Italy's Everyday Quality... Now Thatsa' Italian!

As the Wine Minx, one of the questions I encounter most often is about finding good wines that don't cost a lot of money.  (Either the economic meltdown is still affecting consumers or the Minx is friends with a lot of tightwads, take your pick.)

Well, Wineaux, the Minx has your answer: ITALY!!

Caveat No. 1:  Italy's a big wine place. I've said that before - you practically couldn't swing a gatto morto without hitting a vineyard.  So the country takes a lot of time to master, especially as there is an extraordinary amount of wine from Italy on wine store shelves all over the US and there is no easy way to summarize these offerings.

Caveat No. 2:  Some of the great Italian wine IS really expensive, so we'll save Barolo, Barbaresco, Amarone, the Super Tuscans, Brunello, Chianti Classico, etc., for another time. (I hope that time isn't too far away though, I just made myself pretty darn thirsty typing that array.)

At a recent tasting of some value-minded Italian producers, I was reminded of the incredible quality of some of the more affordable offerings from Italy and I will share with you some of my favorites.

First up: a selection of 'Terre Forti' wines from Caviro.  Caviro is the leading wine cooperative in Italy - comprised of 36 partner wineries and over 18,000 wine growers from all over Italy - and they are passionate about quality at every level.  These wines are distributed all over the world, and are expected to be available in wider markets in the US by Fall 2011.  So keep your eyes peeled for the following absurdly good values:

2010 Caviro Trebbiano-Chardonnay Rubicone IGT 'Terre Forti': This blend of Trebbiano and Chardonnay from the Emilia-Romagna region was very light, with a nose of florals and citrus.  It had a lovely flavor of honeydew melon and grass but wasn't overly acidic. [87] ~$8
2010 Caviro Pinot Grigio IGT Delle Venezie 'Terre Forti': From Friuli-Venezia Giulia in the NE part of the country, this had a light straw color with floral aromatics, a nice spiciness, and good acidity for such a light wine. [84] ~$8
2010 Caviro Sangiovese Rubicone IGT 'Terre Forti': Also from Emilia-Romagna, this Sangiovese had a light ruby color and a great red berry fruit nose.  Light in style with notes of blueberry, sweet herb and pepper, some acidity and a quiet finish. [86] ~$8
2010 Caviro Nero d'Avola Sicilia IGT 'Terre Forti' From the island of Sicily (what in the name tipped you off?), this Nero had a violet berry color, with notes of cola, raspberry and red cherry.  Incredibly light, with a nice finish and smooth tannins. [87] ~$9
2010 Caviro Montepulciano D'Abruzzo DOC 'Terre Forti': From... yes, Abruzzo. Super red berry ruby color.  Bright nose of red fruits with florals of rose and violet.  Lots of crunchy red fruit, super bright and acidic; "summery" was the word I wrote.  This was not the more traditional brawny, velvety and peppery style of Montepulciano I'm used to, but quite lovely in its difference. [86] ~$8

Tucked away in Northern Italy's Trentino region at the foot of the Alps and Dolomites, the Marco Donati family has been producing wine for five generations, focusing on native grapes and small production.

2009 Marco Donati Müller-Thurgau Trentino DOC 'Albeggio': Many producers from this part of the world are doing wonders with Müller-Thurgau, a grape unfamiliar to the majority of American wine drinkers.  This was a pale peachy-yellow, with a soft nose of stone fruits.  It was refreshing and light with low acidity and yet a nice crispness and notes of peach, straw and mountain flowers. [85] ~$15
2009 Marco Donati Vigneti Delle Dolomiti IGT 'Situla Rosso': This red is a blend of three local varieties - Lagrein, Teroldego and Marzemino.  Bright ruby red, it showed raspberry and violet aromas, with blackberries, violets, sweet cherry, loads of acidity and silky tannins. [86] ~$19
2009 Marco Donati Teroldego Rotaliano DOC: 100% Teroldego.  Totally opaque purple color.  Hint of sweetness on the nose, super velvety with opulent fruit.  Weighty and rich but not overbearing. [88] ~$16

Another cooperative, Cantina di Villa, based in Valtellina on the outskirts of the Lombardy region is making some lovely Nebbiolo-based wines.

2003 Cantina di Villa Valtellina Rosso Superiore DOC 'Incontri': Brick red, this unusual clone of Nebbiolo seemed almost fortified to me.  Wet leaves, a hint of brandy, dried cherries.  Elegant and luxurious.  [86] ~$20
2006 Cantina di Villa Valtellina Rosso Superiore DOC 'Grumello': Dark ruby red, nice fruit notes.  Super light and elegant, not too earthy, well-balanced, tastes luxurious. [88] ~$17
2006 Sforzato Di Valtellina DOCG 'Tinaia': 100% Nebbiolo. Interesting nose of spice, wet leaves, plums.  Complex notes in the mouth, almost like a spiced berry preserve from a forest (?!)  Not initially a favorite, this really grew on me. [87] ~$26

From the central region of Umbria, Terre de Trinci is working passionately to highlight the ancient regional grape Sagrantino.

2004 Terre de Trinci Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG: Quite dark red, with a maroon tinge.  Perfumey nose with a bit of raspberry liqueur.  Velvety feel of lush red berries with late-arriving tannins and a nice earthiness on the finish, very extracted.  This wine's grapes are carefully cultivated and aged, so it costs a bit more, but is still quite reasonable for the power and intensity of this lovely wine. [89] ~$30
2009 Terre de Trinci Umbria IGT Rosso 'Trinci': 80% Sagrantino and 20% Merlot. Dark red, with a nice structure, good red fruit, herbs and fairly dry tannins. [86] ~$12
2010 Terre de Trinci Sangiovese Dell'Umbria IGT: Sangiovese is the star grape of nearby Tuscany, and this shows off quite well - bright red in color with a pleasant earthy nose, lovely ripe fruit, loads of herbs, a little tannic but easy-drinking. [86] ~$9

In the Maremma coastal region of Tuscany, the conditions are perfect for Sangiovese, and Casal di Pari takes full advantage with the following wines:

2007 Casal di Pari Montecucco Rosso DOC: A blend of 70% Sangiovese, and 10% each of Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot.  Dark purply-maroon in color, it had a nose of pepper, red berries, and pine.  Tangy cherries and a dusty feel in the mouth, sprightly and acidic. [84] ~$12
2009 Casal di Pari Montecucco Rosso DOC 'Ciarlone': The same blend as above but vinified slightly differently, this had a bright red color, with nice heady fruit aromas on the nose.  Very 'chewy' and tart in the mouth with red fruits and a bit of spice.  Quaffable and yummy. [86] ~$12

So get out there and scour your local wine store's "Italy" section.  With a little digging, you may unearth some of these or other fantastic gems that are as wonderful on the palate as they are easy on the wallet.  And when the market takes an upswing, we'll return to Barbaresco, Brunello, Barolo and Amarone, etc., together!

Rosé Around the World, or, Not Yo' Momma's White Zin

The heat of summer is most certainly upon us.  And as people everywhere scramble to choose the perfect wine for this time of year, suggesting Grüner Veltliner or Sauvignon Blanc, I scream "Rosé, rosé, rosé!"

Sadly, many people scream back "No way, no way, no way," fearful of revisiting the experience of a youthful sip of Momma's White Zin at a family cookout.  While one-dimensional sicky-sweet blush wines do remain out there on the market, fellow Wineaux have long embraced the wonderful variety and loveliness of well-crafted rosés from all over the globe.

At a recent tasting of six different worldly rosés, even burgeoning Wineaux admitted an early reluctance to embracing the pink.  Afterwards, however, each one had become tantalized by the aromas, flavors and freshness of these wines.  Lest the Minx say, "I told you so," go out there with an open mind and an excited palate and give rosé wines a chance.

We began with a 2010 Château de Pourcieux Rosé from Provence in France, a blend of syrah, grenache and cinsault - grapes that grow beautifully in the Mediterranean climate and chalky, gravelly clay soil of the south of France.  This had a very pale salmon/rose color with a nose of red berries and evident minerality.  In the mouth it showed raspberry, strawberry, rose petals and minerals, well-balanced but not overly acidic.  [WM 89]  A big hit early on, the Ch. de Pourcieux remained a favorite of the tasting.

Next stop was Greece, for a 2010 Kir-Yianni Akakies Rosé.  The only Greek AOC rosé, it is made of 100% Xinomavro.  With a bright raspberry color and a very unusual nose of green tomato, it had flavors of Fuji apple, cranberry and mint, with earthy elements.  I wished I had thought to pick up some feta cheese and stuffed grape leaves; it might have been the perfect accompaniment!  [WM: 87]  A few tasters were put off by the unusual notes exhibited, but I kept returning to its interesting complexity.

Heading east to Italy, we tried the 2010 Cantina del Taburno Albarosa Rosé, made from 100% Aglianico.  Red wines from this grape can be incredibly powerful, so the winemakers take care not to let the wine stay in contact with the grape skins too long.  It was indeed fairly light in color with a pinky-red hue.  This rosé had a wonderful perfumey nose of honeysuckle and rose petals, with a little soapy scent.  Nicely floral and with great strawberry and herb notes, I wished it was a little more acidic.  But it was one of my favorites of the tasting, and didn't last long after everyone had left!  [WM:89]

From Italy, we ventured to the Basque region of NW Spain for the 2010 Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rosé.  The important word is Txakolina, or Txakoli - pronounced "Chac-o-lee-na/Chac-o-lee," which is the name of the type of wine, not the grape variety.  Those are Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Belta.  White Txakolis are a little more common, and have become a favorite in-the-know wine for many Wineaux.  With nice CO2 "shpritz" and a super-light palate cleansing essence, they are ideal for the hottest of summer days.  (I say just stick a straw in the bottle and you're good!)  I had never personally tasted a rosé Txakoli, and at first had thought it would be so light and a great start to the tasting, but pushed it down in the order after popping the cork.  Definitely not "so light!"  With a pale red berry color, it had a nose of tangerine peel and 'dirty sock,' great CO2, bright acidity and a refreshing cranberry note at the finish, with definite earthiness.  [WM: 86]  While the "ginger ale"y feel (one taster's opinion) did not appeal to all, many agreed it was indeed the most refreshing of the group by far.

Long Island wineries have had a great deal of success with rosé wines, so I chose the 2010 Shinn Estate Rosé as our bottle from the U.S.  Made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it was raspberry red in color.  Some of the tasters were fearful of that brightness translating into sweetness, and were pleasantly surprised at the spicy, grassy, earthy nose with a fresh note of watermelon.  It had a wonderful acidity, clear, strong cherry in the mouth, and a pleasant creaminess.  [WM:88]  One taster (who is a musician) pronounced it "B-flat," which, unlike the letter grade of B-minus, is actually a compliment - meaning that it felt like the most middle-ground of the wines.  (B-flat is concert pitch, to which the entire orchestra tunes.)

Finally, we tasted the 2010 Boekenhoutskloof Wolftrap Rosé from South Africa.  A blend of 66% Syrah, 20% Cinsault and 14% Grenache, it was another favorite of the group, although stylistically very different than the similarly-blended rosé from Provence.  With a deep red/pink color, it had a nose of green pepper and mint, and was bold and spicy on the palate, with strawberries and a little watermelon.  I felt the heat of alcohol, spurning me into a frenzied search for all of the wines' alcohol percentages, and sure enough, I was correct; with 13.5%, it had the highest amount of all we'd tasted.  (Most were in the 12-13% range.)  What can I say?  The Minx likes to be right.  [WM: 89]

At the end of the day, notes were put aside, and the tasters revisited their favorites - leaving behind a number of empty bottles for the recycling bin.  One taster remarked that she was no longer going to be intimidated to try rosés, another commented on the surprising variety even in such a relatively small sample of wines.  It's all true - rosés are refreshing, interesting, quaffable, and complex.  Be sure to give one a try - like I said, these are absolutely not Yo Momma's White Zin.

Wine Bar Crawl, Destination #3

A few weeks ago, I embarked on an ambitious journey with fellow Wineaux Carol: visit four NYC wine bars in one night.  After lovely experiences at TURKS AND FROGS and THE UPHOLSTERY STORE, we meandered over to CENTRO VINOTECA, located at the bustling intersection of 7th Avenue S and Barrow Street.

Immediately the difference in ambiance between our prior two stops and this one struck us, as we snagged the last two seats at an extremely crowded bar.  At this point we were ready to order some dinner but as our plans for the entire evening were vague, we hadn't made a reservation.  I suppose in one sense we were lucky to get seats at all.  Unfortunately, the party directly to my right had no sense of space, and I was rudely jostled throughout the entire meal.  No fun.

In all fairness, I suppose I should return to Centro Vinoteca during a quieter time, as the craziness was the root of my dissatisfaction with the place.  The food was very good - both Carol and I sampled different pastas - and the wine list was nicely focused, with over thirty Italian wines available by the glass.  (I should say by the quartino, for at Centro Vinoteca, the pour is measured out to a vessel slightly over a glass.)

But our bartender Connor was slammed with patrons, and when I pronounced the first wine we were tasting as corked, he rather fussily agreed with my assessment, seeming put out at the need to remedy the situation.  Then, after opening another bottle, he poured it immediately without offering a taste.  Bad form, in my opinion, no matter how crowded the bar.

[It is unfortunate that many people mistake the off-odor of 2, 4, 6 - Trichloroanisole (TCA) as merely an unpleasant note in the wine.  In reality, it is a by-product of the cork bleaching process and can happen to any wine stopped with a traditional cork.  Some people are more sensitive to TCA than others, and while it is in a Wineaux's best interest to learn to properly identify this cork taint, is is also the responsibility of the server to acquiesce to his customer.]

Luckily, the second pour of 2009 Bolgheri Rosso Scire was fine, with a nose of cherries, and blueberry pie filling, herbs, rosemary and a hint of prune on the palate.  It was warm and rich with a nice finish and good body. [88]

We also tasted the 2009 Colline del Sole Aglianico, which had a nose of roasted meats, and cherry pie and violets in the mouth.  It was bright, but balanced with a good earthiness on the finish. [86]

With the crowd, noise level and nudgy neighbors, we couldn't wait to get out of there.  But I'm not ready to completely write off Centro Vinoteca just yet.  On Mondays they have half-price bottles, and are offering a five-course wine tasting dinner on Sundays this summer, so I expect I will give it another go and cross my fingers for a more relaxed, wine-focused experience.

Centro Vinoteca - 74 Seventh Avenue S, NYC ~ 212-367-7470 ~ www.centrovinoteca.com

NYC WINE BAR - The Upholstery Store

Tucked away on a quiet stretch of Washington Street in the way West Village is a tiny gem - The Upholstery Store.  Do not bring grandma's needlepoint-embellished dining chairs with you, there is actually no upholstering going on in this dimly-lit wine bar.  At least not as far as I could see on my recent visit with fellow Wineaux Carol.

A footnote of sorts to Kurt Gutenbrunner's Wallsé next door, the Upholstery store is heavily Austrian-influenced, giving us Big Apple Wineaux a chance to 'stretch our legs' from our usual tours of France, Italy and the US.

We began with a pair of offerings from Weingut Walter Buchegger - I had the 2009 Riesling Lössterassen Kremstal, which exhibited pleasant florals and notes of melon and peach with light acidity [85] and Carol sampled the 2008 Grüner Veltliner Pfarrweingarten, which had complex notes of lemon, pear, lavender, honey, earth and white pepper, nice body and good finish although light in acidity. [88]

At this point in our tour, we were getting a little hungry, so snacked on some nuts and a pair of cheeses (the Epoisses was a standout!)  The menu at The Upholstery Store is limited, but pretty perfect - snacky options, a few entrees, salad and strudel.  Our bartender Evan was incredibly knowledgeable and made perfect suggestions along the way, including guiding us to our next two wines.

I had the 2008 Peter Schandl Furmint Neusiedlersee Hügelland - nose of lemongrass and earth, a hint of CO2 "shpritz," good weight mid-palate with a long finish and notes of grass and buttered toast.  Carol also suggested an unusual but apt descriptor of "oatmeal" (good one, Carol!) [88]  She was sipping the 2009 Peter Schandl Muskateller Gelb Brut, which had candied pear and apricot on the nose, nice sweetness at the top but bone dry finish.  We both found this wine flirty and fun - a little 'schitzo,' but in a good way! [87]

While it would have been great to stay and continue our in-town journey to Austria, we had a plan and needed to head to our next spot.  But Evan wouldn't let us leave without trying the 2007 Kreinbacher Somló Juhfark.  This Hungarian wine is from a tiny region just off the Austrian border, and is made with 100% Jufark (a variety previously unknown to me, grown exclusively in Hungary).  It had a barnyardy nose and was very clean and steely with a hint of butter, sweet lime and herbs.  It had a light acidity but a nice balance.  Aged ten months in Hungarian oak. [88]  Carol wasn't as interested in this wine, but then again, she did apply menthol lip balm just before tasting it... ooooohhhhh, Carol!  (In all fairness, she did think we were leaving when she did so.)

While there are other regions represented on The Upholstery Store's wine list, the opportunity to taste less-familiar Austrians wines is a fantastic excuse for a visit.  And next time, I'm saving room for the strudel.

The Upholstery Store - 713 Washington St. (W 11/Perry) 212-240-9557 ext 10.
http://kg-ny.com/the-upholstery-store

NYC WINE BARS, Minx-Style, Part 1

I never really understood the appeal of a “pub crawl;” I figured it was simply an exercise in deliberately getting drunk interspersed with a few minutes of low-impact workout as one went from bar to bar. But the other night I engaged in what could be called a “wine bar crawl” with mostly wonderful results.

Joined by my friend and fellow wineaux Carol, we started out at TURKS AND FROGS (323 West 11^th St., 212/691-8875) It doesn’t take a great deal of sleuthing to figure out the emphasis is on things Turkish and French, so I began with a glass of 2008 Auguste Bonhomme Sancerre “La Forcine.” Pale yellow in color, it had an engaging nose of wet stone and straw with a little Sancerre-styled ‘dirty sock’ note. On the palate, there was pineapple, quince, a hint of lilac, and good lemon/lime acidity with a solid finish. [87]

Carol, forgoing France and Turkey altogether, first tried the 2009 Di Giovanna Viognier (Sicily), which was crisp and clean with melon and tropical fruits, exhibiting quite like a tart, refreshing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. [85] Missing the typical florals and viscosity expected from a viognier, she turned to the 2008 Robert Oatley Chardonnay from Australia (um, Carol – Turks and Frogs, not Italians and Oz – but whatever,) which had a light nose of lemon and was soft and fresh with a little butter and grass. [84]

Turks and Frogs bills itself as possibly New York’s first wine bar. It is tucked away on a quiet block of West 11^th Street, and its tiny space is decorated with little charming antique-y elements. There is a small bar up front (where we sat, the better to interact with our knowledgeable bartender,) a few tables farther in, and a darkly romantic room at the back. The menu had a nice array of mostly Mediterranean-influenced items, and if you go for dessert, there is a – wait for it – chocolate tasting plate, which sounds delectable.

Occasionally, Turks and Frogs will offer special tasting flights, and they are considering a white/rosé flight for summer. I encourage that opportunity, as I found it is truly worth taking a gamble on some of the Turkish wines they do offer by the glass, even though the region or grape varieties may be unfamiliar to you.

For example, the 2009 Kavalklidere Emir de Neusehir Çankaya had a nose of melon and a little barnyard-y terroir, and was pleasant and light with interesting florals and well-balanced crisp acidity. [85] I also really enjoyed the rosé 2008 Kavalklidere Lâl Kevasi Aegean, which had a light peach color, a bright nose of Bing cherry, rose petals, and something almost like marzipan. It was very dry with a perfumey palate of minerals, roses, and a bit of brick dust. [88]

With an early-evening Spring breeze floating through the open door, the attentive, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and many more intriguing options on the menu (wine and food,) it was hard to leave. But it was time to “crawl” to our next stop, which was helpfully just around the corner.

For more information on TURKS AND FROGS, visit www.turksandfrogs.com.

Up next: Austrian influence at THE UPHOLSTERY STORE.

SPANISH IMMERSION (NO PASSPORT NEEDED)

Dearest Wineaux, the Minx is impressed.

While my fellow New Yorkers might raise an eyebrow that the Minx's first restaurant wine list review comes from a Connecticut establishment, the list at Barcelona Wine Bar in Stamford, CT is one of the most comprehensive explorations of a particular region I have ever encountered.

While numerous French or Italian restaurants can offer detailed wine lists, discovering an establishment so thoroughly devoted to Spanish wines is a rarity. At Barcelona, for example, there are no fewer than one hundred and twenty different bottles of Spanish red wines on the list, from twenty-eight different regions. There are also well thought-out offerings from many other parts of the world, including a wonderful range of South American wines. But the array from Spain is simply incredible. Even the Rioja section is thorough enough to be divided into two stylistic groups, "tradicional" and "moderna."

With over forty wines available by the glass, you can't go wrong being a little adventurous... for example, try the 2009 white wine Xarel-lo Albet i Noya, from Penedès ($8). Xarel-lo is usually used as one of the grapes blended for Cava - Spanish sparkling wine - and I have never seen a straight Xarel-lo offered by the glass. (Unfortunately I noticed it too late to try it myself, but I will not make that mistake on a future visit!)

There are wines on the list to please every budget, as well. There are dozens of bottle options at the $30-40-50 range, still more under $100, and if you want to splurge on a 1996 Vega Sicilia Unico (arguably Spain's most famous and esteemed wine, this vintage rated 97 points by Robert Parker) it's there as well, for a very reasonable $639.

Wineaux, I know you're intrigued, and here's the kicker: on Sundays, almost every bottle is HALF OFF. (The 50% discount doesn't apply to some high-end wines like the Unico, but they too are offered at a somewhat lower price.) So during a recent Sunday visit, I was able to share two bottles with my table for the price of one.

Given the enticing discount, we started with a 2004 Bodegas Muga Selección Especial Reserva (on the list for $79). Muga has a great reputation for quality, and this bottle was no exception. With black cherry, leather, graphite and a hint of tar on the nose, this voluptuous wine was strong but still youthful with plummy dark fruits and a great balance. [WM: 94]

I wanted to go in a slightly different direction with our second bottle, and chose a 2000 La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva (list price: $70). With 25% Garnacha blended along the Tempranillo, the Ardanza exhibited a more feminine style than the Muga; not as powerful, but incredibly elegant. The nose showed spices and red fruits, and there was lavender, lilac, and buckets of cassis on the palate of this fun and flirty wine. [WM: 92]

A wine list like this one makes me ache for deep pockets and the ability to consume numerous bottles without negative effect. There are too many gems on this Barcelona wine list, making a choice is almost impossible! However, the incredibly knowledgeable staff is on hand to make suggestions and thoughtful recommendations. I can't wait for my next visit - I already have some ideas brewing.

Barcelona also has CT locations in Fairfield, Greenwich, New Haven, South Norwalk, and West Hartford, with a branch in Atlanta, GA coming soon. Learn more and make a reservation at www.barcelonawinebar.com.

Oh, and the food is wonderful too!! My visit was wine-focused for sure, but the tapas offerings we nibbled on were creative and delicious. They also have a full menu, and a serious selection of spirits as well. So go visit Barcelona without having to get on a plane, and let the Minx know what you think. Cheers!

(Re-?)Discovering White Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a wine-making region in France that is probably familiar even to neophyte Wineaux. However, the WHITE wines made there have long struggled for recognition due to the avalanche of renowned Bordeaux reds and white wines from other, "more familiar" regions of the country.

Arguably, the best whites in Bordeaux come from the region of Pessac-Léognan, located just outside the town of Bordeaux, north of the Graves region (of which it once was a part,) and south of the Médoc.

The grapes used here are primarily Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Although Sauvignon Blanc thrives in other parts of the world, it originated in France. In the Minx's opinion, in this case it is under-appreciated, darn it!

Ultimately, the region, its history, the soil (thick gravel and stone over a layer of sand and clay,) and the use of Sémillon in blending all combine to provide a luscious, approachable, invigorating, food-friendly wine.

Do yourselves a favor and make the effort to seek out white Bordeaux - you will not be disappointed! The following are tasting notes from a number of 2008 releases with approximate retail prices.

2008 Château Bouscaut Blanc: Flint and terroir on the nose, great citrus of tangerine and lime. ~$45

2008 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc: Taffy on the nose, good mid-palate feel, nicely acidic. ~$90

2008 Château de Fieuzal Blanc: Light nose of perfumey florals, great structure, elegant style. ~$62

2008 Château Haut-Bergey Blanc: Grassy nose, warm peaches and orange blossom, really unique, good acidity. ~$44

2008 Château Latour-Martillac Blanc: Great tropical fruit on the nose, sweet peaches, light acidity. ~$35

2008 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc: Nice grassy elements, good acidity, integrated citrus throughout. ~$80

2008 Château Olivier Blanc: Nose of tropical fruits, good viscosity, prominent melon, light acidity. ~$32

2008 Château Pape Clément Blanc: Great nose! Florals, abundant fruit, and grassy notes. Lightish acidity. Fabulous balance. ~$200

2008 Château Smith Haut-Lafitte Blanc: Nose of straw and grass, nice spice mid-palate, great length. ~$90

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