The Good Wine Guru » seafood

Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blancs Methode Champenoise – Brut 2007

George — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:00:28 +0000

Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: California – Russian River Valley – USA
Cost: $25

Pale straw color with aromas of honey, lime, and freshly baked bread. Slightly floral with notes of yeast, lemon, and apricot. Refreshing and balanced with tiny bubbles and good acidity. Pairs well with spicy dishes, fresh seafood, or soft cheeses such as Brie.

Recommendations: Well, it’s been a week and I’m back from vacation, so I figured what better way to start than with some bubbles. I don’t usually drink a ton of sparkling wine, Champagne or not, but when I got this sample I was definitely intrigued as a good friend of mine is a big fan of bubbles and has been slowly but surely pressing it upon me.

I got lime and a bit of baked bread on the nose, but what I really got was the yeast on the palate. With just a hint of sweetness, which I’ll chalk up to the apricot the tasting notes claimed I would taste, and a nice acid finish, it was an enjoyable wine. The small bubbles made it easy to drink, and the dinner of a deconstructed chicken pot pie was actually a nice pairing for this, as the flavors of the wine helped cut through the creaminess of the food.

The tasting notes suggested pairing this with a Brie, and as a fan of baked Brie I can say with some certainty that this would be a great pairing, so if you’re looking ahead to holiday parties, this would be an excellent pairing with a cheese or seafood platter or for when the ball drops and we welcome a new year.

Whether planning for a party or just looking for something different with your dinner, the 2007 Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blancs is definitely worth checking out and one I enjoyed and might be featuring during my holiday celebrations.

Conte Fini Pinot Grigio Valdadige 2009

George — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:00:10 +0000

Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Region: Italy
Cost: $12

Pale straw color with aromas of pear and citrus that carry through to the palate with the addition of apple. Pairs well with seafood, appetizers, and cream-based pasta dishes.

Recommendations: Last night my wife and I decided we wanted some white wine to go with a dinner of mostly finger foods. Unfortunately we didn’t have any in the house (I realize this is becoming a trend). Running down to the store, we picked up a 6-pack of pumpkin beer for my wife, and a bottle of the 2009 Conte Fini Pinot Grigio for dinner.

We realized as we were buying the wine that it had been a really long time since we had bought or drank Pinot Grigio, partly because of typically drinking Sauvignon Blanc where we would normally choose Pinot Grigio. It was time to branch out.

The wine was nice and light, with aromas of pear and apple. In the mouth I got primarily apple, with a hint of pear on the finish. Paired with a dinner of bacon wrapped scallops and some crab puffs, it was light enough to not overwhelm the fish, and the acid did a nice job of cutting through the fat of the scallops.

While it’s certainly been a while since I’ve had any Pinot Grigio, last night reminded me of why I used to keep a couple of bottles of it on hand. The Conte Fini was a nice wine that I can definitely see myself picking up again for exactly this reason. One worth checking out if you’re like me and haven’t had Pinot Grigio in a while, or even if you have it almost every day.

Louis Latour Pinot Noir

George — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:00:55 +0000

Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: France
Cost: $15 – $20

Deep garnet in color with spice on the nose that leads into flavors of raspberry and spice with balanced tannins on the finish. Pair with pork, seafood, or Thanksgiving dinner.

Recommendations: Originally bought for Thanksgiving dinner, this bottle didn’t get opened until the day after when the wife and I were unwinding from the whirlwind of family and food that was Turkey Day.

Paired with a dinner of munchy food, this Pinot Noir was more robust than the Kenwood Vineyards Pinot we had enjoyed the night before, with more spice and a bit more tannin on the finish, as well as a touch of effervescence that was quite refreshing.

While I can’t say that it was my favorite Pinot Noir, it was certainly enjoyable, and for the price it’s hard to beat that for a French Pinot. Definitely worth picking up if you’re in the market for a French red wine and enjoy Pinot Noir.

Razor’s Edge Chardonnay

George — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:00:51 +0000

Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: South Australia
Cost: $11

An unwooded Chardonnay, offering crisp flavors of apple and citrus. Pairs with chicken, pork, seafood, or light appetizers.

Recommendations: My wife is not a fan of oaked Chardonnay, so when we saw this in the store, we thought we’d give it a try. The initial flavors of the wine are crisp with plenty of citrus and granny smith apple both on the nose and on the palate, which was perfect for the grilled chicken dinner we paired it with.

However, I found the finish of this wine to be a bit rough. It’s certainly not as rough as the Mirassou Chardonnay that I’ve already reviewed on here. That being said, the finish eventually began to bother me, especially after we had finished our food and were just sipping on the wine. Maybe with a juicy piece of pork it wouldn’t be as noticeable, but with the chicken (that I’ll admit I overcooked), it just wasn’t as enjoyable as I would have hoped.

If you liked the Mirassou Chardonnay you’ll like this, but if you’re looking for a crisp finish to your unoaked Chardonnay you’ll want to pass on this one.

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Ponga Sauvignon Blanc

George — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:00:18 +0000

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: New Zealand
Cost: $9.99

Light and juicy with just enough grapefruit flavor to let you know it’s a Sauvignon Blanc wthout overwhelming you with citrus flavors. Great for seafood, sushi, appetizers, or on the patio.

Recommendations: While Terra Andina Sauvignon Blanc has take its place in my heart as my go-to summer deck wine, Ponga is certainly giving it a run for the its money. Light and crisp with just enough citrus to be refreshing without beating you over the head with it, this white from New Zealand was the perfect compliment to a lunch of cheese, crackers, hummus, and home made bruschetta that my wife and I enjoyed this past weekend. That being said, I would definitly recommend pairing the Ponga with a piece of spicy tilapia or even some sushi.

If you’re in the market for a deck wine and don’t want to spend a lot of money on it, the Ponga Sauvignon Blanc is a great value with a great taste. Half the fun of drinking it is just saying the name, but you’ll get a lot of enjoyment drinking this on the deck as the temperature continues to climb. Grab this one.

Marques de Caceres Rioja 2007

George — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:59:34 +0000

Varietal: Rioja (white)
Region: Spain
Cost: $8

A dry white wine with a crisp finish and slight acidity. Aromas of almond and wildflower on the nose go well with the flavors and allow this wine to pair well with chicken, pork, seafood or on the deck.

Recommendations: As fans of the more traditional red rioja, my wife and I were intrigued when we saw this at our local grocer. For the price alone we figured it was worth it, and I can say that his light to medium bodied white is certainly worth every inexpensive penny.

Paired with some fish, this Spanish white did a great job of adding acid to the meal without being overpowering. The light, crisp flavors were refreshing and were great during and after the meal. As I’m always on the look-out for a table wine, this one has certainly made it onto the list. If you’re a fan of rioja, give this one a try. If you’ve never tried rioja before and are looking for an alternative to chardonnay and pinot grigio for seafood, definitely give this wine a try.

Ingleside Blue Crab Blanc

George — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:52:35 +0000

Varietal: White Table Wine
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $10.95 – $12

Floral bouquets lead into a very light, and refreshing wine that pairs well with chicken, seafood, spicy faire, or as an apertif.

Recommendations: My wife and I enjoyed this wine with a spicey shrimp dish, and the lightness and slight sweet finish did a great job of cutting the heat of the shrimp. If you’re looking for a robust white wine, this isn’t going to be the one for you, but if you’re looking for something that is light, works well with spicey food, chicken, and seafood, AND as a deck wine on a hot day, then you really should pick up more than one bottle of this Virginia White.

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