Archive for the ‘Albarino’ Category
Varietal: 100% Albarino
Region: Rias Baixas – Spain
Cost: $15 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: A highly aromatic wine opening with a nose of tropical fruit and apple, along with a subtle herbal nuance. Led by pear and passion fruit notes, this dry, full-bodied wine boasts a fruit-forward profile, finishing with a round mouthfeel. Pairs well with seasonal shellfish and other seafood fare.
My Review: I had received this wine, along with a bottle of Torrontes, as samples for the holiday season, and as the bottle of Torrontes made its way up to Northern Virginia with me to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving, I’d been looking for a good opportunity to open this bottle. Finally one presented itself this past weekend.
Varietal: 22.7% Malvasia Bianca; 15.9% Gruner Veltliner; 15.7% Sauvignon Blanc; 9.2% Gewurztraminer; 7.9% Riesling; 7.3% Chenin Blanc; 6.1% Muscat Canelli; 5.2% Viognier; 4.5% Verdelho; 4.4% Albarino; 1.1% Pinot Gris
Region: California – USA
Cost: $10 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Big House wines are a rebellious mix of non-traditional grape varieties destined to give the imbiber a new experience. To wit this year’s prisoner is a captivating blend of aromatic whites that span the distance of the Alps themselves. With a nose that carries the vibrancy of spring and white flowers and lychee fruit that surround the senses. The palate opens up to tropical fruits, dried apricot, and white peaches. This wine finishes strong with a cleansing citrus zest that lingers. Pairs with fresh fish, Asian cuisine, or even Sunday morning fruit salads.
My Review: I’m a big proponent of tables wines, and I feel as though that’s a niche that Big House wines has embraced and possibly even tried to make their own. Looking at the list of wines that are put into the bottle it’s almost disappointing to not see one labeled “kitchen sink”. There are times when a wine can try and do too much and end up falling flat, and while I’m not going to go so far as to proclaim the 2010 Big House White an amazing wine, for a $10 table wine, you can do a lot worse.
This past Tuesday I was lucky enough to be invited to a dinner here in Richmond at the Bolling Haxall House to show off Loudoun County’s food, wine, and hospitality. For those not familiar with Loudoun County, it’s referred to as DC’s Wine Country, as it’s about 20 minutes west of the District, and currently features 28 different vineyards and wineries, more than any other single county in the state of Virginia.
Before the dinner began, we were treated to hors d’oeuvres and a selection of wine including a Rose’ from Chrysalis Vineyards (which I didn’t sample), the Topiary from Boxwood Estate – a nice dry red, and the Jolie Blonde from Breaux Vineyards – a Seyval Blanc that was light and crisp and perfect for sipping before dinner.
The dinner was from Chef William Walden of the Goodstone Inn & Estate, and I just have to say that he was spectacular. If you were ever considering staying at the Goodstone and eating at his restaurant I feel confident in saying that you will enjoy yourself. Our first course was a Vicchyssoise of braised leak, garden potato, and sherry that was paired with a 2009 Chrysalis Vineyards Viognier. The wine had all the typical tropical and floral notes that I expect from a Virginia Viognier, but it also featured a nice roundness to the finish that I found very enjoyable and helped it from cutting through the richness of the dish too much. As somebody that drinks a lot of Viognier, especially during the summer months, this has quickly jumped onto my list of ones to keep on hand. Read the rest of this entry »
The Spanish Quarter Chardonnay/Albarino
Varietal: Chardonnay (60%) / Albarino (40%)
Region: Spain
Cost: $9.99 – $14.99
Floral aromas pair well with the citrus flavors of this Spanish white. Flavors of peach and tropical fruit offer a clean citrus finish with a hint of residual sugar. This wine will pair well with chicken, fish, light appetizers, and spicy foods.
Recommendations: This wine will go great with spicier foods, but you may want to pass on it for use as an everyday white wine.
