Summer Whites!

It looks like summer is here, if not a little early! And with the warm weather comes crisp, cold, white wine! There are so many great options to cool yourself down, with wines from Spain to New Zealand we've got you covered. My favorite at the moment is Benito Santos Albarino ($19.99) from Spain, it has great tropical flavors and fantastic acidity that quenches your thirst! Moving across the globe there are great New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs that are incredibly refreshing with grapefruit and gooseberry flavors, my recommendations are 90+ Lot 2 ($15.95) and Spy Valley ($17.95). And if you like things just a bit sweeter, the Kung Fu Girl Riesling ($12.95) is what you're looking for! A dry riesling that has great green apple and peach flavors the sugar is balanced by mild acidity to provide a refreshing glass of wine. No matter which you choose, you will enjoy your summer and maybe cool down for just a bit!

90+ Lot 2 NZ Sauvignon Blanc

Annnnnd we're back! Today's wine is from the 90+ line which is one that I really like and provides such great value. All wines they release are from vineyards that have a pedigree of 90pts or more in publications or a gold medal in a tasting. There is no indication of the actual wine maker keeping the price down and marking each release with a lot number to help the customer know they are getting the same product. I taste all the wines that I intend to sell at the store and have yet to find a 90+ product that I don't think over delivers for the price. Today I want to share with you the 90+ lot 2 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is first and foremost refreshing! It was a warm day when I tasted this for the first time and I really hit the spot. With the standard citrus notes followed by great melon and tropical fruit on the nose there is a great acidity and ample fruit that makes this extremely drinkable. A great wine for a hot summer day or paired with light fare this is a wine you don't want to miss!

Chateau de la Taille 2009 Bordeaux

And we're back! Sorry its been so long, I've been busy at the store and not focusing on the blog. Not that I haven't had some great wine in the interim! I'll share some of those reviews soon but today I'm sharing with you a new one. The 2009 vintage in Bordeaux is supposed to be one of the greats, on par with 2005 and 1982.... it seems like every year is the "best of the century" and I haven't had enough old wine to really have a point of comparison. However, the '05s were great and the '09s are still getting monster reviews so I'll have to trust those guys. Today's wine isn't a 100pt wine but its great, the Chateau de la Taille 2009 Bordeaux is a great example of wine that's priced right to give you bang for your buck. A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec, this is a silky offering. Showing nice tart cherry and bright raspberry on the nose, this medium bodied wine has a smooth mouthfeel with spicy earth and more cherries on the palate. The tannins are smooth but apparent and the finish is long. This wine pairs great with paninis, hard cheese and other light meals. At $12.95, its a steal!