This bottle, dated 2009, contains a blend of red grapes, including St. Croix, Frontenac, and Marechal Foch.  It exhibits bright fruit notes despite the strong smoky character.  The acidity, while high, is befitting a well made pairing wine.  The wine’s coloring is beginning to show sign of age with the deep red beginning to brown, but the taste profile exhibits only the briefest hint of degeneration.

Overall, a well constructed wine which can be consumed on its own or paired with a hardy meal.

4.5/5

Deep ruby red coloring with vibrant edges.  This wine exhibits subtle earthy tones, black pepper, and dark cherry with hints of toasted oak and smoke.  In the mouth this seems a bit tart, with bright fruit flavors and subtle oak and tannins.  The wine is medium to light bodied, and would do well paired with aged cheeses and chocolate.

4/5

Opaque and purplish red nearing black.  When swirled in the glass this wine leaves strong legs and exhibits strong aromas of toast and stewed fruit, with undertones of berry, black pepper and plum.  On the palate this wine is soft with subtle tannins and acidity, but would still serve well as a pairing for strong dishes like beef.

4.5/5

This wine, made from the Briana grape, is bursting with tropical fruit notes, including pineapple, peach, citrus, and grape.  Although this is a dry wine, it gives the impression of sweetness simply from its fruit forward nature.  If enthusiasts are interested in tasting a wine which exhibits the true characteristics of the varietal – this would be a perfect example.

5/5

Visit Odessa Vineyards’ website.

On the nose this wine is dominated by smoke and toast, with undertones of stewed fruit and cherry.  The wine itself is medium bodied with a slight acidic edge.  Flavors in the wine are similar to the nose.  This wine is good for pairing.  Try it with something with heavier, more complex flavors.

4/5

Visit Odessa Vineyards’ website.

This wine, made in the traditional French Methode Champenoise and fermented in the bottle, is something to make every Iowan proud.  Subtle and complex, with excellent mouthfeel, this is a wine which can easily be enjoyed by itself or paired with a meal.

Unfortunately this wine is in short supply (a 40 gallon batch), so there isn’t much to pass around.  Get a bottle as soon as possible.

5/5

‘A Prairie Fine Wine’, this says on the bottle.  This taster does not disagree.

This wine is dark, nearing opaque, with purplish rims.  On the nose it exhibits a strong cherry hard candy aroma with a solid foundation of grapiness.  Licorice and pepper in the backdrop.  In the mouth this wine is gentle and soft, exhibiting similar flavors as the nose.  There is a subtle sweetness that makes this an easy drinking wine.

4.5/5

This wine possesses very pale straw coloring and leaves strong legs when swirled in the glass.  One the nose it exhibits apple notes with a strong herbaceous quality.  There are faint, passing hints of tropical fruit as well.  In the mouth, it seems a bit weak, and the herbaceous qualities seems to overwhelm the fruit flavors.  The wine is soft and finishes with butter notes.

It would be best to pair this wine with a light meal, such as a summer salad or roasted vegetables.  Not ideal as an easy-drinking table wine.

3.5/5

This red wine displays strong legs and holds its color very well.  It displays vanilla straight away on the nose, which is quickly followed by a bounty of fruit, including strawberry, and black cherry with fig undertones.  The fruit is evident in the mouth as well.  But for a bit of sourness, this wine is well-balanced and would serve well as a pairing for many dishes.

4.5/5

This is a translucent ruby wine with faded edges and good, strong legs around the glass.  On the nose it exhibits the aromas of bruised apple, cherry, and a pungent grapiness.  It is soft and sweet, with gentle acidity.  In the mouth we taste predominantly bruised apple with an undercurrent of grapey flavors.  Although well balanced, there is still a hint of sourness.  Serve slightly chilled with light appetizers and deserts.

4/5