2017 Tzora Vineyards Judean Hills Blanc, Israel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a 75/25 blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  It is quite lively and enjoyable. Light golden in color with some silvery/green swirls.  On the nose, this has some peach and some citrus with a slight minerality and herbal note.  On the palate, this is slightly crisp with good fruit.  It seems like it probably needs to be consumed quickly.  Right now it has nice peaches but they dissipate in the glass.  Good finish.  This worked well with an Israeli Chapped Salad and also with Matzoh Ball Soup (Veg broth).  Get the most current vintage you can.  

2009 Château Nairac, France, Bordeaux, Barsac, WIne Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

I seem to have had a lot of bottle variation with this one.  Or, given that this is usually the last bottle of the night, maybe it is palate variation.  In any event, this wine is always good to great and this bottle was in the middle.  Deep golden/orange in color.  The nose has honey and apricots.  On the palate, this is sweet but nowhere near cloying.  Enough acidity.  The honey notes come thru and pick up peaches.  Nice finish to the wine and to the evening!

2011 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

Yquem might be the single greatest wine in the world.  Yes, those are bold words, but it is arguably true.  This bottle was wonderful indeed.  Paired with Mango roses in a Rose water and honey sauce, it was sublime.  Light golden in color, this wine is still quite young.  The nose is amazing with slight apricot, lots of honey and orange peel.  Viscous and sweet, not cloying.  The orange peel and honey carry thru.  The thing about Yquem is the finish.  It goes on forever and ever.  Very nice acidity in 2011.  This bottle will continue to age and mature for fifty years and no doubt at some po

2006 Château Pape Clément Blanc, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Léognan

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

This bottle was bought on release back when it was affordable.  My last bottle, and it was served at dinner with friends along with an eggplant and tomato soup.  A very good pairing.  The wine itself is very interesting.  Plenty of depth and complexity but showing quite youthfully.  Medium golden in color.  The nose has apricots, slight vanilla, slight marzipan and a hint of tropical fruit.  On the palate, full bodied.  Ever so slightly oily texture.  Delicious vanilla, peach, and waxy notes.  Complex and layered, it unwinds nicely in a glass.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Everything I cou

2017 Urban Vintner Sauvignon Blanc, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

This winery is located just east of Cleveland Ohio.  They purchase grapes from around the world and craft wines.  Most wines are sold locally or at their tasting room.  These grapes are from Clear Lake in Lake County, California.  Light silvery/gold in color.  The nose is a bit grassy with a slight melon note.  A nice slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is light.  Some melon notes.  It's a bit flat but overall an easy, clean wine with no faults.  This should be a popular wine at the tasting room on a Friday summer night.  

2009 Château Guiraud, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Tasted from a 375ml bottle.  Light golden in color. The nose is nice with pineapples, honey and bit of peach.  Also some vanilla.  On the palate, this is viscous and rich.  Not cloying but a little goes a long way.  Good acidity that cuts through the sweetness.  The pineapple carries thru.  Nice finish.  Probably best on its own or with some cheeses at the end of a meal.  This should last for a couple of decades.  

2017 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc Judge Family Vineyard. USA, California, Sonoma, Bennett Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

Opened this for starters on New Years Eve.  While it would work better on a warm summer evening, it worked fine.  A flexible wine that works on its own or with food.  Light gold/green in color.  Nice minerality, some grapefruit.  Light bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is thinner with minerals and slight grapefruit.  Hopefully, this puts on some weight over the next couple of months.  This was thinner and lighter than prior Bedrock Sauvignon Blancs.  It is still a solid wine.  It was $32 delivered on release.  

2001 Château Climens, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Barsac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$240.00USD

2001 was such a great vintage and the wines from Sauternes or Barsac are in a gorgeous place right now.  Golden orange in color.  The nose is beautiful with honey and apricots.  Slightly sweet on the palate.  Oranges and apricots with honey.  Viscous with a nice backbone of acidity.  Long finish.  This is complex and layered and demands ones attention.  The first sip tastes good, then evolves on the palate and just does not let go.  Works great with blue cheese or a savory dessert.  

2016 Arkenstone Sauvignon Blanc, USA, California, Napa, Howell Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Silvery green/gold in color.  The nose has minerals and wax with slight tropical fruit.  On the palate, this is soft with low acidity but still quite refreshing.  The Semillon seems to dominate at this point.  Blind, it drinks like a ripe white Bordeaux.  Peaches and minerals with some waxiness.  Should work with a lot of foods.  It will be interesting to see how this improves, if at all, with some age.  

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