I am a huge fan of white wines as I believe anyone who claims to love wine should be. However, it is not often that whites dominate my Moleskine for personal high scores. As we roll into the summer months, white samples seem to flow more readily from the sales forces so it makes sense that I would run across a few more good to great ones then usual. Let’s take a look at what I have run across lately.
2010 Quails Gate Chenin Blanc (Okanagan Valley, Canada) … $13.99
Very Vouvray like on the nose with notes of wet wool and red delicious apples. Very mineral driven on the palate with notes of crushed rock all day with a back end of celery coming through. Apple skins come through on the finish with some red grape skin action. This producer is very consistent with quality chenin and this is the third vintage that I have loved. Good juice especially if you are a Loire Valley white fan. 91 points
2011 Hestia Cellars Chenin Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington) … $15.99
A totally different style in chenin from the last one. Aromas of white flowers banana, mangos and hints of apple. Perfumed yet subtle. In the mouth it tastes like apples whipped in a blender with wool socks (Unworn of course). The acidity is bright but not a driving force for the flavors. I found this wine to be just a little boring for my palate. 86 points
2010 Dr. Loosen “Dr. L” Riesling (Mosel, Germany) … $12.99
If you want to get me excited about riesling, this is one that will do it. Aromas of white flowers, peaches and melon that are soft and subdued. Excellent acidity that cuts into the palate with racy flavors of tangerines, peaches and mandarin oranges. There is a hint of creaminess on the mid-palate leading into a dry, long, delicious finish. Mouthwatering riesling that leaves you begging for more. At this price that is not hard to accomplish. 94 points
2009 Eyrie Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley, Oregon) … $15.99
This baby is a little challenged on the nose with hints of nuttiness and dust. Figs come through on the front of the palate with notes of apples sneaking in. It seems as if there is some oak present backed by a little grass component. Sweet figs come through on the finish. Interesting gris that could use a little more nose action, but overall I liked it. 88 points
2010 Tabordet Pouilly-Fume (Burgundy, France) … $13.99
Aromas of Red Delicious apples and melons drizzled with honey. This juice is an acid freak on the palate. Notes of kiwi and tart lemon with a grassy finish. The acidity on this baby is mouth puckering and somewhat overbearing. Don’t get me wrong, I like acidity but it can’t overtake the wine. Love the grass on the finish. 84 points
2010 Four Vines Naked Chardonnay (Santa Barbara, California) … $10.99
Naked of course stands for no oak which was a hot ticket a couple of years ago, and is slipping in its’ popularity at least locally. This is a nice example of unoaked chard. Pears all over the nose with hits of apples and butter. Pears, apples and pineapple come through up front with with a creamy almost buttery hit on the mid-palate. Good balance across the palate with a nice creaminess to the tropical fruit finish. This creamy, buttery feel in the palate seems to indicate some malolactic fermentation (ml) but I have been fooled before. At any rate, it is good juice without the oak influence. 89 points
2010 Albert Bichot Macon-Villages (Burgundy, France) … $15.99
This is a great example of a chardonnay from Burgundy that won’t require you to take out a loan to get it. Aromas of melon, pears and minerals come through on the nose. Nice balance of acid and fruits with bright notes of pear coming through on the front of the palate. Some nice spice components come through on the mid leading into a long finish featuring notes of grass and minerals with a little white licorice hit. Seriously good French juice for sixteen bucks and will sit in your cellar for a couple of years no problem. 91 points
2008 Domaine Serene “Etoile” Chardonnay (Willamette Valley, Oregon) … $46.99
Aromas of pears and over-ripe golden raisins on the nose. This chard has a nice flow across the palate showing notes of pears, caramel and a little wood. Nice acidity with just a slight alcohol burn on the long finish. I would like this wine a lot more in the twenty dollar plus range because that is what I think it is worth. Good juice but not fifty dollars worth. 88 points.
2010 San Lorenzo Verdicchio “IL Casolare” (Italy) … $10.99
Apricot, fig and pear on the nose. Toasty pears on the palate backed by notes of apple skins, dried apricots, melon and figs. My notes were sparse on this one which tells me it did not excite me too much. Great price and a nice way to be introduced to Verdicchio if you have not tried it yet. 85 points
2011 Grayson Pinot Noir “Calden’s Vineyard” Block Nine (California) … $12.99
This baby had a lot of stuff on the label and it is only thirteenn bucks, so I was very curious. Very promising on the nose with notes of earth, sulfur and strawberries. (Believe it or not, these are excellent aromas for pinot) Ripe strawberries and dark cherries with an earthy backbone on the palate. A little hit of watermelon on the mid-palate leading into a light finish. Pretty good pinot for the price, but I was hoping for a more solid finish. 87 points
2009 Beaux Freres Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon) … $51.99
Bing cherries, cranberries and a hit of strawberry jam on the heady nose. Fat on the palate with notes of ripe strawberries and black tea. A little tomato stem comes through on the mid-palate. Nice long finish. This is a “Big Boy” pinot, and it might be too big for those searching out an “old world” style. Love it for what it is! 90 points
2009 P. Ferraud et Fils Morgon “Les Charmes” Beaujolais (France) … $19.99
From “New World” to old in a heartbeat here. Notes of under ripe cherries, lots of raspberries and a little vinegar hit on the nose. Very earth driven on the palate with notes of cranberries, leather and cherries. A little tobacco leaf comes through on a long austere finish. This baby has aging potential and should soften up in a couple of years. If you have the patience it could pay off. 89 points
’08 Poggio Stella Vino Noble di Montepulciano (Tuscany, Italy) … $15.99
100% sangiovese, I find Vino Noble di Montepulciano to be one of the finer expressions of this grape. Aromas of perfumed cedar, rose pedal and iron. Minerals all over the palate backed by notes of cedar, tart cherries and rose pedal. Iron notes come through on the mid and finish with a little mint action on the finish. This reminded me a lot of a young Barbaresco. Sometimes my palate cries out for this kind of wine with that earthy mineral driven tart cherry action. For the price, this is hard to beat. 90 points
2005 LaFlorita “Laurus” (Tuscany, Italy) … $22.99
Interesting aromas of stewed plums, raisins and minerals with hits of mocha and vanilla and slightly perfumed. (Crazy stuff) The tannins have a grip to them on the palate backed by notes of rose pedal, rusty metal and cassis. There is an interesting ripe fruit element that wants to come through. Metallic flavors hang on the finish. This is Italian Tuscan red all the way and hits the spot. 89 points
2009 Lauribert Cotes du Rhone Rouge (Rhone Valley, France) … $10.99
Light aromas of strawberries and ripe cherries. Plums and cherries on the front of the palate with spice and earth notes on the mid. A nice tannic grip on the medium length finish with hits of white pepper. Nice balance on this wine with a lot of “Old World” action. This is a nice cross-over wine for those who want to be introduced to old world wines from the new world juice. Has enough spice and fruit to satisfy. 80% grenache, 20% syrah. 88 points
2010 Bonny Doon Vineyards “Clos de Gilroy” Grenache (California) … $19.99
Love the nose on this baby with notes of red flowers, strawberries and red plums. Ripe strawberries on the front of the palate backed by notes of anise and spice. Nice flow across the palate with a hit of cassis on the long finish. Nice balance of acidity and fruit making it perfect for grilled meats or pasta with red sauce or simply sipping on the back porch on a warm summer evening. Wine maker Randall Graham shows his skill for making Rhone style reds. 90 points
2010 Los Nevados Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) … $10.99
Are you getting tired of malbec yet? I’m not if they are interesting and unique from the rest of the vanilla ice cream versions for ten bucks that are flooding the market. This particular malbec falls into the “unique” category for me.
Aromas of blackberries and black licorice with a hit of Vics Vapo-Rub on the backside. Mineral driven on the palate, (which I like) with notes of blackberries, mixed berries backed by notes of white pepper and some herbs on the mid-palate. Long finish with some tobacco notes coming through. This one is a little more complex and interesting then many I have found in this price range. 90 points
Certainly not a bad week for the whites this time around. Summer is here so hopefully I assisted you in finding something to accompany those shellfish or summer picnics and family gatherings. Here’s to drinking good wine and not spending a boat-load of money. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
