2009 Trader Joe’s Vintjs Oregon Pinot Gris

This is about the pendulum swinging back the other way. In recent years Pinot Gris producers have been making their wines in a very light style and by very light, I mean VERY light. They made it for wine drinkers that really didn’t like wine, Pinot Gris was more of a grape beverage than a wine. Just the same, they sold gallons of the stuff and Pinots Gris with a bit of body to it languished on the store shelves. Just when you were about to usher Pinot Gris over to the White Zinfandel section, it starts to make a comeback. This is a Trader Joe’s wine so there is no information about who grew the grapes or how the wine was made, but the grapes are sourced from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. You don’t usually see Oregon wines at this price point. The alcohol level is a reasonable 12.8%.

Light see-thru golden yellow in color. The nose is citrus and orange blossom along with a hint of strawberry, it would make a good aroma candle. The first sensation you get upon sipping the Vintjs is a large wallop of acidity, this is a food wine. Tangerine, lemon, pink grapefruit, softened by melon, fresh fruit flavors, nothing candied or artificial. The acidity overpowers the tangerine/melon finish, but with the lovely fruit flavors upfront you can live the loss.

This a Pinot Gris that can stand up to food, don’t worry about too spicy, the Vintjs Pinot Gris can handle it, a nice bowl New Orlean’s style Gumbo would hit the spot.

2009 Picada 15 White Blend

An Estate grown and bottled White blend from the Neuquen region of Patagonia in Argentina. The blend is 55% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Pinot Noir. Yes, Pinot Noir is a red grape, but they remove the grape skins right after crushing the grapes, so you get none of the red grape color. The wine is aged for 5 months in stainless steel tanks and the alcohol content is 14.3%.

A light wheat yellow with lime green highlights. The nose is grapefruit and oranges, a little green apple and cut flowers. It tastes of light apricot mixed with lemon/lime, then tart apple. The has good acidity, it’s there but it does not get in the way of the flavor. A very light tart apple finish, you can barely taste it, but it last and lasts.

Light, crisp, refreshing, cheap, just how a White blend should be. Would pair well with grilled seafood and light pasta dishes.

2007 Giovanni Almondo Roero Arneis Bricco delle Ciliegie

Fall’s coming in Chicago, & it’s time for red wine, so this will most likely be my last summer white – the 2007 Giovanni Almondo Roero Arneis Bricco delle Ciliegie. Whoa – long name! But it’s an Italian white, so there’s a lot of info there – let’s break it down:

Giovanni Almondo is the winery (& its owner) in the Roero region of Piedmont Italy, right across the Tanaro river from Barbaresco.

Arneis is the white grape from which this baby is made. It means “Little Rascal” and gives up gobs of apricots and pears.

Bricco delle Ciliegie, or “hill of cherries” is the wine’s name, coming from the fact that the vineyard is planted on an old cherry orchard.

A well-chilled glass of this will refresh your butt right up after sitting in the late Summer heat watching your kid’s football practice or maybe watching the cheerleader tryouts. All from a grape you’ve never heard of, from a region you’ve never heard of.

In the glass, it’s greenish gold and immediately reminded me of something famous Chicago PIMP Bishop Don “Magic” Juan always says, “Green is for the money, and gold is for the honey”!

First sip is POW -  the neighborhood fruit stand just got backed into by Bishop’s honey wagon. Then a nice mellow crisp mineral finish like you’re drinking it on the rocks – cold stream rocks. Just like one of Bishop’s lovely ladies, this wine is refreshing, sexy, tasty and of the utmost quality for the price. Drink it with grilled shrimp or down a few Circus Peanuts with it.

2009 Trader Joe’s Overlake Sauvignon Blanc $6

I have been complaining about how there is never any information on Trader Joe’s wines, and lo and behold, they now have cool tasting notes, technical information and maps showing where the grapes are grown. So, here’s the low down on the Overlake Sauvignon Blanc, it’s 100% Sauvignon Blanc, fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. The grapes were grown in Lake County, which is north of Napa, it’s the coolest (as in cold, not hip) grape growing area in California, which is just fine for growing Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Trader Joe’s even said how they came by the wine, somebody backed out of a contract to buy the grapes, and the Winery turned to Trader Joe’s to salvage the situation. Alcohol content is 13.5%.

Light lemon yellow in color. A big nose, even if your not good at identifying what’s going on with the nose, you will get a few scents out of this one, pineapple, lime, grapefruit, nice fresh fruit aromas. Nice slightly oily mouth feel. Apricot along with pink grapefruit upfront, slightly sweet and tart at the same time. The mid palate is raspberry iced tea, that flows along into a nice long finish.

A nice solid Sauvignon Blanc, it can go toe to toe with most of the under 20 buck Sauvignon Blanc’s coming out of New Zealand. It’s amazing what 6 dollars will get you in wine nowadays.

NV Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc

Every time I see someone put out a list of Best Buy Cheap Wines, there will inevitably be one Barefoot Wine or another on the list. I have been walking past the Barefoot Wine display at the local liquor store for years, but I figure now is a good time to see if Barefoot Wine delivers. The Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from vineyards all over California and NV means at least 2 different vintages of Sauvignon Blanc are blended into to bottle. Alcohol content is 13%.

Very light straw yellow in color. A pretty nose, orange, grapefruit, lime and slate. Rather light bodied, tangerine and lemon/lime with a late touch of pear with the lemon/lime and pear going along till the rather decent finish.

Pretty good bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for $4.99. Not too sweet, not too much acidity, good flavor and a cheap price.  I have had $15 Sauvignon Blanc that didn’t bring anything the Barefoot doesn’t have.

2009 Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc

I don’t know about you kids, but I don’t trust my Sauvignon Blanc to any old country. New Zealand is the only way to go. I’ve gone from vine to vine all over this island country and while the Kim Crawford, Groth and Starborough are wonderful, I always go back to my roots. For the price, under $10 and averaging $8.99, this little monkey always delivers. Let’s start with her looks. She isn’t showy so don’t expect a circus. However, she’s not a supermodel either so don’t think she’ll just sit there. She’s subtle but glows. Meadow grass, lemon and sunshine. She’s crisp without being a tart, witty but not insulting, and she can handle herself just fine. Just ask the creepy, leering ex-father-in-law with the freshly manicured pink slap across his face. No cheeky monkeys here, boys. She knows when to hold ‘em, knows when to….well, you get the picture. Her zings are always tempered by a hint of sweetness. She smells like fresh cut grass during morning brunch. The first sip can be arresting but the bite spreads to the sides and then the back of your tongue. Makes you thirsty but quenched all at once. Take her to a nice summer barbecue, introduce her to your loved ones, be complimentary. In return, you’ll get more than you bargained for.

2009 Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc – $14

I was lucky enough to sample this fantastic little summer wine at an up and coming wine bar. First sip and I couldn’t help but think:  “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”. It hits you mid-tongue, tart,  like the girl who can pull it off but elongates to the back of your throat. She still feels the need to suck in her tummy when she notices you watching.

Catch the dermatologist-banned rays of high-noon-yellow-gold and go with it. Now she’s among friends, exhales and the wine expands. You suddenly remember you’re on a beach. Shake out your beach blanket bingo and start doing the twist because this one’s got sand, surf and 60′s written all over it.

NV Seven Daughters White Blend

Non Vintage White Blend sourced from vineyards all over California. The blend is 26% Chardonnay, 25% French Colombard (a Bordeaux grape), 19% Symphony ( a new grape developed in California in the 40’s), 12% Orange Muscat (usually in dessert wines), 8% Riesling, 7% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Gewurztraminer. Non Vintage means the grapes did not all come from one single vintage year, such as there could be grapes from 2009 and 2008 in the mix. The alcohol content is 13.5%.

The color is a light golden yellow. The nose is all citrus and flowers, grapefruit, orange and magnolia trees in full bloom.  A nice silky mouth feel. Tangerines and peaches, a touch of minerality and enough acidity to work well as a food wine. A lengthy tart lemony finish.

Very light bodied, crisp, refreshing and tasty. Perfect for sitting out on the balcony and watching the sun go down or pair with grilled shrimp and pasta.

NV Blanc de Blancs Vin Mousseux Brut

I was walking through the aisles at the local Wine Shop, Binny’s, and I came across a display of French Sparkling wine selling for $4.99, I had to give it a try. It does not say Champagne on the label, because only sparkling wine  from the Champagne Region can be called Champagne. It is classified as a Brut, which means dry or unsweet. Blanc de Blancs, indicates the wine is 100% Chardonnay. This Sparkler is sold by a French Negociant (a private bottler or re-labeler) and is bottled exclusively for Binny’s.

Very pale gold in color, there are plenty of bubbles. The nose is toasted bread, apricots, green apple and pear . Nice sharp bubbles, light citrus, some juicy ripe macintosh apple, with a late dose of banana and then a very light lemon finish. Very dry, very crisp, the flavors are all real fruit flavors, nothing artificial tasting.

Wow, five dollar Champagne never tasted like this before. Good bubbles, interesting nose and a delicate and refreshing taste. This is not a good for 5 bucks wine, it’s a solid, no excuses Sparkling Wine. This is the bubbly you need to order cases of for that Wedding or Anniversary Party. Your guests will thank you for it.

you can only find this a any Binny’s location or www.binnys.com

2010 Trader Joe’s Vinas Chilenas Sauvignon Blanc Reserva

A Trader Joe’s exclusive $4 wine from the Central Valley in Chile. Sometimes these cheap Trader Joe’s wines can be pretty shaky, but Chile is the perfect place to source inexpensive wines. The land cost is low, the labor costs are less than most places, but the growing conditions and the winemakers are first class. Plus, white wine is comparatively easier and cheaper to produce than red wine. Alcohol content is 12%.

Fun Fact: In Chile, the term Reserva indicates a Higher Quality, it legally means the wine has “distinctive organoleptic qualities”.  Organoleptic means pertaining to the sensory qualities of food and wine, such as taste, smell and color.

The color is pale straw yellow. It has that fresh Sauvignon Blanc nose, bright fresh tropical fruit, pineapple, grapefruit, lime and a bit of minerality. It tastes of grapefruit and very tart pink lemonade, it softens in the mid-palate with navel orange and slate dust. There is a good dose of acidity, the Vinas Chilenas would really work as a food wine. A nice orange and pink lemonade finish, it fades a bit early, but tastes good.

A pretty good 4 buck wine. The Vinas Chilenas will work well with spicy Asian food, or chilled it would make a great summer cooler.

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