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.

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.

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.

2009 Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc – $12

It’s no secret one of our favorite hangs is The Weber Grill Restaurant and indeed a lot of the wines reviewed here were done so sitting right at their bar. Well, they worked with us recently to update their wine list, and one of the new standouts and faves among the staff is this screw topped Fumé Blanc from Ferrari-Carano.

Fumé WHAT? Relax, it’s just a marketing name for Sauvignon Blanc from California. Mondavi came up with it. That’s right, wine’s not confusing as it is and Mondavi’s making shit up.

Anyway, as the name would suggest a more Mondavi-inspired SB, its WAY tropical fruits suggest more of a New Zealand style (and SB coming out of Cali usually falls into one of those two styles).

In fact this white is so tropical it reminds me of Denise from San Antonio. I know THAT’S not tropical, but “Derr-nise” as I called her was a Miss Hawaiian Tropic hopeful! Yeah, she was kinda DITZY, but what she lacked in brains she made up for with legs from here to the Caymans!

This wine immediately made me think of her as I took a sniff and could smell her suntan lotion – lots of pineapple and beach. The first sip was just like her long, tan thighs – spicy, creamy and tasty, which in the wine’s case revealed exposure to French oak. After that, it’s a tropical sexy party in your mouth and all the bikini-clad models are invited! Pineapple, kiwi, grapefruit, fig and guava everywhere. Refreshing, fun and you can’t wait to take another dip.

Drink it with fish, goat cheese pizza or sushi. I just might drink mine with Derr-nise, I was thinking about looking her up on the Facebook.

2007 Vallarom Vadum Caesaris $12

Guest Wine Review By Bob

A single vineyard White Blend sourced from the Vallagarina area of Italy. The wine is aged for 8 months in stainless steel vats, then another 6 months in the bottle. 50% Pinot Blanco, 30% Chardonnay, 10 % Riesling and 10% Sauvignon Blanc.

Great body and mouth feel with nice acidity and great fruit. Nice refreshing white for summer.

2009 Castell del Remei Blanc Panell

A 55% Sauvignon Blanc/ 45% Macabeo blend from the Costers del Segre area of Spain. Macabeo is a blending grape usually used in making Spanish Cava. The Castell dei Remei Estate has been producing wines since 1780.

The color is light straw yellow. A floral nose with hints of tropical fruit, very pretty. The initial flavor is a burst of sweet honeyed fruit that quickly evolves into tart, crisp grapefruit, with a nice bit of acidity, then a long lemon/lime finish.

A light, crisp, good tasting summer wine. Would pair well with light salads and non red sauce pasta dishes.

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