Clear, pale gold appearance. Intense green pepper and spice nose with a hint of ripe fruit; very distinctive. Dry, high acidity, light-plus body. Again vegetal on the palate, green and red peppers, mineral, and citrus. Very long lemon finish. A strong example of the vegetal qualities of New Zealand Sauv Blancs. 13% alcohol. Recommended. Bought with a good friend for $23.60 at Kitsilano Wine Cellar, which has recently moved next door into the old Duthie Books space (still mourn their loss) and there’s more space but they’ve perhaps lost a bit of the character of the old store. Still, a great selection.
Month: February 2011
Joseph Burrier Mâcon Solutré-Pouilly 2007
Clear, light-plus lemon-gold appearance. Clean, light nose of citrus, ripe fruits, and obvious oak. Dry, high acidity, and medium bodied with straightforward melon, apple, and nutty oak qualities. Medium length. 13% alcohol. Overall good: enjoyable, solid, but not complex. $36 at Crosstown.
Lucien Albrecht 2008 Gewürztraminer
Clear, light lemon appearance. Clean, medium intensity floral-spice and honey nose. Dry with a hint of residual sugar; high acidity and medium body. Lime, crisp apple, and pepper spice on the palate; good length. 13.5% alcohol. Overall good; enjoyable. $31.65 at Crosstown. See Lucien Albrecht.
Richmond Plains Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Clear, light gold appearance. Nose is clean, medium intensity green pepper and green apples. Dry, high acidity, light body. Lemon-pepper, mineral, and green fruit. Medium length with an herbaceous finish; 12% alcohol. Sharp and fresh; organic. Overall good—recommended. $24 at Crosstown. See Richmond Plains.
2009 Henry Natter Sancerre
Clear, light lemon appearance. Clean, medium intensity lemon-floral nose. Dry, high acidity and medium bodied; citrus, mineral-pepper, and a bit of a grassy quality. Nice long finish. 13% alcohol. Recommended. $30 at Marquis (see their tasting notes). See Henry Natter.
Tantalus Old Vines Riesling 2008
Several people have suggested the Tantalus Riesling to me and I was a little underwhelmed, but I hadn’t tried the Old Vines. This is a clear, pale-plus lemon-gold with a clean, medium intensity lime, mineral, and petrol nose with a hint of sweetness. Dry on the palette, though, with high acidity. Medium body with green apple and mineral dominating with a touch of tropical fruit. Good long finish. Recommended; far superior to the regular Riesling from Tantalus. 12.1% alcohol. $30 at Taylorwood. See Tantalus Vineyards (warning: Flash); wine maker’s notes. Tantalus has gone organic, which is great news.
Babich Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Clear pale gold appearance. Clean, intense tropical fruit, citrus, and vegetal nose. Dry, high acidity, medium body, lemon-pineapple and green pepper. Medium plus length. $30 for half litre at Il Caminetto di Umberto in Whistler Village. A fine NZ Sauv Blanc; recommended—my friend and fellow wine lover really liked this one for its intense tropical fruit aromas. See Babich Wines.
Zinck Grand Cru Pfersigberg Riesling 2008
Clear pale gold; medium intensity stone fruit, floral, and honey nose. Off dry, medium body, high acidity; mineral, lemon, and apricot in the mouth. Good length. 12.5% alcohol. Very good—heartily recommended. $85 at Araxi in Whistler.
Gray Monk 2009 Riesling
Clear, pale lemon-gold appearance. Nose is clean, medium intensity citrus-floral nose. Off-dry; high acidity, medium body. Mineral, lime, and spice flavours with that bit of Okanagan sage. Medium length; 12.9% alcohol. See Gray Monk; winemaker’s notes (PDF).
This was a gift from my father (as was the 2008) and retails for $16.99 according to the winemaker.