Lurton Fumées Blanches 2008

This is about what's you'd expect from New Zealand sauvignon blanc for around $20, except that it’s $13.50 and from France.  I have to admit that sauvignon blanc isn’t my favourite grape. I prefer my whites to be fruity and floral, like Gewurz or Muscat, or rich like chardonnay.  But for those of you who like the crispness of sauvignon blanc, this is excellent value at the price.

Concha y Toro Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, 2005

I too have been turned to the white side lately.  Here is peanutman's tale:

--- peanutman's review ---

Can't believe I'm drinking more whites than reds lately, but I like experience. Reds start back this Thursday with a Super Tuscan for my 41st Bday. Here is a wine that I loved, but for those reading please take into consideration that I don't know much about white wines.

Concha y Toro Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, 2005. Value 5 out of 5, score 92. $14.29 for a 375 ml. I have never paid more than $18 for a white, but this was well worth the money.

In the latest Tidings magazine, they give the 2006 a score of 90 and describe it as such: Bouquet is fresh, yet with complex citrus, honey and spicy notes. (My take on the 05, grapefruit and honey). Displays similar finesse on the refreshingly light palate, with lingering sensations of honeyed sweetness and deftly balanced acidity. Bears an extraordinary resemblance to Sauternes. My take on the 05 is pretty much the same but I'm not certain about the acidity. If this is what a Sauternes tastes like, I will have to try one. Not that I know what heaven tastes like, nevertheless this was heaven in my mouth. BTW, this has a beautiful golden color.

Caymus Conundrum

Welcome to Joel, a new contributor! He sent me this review with the comment that “I tune in from time to time and see what people are sipping on so I thought I would take a second and through my hat into the ring with this review.” And a good hat it is, too.

--- Joel's Review ---

As with everyone else these days it seems that whites are the order of the day. Here are my thoughts on the Conundrum.

Produced by Caymus this is one of those "everything but the kitchen sink wines" made up of a number of unnamed grapes.

Day bright moderate gold straw color with watery rim.
Intense nose of stone fruit and perfume and fresh citrus, orange blossom.
Medium plus to full body wine. Fruit forward with moderate plus acidity and moderate plus length on the finish.

Very aromatic white with what I would guess to have a good bit of Viognier and Chardonnay. I'm having a hard time to figure if there is oak or just a lot of texture from malo fermentation.

All in all a good white with lots of guts...a nice alternative to a full Chardonnay. Was great with some simple sea food and citrus flavors.

A bit on the $$ side. Also for me I tend to go towards more lean and crisp styles of white.

Price $35
Value 3/5
Score 87
Region: California
Grape: Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat, Viognier (other unspecified)
UPC: 017224707134

Errazuriz Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Remember, please send post / send me reviews of bad wines as well as good ones - knowing what to avoid is as useful as knowing what to buy.

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

We have always enjoyed the SBs from Chile…

Nose: Asparagus, lime and some flinty and grassy notes.

Taste: Canned asparagus or peas, citrusy and gooseberries or some kind of field berry that I don't want to eat. No acidity- fat and flabby. Left a chalky film in my mouth.

Overall- Dull and boring. Canned Vegetables is not an appealing taste in a wine. And the lack of acidity was disappointing. A poor example of a very interesting region of Chile.

Price: $15.79
Score 64
Value 0/5
Region: Chile- Casablanca
Alcohol 13.5%
UPC #089046777329

Undurraga Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Welcome back Chris! We haven't had a review from you in a while. This wine sounds like a perfect inexpensive summer patio wine - if the sun ever comes out again, I'll try a bottle.

--- CMacdonald's Review ---

Light straw in color. Mild to moderate pleasant aromas of lemon and lime. Nice mild taste that gets better with every sip. The wine is dry with just enough acidity to make your mouth water.

I want to try this wine again with some goat cheese.

Price: $11.99
Value: 4/5
Score: 87
Alcohol: 13%
Region: Chile, D.O Central Valley
Tasted: June 2009
UPC: 7804315010012

JF Lurton Fumees Blanches Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Our theme of value-priced summer whites continues - and why not? But it seems that this wine may not be the best way to spend your $13.49.

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

The label stated that it was a smokey version of SB and I thought it might pair nicely with Cedar Planked Brie on the BBQ.

Nose: Lemony and Fragrant. Wet stone and Canned veggies like Peas.
Taste: Nicely restrained, Good acidity and minerals, somewhat metallic on the finish. Didn't find much smoke. But the Canned Peas was too much. Did not enjoy that aspect of the experience.

Overall I liked the subtle nature of the wine, but the veggies… not so much. Compared to the SBs in the Santa Rita line there are plenty of good Sauvignon Blancs out there.

Price: $13.49
Score: 80
Value: 1/5
Region: Vin de Pays du Comte Tolosan
Alcohol: 12%
UPC: 635335961957

Concha y Toro Frontera Sauvignon Blanc 2007

This post from Michelle brings us back to the theme of value priced whites for summer:

-- Michelle's Review ---

When the weather turns a bit nicer, my palette strives for refreshment. Not the kind you can find in a butt kickin' red. So lately I have been desiring a crisp, juicy white. Something to quench my thirst. A friend brought this nicely chilled from her fridge. We were sitting at her cottage on one of our few sunny days and out comes this Sauvignon Blanc. I do like SB's but some leave that tongue smacking dryness (tannins) that I am not a fan of. In the glass, it looks exactly like the "text book" SB. Straw colored with tinge of green. First on the nose was peach, citrus as we all know a SB to have also. What I liked best was the drinkability. Nothing offensive about it at all. Ours was perfectly chilled. Crisp, clean and nothing left behind (aforementioned tannins). Not over the top fruit though..peaches, citrus and even a hint of green grass. If there was a perfect summer wine out there, this has to rank up there quite nicely. Two thumbs up…or at least an 88/100.

Price: $9.49 (but for some reason it was on for $8.49 Friday at Mountain Road)
Value: 5/5
Rating: 88
Region: Chile
UPC: 7804320043265

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2007

This is a very well made New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, with characteristic citrusy herbaceous nose, and crisp clean palate. Well balanced also. It didn’t really stand out from the crown, but that’s not such a bad thing - that NZ Sauv Blanc crowd is a pretty good one. It suffers in comparison to the Dona Paula, which is at least as good for $5 less.

Price: $20.49
Score: 87
Value: 3.5 / 5
Region: New Zealand, Marlborough
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Tasted: March 2009
Alcohol: ****
UPC: 729819315302

Dona Paula Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc 2008

This wine was recommended to us by Aaron, the wine consultant at Prospect St. It has very good Sauvignon Blanc character - Kelly recognized it right off. It is in the New Zealand style, but without excessive sharpness that you sometimes find. It doesn’t have a lot of complexity, but it has some good character, good balance, and doesn’t have what Kelly calls “that cheap wine flavour.” Outstanding value. I may even be rating it too low because I know the price.

Price: $14.49
Score: 88
Value: 5/5
Region: Argentina
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Tasted: March 2009
UPC: 836950000087

Santa Rita Floresta Leyda Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Aaron at the Prospect St ANBL recommended this wine to us. He's one of the product advisors there, which I gather is a relatively new phenomenon at ANBL. He seemed very knowledgeable, and this wine is a winner.

The nose is mostly floral notes, kiwi fruit and maybe melon, minerals, and spices. It is crisp and clean on the palate, with great acidity and length. I find that there's a bit of a hard edge throughout, but then I get that with almost all whites, so I can't complain about it. It reminds us of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in style. Our usual "standby" whites are the Kim Crawford and its ilk, and the Floresta is worth the extra $5. We rated both 88, but like this one better.

Price: $26.29
Score: 88
Value: 3/5
Region: Chile
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Tasted: March 2009
UPC: 086785470344

Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2007

I haven't had a white wine in a few weeks now - not since the last of the hot weather - so it's about time for another. I enjoyed New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc all summer so I thought I'd try a new one. Whether it's the wine or the time of year is hard to say, but I didn't enjoy this Spy Valley nearly as much as the Bay of Fires Tigress that I was drinking for most of the summer. The Spy Valley is unmistakeably a NZ Sauv. Blanc, with a striking nose of citrus and melon (maybe I should add "gooseberries" since that's what everyone says about NZ Sauv. Blanc - but that's not what I taste). But there wasn't a lot of follow through on the palate and the crispness of the style veered over into tartness, giving it a bit of a sour finish. I suspect this wine would do very well with spicy food - Indian or Thai curry - as it has the punch to stand up to the spices and food would tame the acidity. But to my taste it's not really a wine to sip before dinner.

I'd be very interested to hear what others have to say about this wine.

Price: $21.49
Score: 86
Value: 3/5
Alcohol: 13%
Tasted: Oct 2008
ANBL UPC: 9421008350033

Santa Rita Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Iron Chef's review:

"Next we had a Santa Rita Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2007. Wonderful floral and citrus bouquet- filled in with grassy aromas. The acidity was a great pairing with the Panko Coconut Scallops in cilantro chutney. Very nice seafood wine.

Price: $16.29
Value: 5/5
Score: 90
Alcohol: 13.5%
Tasted: Oct 2008
ANBL UPC: 089419007138 "

Tigress Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006

This Sauvignon Blanc is from Tasmania, but it is firmly the New Zealand style. It is to white wine what Aussie Shiraz is to red - fruity, accessible and easy to love. This was from the 2007 Wine Expo - we bought a case and have been enjoying it all summer. Their Pinot Noir was very good as well. Let's hope we see more from this winery.

Price: Approx $24
Value: 3.5/5
Score: 90
Tasted: August 2008
ANBL UPC: No longer listed

Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007

This is a well done example of the style that made New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc famous. Crisp and fresh, with the typical nose of "cat's pee on a gooseberry bush." (That's not how I'd describe it myself, but that the traditional phrase for this style.) If you like NZ Sauvignon Blanc, you will like this wine, and if you haven't tried it, this is a good place to start.

Price: $21.29
Score: 88
Value: 4/5
Tasted: August 2008
ANBL UPC: 9419227006275