2008 Fetzer Gewürztraminer Valley Oaks

On March 9, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Fetzer Gewurztraminer Valley Oaks from California. This bottle was purchased for under $6. I believe this wine sees no time in oak barrels and is aged in stainless steel instead.

Color

In the glass this wine is a beautiful golden color.

Aroma

There is a hint of cinnamon on the nose of this wine. I also get orange and ripe mango components. There is also some pineapple as well. Overall a very tropical fruit nose.

Flavor

On the attack the oranges and peaches are dominant. In the mid-palate and finish I get more citrus components which remind me of red grapefruit. Be prepared for the sweetness on this wine. It is definitely not dry. I couldn’t find the amount of residual sugar on this wine, but it must be fairly high. Comment if you know it please. However for a spicy meal it should pair well and the acid is enough to balance some of the sweetness.

Rating

I like this wine. It is a steal at this price. Just know what you are getting regarding the sugar levels. But if sweet fruit forward white wines match your palate then I strongly recommend you try this wine. I rate it 86 points.

Have you tried a Gewurztraminer before?

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2009 Spier Chenin Blanc

On March 3, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Spier Chenin Blanc from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa. This 100% Chenin Blanc based wine was purchased for under $8.

Color

In the glass this wine is a very light color, almost clear like water.

Aroma

The first aroma showing is green apple. It is accompanied by notes of pears and a unique brie cheese component. The brie cheese note isn’t like a smelly component, it is more of what I would describe as a mineral component perhaps connected with the rind of a brie cheese. I also get a basic white grape aroma. Over all it is a very fresh nose.

Flavor

There is lemon on the attack and then honeydew and some nice grapefruit components on the mid-palate. It finishes with nice acidity and lingers with a white grape juice component. It is fresh, crisp and light. Good before a meal or as a complement to a salad.

Rating

It is difficult to beat the price of this wine as a simple dry white wine. I recommend trying it and rate it 86 points.

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Rapidan River Unoaked Chardonnay

On March 2, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the non-vintage Rapidan River Unoaked Chardonnay by Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery from Virgina. This 100% Chardonnay based wine is aged in stainless steel for 8 months. It was purchased for under $10.

Color

In the glass it is a very light beige color.

Aroma

On the nose this wine shows good green apple and ripe melon notes. There is also a distinct custard apple note.

Flavor

On the attack there is honeycrisp apple flavors and then in the mid-palate a honey note is present. It finishes with pineapple and grapefruit notes. The acidity of this wine will make it very food friendly and crisp. It is medium bodied and unlike a lot of wines it actually improves as it warms up. Despite the fact that it is a dry wine, the fruit provides a lot of rich flavors.

Rating

I enjoyed this wine and liked the difference between it and Chardonnay under oak. I only wish it was available in a vintage version. I rate it a solid 88 points.

Have you had a Unoaked Chardonnay?

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2009 Nobilis Vinho Verde

On February 21, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Nobilis Vinho Verde from Portugal. This “green” white wine was purchased for under $7 and comes with a screw-cap.

Color

In the glass it is a very light golden color typical of this style.

Aroma

On the nose there are excellent lemon notes combined with a fresh cool water aroma. Reminds me of cold cold tap water perhaps due to a bit of chlorine component.

Flavor

On the attack there is a lot of lemon and lime but without the sweetness of Sprite. On the mid-palate there is a bit of quinine which reminds me of tonic water. The finish exhibits grapefruit notes. Over all it is a crip light, citric acid style which pairs very well with light dishes. Nothing is negative with this Vinho Verde, nor is it complex.

Rating

I like this wine. It is exactly what I expect for its style and price. I rate it 88 points.

Did you know quinine is used to treat malaria and other diseases? Hence the “tonic” in tonic water. Wonder what this wine will help with.

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2008 Doulce France Vouvray Alfio Moriconi Selection

On February 7, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Doulce France Vouvray by Bougrier Depuis from France. Like most Vouvray wines, this is probably made from 100% Chenin Blanc. I acquired this bottle for under $10. Although it has Doulce (Sweet) in the name the back label declares it to be “OFF-DRY”. Vouvray wines come in sec, demi-sec (off-dry), moelleux and doux levels of sweetness with sec being the most dry. So, I am excited to try this demi-sec version.

Color

In the glass this wine is a nice pale yellow straw color.

Aroma

On the nose there is a dominate lemon component. It is accompanied by green apple and pear. There is a hint of a floral component such as lilies. Overall it comes across as fresh and showing the aromas of raw fruits. Very pleasant.

Flavor

On the attack there is peach and apple. The mid-palate has some honeydew melon in the mix and it finishes with a hint of lemon and red grapefruit. This is a sweet wine. I was a little surprised at how sweet it tastes. Not a lot of acidity but will pair well with a desert that isn’t too sweet. I am thinking of a pound cake or lemon cake.

Rating

For my palate this wine was a bit too sweet and awkward. Perhaps I need to find a sec or even a sec-sec (dry-dry) Vouvray next. I rate it 82 points.

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2009 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc

On February 5, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc from the Valle Central of Chile. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc based wine was purchased for under $8 and comes attractively packaged with a Double Headed Duck engraving. This wine is not aged in oak barrels. I’ve previously reviewed the 2007 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc, so it will be interesting to compare these vintages.

Color

In the glass it is surprisingly golden for a Sauvignon Blanc that has seen no oak. Very attractive.

Aroma

On the nose there are lime and grapefruit components. It comes across as very fresh and full of citric acid notes.

Flavor

The lemon and lime shows well on the attack with more of a lemon custard component on the mid-palate which is really nice. The finish is little hot but showing good acidity and grapefruit. The flavors linger for a decent amount of time. This wine is food friendly and will pair with salads, shrimp, and lighter fish.

Rating

This is a simple but decent Sauvignon Blanc. It doesn’t have any incredibly interesting flavors that make it notable on its own, but I recommend it be consumed with a meal. I rate it 86 points.

I found this vintage to be about as pleasing as the 2007, although the flavors and aromas do vary. Have you compared vintages over time? Did you see any changes in the flavors and aromas or do you think your palate might have also changed over time?

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2009 Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc

On January 24, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Petit Chenin Blanc by Ken Forrester from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa. This 100% Chenin Blanc based wine was acquired for under $9. Ken Forrester Vineyards makes this wine in a sustainable manner and contributes to the quality of life of the local community and their employees. It comes with a screw cap closure.

Color

In the glass it is a light straw colored wine.

Aroma

On the nose there is some grapefruit and a very fresh cool water smell. Perhaps something a little like chlorine. It might sound bad, but it is actually just very fresh smelling. There is also a white grape juice component.

Flavor

On the attack there is a butter and honey component. In the mid-palate it has a slightly mineral component which reminds me of the sea. It is similar to clam shells. The mineral component is complemented by pear and lime notes and it finishes with some starfruit. Overall it tends to be fruit dominated and meanders between a dry and sweet wine. It will pair well with shellfish.

Rating

One thing that is holding this wine back a little is the low acid. It would probably pair a little better with food if it had it. I do think it is a decent value and rate it 87 points.

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Domaine Ste Michelle Blanc de Noirs

On January 4, 2010, In Sparkling, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the Blanc de Noirs by Domaine Ste. Michelle from the Columbia Valley in Washington. This non-vintage sparkling wine is made from the Pinot Noir grape and was purchased for under $8.

Color

In the glass this wine is a brilliant copper color. It looks like liquid metal with a pink hue and is very attractive with decent bubbles.

Aroma

On the nose it has very noticeable grapefruit followed up by lemon.

Flavor

On the attack the grapefruit is dominant with lime on the mid-palate and finish. This is a very sour wine. It has a quick finish and not a lot of complexity. It is definitely a dry wine and pairs with lighter fair.

Rating

Over all this is a decent wine. Not as good as the Blanc de Blancs but prettier in the glass. I rate it 88 points.

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Domaine Ste Michelle Blanc de Blancs

On January 3, 2010, In Sparkling, White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the Blanc de Blancs by Domaine Ste. Michelle from the Columbia Valley in Washington. This non-vintage sparkling wine is made from the Chardonnay grape and was purchased for under $8.

Color

In the glass it is a lighter yellow with good bubbles.

Aroma

On the nose it has an unusual egg aroma. There are also good grapefruit and lemon notes.

Flavor

On the attack the lemon is again present followed by grapefruit on the mid-palate. Then on the start of the finish it shows some cantaloupe melon. And then it lingers with a salty, yeasty component. This is a dry wine and pairs very well with food. It works well with seafood.

Rating

I really enjoyed this effort from Domaine Ste Michelle and think it is one of the best and most available sparkling wines in this price range. For me it is a good match. I rate it 90 points.

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2007 El Sierro Macabeo Chardonnay

On December 23, 2009, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 El Sierro Macabeo Chardonnay by Vinos de la Vina from the Valencia region of Spain. This blend of 95% Macabeo (Viura) and 5% Chardonnay varietals was acquired for under $7. Macabeo is often used to make Cava, so it will be interesting to try it in a non-sparkling version.

Color

In the glass it is a nice light golden yellow. There is a very slight oily appearance.

Aroma

Citrus notes are showing well on the nose. There is grapefruit and lemon. It also has some key lime pie notes.

Flavor

The attack has some of the lemon from the nose, but it is joined by creamy flavors which do remind me of a Cava. There is great acidity and a heavier mouthfeel to it. It really strikes me as a great food wine for buttery seafood dishes. There is a butterscotch component showing up also. This is definitely a different white wine than the typical Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc varietal offerings which are so common today.

Rating

I recommend trying his wine. It has some similarity to Viognier and Chardonnay. I rate it 89 points.

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