Vanessa

9.1

This is a BENCHMARK dry Bordeaux blanc made w/ 65% Sauvignon Blanc, lending aromatics, acidity, and brightness; and 35% Semillon, lending weight, body, and softness.

It was fermented in stainless steel, then aged 10 months in oak (25% new), with routine bâtonnage.

It has a brilliant lemon hue with concentrated aromas and flavors of lemon curd, vanilla, cream, gooseberry, freshly cut grass, boxwood, chervil, lemongrass, white peach, white blossom, cheese rind, gunflint, and wet stones. It’s dry with mouth-watering acidity, a medium (+) body, medium alcohol (13% ABV), and a lingering, elegant finish.

It’s complex and balanced, with runway to age and a capacity to develop layers of tertiary characteristics such as honey, dried fruit, and nuttiness.

It comes from the Pessac-Léognan AOC in the Graves region, on the “left bank” of Bordeaux, just south of the Haut-Medoc; an appellation known for its high quality red and white wines. — 16 days ago

Vanessa

9.1

Cheers to old-vine Chenin Blanc from South Africa! 🇿🇦 In South Africa, Chenin Blanc also goes by the name “Steen.”

It’s such a versatile grape and wine, capable of producing beautiful sweet, dry, still, and sparkling wines.

This wine is still and dry. We’ve paired it with sushi and it’s a delightful duet.

The grapes for this wine were grown organically in the Citrusdal Mountain district, north of Cape Town, west of the Olifants River, on the Western Cape. The bush vines were originally planted in 1957 (old!!), contributing to an intensity and a concentration of primary aromas and flavors in the grapes.

Indeed, the nose and palate offer medium(+) aromas and flavors of ripe pear, yellow apple, white peach, vegetal, boxwood, white blossom, crushed stone, and aged cheese rind notes. Lively acidity gives it lift and balances the high alcohol and intensity of fruit.

This wine was produced by Ginny Povall, American-born proprietor and self-taught winemaker of Botanica Wines. I love the botanical images on her labels, each an homage to the flower farm on which she began her wine production journey in South Africa.   

Botanica Wines, Chenin Blanc (Mary Delany Collection), 2019, ABV 14%. — 2 years ago

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KD

9.1

Pale lemon with a fragrant nose of lemon, pink grapefruit, kefir lime leaves, pear and some boxwood/cat pee. Medium light body with crisp acidity and intense flavours of lemon, grapefruit, pear, ataulfo mango and some green grass on the palate with a medium finish. A nice zippy sauvignon blanc that would go well with shellfish (oysters!) and cut through a cream sauce. — 3 years ago

Andrew Belzer

9.2

Refreshing! Tropical, boxwood, tight acid — 9 months ago

Jack Petras

9.2

This 2022 is a really great Sancerre. Green notes like beach peas and boxwood with a full mid palate rich with melon, underripe peaches and Bosc pear. A hint of tarragon and chives and other herbs. Just shy of $40 a bottle but worth it. — 2 years ago

KD

9.1

Pale gold with notes of citrus, lemongrass, boxwood, apricot, gooseberry and a touch of honey. Medium body with fresh acidity balanced. On the palate some lime, key lime pie, passionfruit, kiwis, good minerality with a touch of creaminess and savory spice. Nice! The addition of the sémillon really lends a nice body and exotic notes to this wine. — 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Golden hue and aroma and flavor notes of ripe peach, apricot, and nectarine 🍑 as well as cantaloupe, wet stone, boxwood, butter, cream, butterscotch, and vanilla. — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.1

Here’s the Ottella Lugana Le Creete (2021) hailing from the small DOC of Lugana on the edge of Lake Garda calling both Veneto and Lombardy its home.

It’s made with 100% Trebbiano di Lugana (aka Turbiana) and is pale lemon with medium(+) intensity of grapefruit peel, honeydew, passion fruit, green apple, gooseberry, white blossom, honeysuckle, wet stones, Italian parsley, fennel, boxwood, toast, and delicate aged, hard cheese notes…

It has mouthwatering acidity to balance the medium alcohol (13% ABV) and rich mouthfeel and aromatic/ flavor intensity. It’s positively delicious!! — 2 years ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.1

Here’s a lovely, vibrant, crisp wine with green (apple, gooseberry) and tropical (just ripe passion fruit, mango, kiwi, cantaloupe) fruit notes next to wet stone, flint, white blossom, delicate herbaceous (boxwood), lemon peel, and grapefruit rind characteristics.

It’s 100% delicious and really hitting the spot on this hot, sunny evening. — 2 years ago

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Vanessa

9.1

Liguria is a coastal region in Italy, nestled in the northwestern corner of the country, hugging the Ligurian Sea, with steep mountains defining the landscape.

It offers an ideal mix of warm, dry conditions, moderating influences from the coast and varying altitudes, and nutrient-poor soils (which is good for vine growing!). However, its dramatic topography limits the amount of wine that can be produced from this region…

With that background, we were thrilled to be sipping a glass of this beautiful Ligurian white wine made from the Vermentino grape. What a pleasure to envision us sitting on a terrace overlooking the sea!

Leaping out of the glass was tangerine peel, grapefruit, green apple, passion fruit, pineapple, boxwood, white citrus blossom, elderflower, and wet stone -- a delicious confluence of pronounced fruit and floral aromas and flavors.

It was vibrant, youthful, and fresh, yet also concentrated and juicy, adding a level of richness to the mouthfeel.

Lvnae, Colli di Luni D.O.C., Vermentino, ABV 12.5. Vintage 2019. A fantastic value at $25 / bottle.

Salute! — 3 years ago

with Deked1