Showing posts with label white. Show all posts
Showing posts with label white. Show all posts

Saturday, March 24, 2018

2016 Avalon Chardonnay

2016 Avalon Chardonnay

If I was able to take a thermos of lunch to work in the summer, I'd probably fill it with this 2016 Avalon Winery California Chardonnay.  Why?  Well, first of all because drinking wine at work would be fun, but mostly because this is a very easy drinking wine that represents most budget-minded California Chardonnay in a positive light.  Apple and pear on the nose, light golden color with pear and smoky cheese on the palate, and a quick finish.  This is the kind of wine that you should always have around and slightly chilled for those impromptu summer hangout with friends.  If the first glass doesn't completely make you a fan, the second one will.  Very versatile foodie wine.  I think you could even serve this with a ham and cheese sandwich (hence, the take it to work with you wine) and be completely happy!

2016 Avalon Chardonnay Label

ABV:  13.5%

Central Coast, California

Suggested retail price:   $11.99   


Drink The Bottles score:  85/100

Sunday, March 18, 2018

2016 Readers Chardonnay

2016 Readers Chardonnay

This Columbia Valley Chardonnay from Bookwalter Winery is a straight forward, fun  sipping wine that presents lemon, pear, dried grasses and hints of mineral throughout the nose.  It's not overly aromatic, but the flavors are the stars here.  The blending of Viognier helps make this sweet and bright.  Flavors of candied lemon, pear and honey on the tongue and all the way through the finish.  Although I taste and drink most of my white wines at room temperature, I think this wine would be incredibly refreshing served very cool and with oysters on the half shell or with a cobb salad.  For the price point, it would be easy to have 2 or 3 bottles around all of the time.  This wine is 76% Chardonnay and 24% Viognier.

ABV:  13.6%

Columbia Valley, Washington

Suggested retail price:  $20.00

Drink The Bottles score:  88/100

2016 Readers Chardonnay label



Wednesday, March 14, 2018

2017 Hedges Family Estate CMS Sauvignon Blanc

2017 Hedges Family Estate CMS Sauvignon Blanc

The 2017 CMS Sauvignon Blanc from Hedges Family Estate is a brand new, freshly bottled offering that is a very nice surprise compared to the thousands of other options you have.  This wine doesn't stun you with the color, but rather the incredibly aromatic displays of lemon peel, pineapple and pear.  It's not overbearing with lemongrass or fresh cut grass like many of it's brothers and sisters of the same varietal.  While that's quite typical of SB, a little can go a long way!  And just like 99% of white wines, I tasted this one at right around room temperature of 70 degrees.  I do that to get the real feel of the wine.  If you're looking for something refreshing, pop this in the fridge and drink it with a slaw dog and fried mushrooms!  Made in the traditional Sauvignon Blanc style, but this has a fuller mouthfeel with less brightness than typical SB's.  It's a very welcoming surprise and I'm a really big fan!

ABV:  13.5%

Columbia Valley, Washington

Suggested retail price:  $14.00

Drink The Bottles score:  89/100

2017 CMS Sauvignon Blanc close up



Saturday, March 10, 2018

2016 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc

2016 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumè Blanc

Dry Creek Vineyard has been a favorite of mine for several years, as they have a great selection of red and white wines and this 2016 Fumé Blanc is one of their staples.  This varietal has become more popular over the years, but still pales in comparison to a Chardonnay or Riesling.  And if you're going to put yourself out there, you better make this wine stand out and make it memorable.   That's exactly what the good people at DCV give you with their latest Fumé Blanc.  Tons of lemon and lime fruits are front and center at swirling.  A little bit of honey and pineapple are faintly familiar.  Oh, I guess this would be a great time for me to tell you that I drink most of my white wines at room temperature or just slightly cooler than that.  I hate going to someone's house where they pull a white wine out of the refrigerator and start pouring.  Refreshing?  Sure.  Flavorful?  Not as much as if the wine is warmer.....at least, in my opinion.  In the mouth this wine is bright and airy and the lemon shines through with a flavor at the end reminiscent of cut grass, which is what you would expect from a wine made with 100% with Sauvignon Blanc grapes.  Dried herbs and light brown sugar make up a very flavorful finish.  Although I didn't drink this with any food, I think fried calamari (yes, it's 2018 and I still eat fried food) would be a favorable pairing.  

ABV:  13.5%

Sonoma County, California

Suggested retail price:  $15.00

Drink The Bottles score:  89/100


Friday, March 9, 2018

NV Cooper's Hawk Sangria White

Cooper's Hawk Sangria White
Typically we save Sangria, both white and red, for summer months.  Nothing beats a hot July day with some white Sangria and some fresh fruits thrown in to enhance the wine.  Cooper's Hawk is based out of Illinois and I typically tell people their wines, for the most part, have a strong Midwest appeal.  What I mean is that they are full of flavor.  If you're more into flavor instead of depth, tannin, lingering mouth feel blah, blah, blah then check out some of their popular wines.  The NV (non-vintage) Sangria White is a bright and fruity wine that bounces some nectarine, peach and apricot around in your nose.  This medium-yellow wine drinks very smoothly as a good Sangria should and tastes like the previously mentioned fruits.  Take a bottle of this, put it in a pitcher with ice and throw in some strawberries for a good time.  Pairs very well with light cheeses and meats.  You'll like this!

ABV:  12.5%

Suggested retail price:  $14.99

Drink The Bottles score:  83/100

Watershed Straight Bourbon Whiskey

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