18 April 2013 2011 Castello di Amorosa Dolcino Gewurztraminer

2011 Castello di Amorosa Dolcino Gewurztraminer

April 18, 2013 By

2011 Castello di Amorosa DolcinoI just love Gewurztraminer. It’s right up there with Riesling as one of my favorite white varietals. The 2011 Castello di Amorosa Dolcino Gewurztraminer offers attractive nutty, spiced aromas with light floral notes. As soon as I took in the first sip, I knew I was going to be a fan. Big unctuous mouthfeel, rich, lightly honey-kissed sweetness, nice level of acidity make this an ideal wine for spicy foods or grilled fish.

Pairings: Thai or Vietnamese food, grilled fish

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Gewurztraminer

Region: Mendocino County, CA, USA

Price: $23

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as it is truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Gewurztraminer, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
16 April 2013 2011 Kellerei Kaltern Caldaro Pinot Bianco Weissburgunder

2011 Kellerei Kaltern Caldaro Pinot Bianco Weissburgunder

April 16, 2013 By

2011 Kellerei Kaltern Caldaro Pinot Bianco WeissburgunderMedium yellow in the glass, this Alto Adige Pinot Blanc offers a big noseful of Asian pear. The bright, fresh fruity flavors are of apples, pears and Meyer lemons. Nice level of acidity on the finish.

Perfect to serve summer party guests as they munch on light appetizers.

Pairings: Fish or served as an aperitif

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Pinot Blanc

Region: Alto Adige, Italy

Price: $16.99

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as it is truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Italy, Pinot Blanc, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
13 April 2013 2010 Lucien Albrecht Riesling Réserve

2010 Lucien Albrecht Riesling Réserve

April 13, 2013 By

2010 Lucien Albrecht Riesling RéserveI love Riesling. Sweet, semi-dry, dry – it doesn’t matter, I enjoy it all. While I’m partial to German and Finger Lakes Riesling, there’s no denying that the Alsatians do it very well also.

Pale yellow in the glass, this Alsatian Riesling offers aromas of apple and pear. In the mouth, it’s not sweet at all and has Asian pear and floral flavors. Enjoyable dry finish.

Pairings: Shellfish, especially lobster

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Riesling

Region: Alsace, France

Price: $20

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as it is truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: France, Riesling, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
10 April 2013 2011 Heritance Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

2011 Heritance Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

April 10, 2013 By

2011 Heritance Sauvignon Blanc Napa ValleyThis Sauvignon Blanc and Roussanne blend offers bright citrus aromas typical of Sauvignon Blanc. The Roussanne rounds out the peach and tropical fruit flavors and softens the acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc. The finish is long and thoroughly enjoyable.

Paired this with Kurobuta pork chops and it was delicious.

Pairings: Chicken, pork, grilled fish

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 88% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Roussanne

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Price: $24

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as it is truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
8 April 2013 Getting to Know Smith Madrone Winery

Getting to Know Smith Madrone Winery

April 8, 2013 By

Smith Madrone ChardonnaySmith-Madrone Winery is located in Napa Valley in the Spring Mountain District. The 200-acre estate has vineyards that sit at elevations up to 2,000 feet. Some of the vines are planted on slopes as steep as over 30 degrees.

Two of the Smith-Madrone wines I recently had the opportunity to sample are the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 Chardonnay.

  • 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($45) – nearly black and opaque in the glass, this California Cabernet Sauvignon features incredible aromas of ripe cherries with chocolaty, earthy and oaky undertones. In the mouth, it’s a big and bold wine with dark berry and licorice flavors balanced by just the right level of tannins.
  • 2009 Chardonnay ($35) – medium straw color in the glass, the California Chardonnay offers bright aromas of Asian pear with oaky notes. On the palate, cantaloupe and ripe apple flavors dominate. Toasted bread finish.

As far as idyllic California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon go, these are super examples.

These wines were provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as they are truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Red Wine, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
7 April 2013 2009 Trimbach Pinot Blanc

2009 Trimbach Pinot Blanc

April 7, 2013 By

2009 Trimbach Pinot BlancLove the slightly greenish color of this Alsatian wine. Also love the very floral aromas if offers. The 2009 Trimbach Pinot Blanc is rich with flavors of peach and ripe lemons. This French Pinot Blanc makes me crave seafood.

Pairings: Fish, seafood, especially seared scallops

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Pinot Blanc

Region: Alsace, France

Price: $16

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as it is truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: France, Pinot Blanc, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
6 April 2013 Portuguese White Wines by Herdade do Esporão

Portuguese White Wines by Herdade do Esporão

April 6, 2013 By

2012 Herdade do Esporao Verdelho WhiteI uncorked these two wines at a recent dinner party where I served a seafood paella. The guests at the dinner were evenly split when it came to favoring one wine over the other. Both had enough body to stand up to the flavorful dish.

  • 2011 Herdade do Esporão Monte Velho White ($9.99) – medium straw color in the glass, this Portuguese wine offers fruity, juicy citrus aromas and ripe apricot and Meyer lemon flavors. Antao Vaz, Roupeiro, Perrum grapes.
  • 2012 Herdade do Esporão Verdelho White ($12.99) – light, slightly green in the glass, this wine exuded aromas of juicy lime. On the palate, it offered honeydew, apple and bright citrus flavors. Great level of acidity and a pleasant medium finish. 100% Verdelho grape.

2011 Herdade do Esporao Monte Velho WhiteHerdade do Esporão is perhaps the best-known winery in the Alentejo wine region of Portugal and its white wines and red wines are affordable, available and delicious.

These wines were provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as they are truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Antao Vaz, Perrum, Portugal, Roupeiro, Verdelho, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: ,
5 April 2013 2011 Steelhead Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

2011 Steelhead Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

April 5, 2013 By

2011 Steelhead Vineyards Sauvignon BlancNice example of California Sauvignon Blanc. Pale yellow in the glass with tropical fruit aromas and lemony-fresh, slightly honeyed flavors. Great acidity and citrus finish.

Pairings: Fish, seafood, especially seared scallops

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Region: North Coast, CA, USA

Price: $12

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as it is truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Sauvignon Blanc, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
3 April 2013 2009 James Oatley Tic Tok Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

2009 James Oatley Tic Tok Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

April 3, 2013 By

Tic TokI served this to guests as an aperitif last week and it was a nice rendition of Australian Sauvignon Blanc of this price range.

Pale yellow in the glass with nice citrus and freshly cut grass aromas, the 2009 James Oatley Tic Tok Sauvignon Blanc Semillon has Meyer lemon and light honey flavors. Enjoyable crisp finish.

Pairings: Fish, seafood or served as an aperitif

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 60% Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon 40%

Region: Western Australia

Price: $10

Filed Under: Australia, Sauvignon Blanc, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: ,
21 February 2013 2011 Jidvei Dry Riesling

2011 Jidvei Dry Riesling

February 21, 2013 By

2011 Jidvei Dry RieslingGreenish yellow in the glass, this Romanian wine is floral on the nose, not similar to Rieslings I’ve enjoyed from any other country. In the mouth, it’s light with the faintest citrus notes.

Just not a very good example of this grape I typically enjoy so much. Not good, not bad.

Pairings: Chinese take-out, Thai or Indian food.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Riesling

Region: Târnave, Transylvania, Romania

Price: $9

Filed Under: Riesling, Romania, White Wine, Wine Reviews
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