2008 Schloss Saarstein Pinot Blanc – Mosel, Germany

Rich with baking aromas, floral and and fruit flavors, all strung together on a wire of clean defining acidity. It’s like a very thin puff pastry heaped with pears and starfruit, spiced with nutmeg, and dried key lime and tangerine peel, all sprinkled lightly with the juice of a Meyer Lemon. Drink with roast chicken.

Palate Press Wine of the Week: 2008 Domaine Lecomte Quincy Vielle Vignes

Pale straw yellow and aromatic, with a salty, floral nose. On the palate it has brilliant acidity: citrusy, but with pear and basil, too. It tastes like jasmine in full bloom. It offers an herbaceous finish that’s spicy but languorous. It takes its time. Restrained and elegant, this wine poses an Old-world counterpoint to the explosively grassy, lemony Sauvignon blancs found in the New.

2008 Domaine Lecomte Quincy Vielle Vignes – Loire Valley, France

Pale straw yellow and aromatic, with a salty, floral nose. On the palate it has brilliant acidity: citrusy, but with pear and basil, too. It tastes like jasmine in full bloom. It offers an herbaceous finish that’s spicy but languorous. It takes its time. Restrained and elegant, this wine poses an Old-world counterpoint to the [...]

2008 Ranga Ranga Sauvignon Blanc – Marlborough, New Zealand

Clear, medium intensity, golden yellow color. Clean nose, aromatic; grass, green vegetable, asparagus, pea shoots, citrus. Dry wine, medium intensity and body, alcohol is slightly off balance, long finish; lemon and lime, green vegetal. Read more on oe•no•phile.

2008 Denis Jamain Reuilly – France

Clear, medium-pale intensity, golden yellow color. Clean nose, aromatic; grass, grapefruit, unripe cherries, citrus, lime. Dry wine, medium-full body, medium-high acidity, long finish; fresh grapefruit and lemon. Read more on oe•no•phile.

2009 Patricia Green Sauvignon Blanc – Willamette Valley, OR

Clear, pale, gold color with a soft green tinge. Clean nose, medium-light intensity (perhaps it was too cold?); stone fruit, apple, grass, cut hay. Dry wine, medium body, acidity, and finish, waxy mouthfeel as the acidity dissipates; lots of citrus, lime, stone fruit, tart green apple. Read more on oe•no•phile.

2009 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva – Casablanca Valley, Chile

Citrus, pineapple, and gooseberry, all with a grassy background, are reminiscent of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc before the Kiwis started filtering everything through the litter box. Flavors are clean, citrus bright, but it is slightly fat, not quite in balance. The gooseberry comes out stronger, tilting into “where’s that darned cat?” as the wine warms up, so serve it while it is still chilled, or keep it cool. Finish is mid-length. Drink with any very fresh white fish, or just with a very hot day.

A Tasting Primer: Easy Tips to Learn About & Enjoy Wine

Tasting wine can be a wonderful experience that incorporates nearly all of your senses with a wide variety of aromas, flavors, and sensations. However, it can also be an intimidating experience if you’re a wine novice. While learning about all the intricacies of wine tasting can be a time consuming commitment, there are a few basics that you can easily learn and practice making the experience even more enjoyable.

2008 Wakefield Riesling – Clare Valley, Australia

This is a very citrusy Riesling, sending out waves of tart citrus, lemon, lime, a touch of pink grapefruit, all wrapped in green apple peel. Flavors are reminiscent of Sauvignon blanc but the more viscous mouth-feel hints at Riesling. It is a pleasant food-friendly wine, but not one that would stand out among similarly priced Rieslings, for it lacks any special Riesling qualities.

A Once in a Lifetime Visit Behind Closed Gates at Bodegas Vega Sicilia

Passing through a guarded gate, my wife and I, on an anniversary trip to Spain, entered the bucolic 1000-hectare estate of the storied Vega Sicilia. This Bordeaux-style winery, founded in 1864, originally was a small village inhabited by the wineries’ employees and connected by rail to Valladolid, 40 kilometers to the west.

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