Aug

14

img_3048.JPGAll else aside, if we were to judge a wine purely on how fast it disappeared from our glasses, Erben von Beulwitz’s 2006 Kabinett Riesling would be tough to out-do.  Folks, this is simply a beautiful and so very delicious wine that left us feeling sad every time we realized how fast we were drinking it down.

In the nose we found white nectarine (you can smell the sweetness — this is not a dry wine, as the 9% alcohol level suggests) and a touch of floral scents, and when tasting it we picked up flavors of nectarine and lime that lingered on.  The texture was much like nectarine or peach juice.

Let us put it this way: have you ever finished eating a perfectly ripe, juicy fruit that left you craving one, maybe two, or maybe three more?  That’s how we felt after finishing each glass of this stuff.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Aug

12

During our trip to the East Coast a couple of weeks ago, we shared a bottle of Adegas Gran Vinum Nessa Albarino 2007 (from the Rias Baixas region of northwest Spain) with family the night before we returned to California.  The wine proved itself to be yet another option for drinking chilled in the hot weather, a fact we experienced for ourselves in the balmy summer heat of the Northeast.  Yeah, I know that we’ve covered a lot of “refreshing” wines recently, but hey, it’s August for heaven’s sake!

Here’s what we liked: it was crisp and had apple and lime aromas and flavors.   Ok, so it may not be complex or very layered, but it hit the spot, which was all that mattered!  If you’re looking for alternatives to Sauv Blanc or Riesling in the category of summer whites, give it a whirl.

Where to get it:  Well, since we didn’t buy the bottle ourselves, we can only recommend that you try the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Aug

5

domaine-des-cassagnoles.jpegWhen we purchased our bottle of Domaine des Cassagnoles Reserve Selection 2006 (which consists entirely of the white varietal Gros Manseng and hails from France’s Vin de Pays Côtes de Gascogne) earlier today, it was described to us by our local wine merchant as a fantastic summer wine.  Upon tasting it this evening, we found ourselves in complete agreement.

We found a nose of apricots and toast along with plenty of apricot in the mouth.  The wine’s substantial body was complimented nicely by an abundance of acidity.  This is a savory, juicy wine with easy-to-enjoy aromas and flavors, and it would be ideal served chilled on a hot summer afternoon.  Considering the price, it would also be an excellent choice for a party or barbecue.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Mill Valley Market.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Jul

29

chateau-la-touche-muscadet-2006.jpgThere’s no doubt in our minds that some wines — especially, simple but cheap and delicious bottlings – are best appreciated when enjoyed like a regular drink (e.g., beer), without much analysis.  

The Château la Touche Muscadet, a completely dry white from the Loire Valley’s western end, is most definitely one of these wines.  While nothing fancy, its light body and excellent structural quality made it extraordinarily pleasing to kick back with while watching a bit of evening TV the other night, and its flavors of peach and lime were easy to enjoy.  

This one’s a true crowd-pleaser and a no-brainer at $13.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com. 

Jul

17

martinsancho-verdejo-ruedo.jpgWe bought our bottle of Martinsancho Rueda Verdejo 2007, from the Rueda region of northern Spain, last weekend while picking up supplies for our picnic in Mill Valley (see Monday’s posting for more about the picnic site).  For those of you unfamiliar with Verdejo, click here for a neat description provided by Denomination of Origin Rueda’s official web site.       

Picture this: 75 degrees; clear, sunny skies; the smell of redwoods in the air; and a chilly glass of golden-colored, dry, well-balanced white wine in hand.  As you might imagine, the wine complimented our outing perfectly.

We found lots of apples in the nose along with a significant degree of nuttiness.  There were also green scents and flavors typical of a Sauvignon Blanc – which we felt it resembled more than any other varietal – but the finish was nice and limey.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Mill Valley Market.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

     

Jul

15

kung-fu-girl-riesling-2006.jpgThis week’s Weekday Wine is yet another winner.  The Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2006 is not dry, but it’s also not a dessert wine.  Picture, instead, a light-to-medium bodied white that’s about medium in sweetness (kind of like lemonade) and super refreshing when chilled (again, kind of like lemonade).

We found scents and flavors of peach and pear with a little bit of lime on the finish.  We bought our bottle on special at $11.95, but frankly, we’d have gladly parted with the normal price of $17 if we had to. 

Considering its price, taste, and the handy screwtop, Kung Fu Girl’s 2006 Riesling is – hands down – our favorite chilled wine thus far this year.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at California Wine Merchant in San Francisco’s Marina District.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or

Jul

1

pewsey-vale.jpgWe figured we’d follow up last week’s review of Australian Pinot Noir – a seemingly unusual red varietal for a region typically characterized by warm weather – by selecting for today’s Weekday Wine a bottling of an unusual white varietal from the same place: Riesling.  

Much to our liking, the 2007 Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling was light, crisp (though mostly toward the back end of the mid-palate) and completely dry, with a nose of peach, slate mineral, and soft floral scents.  Lime and mineral dominated on the finish.

At $14 and with a screwtop, no less, this wine, much like last week’s Pinot Noir, was yet another steal for the price.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at K&L Wines in San Francisco.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Jun

10

The Ercavio Blanco Mas Que 2006 is yet another wine that’s perfectly suited to drinking chilled on a hot summer (or late spring!) afternoon, which seems appropriate during a week when the temperatures are quite a bit above normal here and in the Northeast U.S. – New York, Philly, and D.C., we feel for you!

The Ercavio, which hails from the La Mancha region of central Spain, consists primarily of Airén with a little bit of Sauvignon Blanc thrown in for good measure.  Click on the links in the previous sentence to learn more from Wikipedia.  We found the Ercavio intriguing and tasty: banana, grapefruit, and grassy scents on the nose, a slightly unruly (but not overwhelming or lingering) burst of acid in the mouth, a thirst-quenchingly light body, and lots of citrus in the mouth. 

Overall, this one’s yet another excellent, and very affordable, option for cooling down as the hot weather sets in.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com. 

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