Laroche L'Avenir Chenin Blanc

We're on a roll with Chenin Blanc - the Fuzion, the KWV, and now this review from Iron Chef:

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

After my first South African Chenin, I had to try another.
Nose: Pear, Kiwi, and Pineapple. Some Creamy notes with vanilla accents. Smells great.
Taste: Very smooth- Again Pear and Kiwi favours. Wet stone and nice vanilla. Somewhat Flabby- lower acidity levels. Very Textured and Creamy mouth-feel.
Overall reminded me of the Pineapple Turnover Cake my Grandmother made. This would be a fun pairing with Curry or Thai food. I like the wine- thought it had lots of character and complex tastes. I was struck with the notion that this would be fun with bubbles- a Sparkling Chenin. A tad expensive.
I think I like Chenins.

Price: $17.79
Score: 88
Value: 2/5
Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Alcohol: 12.5%
UPC: 6008922000645

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

KWV Chenin Blanc 2008

With the hot whether we've been having for the past couple of days, everyone will be looking for value priced whites. Here's a review of one from Iron Chef:

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

I was reading The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil section on the Loire Valley and I just needed to try a Chenin Blanc, of course there are no French versions of the grape in the Province so I had to try the next best thing.

Nose: Kiwi, Tropical fruit, wet stone, grass and floral aromas.
Taste: Lots of Kiwi, Lime peels, Fresh cut grass. Had a nice creamy texture. One might be tempted to call it sweet, but I think it was more a function of lower acidity.

Overall, I enjoyed this wine, I usually don't enjoy lower Acid wines, but the fresh kiwi taste was surprising and tasty.

Price: $12.29
Score: 87
Value: 3.5/5
Region: Western Cape, South Africa
Alcool 12.5%
UPC #748294420219