This particular bottle of Chilean wine was consumed with sushi at Sushi Tango. If you do not wish to read any further, know that I would probably never buy it in a store, but it was fine given Sushi Tango's wine list.
The nose was quite smoky, immediately evoking a comparison to Pouilly-Fumé. Lime was also present, with a whiff of pine, and some generic floral and citrus undertones. The body was disappointingly generic with smoke, mixed citrus, and a bit of apple. The finish was long and tart.
Again, given Sushi Tango's wine list, this was probably the most appropriate choice for the meal, but not a wine I would seek out for sushi. It was too smoky to ordinarily pair with sushi and would have gone much better with a grilled meal.
Showing posts with label Sauvignon Blanc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sauvignon Blanc. Show all posts
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Value Wines
Enjoying wine should not be an expensive endeavor. However, finding decent wine for less than USD 10 is a bit difficult. Finding good wine for that price is even harder. There are plenty of choices if you're willing to spend a little bit of money and enough time tasting.
Always remember that wine pricing is capricious and that wine has a tendency to be a Veblen good.
I'm listing some of my value favorites. All of the wines below are very easy-drinking wines, good for both hobbyists and people who normally don't drink wine. Most of them are easy to pair with food and will also be fine on their own. They are listed in no particular order.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling (2005):
This Riesling is an excellent value and a perennial standard. One will find this offered in many restaurants and it is available at almost any liquor store. The Cellars Wines & Spirits in Roseville, MN currently has it on sale for USD 8.99. It is a very easy white with a bit of sweetness and nice neutral fruit notes. One will easily pick up a bit of apple, pear, peach, and cinnamon in the nose and body. The finish is crisp due to a bit of acidity.
Columbia Crest Two Vines Gewurztraminer (2006)
A good Gewurztraminer is a wonderful thing. A bad Gewurz is one of the most awful things in the world of wine. One should be very cautious with lower-priced Gewurztraminer. This one is USD 6.99 at Lakeridge Liquors in St. Paul, MN and is lovely. The nose has a slight sweet floral character and the body has nice flavors of lychee, mixed fresh fruits, and cloves. The finish is very fruity and refreshing.
Trader Joe's Wines
The following wines are available exclusively at Trader Joe's. They are very well priced because they are sold exclusively at Trader Joe's. All of the prices are from the Maple Grove, MN location.
Lacheteau Vouvray (2006)
The absolute hands-down value king of Chenin Blanc. Available for USD 6.99. This vintage seems to taste just below a demi-sec in residual sugar. There is enough acid to balance out the sugar and make it flexible to pair with various foods. The best pairings would be with spicy foods. The nose is not very complex, mainly apple and honey. The body gives one apple, lime, honey, and a bit of pineapple. The finish is a bit sweet but not cloying.
Black Mountain Pinot Noir (2005)
Due to the "Sideways effect" Pinot Noirs are now typically quite expensive and dare I say overpriced. This one is sold for USD 4.99 and is wonderful. There are definitely better Pinots available, but not for this price. The nose is quite generic, but the body has nice rich dark fruit flavors attached to it with very soft tannins. The finish is short and easy.
Schloss Biebrich Sekt (NV)
"NV" means non-vintage. This particular sparkler is quite nice. Available for USD 5.99, it is great before a meal. It is quite bubbly compared to other sparkling wines, but for whatever reason it still drinks quite easily. The nose is fresh, slightly floral and mineral. The body is just off-dry and will give a primary initial hint of apple-pear followed by the flowers and minerals again.
Charles Shaw Wines (from Trader Joe's)
Yes, "Two-Buck-Chuck". In Minnesota, it is "Three-Buck-Chuck". It makes no difference, there are some excellent wines to be had from Charles Shaw. Notice that I did not say excellent values, excellent wines - period. Don't knock this stuff until you have tried it. It is important to note that due to the high volume of Charles Shaw Wine, there may be quite a bit of bottle variation. All are priced at USD 2.99 in Minnesota.
Charles Shaw Chardonnay (2005)
This is the one you've read about. Double Gold Medal and Best Chardonnay from California at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Whether or not it was worthy of this award I do not know. What I do know is that I don't ordinarily like Chardonnays and I liked this one. The nose was very neutral, but the body was buttery, crisp, refreshingly citrusy, and has just enough oak to remind one it was a Chardonnay but not too much where it overpowered the flavor.
Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc (2006)
This is a nice easy choice if you want a Sauvignon Blanc but do not feel like paying the usual prices for other California or French Sauvignon Blancs. The nose is lightly floral and citrusy. The body is generically citrusy and dry with a hint of pineapple flavor. It finishes quickly, but pleasantly. There is a slight bit of grass in the body, but not enough to ruin it, especially for the price.
Charles Shaw Shiraz (2005)
This is a fine value red. Not very complex at all, but has a bit of dark fruit and some pepper and spice. It is quite simply a very easy drinking red that could go with just about anything you'd want to have a red wine with. I personally like this one with beef jerky. Don't bother asking for an explanation, it's just a nice way to finish an evening.
Websites:
http://www.ste-michelle.com/Sub_ColumbiaValleyVineyards.cfm
http://www.columbia-crest.com/wines_two.cfm
http://www.traderjoes.com/
Always remember that wine pricing is capricious and that wine has a tendency to be a Veblen good.
I'm listing some of my value favorites. All of the wines below are very easy-drinking wines, good for both hobbyists and people who normally don't drink wine. Most of them are easy to pair with food and will also be fine on their own. They are listed in no particular order.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling (2005):
This Riesling is an excellent value and a perennial standard. One will find this offered in many restaurants and it is available at almost any liquor store. The Cellars Wines & Spirits in Roseville, MN currently has it on sale for USD 8.99. It is a very easy white with a bit of sweetness and nice neutral fruit notes. One will easily pick up a bit of apple, pear, peach, and cinnamon in the nose and body. The finish is crisp due to a bit of acidity.
Columbia Crest Two Vines Gewurztraminer (2006)
A good Gewurztraminer is a wonderful thing. A bad Gewurz is one of the most awful things in the world of wine. One should be very cautious with lower-priced Gewurztraminer. This one is USD 6.99 at Lakeridge Liquors in St. Paul, MN and is lovely. The nose has a slight sweet floral character and the body has nice flavors of lychee, mixed fresh fruits, and cloves. The finish is very fruity and refreshing.
Trader Joe's Wines
The following wines are available exclusively at Trader Joe's. They are very well priced because they are sold exclusively at Trader Joe's. All of the prices are from the Maple Grove, MN location.
Lacheteau Vouvray (2006)
The absolute hands-down value king of Chenin Blanc. Available for USD 6.99. This vintage seems to taste just below a demi-sec in residual sugar. There is enough acid to balance out the sugar and make it flexible to pair with various foods. The best pairings would be with spicy foods. The nose is not very complex, mainly apple and honey. The body gives one apple, lime, honey, and a bit of pineapple. The finish is a bit sweet but not cloying.
Black Mountain Pinot Noir (2005)
Due to the "Sideways effect" Pinot Noirs are now typically quite expensive and dare I say overpriced. This one is sold for USD 4.99 and is wonderful. There are definitely better Pinots available, but not for this price. The nose is quite generic, but the body has nice rich dark fruit flavors attached to it with very soft tannins. The finish is short and easy.
Schloss Biebrich Sekt (NV)
"NV" means non-vintage. This particular sparkler is quite nice. Available for USD 5.99, it is great before a meal. It is quite bubbly compared to other sparkling wines, but for whatever reason it still drinks quite easily. The nose is fresh, slightly floral and mineral. The body is just off-dry and will give a primary initial hint of apple-pear followed by the flowers and minerals again.
Charles Shaw Wines (from Trader Joe's)
Yes, "Two-Buck-Chuck". In Minnesota, it is "Three-Buck-Chuck". It makes no difference, there are some excellent wines to be had from Charles Shaw. Notice that I did not say excellent values, excellent wines - period. Don't knock this stuff until you have tried it. It is important to note that due to the high volume of Charles Shaw Wine, there may be quite a bit of bottle variation. All are priced at USD 2.99 in Minnesota.
Charles Shaw Chardonnay (2005)
This is the one you've read about. Double Gold Medal and Best Chardonnay from California at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Whether or not it was worthy of this award I do not know. What I do know is that I don't ordinarily like Chardonnays and I liked this one. The nose was very neutral, but the body was buttery, crisp, refreshingly citrusy, and has just enough oak to remind one it was a Chardonnay but not too much where it overpowered the flavor.
Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc (2006)
This is a nice easy choice if you want a Sauvignon Blanc but do not feel like paying the usual prices for other California or French Sauvignon Blancs. The nose is lightly floral and citrusy. The body is generically citrusy and dry with a hint of pineapple flavor. It finishes quickly, but pleasantly. There is a slight bit of grass in the body, but not enough to ruin it, especially for the price.
Charles Shaw Shiraz (2005)
This is a fine value red. Not very complex at all, but has a bit of dark fruit and some pepper and spice. It is quite simply a very easy drinking red that could go with just about anything you'd want to have a red wine with. I personally like this one with beef jerky. Don't bother asking for an explanation, it's just a nice way to finish an evening.
Websites:
http://www.ste-michelle.com/Sub_ColumbiaValleyVineyards.cfm
http://www.columbia-crest.com/wines_two.cfm
http://www.traderjoes.com/
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
St. Supery Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (2006)
St. Supery has been my favorite Sauvignon Blanc since I started drinking wine more regularly. My first experience with St. Supery's Sauvignon Blanc was at Nami. It was a 2003 vintage, and fantastic with sushi. The previous visit I made to Nami the server recommended a Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc. I still have not completely forgiven that server for recommending that over St. Supery. I have since had every vintage from 2003 to the one reviewed now. For those who do not wish to read any further, this is possibly their best year yet.
The nose has the typical aromas of citrus, only more definable in this vintage compared to others. 2003-2005 simply smelled generally citrusy with grapefruit being the most noticeable. In the 2006 one is able to pick up grapefruit, lemon, lime, and whiffs of pineapple and strawberry. There is also a general sweetness on the nose.
The body is characteristically dry and acidic. The people I was drinking with were surprised at how dry the body was compared to the nose. Grapefruit is once again the most prevalent taste in the body, but the lime is present to, along with a hint of nuttiness at the crisp, medium finish.
At the MGM on Rice Street in St. Paul, MN (which was kind enough to special order this stock in for me) a bottle will cost USD 21.99. This is a significant increase, as 2005 had cost 15.99. I will have to check a store that regularly stocks this varietal as the special order may have affected cost. However, I do believe that St. Supery had not been charging what the wine was worth in previous years and the cost is justified for this excellent dry white.
We had it with our salad course and it was a good pairing. As with most Sauvignon Blancs, pair with anything you might think of putting lemon on and enjoy.
Website: http://www.stsupery.com/wines/stsupery/sauvignonblanc.html .
The nose has the typical aromas of citrus, only more definable in this vintage compared to others. 2003-2005 simply smelled generally citrusy with grapefruit being the most noticeable. In the 2006 one is able to pick up grapefruit, lemon, lime, and whiffs of pineapple and strawberry. There is also a general sweetness on the nose.
The body is characteristically dry and acidic. The people I was drinking with were surprised at how dry the body was compared to the nose. Grapefruit is once again the most prevalent taste in the body, but the lime is present to, along with a hint of nuttiness at the crisp, medium finish.
At the MGM on Rice Street in St. Paul, MN (which was kind enough to special order this stock in for me) a bottle will cost USD 21.99. This is a significant increase, as 2005 had cost 15.99. I will have to check a store that regularly stocks this varietal as the special order may have affected cost. However, I do believe that St. Supery had not been charging what the wine was worth in previous years and the cost is justified for this excellent dry white.
We had it with our salad course and it was a good pairing. As with most Sauvignon Blancs, pair with anything you might think of putting lemon on and enjoy.
Website: http://www.stsupery.com/wines/stsupery/sauvignonblanc.html .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
