A Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

A Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

Can you get a decent Chilean Sauvignon Blanc at this price?...

Despite all the Chilean wines and all the Sauvignon Blancs that I have tasted over the years, both my memory and my web site’s search box tell me that I have never reviewed a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. Rather surprising. The 120 on the bottle stands for the 120 men hiding in Santa Rita’s extensive wine cellar alongside the national hero Bernardo O’Higgins after the historic 1814 Battle of Rancagua when Chile was reconquered by Spain. The winery now owns more than 3000 hectares (over 7500 acres) of vines and is partnered with the French winery Lafite-Rothschild. The companion wine is a Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at twice the price.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc D. O. Valle Centrale 2012 13.5 % alcohol about $8.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials “Tasting Note Appearance; pale straw. Nose; gooseberry, peach, citrus, fresh cut grass. Palate; light and refreshing with balanced acidity. Serving Suggestion Salads, herb chicken, as a sipper.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was thin, excessively acidic, and fairly short. Matzo ball soup smoothed the acidity somewhat. The drink sweetened and I got citrus. I spiced up the soup with Yemeni green jalapeno sauce that rounded the liquid and the fruit continued. The initial meal focused on a barbecued chicken. The libation responded with metallic pea pods and good acidity. Zesty guacamole rendered our SB slightly woody. Fresh raspberries for dessert fairly muted Whitey; and I noted some unpleasant pea pods and pleasant oak.

This review of a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_chsb.php

A Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012 13.5 % alcohol about $16.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials “Tasting Note: If you buy no other 2012 New Zealand sauvignon currently on the shelves, don't miss Dog Point. There's a consummately crafted dimension to this wine that propels it above the vast sea of sauvignon, a wine of genuine character and interest. A one-fifth portion of wild ferment and lees ageing instils a mineral mouth feel and complexing nuances of struck flint. Carefully regulated yields have produced an impeccably gauged fruit profile that tactically dodges the extremes of underripe herbaceousness and overripe passionfruit, falling neatly into the middle ground of grapefruit, lemon zest, guava and golden delicious apple. A focused acid line and outstanding, lingering, textural persistence make not only for immediate appeal but promise medium-term potential. Drink 2012-2019. Score - 95. (Tyson Stelzer, at his web site Undated).” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine offered good acidity but had that characteristic peapod taste that I sometimes get in New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. When the juice accompanied Matzo ball soup the pea pod taste increased as the acidity rounded. I spiced up the soup with Yemeni green jalapeno sauce but those pea pods continued to dominate. The initial meal focused on a barbecued chicken. Can you guess how the libation responded, I’ll give you a hint. It was excessive. But I did note round acidity. Zesty guacamole gave our SB good oak, good acidity, and bad you know what. Fresh raspberries for dessert fairly muted Whitey; but the wine was still present enough and offered good sweetness and acidity.

This review of a  Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_articles/Elsewhere_wine_articles/marlborough_new_zealand_sauvignon_blanc.php

Another Mosel (Germany) Riesling Spätlese

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Bollig-Lehnert Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese 2009 8 % alcohol about $20.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. “Description : There’s a certain poetry to many of the German vineyard names. For example, Goldtröpfchen means ‘little drop of gold’. Tasting Note : Elegant, showing a restrained sense of power. Aromas of savory spice and fennel, with flavors of apple, green peach and Asian pear. Mineral notes linger on the crisp finish. Drink now. Score – 91. (Bruce Sanderson at the Wine Spectator web site, Web Only, 2011).” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine offered a fine combination of sweetness and acidity. I sensed both lemon and lime. It was powerful. The initial meal was quiche time. In response to the homemade eggplant and cottage cheese quiche with sesame seeds on the top the libation’s acidity stepped up. It was long. The homemade mushroom, cottage cheese, and tomato quiche with sesame seeds on the top rendered the drink’s acidity very powerful. I tasted lime and some honey. The side dish of eggplants, onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms rendered our German friend quite balanced and floral as well. I had to remind myself not to overdo it and drink too much. For dessert I indulged in a vanilla ice cream bar with a rich chocolate coating. The liquid was weakened but not devastated.

This review of a  Mosel (Germany) Riesling Spätlese continues
on my web site at http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_articles/My_own_German_wine_articles/another_mosel_riesling_spaetlese.phphttp://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_articles/My_own_German_wine_articles/another_mosel_riesling_spaetlese.php

Another Canadian Riesling-Vidal Blend

Another Canadian Riesling-Vidal Blend

Can you get a decent Canadian Blend at this price?...

Just a few short weeks ago I broke my more or less promise twice by trying a Canadian Riesling-Vidal blend. The promise had nothing to do with Canada; in fact, this wine carries the Canadian appellation. It was a question of blends and even more so the Vidal grape which itself is sort of a blend, a hybrid combining not so fine grapes in an attempt to deal with the Canadian winter. Vidal makes some excellent ice wine. But if its grapes aren’t frozen… The producer’s web site says nothing about their vineyards and precious little else. Flourish belongs to Constellation Brands, which claims to be the premium wine producer in the world. It was founded in 1945 with 8 employees. Perhaps their turning point came in 1954 with Wild Irish Rose. The companion wine is a German Riesling Spätlese at twice the price.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Flourish Riesling-Vidal VQA 2011 6 % alcohol about $10.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : pale straw with green tints; floral, apricot and honey aroma; light body; off-dry flavours of melon and peach with balanced acidity. Serving Suggestion : serve with chicken curry.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine offered pleasant acidity and good length but its fruit was unripe. The initial meal was quiche time. The homemade eggplant and cottage cheese quiche with sesame seeds on the top sweetened the libation. The homemade mushroom, cottage cheese, and tomato quiche with sesame seeds on the top sharpened the drink’s acidity and there was lots of lime. The side dish of eggplants, onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms rendered our Canadian friend sweet with a little fruit. Dessert was a vanilla ice cream bar with a rich chocolate coating. The liquid was reduced to only a wisp of lime.

This review of a  Canadian Riesling-Vidal Blend continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_acrv.phphttp://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_acrv.php

A Classic Israeli Chardonnay

A Classic Israeli Chardonnay

Can we get a fine Israeli Chardonnay at this price? ...

Barkan Classic Chardonnay

The Barkan winery traces its history back to 1899. It is now Israel’s second largest winery and owns the country’s largest vineyard. They produce four lines of wine; today’s offering is next to the bottom. They are developing a sizable vineyard in the Negev Desert. And the wine business being like so many others, the main ownership is now in the hands of a soft drink company. The companion wine is an Italian Chardonnay coming in at half the price
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Barkan Classic Chardonnay 2006 (not a typo) 12.5 % alcohol about $15.

In the absence of marketing materials let’s start by quoting the back label “Barkan Classic Chardonnay is produced from grape’s grown at the winery’s vineyards in the center of Israel. The vines yield small crops and ripen early. Hand picked in small containers, the grapes are rushed to the winery to ensure maximum quality. The wine ferments slowly at cool temperatures and yields a wine with a rich nose of blueberries, guava and pears. It is well structured, balanced and lingers in the mouth. Ideal with poultry and hard cheese.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was smoky and almost chewy offering light acidity. The initial meal focused on a barbecued chicken breast with a paprika dusted skin on which I squeezed a generous amount of fresh lime. The Chardonnay responded with intensified smokiness and good acidity. It was round. Steamed quinoa gave me a tinge of citrus in the smoke. A barbecued chicken wing augmented Chardy’s acidity and sweetness while its smokiness remained. The side dish of steamed broccoli made the libation’s acidity dominant, and in fact threw it slightly out of whack.

This review of a Classic Israeli Chardonnay continues on my web site at

http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Near_weekly_15_dollar_wine_reviews/Y2013/classic_israeli_chardonnay.php

A Veneto, Italy Chardonnay

A Veneto, Italy Chardonnay

Can you get a decent Italian Chardonnay at this price?...

I recently tasted this producer’s similarly priced Merlot and wondered aloud how they could make such an inexpensive wine in such an expensive environment. Ditto for their Chardonnay. I don’t think that the wine is a loss leader for their Amarone, a special wine made only in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, which at almost $40 won’t be found in this column. Cesari was founded in 1935 and owns extensive vineyards on the shores of Lake Garda in Verona. This Shakespearean city is brimming with Medieval and Roman architecture including Italy’s third largest arena, still used for public events. The companion wine is an Israeli Chardonnay coming in at twice the price.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Cesari Chardonnay Delle Venezie 2011 12 % alcohol about $7.50.

In the absence of marketing materials let’s start by quoting the back label “This wine has been carefully vinified from Chardonnay grapes selected from around the Veneto region. It’s (sic) clear straw colour, fruity bouquet, full and well great accompaniment for many fish dishes.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was pleasantly sweet but short. The initial meal focused on a barbecued chicken breast with a paprika dusted skin on which I squeezed a generous amount of fresh lime. The Chardonnay responded with its own lime and pleasant acidity. It was somewhat metallic. Steamed quinoa increased the liquid’s acidity and it kept giving me an agreeable metallic taste. But a barbecued chicken wing rendered Chardy’s acidity lightly sour. The side dish of steamed broccoli made the libation smoky with a touch of the ethereal.

This review of a Veneto, Italy Chardonnay continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_vich.phphttp://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_vich.php

A Tasmanian Pinot Noir

Wine Reviewed
Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir, Tasmania, Australia, 13.1 % alcohol about $15.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials.. “Tasting Note : 2011 has made for a spicy and structured Devil’s Corner, with restrained pink pepper, rhubarb, brambles and grippy tannins accentuated by taut acidity. It’s savoury and structural, yet accurate and appealing, with good persistence and medium-term potential. Drink; 2012-2015. Score – 90. (Tyson Stelzer at his website. Undated). And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was very rich, offering light acidity and some sweetness. The initial meal centered on slow-cooked beef ribs. I had the feeling that everything stepped up. The libation was mouth filling and yet light. I noted chocolate. In response to simultaneously cooked potatoes the Pinot Noir’s acidity and sweetness increased. There was some darkness. Carrots lengthened the drink. I slathered a healthy dose of Yemeni green jalapeno pepper sauce on the meat and the wine became peppery. Fresh raspberries for dessert rendered our Tasmanian friend long and once again I tasted chocolate.

This review of A Tasmanian Pinot Noir continues on my web site
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Near_weekly_15_dollar_wine_reviews/Y2013/tasmanian_pinot_noir.php