. Arnold Brewing Company

Brewery: Saint Arnold Brewing Company Houston, Texas

Overview: So it is appropriate that the first beer reviewed be both a microbrew and a Texas beer. I had thought for quite some time since starting this that I would have nearly an impossible time selecting the perfect first beer to review. After all, I had to pick a beer that I loved, and give it ridiculously high marks so that no other beer could compare. In addition, I had to pick something that would give credibility to my selection of beer, avoiding American Lite Lagers in favor of some unique Belgian or otherwise.

As it so happens, I decided it was time to review a beer, and so I selected the beer that I happened to be drinking at the time, which happened to be a St. Arnold Texas Wheat. I'm particularly pleased to select this beer first as St. Arnold brewery was a sponsor of the first beer competition that I placed in.

Aroma: The aroma has almost a light apricot or other fleshy fruit to it, but there is no predominant stone fruit flavors in the beer itself, which is a plus. I have been known to enjoy fruit beers, but for a wheat beer, you would not want any overwhelming syrupy flavors, while a light fruity taste does smooth out the beer for quick and easy drinking.

Appearance: Color is light and clear.

Flavor: Formerly St. Arnold Kristall Weizen, this is a very easy drinking beer that is refreshing for a summertime beverage. Overall, it is a light flavored beer, with a slight fruity element to it. Carbonation is moderate to high, I could barely hold it in my mouth without a good bit of foam building up, but it does not interfere with the enjoyability of this beverage. There is a slight floral hoppiness to the beer, but it does not persist.

Overall Impression: Overall this is a very light and easy drinking wheat beer that I would happily down a six pack of on the back patio anytime from March to September here in Texas.

Vitals:
Style American Wheat Beer
Price $8.99/six-pack
Found In Local Liquor Store
Alcohol Content 4.9% by volume
Availability Year-round
Bitterness 18 IBU