6 February 2014 Virtual Tasting – Southern Hemisphere Wines

Virtual Tasting – Southern Hemisphere Wines

February 6, 2014 By

South Hemisphere WinesLast night, I participated in a #WineChat event on Twitter. The featured wines were from the southern hemisphere, specifically New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. The three white wines were described as “Summer Sippers”.

I’ve explained the idea of virtual wine tastings in previous posts but for those of you who are new to virtual wine tastings, this is what the story is:

  • Get a bottle of the wine varietal or brand being featured.
  • Invite friends to share the wine and experience with you (or snuggle in your pajamas in front of the computer if you prefer).
  • Sip and share your thoughts about the wine(s) with other tasters around the world using the designated hashtag on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Here are my tasting notes from the three featured wines – Brancott Estate Flight Song Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Graffigna Pinot Grigio from Argentina and Jacob’s Creek Reserve Riesling from Australia:

2012 Graffigna Centenario Pinot Grigio

Light in color with a hint of green. This is a light, easy drinking, sipping wine with a floral nose and a bright, fresh citrus palate. As the wine warmed up a bit, it developed tropical fruit flavors that I enjoyed.

Pairings: Delicate fish, seafood, served as an aperitif

Grape Type(s): Pinot Grigio

Region: Tulum Valley, Argentina

Price: $11

2013 Brancott Estate Flight Song Sauvignon Blanc

For fans of cool label marketing, this is a winner. The bottle is just so pretty. This is the ultimate light wine, nearly clear in color in the bottle. There are light lemony and grassy aromas and ripe Meyer lemon flavors that finish on a zippy, zesty citrus note. At 88 calories per pour at 9% alcohol – bridal shower-ready wine.

Pairings: Serve as an aperitif or with a light salad

Grape Type(s): Sauvignon blanc

Region: Marlborough, New Zealand

Price: $15

2012 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Chardonnay

Pale greenish in the glass with a citrusy, light caramel nose. Big fruit, little jammy plum, nice minerality with a little oak. This isn’t your buttery oak bomb. I tend to like this lightly oaked style. Could be interesting with some cellaring.

Pairings: Spicy dishes (Thai, Indian, Mexican), pork  

Grape Type(s): Chardonnay

Region: Adelaide Hills, Australia

Price: $15

These three bottles were sent to me as samples and are being added to my repertoire.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Argentina, Australia, Chardonnay, Food & Wine Events, New Zealand, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, White Wine Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
29 January 2014 2012 Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

2012 Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

January 29, 2014 By

2012 Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon BlancI’ve enjoyed Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc on lots of occasions as it’s such an easy-drinking, food-friendly white that most people like. It’s a perfect wine to have on hand for dinner parties as the price point is just right at around $13 and it pairs well with many lighter dishes or as an aperitif.

The aromas that pop out of the glass scream “Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc” – ripe tropical fruit with zesty citrus. I served this wine with slightly spicy crawfish etoufee and the Asian pear, Meyer lemon and grassy flavors came through with a bit of sweetness to cut through the spice.

Pairings: Seafood, fish and served as an aperitif.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Marlborough, New Zealand

Price: $13

 

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

Filed Under: New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
5 June 2013 2007 Echeverria Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Echeverria Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

June 5, 2013 By

2007 Echeverria Late Harvest Sauvignon BlancThis dessert wine is strikingly golden in the glass and offers ripe, juicy peach aromas. There’s a rich, coating mouthfeel, honey and fig jam flavors and a nice level of acidity on the finish of this little beauty.

The 2007 Echeverria Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc held up nicely to the caramel panna cotta but it was paired with at a recent dinner I attended.

Pairings: Cheese course, stone fruit or caramel desserts

Style: Sweet / Dessert Wine

Grape Type(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Curico Valley, Chile

Price: $19.99 (375ml)

Filed Under: Chile, Dessert Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
22 May 2013 2009 Marquis de Chasse Sauternes

2009 Marquis de Chasse Sauternes

May 22, 2013 By

SauternesGolden in the glass, the 2009 Marquis de Chasse Sauternes offers typical aromas of honey and dry apricot. In the mouth, it’s rich with ripe pear and honey flavors with a little nutmeg notes on the finish. Sweet yet well-balanced – very pleasant for such a young Sauternes.

Pairings: Cheese course, foie gras, most desserts

Style: White wine

Grape Type(s): Semillon,  Sauvignon Blanc,  Muscadelle

Region: Bordeaux, France

Price: $24 (500ml)

Filed Under: France, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, 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: , ,
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: ,
3 February 2012 2009 Pascal Cotat Sancerre Les Monts Damnes

2009 Pascal Cotat Sancerre Les Monts Damnes

February 3, 2012 By

Domaine Pascal Cotat

The pale green color of this wine in the glass is a little deceiving to what this rich wine tastes like.  On the nose, it’s an explosion of tropical fruit.  In the mouth, it’s opulent with juicy grapefruit, lime and papaya. Nice mineral levels that complement the lushness of this Sancerre. This wine has a 14.5% alcohol level and can improve with some cellaring.

Style: White

Grape Type(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Loire Valley, France

Around $50

 

 

Filed Under: Dessert Wine, France, Sauvignon Blanc, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
21 November 2011 2010 Merry Edwards Russian River Sauvignon Blanc

2010 Merry Edwards Russian River Sauvignon Blanc

November 21, 2011 By

Yes, I’m continuing my homage to Merry Edwards, but this time, it is not Pinot Noir I’m clamoring about, it is Merry’s delicious 2010 Russian River Sauvignon Blanc.

On the nose, this wine is floral with a ton of tropical fruit notes.  On the palate, there is pink grapefruit, Meyer lemons, a drizzle of honey and Asian pear.

The wine’s six month fermentation in seasoned French oak barrels created a Sauvignon Blanc with real backbone and depth.  This isn’t a pale, watery Sauvignon Blanc made to be sipped as an aperitif on a hot summer day.  It’s a rich, well-balanced, bright wine that is wonderful paired with fish or seafood but can also hold its own with spicy dishes.

Super wine for fans of Gewürztraminer and dry Riesling.  A bit of a splurge for some Sauvignon Blanc drinkers, but certainly worth every penny.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Musque

Region: Russian River Valley / Sonoma, CA

Around $30

Filed Under: Sauvignon Blanc, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
11 August 2011 2010 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc

2010 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc

August 11, 2011 By

This Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand displays what is typical of the region for this varietal – burst of bright fruit with a tangy finish.

I first sampled this Brancott Estate wine when it was really cold and some of its aromas and flavors were masked.  As it warmed up a bit, the nose was bright pink grapefruit.  For those wine drinkers who can’t easily identify aromas displayed by certain wines, the grapefruit is prominent and easy to pinpoint on this Sauvignon Blanc.  The citrus notes continue in the mouth with lemon and lime flavors that finish with zippy acidity.

Great summer white at a very affordable price point.

Around $12.

Filed Under: New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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