Monday, May 25, 2009

Zuccardi Fuzion White 2008

Here is another white value wine - and it's not just value priced, it actually delivers. I went to the ANBL for a bottle of white wine for cooking, and one of the young staff - not a consultant - pointed me to this one and said "This is a $10 wine that drinks like $14-$15 wine." He was wrong - it drink more like an $18-$20 bottle. I tested it to make sure it was fit for cooking - not something you can count on for $10 - and it was, and more. I had been intending to open something else to have while cooking, but I discovered that I was more than satisfied with the Fuzion. Crisp, very well balanced with clean citrusy fruit - a bit like a less acidic Sauv Blanc. I think 87 is about right for the score, though I liked it better than the Symphony which I also rated 87. An unquestionable 5/5 for value. This may be the first wine under $10 that I've actually enjoyed.

Price $9.99
Score: 87
Value: 5/5
Region: Argentina
Grapes: Chenin Blanc, Torrontes
UPC: 7791728017342

15 comments:

  1. We had the Fuzion Red on Sunday, after one sip we put the cap back on the wine- it tasted bad- crushed aspirin and vinegar- I will exchange it for another- I hope it wasn't the wine.
    Did I see a Chenin/Chardonnay blend from Fuzion also ?

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  2. The ANBL website just has the two wines - one red, one white - under 'Fuzion'

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  3. I had a fuzion - white Bubbly a few weeks ago. It was not good. I dumped 90% of it. That being said I am not a big bubbly fan usually, but thought a sunny porch in spring might help, it did not. I had to go find a rose - from the Okanagan, that hit the spot instead!

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  4. Did you get the Fuzion bubbly in NB? I don't see a listing. And what was the Okanagan rosé - I'm on the lookout for rosé now, after I had some very nice ones while on vacation in Oregon last summer.

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  5. Yeah, at two ANBL stores over the weekend, one was carrying the Chard/Chenin, while the other had the Torrentes blend.

    I also saw this in the recent wine column in the Toronto Star (Gord Stimmell):

    "Familia Zuccardi Fuzion 2008 Chenin Blanc / Chardonnay, $7.45 LCBO #119800
    Rating: 89

    This could well be the hit white of the summer. Enticing floral apple, lime and lemon aromas herald pleasant Anjou pear flavours with an intriguing clover blossom complexity chiming in on the finish. An absolutely delicious white. 12,000 cases slated for debut in early June in designated stores."

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  6. Fuzion prices across Canada;

    LCBO = $7.45
    SAQ = $8.15
    Sask = $9.95
    Manitoba = $8.49
    BC = $8.99
    NSLC = not listed
    PEI = not listed
    Nfld = not listed
    Alberta = $7.99 to 9.99
    NBLC = $9.99

    If you like the blend with Torrontes buy it up now. It has been replaced by Chardonnay. I had the torrontes blend this weekend. I really enjoyed it. Nice and floral with just enough taste and acidity to make this a great substitute for good sauvignon blanc in the $15-$20 range. Overall a very versatile wine. Score = 86/100 value = 5/5

    I also had the red Fuzion this weekend. I didn't enjoy it that much. To me it tasted like Yellow Tail.
    Score = 78/100 Value = 2.5/5

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  7. Hey Norm..try the Perrin La Vieille Ferme Rose. Its about $13 at ANBL. Nicely chilled...good summer sipper. Or maybe I like it because of the cycling relation...Mont Ventoux.

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  8. Hi Norman, I was a little off in my information. I had the Zuccardia 'Q' Cava. Which is the same company but different line. I got it on PEI at the Oak tree store, 'Vines' section - which has a somewhat more expansive collection than the other stores; and the list available on the internet has not been updated in over a year, though they get new wines in every month.

    The rose I thoroughly enjoyed was the Thornhaven rose, I got on a trip to the Okanagan last year. They are fairly well known for their gewurtzraminer, which has been a Canadian Wine Gold medallist. The rose was very surprising and unique; I wish I had more! I can't say I know any locally available rose's that I would recommend.

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  9. Fuzion Red - Shiraz Malbec blend.
    I think this is an excellent value red. I happened to pick it up because it was new and was pleasantly surprised. I started telling friends, only to find they had already heard glowing comments about this wine in publications. After trying a second bottle a few days later, I ended up buying 8 bottles more for "everyday" drinking wine. There should be lots of this stuff around for a while, as NBLC has 8652 bottles listed in the warehouse as of the writing of this.
    Nice fruit with good acidity and a surpisingly long juicy finish for a $10 wine

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  10. Had the Chenin/Torr Blend - Pear, some pepper- Floral notes. It tastes like a Riesling. A touch Flabby- could do with more acid for my palate. Overall - nice wine. Better with Hot/ Spicey Food than Traditional Fish or Chicken dishes.
    Score 85
    Value 5/5

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  11. I tried the Fuzion red tonight. Not to my taste. It didn’t remind me of Yellow Tail - while I haven't had YT in a long while, I remember it being sweetish and candied - an alcopop style of wine. The Fuzion red wasn't sweet or fruity. The nose was odd - dusty is the best word I can think of - and it was sour on the palate. I've just looked up at the comments, and I think IC's description "aspirin and vinegar" is close. I think there must be a substantial degree of bottle variation in this wine. That, and the sour / vinegar character that IC and I noticed, makes me wonder if they have some hygiene problems at the winery.

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  12. Tried the Fuzion Red for a 3rd time- same notes- aspirin and vinegar. I suggested to the person that brought it over that they should take it back- they drank it anyways. The Oyster Bay Pinot showed alot better.

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  13. Just opened a bottle of the red this afternoon after hearing all the ravings about it. Definitely aspirin.

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