Food & Wine Chickie Insider

I’ve tasted and liked the 2008 Honig Sauvignon Blanc in the past, but I recently sampled it again during a Sauvignon Blanc tasting and really enjoyed how different it was compared to the others. Here are three things I appreciated about this wine:

'08 Honig Sauvignon Blanc

1) It is medium-bodied, which I miss in many other Sauvignon Blancs in this price range.

2) As the wine warmed a bit, I got a big mouthful of chewy mango and tons of other tropical fruits.

3) The finish is pleasantly long with bouncy citrusy notes.

I typically think of Sauvignon Blanc for warm Summer parties where a refreshing, uncomplicated wine is de rigueur, but the ‘08 Honig would also be perfect with a roasted pork chop in the middle of Winter.

Around $15.99.

Note: 89 points Robert Parker

Like Sauvignon Blanc and into Twitter?  Don’t miss #sauvblanc Online Tasting on 3/4/10!  The event is hosted by Rick Bakas of St Supery (@rickbakas).

The Objective of #SauvBlanc Online Tasting:

+ Promote Sauvignon Blanc producers AVA’s worldwide by connecting w/ wine drinkers on Twitter

+ Share interesting content about your respective wine growing region

+ Be positive and promote one another.

+ If possible have wines on hand from different wine growing regions. Share the beauty of this grape!

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Wine in a Box

Since I recently started a new job search, I’ve made lists of things I’d cut back on.  Wine and good food just cannot be skipped no matter what, so I thought I’d get my social media wine friends to help me compile a list of 10 affordable wines that they’ve recently discovered or are enjoying these days.

Please leave me a comment by 2/20/10 with a nice value wine you’ve enjoyed that you feel should make my top 10 list.

Cheers!

'01 Ramirez de la Piscina

What a great example of a medium-bodied Spanish Tempranillo.  This aged wine is brownish brick in color with a spicy, earth-like nose.  The wine is concentrated with enjoyable vanilla undertones and rich berry flavors.  The only thing I was missing when I enjoyed this wine was a fabulous paella.

Around $20.

'07 Dog Point

Not the limeade-watery Sauvignon Blanc typical of many affordable bottles.  This wine from Marlborough, New Zealand, is medium to full-bodied and offers pleasantly intense herbal and ripe fruit flavors.  This wine has a longish finish and some texture to it.

For fans of Cloudy Bay, this is perhaps a better wine and a must-try.

Around $19.99

'04 Gundlach Bundschu PN

Was given this wine as a birthday present and really enjoyed it.  This wine is a gorgeous, dark ruby color in the glass.  It’s simply pure velvety silkiness with tons of ripe cherries and a hint of vanilla.  Good wine on its own, but especially great with food.  Served this with roast chicken and it was stellar.

Around $32.

2008 Hirsch Gruner Veltliner

Sampled this wine as part of a tasting menu at Bouley last weekend.  For those of you who enjoy fresh and crisp Gruner Veltliner, this is a good rendition.  This Weingut Hirsch wine has a citrus, apple, herbal aroma that had me sniffing for several minutes before taking a first sip.  This wine offers a mouthful of juicy fruit that’s incredibly food-friendly.  The finish was smooth with just a trace of pepper.

Around $23.

The 2008 Zuccardi Mendoza Chardonnay Viognier is light, citrusy and made with very little to no oak.  It’s crisp and dry and perfect for seafood or fish.  The thirst-quenching quality of this wine makes it ideal for Summertime get-togethers.

Nice wine for folks like me, who don’t enjoy big, buttery Chardonnays, but who enjoy that varietal when done in this manner.

Around $12.

Hosted a dinner party last night where red was de rigueur.   The three bottles I selected varied from good to ugly.

The Ugly

2006 Rock River Cabernet Sauvignon

Used this as a cooking wine but had to sneak a sip also.  Dark ruby in color without the expected accompanying fruit flavor.  Somewhat flat, but acceptable to simmer beef in.

Around $7.99

The Okay

2007 Dingac Winery Plavac Peljesac Peninsula

Bought this somewhat obscure wine at the recommendation of an acquaintance and was a little disappointed.  A cousin grape of Zinfandel, Plavac Mali is light in alcohol at 12%.  This wine is light-bodied, soft on the nose and reminded me of a Beaujolais.  I tasted a tiny bit of pepper and some light cherry.  Can’t tag this wine as ‘the bad’, but wasn’t up to ‘the good’ either.

Around $14

The Good

2006 Ramey Claret Napa Valley

This is a well-balanced wine with herby, fruity aromas.  It’s dark purple in color, full-bodied and very food-friendly.  Good wine for the price.

Wine Spectator: 91 points.

Around $30

Sagramose

Peppery, dark and a nice wine to pair with Italian foods, especially ones with red sauces.  Young with medium tannin and should be decanted before tasting.

Well-priced at around $20.