Posts Tagged ‘Sauvignon Blanc’
The holidays are upon us and if you’re anything like me you’re about to enter into a heady mix of family, friends, and other relatives for dinners, parties, and just to catch up. Times like these call for wine. Lots of wine. Thanksfully, Cheapism.com did some research to come up with a list of the best budget reds, whites, and sparkling wines that are perfect for this time of year. Here’s the list they came up with:
White
- Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay
- Dr. Loosen Red Slate Riesling
- Château Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc
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.
Varietal: Chardonnay with a touch of Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc
Region: 71% California; 29% North Carolina
Cost: $11 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Yellow/green in color with aromas of tropical fruit, pineapple, peach, persimmon, and mint. In the mouth the wine is fresh and fruity with a touch of butter; a smooth wine with a medium body. Pairs well with seafood, chicken, pasta, and light dishes.
My Review: I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this bottle. Not only did I not know what the percentages on the blend were (though I’d make a rough guess that the Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc account for less than 10% of the wine), but blending two grapes not just from different regions in a state, but from different states, seemed odd to me.
Well, the end of summer isn’t that far away, so when I was recently sent a mixed case of summer white wines, it seemed a shame to sit on them and try to go through them each individually as I would have quickly run out of summer by the time I was able to get to them all. With that in mind I invited some friends over, opened up all the wines, and tasted them all at once, because let’s be honest, that’s what summer’s really all about. Here’s what I thought.
The first one I tasted was the 2010 La Fiera Pinot Grigio (SRP $8). I got mostly apples on both the nose and the palate with a nice lingering finish with just the right amount of acid. There was a slight hint of sweetness to my palate, but for being the first one I tried, it was a good start and it’s a good value for these kinds of parties.
Next up were two from Tiamo. First was the Tiamo Prosecco (SRP $15) which had a hint of citrus on the nose with medium sized bubbles and a slight bit of yeast on the palate and a mix of crisp fruit. This was definitely not a super-dry Prosecco and it was quickly consumed by my friends.
Varietal: 77% Sauvignon Blanc; 20% Chardonnay; 3% Marsanne
Region: Columbia Valley – Washington – USA
Cost: $14
Winemaker’s Notes: Bright, lively aromas of ripe pear, grapefruit peel, caramel apple, and orange blossom. The palate is lean, angular, and well defined, emphasizing the virtues of structure and elegance.
My Review: I don’t think I’ve made any secret to my enjoyment of Sauvignon Blanc over the past few years, which is why when I received a box of samples from Hedges Family Estate, I was happy to see a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, especially since I couldn’t remember having one from the state of Washington. I’m always looking to try new things.
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: New Zealand
Cost: $11 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Complex aromas of fresh asparagus, zesty green pepper, and sunshine-warmed box hedge are contrasted by lighter, brighter top notes of honeydew melon and juicy lime citrus. Made to be enjoyed while young and fresh; we recommend drinking this wine over the next 12 months.
My Review: Wow, it almost feels like I haven’t done one of these in forever since I’ve been so busy with formal tastings and the 2011 North American Wine Bloggers Conference, which is a shame because these really are why I started this site. Anyways, I digress.
I’d received the 2010 Nine Walks Sauvignon Blanc as a sample last month and while it had been sitting in my fridge, reminding me that it’s hot as hell outside in Virginia in July and that it would do a great job of taking the edge off the heat, I just didn’t quite get around to it. Finally this week I did.
