Kiwi winemakers widen horizons with Riesling, sparklers and more It’s a warm spring night in Queenstown and the mood at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards dinner is convivial as winemakers, uncharacteristically gussied up in black tie, giggle at the PG humor of the emcee and polish off steaks of
This is a white wine that seems to kaleidoscopic around as you sip it and as you pair it with different foods. It begins with a piquant, herby nose. When the wine warms a little, some rich, tropical fruit appears in the aroma and flavor. And the finish evolves too,
This food-friendly Napa Valley Chardonnay is buttery rich with a citrus zing. The nose is very soft, with deeply baked apples and caramel, and a touch of lime zest. Pears sautéed in butter, with nutmeg and cinnamon lead, adding crusty french bread and zesty/sweet lime on the mid-palate. Key lime
Best of Show Türk Grüner Veltliner Eiswein Best White Wine 2011 Beauregard Bald Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay Best Red Wine 2009 Penley Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Gold Medals 2011 Beauregard Bald Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 Ceja Vineyards Dulce Besso 2009 Cornerstone "The Cornerstone" Napa Valley 2010 Dobbes Family Estate "Griffin's Cuvee"
Glassware drips with condensation. Ice cubes shift and clink softly. Screw caps and cans crack and hiss gently. Summer is perfect for white wine. Depending on where you live, summer ranges from clear and sunny to oppressively humid. In the Pacific Northwest we're spoiled by gorgeous summer weather, but endure a
Oregon's relative lack of Chardonnay is downright weird. And in Portland, rare and weird is good. So you know where this is going. Some of the most exciting wines being made in Oregon today are Chardonnays. These are not your grandma's butter bombs; they're taut, lean wines with terrific mouthfeel.
This is an impressive Champagne, especially as it’s the entry-level non-vintage for this Champagne House. Medium-light straw-gold in color. A nice, strong yeast and toasted aroma, almost like Marmite but in a good way (if you can imagine that). On the palate, more toast, fruit and lemon integrate into a
Smooth and buttery, with obvious but not overwhelming wood effects. Apples and pears open on the attack, with minerality shining through on the mid-palate. Acids are high enough to offer good balance to the buttery wood. This is a very pleasant food wine. Drink with roast chicken. Recommended (88). DH